The Right Revd Ken Clarke, Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh, has been appointed as the new full-time Mission Director of SAMS Ireland (South American Mission Society). He will take up the post later this year and continue as bishop of his diocese until the Autumn. Bishop Ken Clarke is in his twelfth year as Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh, having been elected as bishop on the 13th November 2000.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that Nigeria is under threat of "disintegration" at the hands of extremist Islamist group Boko Haram, in a contribution to a Synod debate on recent violence in Nigeria.

WEEKLY REVIEW: A roundup of the week's Anglican Communion news plus opinion, reviews, photos, profiles and other things of interest from across the Anglican/Episcopal world.

From http://www.secularism.org.uk The High Court today ruled that "The saying of prayers as part of the formal meeting of a Council is not lawful under s111 of the Local Government Act 1972, and there is no statutory power permitting the practice to continue". The judgement follows a Judicial Review initiated by the National Secular Society.

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has accepted the invitations of Primates of Anglican Communion provinces in Asia to visit, address diocesan gatherings, celebrate Eucharist and preach during February and early March.

Bishop Victoria Matthews: “We are still proclaiming the Gospel...and God is with us and will see us through”

London, 8 February (ENInews) British Anglicans have called upon the United Kingdom government to support those in Nigeria seeking to protect religious minorities of all faiths and enable them to practice their religion without fear.

The Church of England's General Synod is currently looking at the legislative process designed to make it possible for women to be bishops while also making provision for those who, for theological reasons, will not be able to receive their ministry.

La Quinta Marca de Misión – "esforzarse a slavaguardar la integridad de la creación y sostener y renovar la vida de la tierra." - a veces se ve como una marca  desatendida por la Comunión Anglicana. La proxima Cuaresma ofrece otra oportunidad para compensar  eso, con un curso que sale del trabajo del proyecto La Biblia en la Vida de la Iglesia.

Como parte del proyecto la Biblia en la Vida de la Iglesia  nos comprometemos a hacer una encuesta por toda la Comunión Anglicana en cuanto a como los Anglicanos entendemos y interactuamos con la Biblia.

By Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd Nick Baines on his blog My Brother's Keeper According to the commentariat the General Synod of the Church of England is obsessing about women bishops today. The twitter sphere is buzzing with it. A bit disappointing, then, that the day begins with a ‘debate’ about the plight of Christians in Nigeria. Or… about time we got some proportion into the significance of what preoccupies us (the Synod as well as the commentators)? The new Bishop of Durham reported from a recent visit to Nigeria on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He described the situation of the church in northern Nigeria as “systematically, deliberately and progressively being eliminated”. He explored political, economic and religious developments there and reminded us of the complexity of such realities. The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke of “the threatened disintegration of a society under pressure from Boko Haram, one of the most extreme organisations in the world”. The importance of this debate this morning is that it exemplifies again the vital nature of the Anglican Communion. The Archbishop of York expressed the essential solidarity within the community – emphasising, as did others, that this is not just about us defending other Christians, but defending all people and minorities in Nigeria – by stating that whatever happens to ‘them’ happens to ‘us’. Hence, our prayers, support, advocacy and encouragement to politicians to use their weight in addressing this disastrous situation. Several speakers in the debate related stories of how diocesan link relationships demonstrate their real value at times like this. Real people meet real people… on the ground… unalloyed by spin or selective reporting. This is the heart of the Anglican Communion beating strongly: not about issues, but about fellowship in Christ, rooted in a common humanity under God, unafraid to speak truth to power. Now back to women bishops…

The Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa has challenged itself to harness untapped resources and strengthen intra-continental relationships to benefit God's mission. 

Anglican leaders from across the continent of Africa have made an emotional appeal to Muslim leaders to stand with them in opposition to "tragic violence that is destroying our communities".  

On the final day of the 11th CAPA Council Meeting in Burundi, the Constitution is reviewed, a delegation meets with the President, and a new Chair and Vice Chair are elected,

As Patron of the Benefice, the Bishop of Birmingham is delighted to announce the appointment of the Revd Dr Joshva Raja as Vicar. This appointment has the goodwill of the parish representatives.

The Archbishop of Canterbury last night warned that moves to legalise assisted suicide could spell “disaster” for society.

How to serve your community’s needs without reinventing the wheel in every parish: that is the challenge posed by a new project to be launched by the Archbishop of York at this week’s General Synod. 

A report of the first day's proceedings at the 11th CAPA Council meeting hosted by the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi. In attendance are Primates or their representatives, clergy and lay people from the 12 Anglican Provinces of Africa along with partners and other observers from around the world.

