News Briefs
news from around the communion and around the world
Ruach News from the North
Canadian Bishops Speak Out Against Nigerian Law
Canada's Anglican bishops unanimously endorsed a motion expressing "grave concern" about proposed legislation in Nigeria that "would prohibit or severely restrict the freedom of speech, association, expression and assembly of gay and lesbian persons." Their motion also criticized the Anglican Church of Nigeria for its support of the legislation.
The motion was passed at the Canadian bishops'spring meeting held April 22-27. The bishops said they were "especially grieved" by the support for the legislation given by the Anglican Church of Nigeria, noting that the 1998 Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops had called upon churches to "listen to the experience of homosexual persons."
In unusually strong language, the bishops dissociated themselves from the actions of the Church of Nigeria and called upon Anglicans around the world to listen to and respect the human rights of gay people.
Full Text of the Canadian Resolution:
"The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada notes with grave concern legislation before the Nigerian parliament that would prohibit or severely restrict the freedom of speech, association, expression, and assembly of gay and lesbian persons in Nigeria. This legislation is inconsistent with the United Nations' International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, that recognizes these rights as derived from the inherent dignity of the human person.
"The Archbishop and Bishops are especially grieved by the strong and public support for this legislation given by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). Whereas Lambeth 1998 resolution I.10 called on churches to listen to the experience of homosexual persons, the proposed legislation criminalises civil and religious same-sex marriage as well as the public and private expression of same-sex affection, all public affiliation between gay persons, and even publicity, public support, and media reporting of the same.The proposed legislation, endorsed in an official communique of the Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria signed by its Primate, would make the very act of listening to homosexual persons impossible.
"The members of the House of Bishops are in full agreement with the Primates' statement from Dromantine in 2005, that `The victimization or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex is anathema to us.' The Nigerian legislation, and its endorsement by the Church of Nigeria, is indeed anathema to us,and quite at odds with the grace and love given to all human beings in Jesus Christ.
"We therefore disassociate ourselves from the actions of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) that are inconsistent with the Commitments of its bishops made at Lambeth and Dromantine, and we call on Anglicans throughout the Communion to listen and respect the human rights of homosexual persons."
Bishop of New Westminster Calls on UN to Take Action on Human Rights
The Rt. Rev. Michael Ingham, Bishop of New Westminster, has urged that the United Nations should take "decisive action to support an end to the persecution and mistreatment of people on the basis of their sexual orientation" and must work to extend the application of the UN Declaration on Human Rights to all persons, including gay, lesbian and transgendered persons.
In a speech that was to have been delivered March 29 before the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) in Geneva, Bishop Ingham said that religion has been "one of the principle obstacles to homosexual rights throughout the world."
Bishop Ingham was unable to make his presentation following a decision by the UNCHR to suspend its 60th and final session after only three hours of what was scheduled to have been a six-week session. The UN General Assembly had voted last March to replace the commission with a new Human Rights Council, following intense lobbying by the United States and other countries that questioned its inclusion of countries with poor human rights records.
Bishop Ingham was to have joined Jewish and Muslim presenters before the UNCHR; their presentations were arranged by the International Gay and Lesbian Association (IGLA), which had been meeting in Geneva in tandem with the commission.
African Archbishop Refuses to Attend Primates' Committee Meeting
The Archbishop of Nigeria has indicated he will not attend the annual meeting of the Joint Standing Committee of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), in Canterbury.
The Most Rev. Peter Akinola is unable to meet with the members of the joint committee because of the presence of a representative of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA).
Archbishop Akinola said in a statement emailed to the Anglican Communion Office in London that he would not sit at any meeting with representatives of ECUSA, as that Province had allowed the consecration of the Rt Rev. Gene Robinson to be Bishop of New Hampshire last year. By attending such meetings, the Archbishop added, he would "undermine the Nigerian Church's position" as stated in recent communiqués from the Council of the Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA).
"Archbishop Akinola is baffled that the Anglican Communion Office continues to act as if what ECUSA did does not really matter," said the Venerable Oluranti Odubogun, the General Secretary of the Church of Nigeria, who also re-affirmed earlier statements from the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa that condemned the US Church. "By carrying out the consecration of Bishop Robinson ECUSA has 'removed itself from the fellowship of the Communion.'"
