wfn.org | ACNS Digest 21 October 2005

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

The following is a roundup of the recent ACNS Digest stories, with
reports from England, Ireland, South Africa, Lambeth, USA and Australia.
The ACNS Digest can be found here:

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

(484) 21-October-2005 - HM The Queen to inaugurate Eighth General Synod
- England

Her Majesty The Queen will inaugurate the Eighth General Synod of the
Church of England in Church House, Westminster on Tuesday, 15 November.
The inauguration ceremony will follow the Eucharist in Westminster
Abbey, at which the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will
preside, and the Revd Professor Frances Young (until her recent
retirement, Edward Cadbury Professor of Theology at the University of
Birmingham) will preach. Professor Young is the first woman and the
first Methodist to preach at the five-yearly inauguration ceremony of
the General Synod.

More than a third, 37%, of the elected members of the General Synod are
starting their first five-year term. Among issues they will consider in
that period are the legislative proposals for the consecration of women
as bishops. Other legislative business will include the outworking of
the reviews chaired by Professor David McClean on Clergy Terms of
Service and by Professor Peter Toyne on the Dioceses and Pastoral
Measures, relating to the diocesan and parochial structure of the
Church, the legal framework for new initiatives in mission, and the
closure of church buildings.

Facing the Challenge of Terrorism
The new Synod will begin its work with a major debate on Facing the
Challenge of Terrorism. The debate will be resourced by a report from
the Mission and Public Affairs Division, and gives the Synod the
opportunity of reflecting on the events in London of 7 July and the
Government's response to them, particularly the Terrorism Bill which
will be making its way through Parliament in November.

The report (which will be finalised in time for the second Synod
circulation on 28 October) recognises that an effective
counter-terrorism strategy will require understanding and addressing the
underlying causes of terrorism without excusing violence. In considering
legislation, it urges political parties to heed the warnings from
history over the progressive erosion of fundamental rights. It concludes
with a call to members of the Church of England to promote greater
understanding, reconciliation and respect within their local
communities, especially where there are significant numbers from other
faith traditions.

The report Countering Terrorism: Power, Violence and Democracy Post
9/11, from a working group of the House of Bishops (released in
mid-September), which looks at issues of international order, the
situation in the Middle East and the role of the United States of
America, is being circulated to provide a wider backdrop, but the debate
itself will concentrate on the situation in this country.

Clergy Terms of Service: Property Issues
The Review Group, chaired by Professor David McClean, has addressed the
Synod's reservations about proposals to transfer ownership of clergy
houses, churches and churchyards to Diocesan Boards of Finance. The
Group is producing a report with revised recommendations on the property
issues, in order to test the mind of the Synod before embarking on the
legislative work in this area. The report will be finalised in time for
the second Synod circulation.

Legislative Business
The major item is the Dioceses, Pastoral and Mission Measure and related
legislation.
The items, which come before the Synod for First Consideration, give
effect to the recommendations of the Toyne Review of the Pastoral and
Dioceses Measures, which were approved by the Synod in February 2004.

The general aim of the draft legislation is to improve the Church's
structures and processes in a way that will enable it to further its
mission, in the broadest sense. In particular, it develops the process
for diocesan reorganisation (at present to be found in the Dioceses
Measure 1978), so that the Dioceses Commission can take a proactive
role. It also helps to simplify, devolve and make more flexible the
procedures in the Pastoral Measure 1983 for reorganisation at parish
level and the closure of churches for regular public worship; and it
provides a new legal framework for 'mission initiatives'.

The Admission of Baptised Children to Holy Communion Regulations, which
also come before the Synod for First Consideration, will replace the
existing Guidelines on this subject, produced by the House of Bishops in
1997, and will take account of the developing practice of admitting
children to Holy Communion before Confirmation.

There are also some detailed matters relating to the Clergy Discipline
Measure 2003.