The Anglican Alliance, in partnership with the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil, is seeking a committed and dynamic person to work as a part-time Alliance facilitator for Latin America and the Caribbean.

A prayer written at The Queen’s Direction by the Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee has been released. It will be used in the Jubilee Thanksgiving Service in St Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday, June 5th. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have commended it for use throughout the Church of England and other Churches are also welcome to use it.

In our reflections last year on the commemoration of independence we emphasised with much concern that the sixty third commemoration of our Independence can be meaningful only by creating an environment where all people alike will be able to live without fear or suspicion and without any hesitation, they will have to feel and believe that they are a valuable and a useful part of this country.

Rome, 2 February (ENInews)  One of the world's most recent ecumenical entities, the Global Christian Forum (GCF), met in late January with Vatican officials, affirming a desire to continue to journey together in the search for Christian unity.

Hosted by the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi, the 11th CAPA Council meeting has brought together Primates or their representatives, clergy and lay people from the 12 Anglican Provinces of Africa along with partners and other observers from around the world.

Today, with 6,000 co-ed students in Chennai, India, Madras Christian College (MCC) is the largest of the 50 Indian members of Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion (CUAC). 

Osun State deputy governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Laoye-Tomori has reiterated the efficacy of prayer as the only panacea to the incessant killing of Christians by Boko Haram sect in some parts of Nigeria.

Archbishop Peter Akinola, a retired Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has urged Christians to remain peaceful and shun retaliatory attacks against their Muslims brothers.

The Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA) had completed its 45TH Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Honiara last week.

OGWASHI-UKU (DELTA) - The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Asaba, Most Rev Justus Mogekwu, has called on the Chiefs and inhabitants of Ogwashi-Uku to do away with the worship of deities.

Once passed by the parliament, the proposed Christian Divorce (Amendment) Bill 2011 will bring some vital changes in the present applicable law of 1862 that provides only one ground of divorce for people belonging to Christian community.

"Divisions between churches remain a scandal that we have to overcome," Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) said today at a "Pilgrimage of the Holy Robe" an ecumenical preparatory event being held this week.

The Anglican Health Network (AHN) today announced plans for a major conference in Birmingham, UK, in April 2013

The Anglican Church says it will be at least another month before details of a temporary cathedral for Christchurch are made public.

Easter Sunday could be stripped of its public holiday status under possible changes to holiday laws.

A demolition crew dismantled the 166-year-old church towards the end of January and all that remains there now is the graveyard and a level patch of earth.

Five full days of activities are planned for the 19th staging of the Anglican Schools Festival in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Student protests and the debate around Higher Education funding have prompted this year’s Education Sunday theme – learning and serving – which issues a strong challenge about responsibility to others.

THE Church of Ireland has approved an official liturgy for services this year to mark the centenary of the Ulster Covenant.

The Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma, has warned those, including Boko Haram, scheming to distract the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to retrace their steps and turn a new leaf.

The Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion, Canon Kenneth Kearon, preaching earlier this month in Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral on the topic of the 350th anniversary of the Book of Common Prayer, described it as an "iconic" Prayer Book that had shaped Anglican worship and teaching since 1662. 

Residents of the Occupy London camp outside St Paul’s Cathedral are challenging church and society to consider their stance on global economics.

More than 1,000 people across Wales have had their say about the future of the Church in Wales as part of a root and branch review.

Inspirational people who help their organisation benefit the wider community will be recognised in a new award sponsored by the Church in Wales.

27 January (ENInews)--Christian and Muslim leaders worldwide are being urged to act together to address the violence being unleashed in northern Nigeria that has been blamed on Boko Haram, a self-proclaimed Islamist group.

Ministers should not overrule tradition on the issue of same-sex marriages, the Archbishop of York has said.

The Archbishop of York, The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, will today preach at a service at the Webster Memorial Church in Kingston, to mark the beginning of Jamaica’s celebration of 50 years of independence.

Nestlé and Fairtrade Foundation invite farmers to York to celebrate two years of Fairtrade certified Four-Finger KIT KAT. Farmers and Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation UK meet with Archbishop of York’s Young Leaders at Manor School on the 26th January.

WEEKLY REVIEW: A roundup of the week's Anglican Communion news plus opinion, reviews, photos, profiles and other things of interest from across the Anglican/Episcopal world.

Brussels, 26 January (ENInews)  The Rev. Guy Liagre, president of the United Protestant Church in Belgium, was named general secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) as of June 2012, according to a news release.

[World Council of Churches] The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit expressed deep sadness over the current wave of violence in Nigeria, calling on the churches to pray for the victims, and asking Nigerian president to support solidarity efforts for peace by both Christians and Muslims in the country.