'We Can Be Human Only Together'
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, speaking before the World Council of Churches Assembly, calls on the churches to unite "for the salvation of God's world."
A united church is no optional extra," said Archbishop Desmond Tutu in an impassioned speech to the World Council of Churches 9th Assembly in Porto Alegre. Rather, he said, it is "indispensable for the salvation of God's world".
Tutu's audience had just taken part in a plenary session on church unity. He referred to the film The Defiant Ones, in which two convicts, one black and one white, escape handcuffed together. "We too can only make it together -- we can be safe only together," he said. "We can be prosperous only together. We can survive only together. We can be human only together."
Tutu referred in his address to the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and paid tribute to the support given by the WCC, particularly through its Programme to Combat Racism. "This was controversial but was quite critical in saying our cause was just and noble and that those who, as a last resort, had opted for the armed struggle were not terrorists but freedom fighters," he said. "Nelson Mandela was no terrorist."
The World Council of Churches was his mentor, and he owed it a very great deal, he said. "You demonstrated God's concern for unity, for harmony, for togetherness, for friendship, for peace, and you must celebrate that, you must celebrate the success you notched up in defeating apartheid, for you were inspired not by a political ideology but by biblical and theological imperatives."
Apartheid, he said, had continued so long because the church was divided, even though God called it to unity, adding, "Jesus was quite serious when he said that God was our father, that we belonged all to one family, because in this family all, not some, are insiders.
"Bush, bin Laden, all belong, gay, lesbian, socalled straight -- all belong and are loved, are precious."
Speaking to journalists after his address, Archbishop Tutu said that Christians "did not have to feel insecure in the face of people from other faiths."He had mentioned gay and lesbian people, he said, because "I would not be able to keep quiet and see people penalized for something about which they could do nothing."
On Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe, he said that he had "admired" Mugabe, who was at one time "the brightest star in the African firmament," who had brought reconciliation and reconstruction to his country after the war which ended the rule of the white minority.
"But something happened to him, because now he oversees something that is totally unacceptable. We, and all of Africa, should be prepared to say that violation of human rights is violation of human rights, whoever does it."
Of relations with Muslims, he said, "I hope that the WCC will preach that it is the adherents of a faith who are good or bad, not the faith. No faith says, 'We believe in injustice or violence.'"
He said of economic progress in Africa that the situation required a two-fold approach. Rich nations had to understand that an unjust economic order could not continue. However, he added, "We have been our own worst enemies. Africa has had a succession of corrupt governments. . .But we too have responsibility. Government exists for the sake of the governed."
"We can be safe only together. We can be prosperous only together. We can survive only together. We can be human only together."
Empowerment with a Global View
Anglican Women's Empowerment, sponsor of Anglican women at the UN, looks to the future with a newly crafted three-year plan
Some 25 women of Anglican Women's Empowerment (AWE) met recently at the Omega Conference Center in Rhinebeck, NY to create a vision for their future. With the guidance of facilitator Beth Adamson of Greystone Consulting, the group spent 2 and a half days working on exercises, small group work sessions and hearing presentations before beginning a strategic plan for the next three years.
The AWE group was one of 15 non-profit organizations selected by Omega to use the facilities free of charge during their annual service week. Filmmakers Jane Zipp and Amy Bostwick of Metro Arts filmed some of the sessions for the next AWE DVD to be previewed at General Convention.
AWE has been sponsoring the participation of Anglican women from around the world at the annual meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York since 2004. At the retreat AWE adopted a three year plan to continue this work and committed itself to raise funds for and facilitate an on-going presence at the UNCSW.
In light of Taimalelagi Fagamalama Tuatagaloa-Matalavea's imminent retirement from the position of Anglican Observer at the UN, AWE will continue to seek approval for ECOSOC status to the UN on behalf of Episcopal Church USA in order to secure an official relationship of its own. Also to be pursued: a volunteer presence at UN commissions during the interim period between Observers.
