wfn.org | ACNS DIGEST 19 August 2005

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

The following is a roundup of the recent ACNS Digest stories, with
reports from Diocese of Europe, the US, Canada, Ireland, Central Africa
and England. The ACNS Digest can be found here:

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/digest/index.cfm

(445) 19-August-2005 - Letter to the Taizé from the Bishops of the
Diocese in Europe - Europe

Dear Brother in Christ

The bishops, clergy and people of the Church of England diocese in
Europe send our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the members of the
Taizé Community on the death of Brother Roger. We, like so many around
the world, are in shock that a place of pilgrimage, prayer and peace has
been shaken by the violent nature of his death.

The ministry of Brother Roger since the founding of the community bore
witness to the message of love and reconciliation in the midst of a
world that is deeply fragmented. He inspired us to continually seek to
overcome all that divides us from one another. Indeed, he taught a
vision of the Church as "a place of communion for all humanity". The
dreadful way in which Brother Roger died lays bare the need for the
world to hear and embrace the message of the Gospel he sought to
proclaim.

Brother Roger led the community to develop a spiritual life that has in
turn come to enrich many of our own congregations, and indeed in the
whole Church of God: a tradition of prayer and song which is accessible
to all, of whatever language, tradition, generation or culture, a truly
ecumenical spirituality. But especially, countless young persons have
experienced a life-changing encounter with God through participation in
the life of the community, through the experience of her simple yet deep
prayer, and through the teaching of her beloved founder, Brother Roger.
His influence will continue to be felt in our own diocese, and in the
life of Christians everywhere.

We send you the assurance of our love and prayers, that God will
strengthen and comfort you and guide you as you continue in the path
which Brother Roger has set for your community.
May God give him eternal rest in that place where there is no sorrow,
grief nor mourning.
In Christ Jesus.

Ends.

Editors Note.

In London, a special memorial service for Brother Roger will be held at
7pm on Tuesday 23 August at St Mary's, Somerstown, Eversholt Street,
London NW1. All are welcome.

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(444) 19-August-2005 - Indigenous Anglicans told they will have their
own bishop - Canada

The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada has told indigenous church
members that he will do his best to see that a national native bishop is
elected, if possible within a year.

Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, accompanied by six other Canadian bishops,
as well as a bishop from Alaska and one from New Zealand, accepted in
principle a proposal from the fifth Anglican Indigenous Sacred Circle,
meeting in Pinawa, Man., that such a bishop be elected for native
communities in Canada.

The Sacred Circle, held from Aug. 8 to 13, was attended by about 150
First Nations and Metis leaders.

Native leaders were seeking the election of their own bishop as a first
step in the creation of an Indigenous Anglican Church. This idea dates
back to 1994 when native Anglicans and the Anglican Church of Canada
signed a covenant agreeing to the eventual creation of "a new
self-determining community within the Anglican Church of Canada."

Members of the Sacred Circle last week approved a declaration calling
for the national bishop who would "have spiritual support from the whole
church and be monetarily supported so the Indigenous Anglican Church
stands strong and independent of any subordination. The provision of
this bishop is a first step in a new era for the Indigenous Anglican
Church."

The proposal received the unanimous support of 41 native elders who were
attending the Sacred Circle.
Archbishop Hutchison and the other bishops attending agreed that it
should be possible to have an indigenous bishop elected within a year
who would have pastoral oversight of native communities.

A statement from the Sacred Circle said that "an indigenous bishop who
welcomed aboriginal teachings and ways as a manifestation of native
Anglicanism would heal wounds and open the doors of the Anglican Church
to indigenous youth."

Statement from the Sacred Circle can be found here:
http://www.anglican.ca/about/committees/acip/sc2005/statement-2005-08-13
.htm

Article taken from Anglican Church in Canada.

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(443) 19-August-2005 - Latin America Anglican Theological Congress set
for October meeting - USA

The Latin America Anglican Theological Congress, a new initiative
coordinated by a sub-commission of the Commission on Theological
Education for Latin America and the Caribbean (CETALC,) will meet
October 5-10, 2005 at the Hotel El Panama in Panama City, Panama to
discuss globalization and its meaning for Latin America.

The Congress was the brainchild of Canon Juan Marquez, international
companionships officer in the Episcopal Church Center's Office of
Anglican and Global Relations, and supervisor of the Commission.