Seminar on Episcopacy
This theological seminar on the episcopate is intended to enable Synod
members to reflect further on some of the wider theological issues
relevant to the debate on women bishops. The Synod will consider the
report of the Bishop of Guildford's Group, which will identify the
options for taking forward Synod's decision to remove the legal
obstacles to the consecration of women as bishops, in February 2006.

Presidential Address
The Archbishop of Canterbury will address the Synod on the Wednesday
morning and give his vision for the next quinquennium: the five-year
life of the Synod.

The agenda for the Synod provides a representative selection of
different types of business over two days. There will be more
opportunity for deliberative debate (as distinct from legislative
business) at the February Group of Sessions next year.

Further information from:
Steve Jenkins (press office)		tel (020) 7898-1326

permalink.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm?years=2005&months=10&article
4&pos=#484

(483) 20-October-2005 - A Statement from Archbishop Eames - Ireland

Statement from Archbishop Eames regarding the current debate within the
Anglican Communion

The Most Reverend Dr Robin Eames, Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All
Ireland, issued the following statement this morning regarding the
current debate within the Anglican Communion:

"The current debate within the Anglican Communion is a theological
debate and I find myself very disturbed by any speculation around the
role that money may play in determining outcomes. Such speculation makes
genuine communication difficult. I feel that when money or assistance is
raised in any part of the Anglican Communion and offered for use where
it may extend Christ's kingdom, it should be offered and accepted in
those terms alone.

"I in no way question the sincerity and integrity of the leaders of the
Global South. As they are well aware, I have personally endeavoured at
all times to maintain and understand the integrity of their argument. I
categorically state I have never believed that any financial offer was
accepted by any of those who represent the Global South on any other
than terms of Christian outreach. I have communicated this response to
Archbishop Akinola this morning."

Editors Note:

The Statement from Archbishop Eames is in response to the open letter
published by Archbishop Akinola which may be found here:
http://www.anglican-nig.org/primate's_ltrr2abpire.htm

permalink.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm?years=2005&months=10&article
3&pos=#483

(482) 18-October-2005 - Archbishop Wants "Authentic African
Contribution" in Poverty Battle - South Africa

In a keynote address entitled "Delivering the G8 Goods: Who's Driving?",
Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane focused on what
Africa can do to ease the plight of its own poor.

The Archbishop spoke yesterday afternoon [Monday 17th October] in London
to the Royal Africa Society.

The Text of the speech follows:

Lord Holme, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a great pleasure to be with you
today.	Thank you for your invitation.

Our theme is 'Delivering the G8 Goods:	Who's Driving?'

As I considered this topic, I realised that from Africa's perspective,
the real question is a little different.

How do we keep the foot hard on the accelerator?  And how do we ensure
that we are steering in the right direction?!

In other words, how do we get, as quickly as possible, to our ultimate
goal, which is a sustainable livelihood for everyone on our continent.

2005 has been a momentous year for Africa's development - and it is not
over yet.

Building on the important foundations of the Millennium Development
Goals, we have had the Commission for Africa report, the G8 summit, and
the UN special summit.	The conclusion of the Doha Round still lies
before us.

A lot of words have been spoken, communiqu?s negotiated, promises made.

What we need now is for them to be implemented - as promptly, as
efficiently, and, most of all, as effectively as possible.  And we want
all these programmes, whether on aid, debt or trade, to go on being
developed and extended.

Those who are able to make this difference need all the help and
encouragement they can get from the rest of us.

It is primarily the responsibility of the public sector.  But the other
two legs of society - the private sector and civil society - must play
our complementary parts.

The success of the Jubilee 2000 campaign demonstrated the power of broad
coalitions, and there is plenty of scope further to develop this
influence.

This is why I am optimistic about our potential to keep the driver's
foot on the accelerator - provided we maintain our encouragement.

I choose the word 'encouragement' deliberately - rather than a more
combative word like 'pressure'.

Donors, and recipient governments, alike, have made their commitments.
We must assume they want to keep their promises.  Therefore, they and we
should know that we are on the same side, working to help them do this.

Encouragement comes in many ways.