A transition team for AWE will soon be announced and will begin to function over the summer to prepare for the shifting role that Phoebe Griswold will play in the years ahead. Phoebe plans to continue as convener until November 1, when she will become a consultant/Ambassador for AWE. The transition team will insure a smooth movement to a shared leadership model as the group plans for 2007 and beyond.
The third plan to come out of the retreat was a new plan and commitment for AWE to become a learning community particularly focused on understanding the empowerment of women within the multi-cultural contexts of the Anglican Communion. A small task team was identified and will plan a coordinated effort to become a model for an organic, holistic, and thoroughly representative body.
Over the course of the next three years the group will study the ingredients, processes and results of strengthened women's voices and presence in the world. It will consider theology and worship, sustainability, healing, circle leadership, and cultural sensitivity among other issues. AWE's international committee membership will expand its participation in the new learning component.
For more information regarding AWE, go to
www.episcopalchurch.org/uncsw.htm or email krobey@episcopalchurch.org.
www.episcopalchurch.org/women/
www.episcopalchurch.org/uncsw.htm
Finnish Lutherans and Southern African Anglicans Unite to Address Social Problems
Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane met with a delegation from Finland, led by Archbishop Jukka Paarma of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, to strengthen ecumenical ties between the two churches and to continue discussions regarding an ongoing partnership.
Discussions have been focused on finding a mutually beneficial model of collaboration between Finland and South Africa, where some of the goals for development, specifically those that deal directly with poverty, may be addressed.
In earlier meetings between the two churches it was agreed that the principles for future collaboration should involve shared visions that include equal participation from the partners in South Africa and Finland.
Areas for collaboration include theological education, training for mission, liturgy and worship, capacity building, gender equity, youth empowerment, achieving the Millennium Development Goals and cultural exchange.
Ndungane said that the Christian church worldwide is being called upon to play an increasing role in nation-building and economic and social development. He said that unfortunately churches in Africa must operate in an environment that is characterized by high levels of poverty, political instability, destructive ethnic conflicts, crime and violence, disease, famine and corruption. A partnership with churches like the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland are critical in the socio-economic development process, he added.
Women's Wall Timeline
One of the special features at the General Convention this summer will be a timeline featuring the history of women in the Episcopal Church. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood, the Committee on the Status of Women decided it was important not only to recognize women who have been ordained but other women who have contributed to the rich history of the Episcopal Church.
Names of lay women prominent in the formation of many churches across the land will be remembered on the wall as well as women deaconesses and deacons. We will also pay special tribute to the women who served as convention deputies in 1970, the first year that women could be seated, and whose presence and vote made it possible for their sisters to be ordained to the diaconate in 1970 and the priesthood in l976.
The Women's Wall Timeline will be in the nave of Trinity Episcopal Church, where many convention activities will occur. Two of these are the election of the new presiding bishop on Sunday, June 18 and a one woman show featuring Elizabeth Cady Stanton on the evening of Monday, June 19. The Timeline will be officially blessed at Evening Prayer on Monday, June 12 at 5:30 p.m. The timeline will feature relevant women's and church history from the 17 th century to the present on the top section, and underneath will focus on individual women who made contributions in their own way, in their own place. We are encouraging people to bring information about women who have been important in their parishes and dioceses, including names, dates, and contributions. We would also like to have pictures but the donor must realize that originals cannot be returned.
Contributions to the timeline can be made by bringing the material on a post-it note, or by using one of the post-it note pads that will be available for adding women's names to the wall. The timeline will be in black and white. The notes will be colorful and provide a rich mélange of women's lives and their contribution to this church over the past four hundred years.
Women and men are encouraged to think about women from their parishes and dioceses whose names should be on the wall. Questions can be addressed to the Rev. Barbara Schlachter, Convener of the Committee on the Status of Women, at b.schlachter@mchsi.com.
Church of England Calls for Action to Help Victims of Human Trafficking
The Church of England has welcomed steps being taken to support victims of human trafficking, in an official response to Home Office proposals for a UK action plan designed to tackle the issue.
"Trafficking, whether for sexual exploitation, forced labor or removal of organs, treats human beings abusively and oppressively as a means to the enrichment and gratification of others," Bishop Tom Butler of Southwark wrote in a paper calling for tougher action on those who perpetrate such crimes. "It is totally contrary to Christian teaching and deserves the same unremitting opposition as other forms of slavery."
