Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

Climate change, diaspora congregations and the understanding of communion amidst the current economic crisis were among the topics discussed as the primates and presiding bishops in the met in Porvoo, Finland on October 12th– 13th 2009.

The primates and presiding bishops of the Porvoo Communion meet every other year to discuss matters of common interest. This year the meeting was held in the historic city of Porvoo, which gives its name to this communion of Anglican and Lutheran churches in several European Countries.

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The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu called for people to unite behind the Hope Not Hate anti-racism campaign.

Speaking at the 100th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of Diocesan Church House in Deansgate, Manchester, the Archbishop of York said:

"I hope that the whole of this community in Manchester will unite behind the Hope Not Hate pledge. It is an important campaign that what matters in this life is turning enemies into friends – not friends into enemies.

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Training launched to extend warm welcome to people intrigued by church

Two church growth consultants are encouraging churches across the country to set up 'Welcome Teams' as part of a drive to make Church more 'sticky' for those who drop in to special events or feel the urge to try out a Sunday morning service.

Everybody Welcome, published by Church House Publishing, is designed for use by small groups or Parochial Church Councils as a way of focusing on making their church’s welcome extra special and encouraging those who try church out to come back again and again.

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Words of hope and specially selected Bible verses have been added to the Church of England’s Matter of Life and Debt online initiative to help those suffering from the agony of hopelessness in the current financial situation.

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For G20 Funding on Conflict Prevention

Dr. John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, has today called upon the leaders of the G20 to invest more in conflict prevention.

Delivering his key note address in Westminster at the launch of the Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention and Human Security, Dr. Sentamu reflected on his recent experience visiting refugee camps in Kenya after last year’s civil unrest and spoke of the urgent need for both conflict prevention and human security:

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Five Talents was awarded the Overall Winner at the City of London Sustainable City Awards at a ceremony in the Mansion House on 19th February 2009. Five Talents also won their category “Sustainable and Responsible Finance”.

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24 hour fast to begin historic year for Christians across Devon

The 1100th anniversary celebrations of the Diocese of Exeter will begin with a 24 hour fast by the Bishop, the Rt Revd Michael Langrish.

The Bishop will begin his fast on Friday evening (27 February) by serving at the open-air barbeque outside Exeter Cathedral, organised by Nightchurch. The barbeque attracts a diverse community, including young people and some who are homeless.

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The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu today highlighted the significance of the world financial crisis and discussed the implications for ministry for those struggling with the practical consequences of the downturn in the economy.

Reflecting on the need for active solidarity, Dr Sentamu said: “We have heard the predictions. This slough of economic despond is deep and we are told it will get deeper. For every statistic on the hundreds of jobs lost, there are hundreds of stories of individual hardship and of families in need. Their struggle must be our lament – as we face up to our responsibilities.”

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A new page paying tribute to the ‘forgotten’ church work of Charles Darwin in his local parish of Downe, Kent, has been published on the Church of England’s website, at www.cofe.anglican.org/darwin/downe.html, to illustrate, once again, how science and the work of the Church can combine together.

The page ‘Darwin at Downe' is one of a number of pages on the website celebrating the naturalist’s significant scientific progress, marking the bicentenary of his birth, and anticipating the 150th anniversary of the publication of the ground-breaking text ‘On the Origin of Species’, in November.

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The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu will dedicate the memorial of Olaudah Equiano in St Margaret’s Church at Westminster Abbey at 6.30 pm on Monday 9th February 2009.

Olaudah Equiano, the black campaigner prominent in the 18th century abolitionist movement which brought slavery to an end, is to be honoured with a memorial in St Margaret’s Church at Westminster Abbey.

Equiano (1745 – 1797), also known by his slave name of Gustavus Vassa, was baptised at St Margaret’s on 9 February 1759.

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Anglicans in World Mission today welcomed the statement from the Primates Meeting, as one recognising both the need of the peoples of Zimbabwe, and the place of the Anglican Church in alleviating those needs.

The Rt Revd Michael Doe, General Secretary of USPG said: “The news that the Primates meeting has highlighted the plight of ordinary people in Zimbabwe is very welcome. As the Church of England mission agency working through the Provinces and Dioceses of the Anglican Communion, we’re delighted that the Primates Meeting recognises the importance of working in this way.

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On the inauguration of the new American President

At a meeting last week, the Church of England’s Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns discussed the impact of the election of the new American President. In the light of that discussion, the Chair of the Committee, the Revd Rose Hudson Wilkin, yesterday issued the following statement:

“The election last November of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the USA, culminating in his inauguration today, is a most momentous occasion.

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Church youth groups and schools are being encouraged to test out their green credentials – from how they travel to school to their packed lunch habits – as part of this year’s eco-themed Education Sunday, taking place on Sunday 8th February.

Education Sunday is the national day of prayer and celebration for all those involved in the world of education. This year’s theme is The Earth is the Lord’s, highlighting the role of schools and colleges in helping young people lead lives that recognise the vital importance of caring for God’s creation.

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The Archbishop of York has told of his profound sorrow and being reduced to silence in the face of suffering as a result of the situation in Gaza.

Speaking for the first time on the conflict in Gaza, the Archbishop issued a statement on his website as he held a special service of prayer and lament for the situation in Gaza at the chapel in Bishopthorpe Palace.

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The Archbishop of York called for Britain to use the credit crunch as a time to reassess its priorities as a country and to rediscover its vision as a nation.

Dr. John Sentamu said: “With the global financial crisis, we have seen a sudden and traumatic impact on our banks, on businesses and in so many of the things we have taken for granted for so long. It has brought home to us in a powerful and painful way that we have been tempted to put our trust in false securities (and I would argue false gods) and the need to think again. Governments and individuals are both radically reassessing their priorities and values as a result and so are the religious communities. Because of this, I believe it is also a unique opportunity”.

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The Church of England today launches a new section of its website in celebration of 150 years of the parish magazine. 

The Church estimates that the combined readership of its parish magazines exceeds that of several national newspapers, taken together.

Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, says on the new web-site: “A good parish magazine is a wonderful resource that places the local church at the heart of the community it serves. 

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The Church of England has published two new prayers to comfort people made redundant, and those remaining in the workplace following a round of redundancies, at the beginning of a year in which the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has predicted that at least 600,000 people could lose their jobs.

The ‘Prayer on being made redundant’ helps to put into words the anxieties of those who are losing - or who have already lost - their job in the wave of recent redundancies. It includes the verse: “Hear me as I cry out in confusion, help me to think clearly, and calm my soul.” 

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With just 28 praying days to Christmas, a Church of England bishop has penned a book which aims to be just the tonic for the frenetic activity of Advent – even suggesting cutting up the credit card, making friends a simple homemade gift, and pruning the Christmas card list to those you really care about.

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Roman Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Church of England House of Bishops join together for second bi-lateral meeting

The Church of England House of Bishops and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales are joining together for a second bi-lateral meeting, this time at Lambeth Palace, today, Monday, November 17. In 2006, they met together in Leeds for study and worship.

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The Bishop of Mandeville in the Diocese of Jamaica, the Rt. Revd Harold Daniel, and who is himself a former Church Army Evangelist, has been appointed Chairman of the Council of Church Army International. He takes over from Mr Roy Totten from Northern Ireland.

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