It comes through the lobbying of the private sector - who have the
potential to be perhaps the most significant long term engine for
growth, but need an improving climate in order to fulfil that potential.

It comes through the advocacy of NGOs, unions, professional
associations, parliamentarians, clubs, guilds, and the whole range of
civil society groups.

It comes through the research produced by academics, by think tanks, by
international institutions, and by the donors themselves.

It comes through the media, which can do so much to keep Africa in the
public eye and on the agenda.

All this we know - but we must aim to go beyond just 'more of the same.'

My particular concern is to bring a clear and authentic African
contribution to this process.

Initiatives such as Jubilee 2000, and Make Poverty History, have come
from the Global North.	Much existing research looks primarily at donor
performance or from donor perspectives.  Advocacy largely shares a
similar focus.

We need a strong African voice raised alongside.  That will double the
encouragement, double the impact.

How can we debate the development of Africa, and not listen to what this
means for Africans?

What do Africans see as Africa's development priorities?  What do
Africans think is the best way to achieve them?  What difference is all
this making to the lives of Africans, especially the very poorest
Africans?

So far, the African voice is too fragmented, too marginalised, too
quiet.	 We can do better to make ourselves heard.

The potential is there - in much of Africa we are beginning to see a
strengthening private sector (and here I include small and medium-sizes
enterprises alongside the corporates);	we see the flourishing of
numerous and diverse NGOs; emerging independent media;	and maturing
civil society groups and structures.

We can create a broad coalition in support of Africa's development.  We
can let the voice of those at whom development policies are aimed, be
heard.

And of course, I also want to stress the role of the faith communities.

We alone share networks that can reach the entire population of Africa
within a single week.  We reach across barriers of ethnicity or
nationality or regional difference.  Many of us also have strong
channels of communication to our northern coreligionists.

I want to harness the latent influence of all these stakeholders -
Africans, who have a true stake in the future of our continent.

We must take responsibility for ourselves, and play our part in keeping
the foot on the accelerator - whether this means donor countries keeping
their promises; or African governments living up to NEPAD's commitments
to good governance.  They must deliver the political and economic
climate that will allow development programmes to have maximum impact.

This is the way of keeping up the speed - of ensuring that, at the very
least, we maintain the momentum generated by the initiatives of 2005.

Now let me turn to the question of how we steer in the right direction.

This raises the crucial issue of monitoring.

Benjamin Mkapa, the President of Tanzania, and one of the Commissioners
for Africa, wrote this to me, after I shared my concerns with him:
'You are right.  The momentum for Africa generated this year this year
must not be lost.  The case can be made for a dependable follow-up and
monitoring mechanism.  How else can we know if we, on both sides, are
living up to the commitments we make?  How else do we know if we are
moving forward, at what speed; or if we are stagnating and regressing?'

The G8 and NEPAD have only now begun to address this in detail, tasking
the Africa Partnership Forum to work with a new unit within the OECD.

But monitoring the performance of donors and recipients cannot be left
to the donors and recipients themselves!

The rest of us - both donor country taxpayers, and recipient country
citizens - have both a right, and a moral responsibility, to ensure that
the best is achieved.  Governments must not be allowed to let each other
off any hooks!	Yet we also want to support them in their commitment to
mutual accountability.

There is no doubt that effective monitoring presents a complex
challenge.

We must particularly do better in measuring what really matters, which
is to answer the question 'What difference is all this making to the
poorest people on the ground?'

This too is where I want to bring in the voice of Africa's private
sector and civil society.  We are the people on the ground - especially
the faith communities.	The poorest of the poor are our members - it is
we ourselves, about whom we speak.

Alongside the northern voice, reporting from a northern perspective, we
need the African voice:  not just monitoring the same things from an
African perspective, but bringing an authentic African flavour to the
development agenda.

That is why I have given my initiative the name 'African Monitor.'

It is still a work in progress, as I discuss the concept with those who
share my concerns, and who I hope will be partners in this endeavour.