"It is expected that this event will make a significant contribution to
the life and ministries of the Episcopal/Anglican Church in Latin
America and the Caribbean," Marquez said.

"It is also expected that this event will provide not only an
opportunity for theological reflection in the region's context, but also
provide an avenue in re-examining and evaluating old and new methods and
models of missionary strategy for church growth," he said. "The whole
concept of mission enterprise is at the center of this event."

Gathering under the theme "Globalization and its implications in Latin
America: A Challenge to the Episcopal/Anglican Church" conference
participants will attend the following presentations:

* General analysis of the Anglican presence in Latin America during the
last three decades of the 20th century with Bishop Armando Guerra of
Guatemala;

* Present status of the Episcopal/Anglican Church in Latin America,
socio-economic responsibility in the context of Trade Agreements with
Dean Ashton J. Brooks of All Saints Cathedral, US Virgin Islands;

* Cultural analysis and nature of the Episcopal Church leadership in
Latin America with the Rev. Dr. McDonald Jean;

* Vision and theological expression of Anglicanism in the globalization
context with the Rt. Rev. Sebastiao Gamaleria and;

* Globalization and its implications for Latin America and the
Caribbean: A challenge with Lic. Carlos Aguilar.

In addition, there are workshops led by the following:

* Congregational Development
The Rt. Rev. James H. Ottley, Bishop Assistant, Southeast Florida

* Models of Missionary Strategy in the Globalization Context
The Rt. Rev. Jubal Neves, Diocese of Santa Maria, Brazil

* Growth of the Episcopal Church in Latin America
The Rev. John Kater

* Cultural liturgical Expressions
The Rev. Dr. Louis Weil

* Theological Expressions in Latin America, in response to the
Globalization
The Rev. Israel Batista, executive secretary, Latin America Council of
Churches (CLAI)

* Models of Ministry with Young People
Lic. Jose Reyes and the Rev. Ivette Linares.

Marquez said approximately 200 lay and ordained people from Brazil,
Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador,
Guatemala , Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Mexico, Peru,
Haiti, the Virgin Islands, Honduras, and the host country Panama are
expected to attend. He said the event is mainly subsidized by the
Commission, provinces and dioceses which will make a contribution of
$500 per diocese.

For information and registration, contact the Rev. D. George Porter at
+1 506 225 1029 or Canon Marquez at jmarquez@episcopalchurch.org.

Article taken from ENS.

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(442) 19-August-2005 - The Current Situation of Sectarianism - Statement
by Archbishop Eames - Ireland

"The current level of hatred and sectarian attacks on families, homes,
churches and other places throughout Northern Ireland are to be utterly
condemned by all decent people.  There is no justification or excuse for
the attacks we are seeing day and night in this Province. Innocent
people and families are facing danger to their lives simply because of
their religious or political identity

"Although those who are carrying out these attacks have little or no
regard for the condemnation of Church leaders or clergy at this time it
is vital for the future of this community that it is made clear beyond
all possible doubt that such attacks do not represent the feelings of
the vast majority of ordinary people.

"Protestants and Roman Catholics must reject and condemn all attacks
made under the guise of loyalism or republicanism.

"This is a time for utter condemnation of attacks from whatever source
and the detection and conviction of those who are claiming to act in the
name of any organisation, cause of community."

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(441) 19-August-2005 - Walsingham - A Spiritual Place for Everyone -
England

Father Philip North, Administrator of the Shrine of Our Lady of
Walsingham, outlines plans to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the
current Holy House in a new edition of the Walsingham Review published
today.

He also gives details of the £2m anniversary appeal aimed at enriching
the visitor experience at the Shrine. The Shrine is marking the
anniversary by making exciting plans to make sure that Walsingham is " a
spiritual resource for everyone". Father North stresses that we "live in
a desperately thirsty world." He adds:"People are searching for
something which will make sense of their lives, for healing, for
forgiveness, for love."

2006 marks the 75th anniversary of the translation of the image of Our
Lady of Walsingham from the village Parish Church to the then
newly-built Holy House. There will be special anniversary events
throughout the year including a series of study days in Preston,
Cardiff, Durham and London.

But the Review also stresses the importance of the £2m appeal aimed at
matching people's increasing expectations when they visit Walsingham. It
was launched last week by the Bishop of Horsham, Rt.Revd Lindsay Urwin,
who flew over the Shrine in a hot air balloon with a group of young
pilgrims to celebrate plans to enrich the visitor experience.