The submission argues that an effective response to the problem will only be reached by targeting both the "supply" of and "demand" for trafficked people.
The response also welcomes recent Government action in responding to the plight of victims of trafficking, and urges politicians to go a step further by signing Article 13 of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. This would require the Government to provide for a recovery and reflection period to enable a suspected victim to take an informed decision on co-operating with the authorities: "We understand the Government's hesitation, but we consider that the need to provide unambiguous support to genuine victims outweighs the real risk of abuse of these provisions," the bishop said..
Archbishop Robin Eames, Primate of Ireland, Announces Retirement
The Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan, the Most Rev. Dr Robin Eames, has announced his intention to retire later this year.
His intentions have been conveyed to the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. The decision will take effect on 31 December 2006.
Dr Eames, who is 69, has been a bishop for 31 years and was appointed as Archbishop of Armagh in 1986. He is also today the senior primate in the Anglican Communion.
Dr Eames will continue to carry out all the duties and responsibilities of the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland as normal until December 31st.
The Church of Ireland House of Bishops will consider in due course the selection of a successor.
A Second Primate, Archbishop Andrew Hutchison of the Anglican Church of Canada, Also to Retire
Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, has announced that he will retire next year following General Synod and the election of a successor.
Archbishop Hutchison, who was elected Primate at the last General Synod in St. Catharines, Ont., in 2004, made the announcement at a meeting of the Canadian House of Bishops inNiagara Falls, Ont., after privately notifying the four Canadian MetropolitanArchbishops of his decision.
He reminded the bishops that he had said after his election in June, 2004 that his would be a one-triennium primacy. Since then, he said, there have been discussions about whether or not that term should be extended. But "despite a good deal of urging...I believe the best answer is for me to stick to my original statement," he said.
Archbishop Hutchison, former Archbishop of Montreal and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada, had been ready to retire at the time he was elected Primate.The next General Synod, which convenes in Winnipeg next spring, will elect a successor.Archbishop Hutchison noted that this timing will allow a new Primate time to prepare for the next Lambeth Conference.
American Baptist Church Also Facing a Threat of Schism
Delegates from the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest voted overwhelmingly recently to recommend severing ties with the national denomination in a dispute over homosexuality.
Members from the region's 300 churches are upset that American Baptist Churches, USA, has not disciplined congregations with liberal gay policies even though the denomination defineds homosexuality as incompatible with biblical teaching.The matter now goes to the region's board of directors, which had already recommended withdrawal from the denomination citing "deep differences of theological convictions and values."
The board had the authority to withdraw on its own, but decided to seek input from the delegates, according to a statement on the group's Web site.
The delegates--who met in seven locations across the West, including First Baptist Church in Pomona--voted 1,125 to 209 to withdraw.
Anglicans and Roman Catholics Continue Discussion of the Seattle Document on the Virgin Mary
The 60th meeting of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation in the USA (ARC-USA), took place recently at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois
The members of the consultation have been following closely developments within the Anglican Communion since the release of the Windsor Report in 2004. At this session Father George Tavard, AA, gave a paper on the understanding of communion in the ARCIC documents and the Windsor Report, and the Episcopal members updated the Roman Catholic members on the latest developments in view of the upcoming meetings of the General Convention in June and the Lambeth Conference in 2008.
The members also finalized a brief document outlining a common understanding of the way in which they worship together at ARC-USA meetings. The text reaffirms the longstanding practice of celebrating Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer alternating the two traditions, taken from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer and the Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Hours. Eucharist is celebrated each day, also alternating between the Anglican and Roman Catholic rites. In view of the absence of Eucharistic sharing between the churches, those not receiving communion at a particular celebration are nevertheless encouraged to approach the presider for a blessing. Members of the other traditions will ordinarily be invited to serve as lectors and intercessors.
ARC-USA was established in 1965 and usually meets twice each year.A complete list of the agreed statements released by the consultation as well as links to earlier press releases can be found on the USCCB website at: www.usccb.org/seia/officialdialogues.shtml#5.