Kofi Annan has written encouragingly, saying:
The strength of your initiative lies in its effort to harness civil
society energies in a broad partnership.  This will reinforce the
accountability mechanisms foreseen by the AU and NEPAD ...

Let me tell you a little more about what I envisage and how it might
work.

In essence, I imagine an independent organisation, rooted in African
civil society, to monitor and promote the implementation of development
commitments to Africa.

The primary goal is effective advocacy by this authentic African voice.

This advocacy must be effective in what it speaks about;  and in how it
speaks.

So, then:  What should the African Monitor speak about?  What should we
be monitoring and how?

First of all, we do not need to reinvent the wheel.  Duplication is a
waste of precious resources.  There is a huge amount of research and
analysis already being done.

But I am not aware that anyone yet is pulling it together, analysing and
synthesising it from a comprehensive, African, grass-roots up,
perspective - and then turning that analysis into strategies to press
effectively for better development.

There is a lot of available data, reflecting these priorities, which is
not being brought adequately into the debate.  We need to seek it out,
and encourage more of it.  We need to include it, and give it
appropriate weight.  We must publicise it and use it to provide a fuller
picture and more persuasive lobbying.

And we must not be constrained to deal only in what can be easily
quantified.  We must also find ways - or press others to find ways - of
better assessing the human impact and effectiveness of what is being
done.

Beyond existing data on aid and trade and debt, we need to ask questions
like:
* How well are good governance measures dovetailing with donor efforts?
* Are provisions for safeguarding disbursement and combating corruption
working as they should?
* Do trade special measures and other tailored provisions work in
practice?
* How is money freed up from debt servicing requirements now being used?

We want to home in on the most important questions of all:
* Who is really benefiting?  Is it the poorest - or is the biggest
impact the consolidation of the middle classes?
* Are those at whom the aid is directed given a say in its use;  are
they able to become part of their own solution?

Now, in most countries, there are people and groups and private
enterprises on the ground who already know the answers to at least some
of these questions - sometimes in quantifiable ways, sometimes through
more personal anecdotes.

We need to provide a vehicle to bring this information together, and to
make it work for the benefit of Africa's poor.

We may need to provide a safe channel for bringing bad practices into
the open.

We certainly ought to provide a means for spreading good news,
publicising best practice and sharing success stories.

And beyond this, through circulating this material with all our
grass-roots partners, we will ourselves be helping inculcate the
practices of mature civil society.  We will be encouraging people to
take a more active role in their own development, which is an important
objective in itself.

How shall we do all this?  One of my priority objectives is to raise
sufficient seed funding to commission research to build a rolling model
which will track the progress of development commitments and goals.

Let me say here, I do not see us as directly shadowing the work of the
Africa Partnership Forum.  We want to complement them and encourage
them, but we must also remain independent.  We must be driven by
Africa's real needs, not political agendas from within the continent or
beyond.

In terms of structure, I envisage a small central secretariat
concentrating on analysis and the formulation of advocacy strategies.  I
do not see us becoming a primary research body - though we might prompt
and encourage pertinent research by others.

It will not happen overnight, but in the longer term I see the
secretariat as probably being supported by regional offices.  Working
with and through local civil society partners and networks, we would
also have input from across the nations of the continent.

We have no desire to encroach on any existing work - rather, we want to
offer 'value added' by providing a process through which the composite
voice of the whole can be made greater than the sum of the parts, with
room for each particular message to be heard distinctly.

We should be a supportive partner for every African non-governmental
concern.

And we would be glad to welcome the support of all those, in Africa and
beyond, who have Africa's best interests at heart.  I particularly want
to promote collaboration with the private sector, which has such
potential to contribute to positive change, and so was very encouraged
by the establishment of Business Action for Africa.

My other point was the need for the African Monitor to speak
effectively.

We will, of course, use all the tools of advocacy at our disposal, at
every level, public and private, broad brush and highly technical.

Sometimes we may stand alongside our own governments, calling on donors
to do better.  Or we may join donors in calling our own governments to
account.