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Jan. 26 is honoring Nobel Peace Prize laureate and activist Desmond Tutu, archbishop emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa, for his efforts in the battle against hunger and his advocacy on behalf of the world’s most vulnerable people.

A Wellington man has died in Fiji while working on a mission project.  He was Andrew Duxfield, and he was checking out a number of water projects in Fiji on behalf of the Anglican Missions Board (AMB) and Engineers without Borders (EWB) at the time of his death.

In his video message to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, the Archbishop urges us to speak on ‘behalf of the neighbour and on behalf of stranger’ as part of this year’s theme of Speak Up, Speak Out:

Thirty-nine parishes discovered last month that 2012 would be a good year for them when they were offered grants by the Church Buildings Council and The Wolfson Foundation to support essential repair works to their church buildings.  The works range from major re-roofing projects through essential repairs to towers and parapets to improvements to drainage and rainwater disposal.  Funding these works can be a difficult task for small parishes, particularly in rural areas with tiny communities. 

People interested in church history can now view and research more than 2,000 stained glass windows from hundreds of churches in Wales online.

Despite all the divides and divisions, churches and congregations observed the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the month of January, with a profound theme for this year, “We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (cf. 1 Cor 15:51-58).

The rally, organised by the diocesan youth fellowship, saw over 150 motorbikes take to the roads on Monday. The bikers covered over 160 kilometres of ground, taking their message of a peaceful society and a better tomorrow through the cities and villages of Durgapur.

Four Anglican Education administrators from across the Communion started a high-level fellowship study programme with a round of national education policy meetings in London this week.

The leaders of three church denominations in Wales are joining forces to oppose the Welsh Government’s proposals to change the law on organ donation.

Nairobi, Kenya, 23 January (ENInews) Faith leaders in Kenya called for calm after the International Criminal Court in The Hague committed to trial high-ranking politicians for crimes against humanity in connection with violence following elections in 2007.

The Most Revd Dr. Thabo C Makgoba leaves today to participate in the Annual Meeting 2012 of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 25-29 January.

Archbishop Daniel Deng along with a provincial support team travelled to Bor in order to meet with the newly-formed Inter-Church Committee for Peace, Mediation and Reconciliation.

A man born in Nigeria and resident in Italy for a number of years, has been appointed as the next diocesan curate with responsibility for the Devenish and Boho Group of Parishes.

Twenty women from countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Uganda and India are visiting the Anglican United Nations Office (AUNO) next month to engage with the UN’s 56th Commission on the Status of Women, which this year has ‘empowerment of rural women’ as its priority theme.

Senior management and medical officers from St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System Houston and Baylor College of Medicine will visit the hospital of the Diocese of Morogoro in Berega at the end of February

London, 18 January (ENInews). Britain's High Court on 18 January ordered anti-corporate protesters evicted from a camp they have occupied for three months outside London's iconic St. Paul's Cathedral.

During this week of prayer for Christian unity, the different denominations present here in Rome are hosting a full programme of liturgical and other events that can foster greater understanding of the common values and unique heritages of each tradition.

An Anglican cleric, Ven Ugochukwu Ekeada of the Cathedral Church of All Saints, Egbu in Owerri North Local Government of Imo State, has challenged leaders at all levels, to humble themselves in their services to the nation and mankind. 

Too many criminals are sent to prison and punishing them in public instead could be more effective, the Anglican bishop for prisons has said. The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, said it was simply not enough to lock up criminals, adding that community payback schemes could act as a deterrent for others and help to reduce reoffending.

Open Doors’ 2012 World Watch List ranks countries where Christians suffered in 2011. Sudan and northern Nigeria saw steeper increases in persecution against Christians than 48 other nations where Christians suffered abuse last year, according to an annual ranking by Christian support organization Open Doors.

Parishes throughout England can apply for a £10,000 prize for the best developed proposal for commissioning a new work of art for their church.

17 January (ENI news). Christian humanitarian agencies are delivering relief aid to thousands of people displaced in inter-tribal conflict in South Sudan, the world's newest nation.

Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, today met with representatives of Christian Churches in the UK, led by the Archbishop of Liverpool, the Most Revd Patrick Kelly, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams, and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Revd David Arnott.

The annual Photo competition of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), 2012, has been launched. The theme is: Communication for All

The Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Ireland will host a conference on the subject of ‘Human Sexuality in the context of Christian Belief’ at the Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan on Friday the 9th and Saturday 10th March 2012, beginning at 4.00pm on Friday and concluding at 5.00pm on Saturday.

A groundbreaking course from Church Mission Society – in partnership with the Oxford Ministry Course at Ripon College Cuddesdon – has received official approval as a training pathway for Ordained Pioneer Ministry in the Church of England.