The aim is to provide a place where visitors can learn about the Shrine,
upgraded accommodation as well as a new Accommodation Office and
Reception area.

The Walsingham Review is distributed across the country twice a year.

For further information please contact
Fr Rob Marshall
on 07785 767594
in the Shrine Media Office (24 hours)
www.walsingham.org.uk

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(440) 15-August-2005 - Clergy crowd sexual misconduct seminars -
Australia

When she speaks, they listen - Jenni Woodhouse along with Lisa Watts
handing out essential advice to Sydney ministry workers on how to keep
children safe from the perpetrators of sexual abuse.

As chaplain of the Archbishop's Professional Standards Unit (PSU), Jenni
Woodhouse has already spoken to almost all of Sydney's Anglican clergy
at meetings across the diocese, including the one held at St James',
Croydon yesterday.

The event was one of 13 seminars taking place between May and September
alerting clergy and ministry workers to the importance of the
Faithfulness in Service code.

The national code, outlining appropriate behaviour for those in
pastorial ministry, has been adopted by the Sydney and General Synods.

PSU director Philip Gerber is pleased with the overwhelming response of
Sydney's ministry workers to the seminars.

'With three to go, well over 95 per cent of clergy have already
attended,'Mr Gerber says.

'It shows that the vast majority of Sydney clergy and church workers are
thoroughly committed to doing the right thing. When you get attendance
levels like this, you can say the commitment is universal.'

Mrs Woodhouse believes this wide-ranging local and national support
shows the church is serious about dealing with issues of child abuse and
sexual misconduct.

'We need to make sure churches are places where children are safe to
ensure that they can safely grow up in a Christian community,' Mrs
Woodhouse says.

According to Mrs Woodhouse churches have struggled to deal effectively
with issues of child abuse and child protection.

'Up until 10 years ago the churches often dropped the ball,' she says.

'There was a lack of understanding of the effects of abuse on people, a
lack of understanding of the ways a perpetrator operates and a lack of
understanding about how to deal with perpetrators.'

Mr Gerber says the past decade has shaken the church from its slumber.

'The media reports were our wake up call - incidents like the Wood Royal
Commission and the Hollingworth saga,' he says.

'The code makes crystal clear what behaviour is required from people in
ministry. From a parishioner's point of view, they are entitled to know
what they can expect in terms of behaviour from their ministers and
church workers.'

PSU Contact Person, Lisa Watts deals first-hand with complaints of
abuse.

She believes the Faithfulness in Service seminars are essential for
equipping clergy with the tools to make their churches safe places.

'Discussions about how clergy can establish safe practices in churches
are protecting people for the future,' she says.

Philip Gerber says Sydney Diocese is committed to continual revision of
the new national code to ensure it is constantly meeting the
expectations of the Christian community as well as the broader society.

'The diocese is committed to Faithfulness in Service as a working
document. In time there will need to be another code. It might be almost
exactly the same in general terms but things can always be improved.'

'A code is only of value if you habitually revisit it and make sure it
is still appropriate.'

Article taken from SydneyAnglicans.
http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/sydneystories/faithfulness_seminars/

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(439) 15-August-2005 - New Bishop elected for the Diocese of Lake Malawi
- Central Africa

The Revd Nicholas Henderson, currently Vicar of two west London
parishes, All Saints, Ealing & St Martin's West Acton, has been elected
as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Lake Malawi.

Nicholas will be consecrated Bishop by the Most Revd Bernard Malango on
Sunday 9th October, in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi.  He will be
enthroned as diocesan Bishop in the Cathedral of All Saints, Nkhotakota
in January next year.

The diocese is one of four in Malawi and is part of the Province of
Central Africa.  Although the country is one of the poorest in the world
it has a dynamic Anglican Church and has seen considerable growth in
recent years under the leadership of the late Bishop Peter Nyanja.

Nicholas comments, 'The news of my election as Bishop has come as a
great surprise.  I was a great admirer of Bishop Peter Nyanja and I pray
that I will be a worthy successor.  The Diocese of Lake Malawi is an
exciting place to work in with a lot of growth and activity, I'm going
to be pretty busy!'

For further information please visit the website:
www.lakemalawi.anglican.org

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