I also intend that there will be a particularly distinctive
contribution, made by a high level group of individuals - 'Friends of
the African Monitor,' though that may not be the final title of this
'Council of Elders.'

These individuals will be respected representatives of civil society
primarily from across the Continent.  They will be the public face of
the Monitor, using their status to speak where and when the situation
arises.

I hope we will also speak through our actions, as well as through our
words.

I want the African Monitor to model the best practices of integrity,
transparency and open collaborative working, that we would like to see
in our governments and institutions.

In the Hebrew Scriptures the prophet Joel tells us that 'in those days,
the Lord will pour out his Spirit and old men shall dream dreams.'
Thank you for letting me dream my dreams before you today.

Yet I truly think that we are 'in those days' and that this is a dream
whose time has come.  You may laugh if I say that e-mail is God's gift
to Africa - but it is just one of the innovations which now makes it
possible to bring the voice of the Continent together in a way that
could not been done before.

I am under no illusions - it will be hard work to make this dream
reality.  But I have been encouraged by the widespread support I have
received in principle so far.  And I am more than ready to talk with any
of you who would like to help me turn principle into practice.

2005 has offered so many opportunities for Africa's development.  Now is
the time for Africans - public sector, private sector and civil society
- to meet the challenge, and to shoulder our responsibility, to grasp
these opportunities, and make them work.
I look forward to learning more about how we can do this together, in
the rest of this seminar.

permalink.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm?years=2005&months=10&article
2&pos=#482

(481) 18-October-2005 - Archbishop of Canterbury: Tribute for Brother
Roger of Taize - Lambeth

Archbishop of Canterbury
Tribute at Memorial Service for Brother Roger of Taize
Westminster Cathedral, London
Friday 14 October 2005

Possibly the most significant thing about this event is that we are
commemorating someone who was known to hundreds of thousands of
believers simply by the title 'Brother' and a Christian name. No titles
of honour, not even a surname; all you needed to know was that this
person, baptised 'Roger', was your brother, a partner in the family of
Christ's brothers and sisters, a fellow-pilgrim and disciple.

The authority and compelling attractiveness of Brother Roger is all
contained in this. He was not a distant figure who needed to be
identified by a formal surname. He was not a hierarchical leader who
needed to be approached with due veneration and awe, but an older
brother in Christ's Body, whose authority lay in years of witness, years
of knowing Jesus in prayer and in the service of those bruised by the
need and turmoil of the world.

We often speak of how our age needs figures of authority, clear points
of reference in a culture where old patterns of respect vanishing.
Sometimes we can see how Christian leaders gain the respect that is due
to parents: so many will remember Pope John Paul as a sort of icon of
true and trustworthy fatherhood, so many will carry in their minds the
image of Mother Teresa and the children of Calcutta. But there are other
no less important images to hold on to. In some circumstances the
authority that matters is indeed that of the older brother - one of us,
yet matured by encounter with God, sharing with the rest of us the gifts
of that encounter. Christ himself is described by St Paul and by the
writer to the Hebrews in just these terms, after all.

And Brother Roger, with his unfailing credibility among the young, his
unobtrusive but strong personal presence, his lifelong emphasis upon
solidarity with the powerless, was one of the great images in our age of
real brotherhood, Christlike companionship. The whole of the community
life of Taize has, of course, been just such a sign for countless
people. That it has been so owes an incalculable amount to the great and
deeply loved friend of God for whom we give thanks this evening.

permalink.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm?years=2005&months=10&article
1&pos=#481

(480) 18-October-2005 - 'A vision seen, a call obeyed' - USA

Under sunny German skies, delegates from parishes and missions of the
Convocation of American Churches in Europe met October 12-16, 2005, for
their Annual Convention at the Dominikanerkloster, a Christian
conference center in downtown Frankfurt. Bishop-in-Charge Pierre W.
Whalon joined with clergy, laity, and youth delegates from Belgium,
France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland and representatives of the
Diocese in Europe (Church of England), the Board of Foreign Parishes
(USA), the Office of the Presiding Bishop, and the Office of
Communication of the Episcopal Church Center to discuss and shape
priorities which will guide the European mission and parishes for many
years to come.