A public debate on the morality of presumed consent of organ donation will take place in Cardiff this weekend.

Women bishops central to General Synod agenda that includes debates on assisted dying, health care, House of Lords reform, and Eucharistic prayers for use when children are present. The General Synod will meet at Church House from 2.15 pm on Monday 6 February until late-afternoon Thursday 9 February.

Christ’s unconditional love is illustrated through a mix of popular television programmes, films and Christian songs, activities, times of sharing, and prayer and scripture, in a new five-session course for Lent 2012. Called Experiencing God’s Love, it is compiled by the Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Revd Steven Croft, and published by Church House Publishing.

WEEKLY REVIEW: A roundup of the week's Anglican Communion news plus opinion, reviews, photos, profiles and other things of interest from across the Anglican/Episcopal world.

The Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba, has written to the Archbishop of Canterbury in response to his Advent Letter to the Primates of the Anglican Communion and Moderators of the United Churches. In his letter, Dr Makgoba reflects on the Anglican Covenant as ‘necessary’ for Anglicans ‘in recalling us to ourselves’.

The Anglican Alliance launches an on-line consultation today over the priorities for our mission to overcome poverty and injustice worldwide.

Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi has called for the election of the next Archbishop of the Church of Uganda. The announcement came during a regularly scheduled meeting of the House of Bishops on Saturday, 7th January, in Mbarara.

WEEKLY REVIEW: A roundup of the week's Anglican Communion news plus opinion, reviews, photos, profiles and other things of interest from across the Anglican/Episcopal world.

By Charlie Gates for The Press Bishop Victoria Matthews' Christchurch home has been demolished after this month's earthquakes left it in a precarious state.

By Vanya Walker-Leigh for ACNS CAPETOWN, South Africa—Archbishop of Capetown and Primate of Southern Africa, Dr Thabo Makgoba, has said that he had hoped “much greater progress would have been made at COP 17 - the recent UN climate change conference in Durban.

Statement from The Most Reverend Dr Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin and Chair, Church of Ireland General Synod Board of Education (RI). The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, is encouraging all fee-charging schools under Church of Ireland management to participate in and cooperate with a Department of Education initiative to find out how they spend their fee income.

The Most Revd Dr. Thabo Makgoba, the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, today called on President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe to put an end to police persecution of the church there. He was reacting to the action of police in stopping the annual prayer retreat of clergy from the Diocese of Harare.

By Moshood Adebayo, Abeokuta. The Sun News Online The Bishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Egba Diocese, Revd. Emmanuel Adekunle has urged the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun to allow his administration has human face.

By Associated Press HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwean police stopped a retreat of 80 clergy over claims that their prayer gathering was not given police clearance under sweeping security laws, the country’s mainstream Anglican church said Tuesday.

By Jesse Mwangi in the Nairobi Star An Anglican priest who recently declared his interest for the governor seat in Murang'a county claims he has received several death threats.

Speaking in his annual BBC New Year message, the Archbishop of Canterbury reflects on the importance that Christianity bestows on young people and challenges us to actively support our local youth facilities and opportunities which, he argues, play a crucial part in a healthy society.

From BBC News Muslim leaders have said there is no conflict between Islam and Christianity Nigerian Christians will have "no other option" but to defend themselves if attacks by Islamist militants continue, church leaders have said.

From BBC News A series of bomb attacks in Nigeria, including two on Christmas Day church services, have left almost 40 people dead and many injured.

The Archbishop of Canterbury says Christmas challenges individuals and whole societies alike not to build lives based on selfishness and fear, but to be open to searching questions about identity and solidarity, stark questions that are more pressing in the wake of falling confidence in institutions and challenges to social order.

From the Church of England The importance of local radio to the community, both in times of crisis or seasonal emergencies, and on a daily basis, must not be ignored warns the Church of England in a submission to the consultation on the BBC Delivering Quality First Review, which closed this week.

The General Synod Standing Committee of the Anglican Church of Australia recently resolved to explore the feasibility of establishing an Anglican Health Network within the province.

From Lambeth Palace The Archbishop of Canterbury today set up an enquiry into the operation of the diocesan child protection policies in the Diocese of Chichester.

At its recent in Asunción, Paraguay, the Executive Committee of the Province of the Southern Cone of America, together with its Bishops, voted to approve the Anglican Covenant.

Clergy across the Anglican Communion are being invited to join a house-swap scheme that lets priests and their families enjoy a holiday without paying the cost of accommodation.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, is delighted to announce the appointment of Kay Brock LVO DL as his new Secretary for Public Affairs, based at Lambeth Palace.

Quelle: ACNS RSS News Feeds