A new mission hymn, the presence of representatives of a fledging
Spanish-speaking congregation in Rome, Italy, and of three free-standing
Francophone missions in Toulon, Clermont Ferrand, and Bordeaux, France,
and a decidedly mission-minded agenda contributed to shatter any
lingering image of laid-back English-speaking chaplaincy churches.

The convention approved a budget of over $465,000, made changes to the
by-laws of the Paris-based official European non-profit holding
corporation for some of the American congregations, proposed changes to
the canons regulating the life of the Convocation, and agreed upon six
mission priorities: Youth Ministry, Training and Nurturing, Building New
Missions, Spirituality and Worship Development, Environmental Justice,
and Leadership and Visioning.

The convention's approved mission priorities call for planting
congregations in English and other languages as the need is discerned.
Indeed, the convocation has recently published editions of the Book of
Common Prayer in French, Italian, and German. A bilingual
English-Spanish edition of the Book of Common Prayer is also in use.

"Pray as if expecting your prayer will be answered, because it will,"
Whalon challenged the delegates and visitors in attendance to the
opening Convention Eucharist. "Who's calling us? What for?" The business
of the convention is to make happen "what we ask Jesus to do in each
Eucharist--to be sent in mission into the world," said Whalon.

On Friday, Oct 14, the Convocation appropriately gathered at the
Heilig-Geist-Kirche (Church of the Holy Spirit) for Morning Prayer and
the commemoration of the Rt. Rev. Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky
(1831-1906). Schereschewsky, a gifted linguist and former Bishop of
Shanghai, translated the Bible into Mandarin and, despite a relentlessly
devastating condition, "spent the rest of his life completing his Wenli
Bible, the last 2000 pages of which he typed with the one finger that he
could still move." His ministry, indicative of "how much can be
accomplished with so little," highlighted the convocation's pressing
need of educational materials in the Anglican tradition in languages
other than English-- in French, Italian, German, Spanish and,
eventually, even in Chinese, as according to Whalon, there are
conversations for developing an English-Chinese mission congregation in
Eastern Europe.

>From traditional chaplaincy ministry to English-speaking residents, to
ministry to US deportees, to ministry in higher education, to outreach
to the unchurched in their native languages, under Whalon's leadership
the congregations of the convocation are actively and faithfully
involved carrying out God's mission in this world "to reconcile all
things in Christ."

At the closing Eucharist, celebrated at Christ the King Church,
Frankfurt, Whalon handed over the Cross of Canterbury to the Very Rev.
Zachary Fleetwood, ninth Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Paris, France.
The 4 foot tall wooden cross was dedicated in 1997 as a commemoration of
the arrival in 597 AD of St. Augustine to the British Islands. As a
powerful reminder of the power of prayer and of the proclamation of the
Gospel, the cross is sent from the congregation hosting the current
year's convention to the next hosting church which, in 2006 will gather
in Paris, France.

All through the Convention "A vision seen, a call obeyed," a hymn
recently composed by former Convocation Bishop-in-Charge Jeffery
Rowthorn of the Convocation "to be sung at the Annual Convention of the
Convocation of American Churches...in commemoration of the first use of
the new Book of Common Prayer (1552) by the English exiles in Frankfurt
am Main in May, 1555," uplifted participants singing to be empowered,
"with a faith well trained" to follow in St. Paul's missionary steps.

-The Rev. Thomas Mansella is Translation Services Coordinator of the
Office of Communication at the Episcopal Church Center.

Article from ENS: By Thomas Mansella

permalink.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm?years=2005&months=10&article
0&pos=#480

(479) 18-October-2005 - Sydney secures safety net for independents -
Australia

Sydney Anglicans have agreed that a loose network rather than any formal
structure is the best way to meet the pleas of independent evangelical
churches for assistance.

In recent years, the Sydney Diocese had been approached to help ease the
administrative and financial burden falling on independent ethnic
churches, as well as pastors forced to start churches outside their
denomination due to their evangelical convictions.

Yesterday, Matt Greenwood a former Anglican minister and now pastor of
the newly planted Western Suburbs Community Bible Church in Perth
explained to sydneyanglicans.net the importance of the new law for his
ministry.

Mr Greenwood said he hoped the support from Sydney Diocese might ease
the burden on his church in a number of areas including the
interchangeability of ministry, insurance and community credibility.

After the Synod debate late last night, chief mover of the bill, the
Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, agreed that the new law offered the hand
of friendship through a networking mechanism.

"It's about providing a warm welcome not structures," he said.

In a key change to the legislation late in proceedings, the Bishop of
South Sydney, Robert Forsyth, and the Bishop of North Sydney, Dr Glenn
Davies, successfully put an amendment denying such 'affiliate' church
bodies the automatic right to speak in Sydney Synod.

"It would not be helpful if they were made quasi-members of Synod,"
Bishop Forsyth said, explaining that it created an unnecessary
structural relationship.

However a similar attempt by Bishop Forsyth and Bishop Davies to remove
a provision in the bill urging the Archbishop of Sydney to give pastors
of the independent churches a General License from Sydney Diocese was
very narrowly defeated.

In response, Dean Jensen pointed out that the Archbishop of Sydney has
already granted General Licenses to clergy living outside Sydney Diocese
and cited numerous examples, including Bishop John Reid who lives in
Newcastle Diocese.

"This will be an important expression of fellowship," Dean Jensen said.

Earlier in response to questions about the bill, Dean Jensen scotched
the idea that it was 'Alternative Episcopal Oversight' by another name.

"The term 'episcopal' is not used anywhere in the ordinance. The
Archbishop [of Sydney] would have no jurisdiction," he said. "I don't
think the independent churches want the Archbishop interfering in their
ministry. It's not about creating hierarchies of power."

This then raised queries from the floor - including a rare intervention
from Archbishop Peter Jensen, the Synod President - about whether the
proposal then undermined Sydney Diocese's strong commitment to child
protection and sexual abuse protocols.

"If anything we should be able to raise standards by bringing the
independent churches into our PSU (Professional Standards Unit) system,"
Dean Jensen said. "[The independent church] will be disaffiliated if
they do not meet the standards."

Earlier, an attempt by the Rev Chris Albany from South Hurstville parish
to defer the bill was easily defeated.

A series of amendments from Garth Blake SC that sought to gut the
ordinance and limit its effect to the geographic boundaries of the
Diocese of Sydney was also defeated.

Mr Blake was unable to convince Synod that the proposals were
unconstitutional, despite his belief the new bill could lead to civil
court cases, and even the Archbishop of Sydney being brought before the
Appellate Tribunal (the national church's high court) and dismissed.

Bishop Forsyth later told sydneyanglicans.net that such concerns were
inaccurate and that 'he had no doubt these moderate proposals were
legal."

He urged Anglicans not to overreact to the Affiliated Churches Ordinance
passed in Sydney Diocese.

"Although there are some details I am uneasy about," he said, "It is
important not to let the ordinance to be seen as anything more than it
really is. It is a mechanism by which the diocese can enter into
contracts of support with various other, non-Anglican churches both
within and outside the Diocese.  It is not about extending the authority
of the Archbishop of Sydney beyond the Diocese of Sydney."

Bishop Forsyth noted that there had been a lot of controversy in the
last decade over the question of churches being created outside the
Diocese supported by Sydney churches.  But he re-emphasised that this
law does not mean that these churches are part of the Diocese of Sydney.

"It merely means they may be brought into a partnership of friendship
and support. It might not be what others want, but it is important not
to overreact," said the Bishop.

Article From: Anglican Media Sydney By Jeremy Halcrow

permalink.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm?years=2005&months=10&article
9&pos=#479

___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is
distributed to more than 8,000 journalists and other readers around
the world.

For subscription INFORMATION please go to:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/acnslist.html