Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

Situation Overview

As a result of the flooding, as of this afternoon a total of 8,475 evacuees are residing in 130 evacuation centres, mostly in the Western Division. People are moving back to their houses for clean up and repair, although especially in Western Division the number of evacuees is still high, due to damage to water and food supply.

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The people of Fiji are beginning to count the cost of the severe floods which have laid waste to large swathes of both of the country’s main islands.

Eleven people have died; at least 8000 people are still huddled in emergency shelters; roads and bridges have been washed away; and water supplies, electricity and communications have been disrupted.

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When last Saturday afternoon’s installation service for Bishop Victoria Matthews as the eighth Bishop of Christchurch was finished, the woman who’s taken her place as the new Bishop of Edmonton reflected on Canada’s loss and Christchurch’s gain.

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New Zealand’s two Anglican Archbishops have asked for mercy for Ali Panah who is now in the 35th day of a fast he began in a last-ditch bid to avoid deportation to Iran.

And the Archbishops, Brown Turei and David Moxon, have endorsed the work of Anthony Dancer, the Anglican Church’s Social Justice Commissioner, and others who are campaigning on Mr Panah’s behalf.

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New Zealand’s Anglican Bishops have declared their support for the repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act.

They say the proposed changes to Section 59 are ‘a further important step down the road towards transforming the disproportionately high rates of violence in our country.’

The Bishops say that Section 59 - which allows the use of reasonable force in the discipline of children - had been used to justify the use of excessive force against them.

The repeal of Section 59 will therefore remove a legal loophole, and will ‘reinforce the total unacceptability of violence against children.’

The Bishops acknowledge that their stand does not poll well, and that there is some debate among Christians about the use of corporal punishment.

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The Diocese of Nelson is celebrating its new Bishop, Richard Ellena - ordained in Nelson’s Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday before a crowd of hundreds of clergy, civic dignitaries and well-wishers.

But just 24 hours before that there was real doubt that someone considered rather pivotal to the proceedings - the Bishop-elect himself - would show up.

Not because he had cold feet, but because he couldn’t get to his feet.

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Archbishop Jabez Bryce urges prayer for a peaceful, democratic resolution to his country's crisis

Archbishop Jabez Bryce, the long-serving Suva-based bishop who shares the leadership of the Anglican Church in this province, has spoken out in the Fiji press of his support for Fiji's elected government - and his dismay at its overthrow by the military. In a personally signed statement delivered to Fiji's media last night, Archbishop Bryce publicly reaffirms his support 'for the duly elected government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase' and says that it is 'regrettable that the Commander hijacked a process of dialogue that was moving, albeit slowly.'

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Anglicans in New Zealand have been heartened by their Archbishops' public challenge to a proposed tightening of religious observance in State primary schools.

And Kiwi Anglicans have been doubly heartened by the consequences of that speaking out.

In late August the Ministry of Education in New Zealand had announced that it intended to release new guidelines for state primary and intermediate schools, and their boards of trustees - guidelines which would have had the effect of suppressing or inhibiting prayers, readings or hymns at these schools' assemblies.

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'Some of us have been approached about our views on The Da Vinci Code novel and movie in recent weeks.  We are also aware that a number of people believe that The Da Vinci Code story is real and that its description of Christian history is true. 

'We therefore feel it is important to say publicly that in 2005 a UK television archaeologist, Tony Robinson, edited and narrated a detailed rebuttal of the main arguments and facts of The Da Vinci Code, in the documentary The real Da Vinci Code. This documentary was shown on New Zealand television recently. 

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Theology House is an Anglican ministry training institution in Christchurch, New Zealand.  

Applications are currently being sought for the position of Director of Theology House. The current Director, Dr Ken Booth will retire at the end of September 2006. The chairperson of Theology House Board, Bishop David Coles, said the board is looking for applicants who have broad credibility as leaders and participants in the church, are comfortable with the ethos and diversity of the Anglican communion, and have academic and educational strengths in relevant fields such as theological disciplines, ministry formation, and adult education.

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We join the prayers of many others for the victims of the political crisis in
East Timor and the earthquake in Indonesia.

We know thousands of people all over the world are praying for those affected by these tragedies.

We give thanks for the contributions of all the peacekeeping forces in East Timor, and we remember especially the New Zealand and Fijian soldiers there.

We also give thanks for the work of many aid agencies in Indonesia, including the ministry of 'Christian World Service' and the 'Barnabas Fund'.

We encourage generous contributions to these and other funds.

Our hearts go out to all those who suffer so greatly at this time in both countries. 

We seek to pray and act in the name of the God of Justice and Peace.

Archbishop Brown Turei, Archbishop Jabez Bryce, Archbishop David Moxon

Co-presiding Bishops in the Anglican Church
in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia

New leader to be elected

The full context of this article can be found on ACNS 4139

Link to Article: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/41/25/acns4139.cfm

The new man chosen to lead the task of equipping the next generation of priests for the Pakeha wing of the Anglican Church in New Zealand is passionate about mission and evangelism occupying a central place in training for ministry.

He is The Rev David Jeans, who has accepted the post of Dean of the College of the Southern Cross, within St John's College in Meadowbank, Auckland.

David Jeans, who holds a Master's degree from Oxford University, and a M.Phil in Theology and Religious Studies from Manchester University has, for the past nine years, led the Wilson Carlile College of Evangelism in Sheffield, in the United Kingdom.

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The Anglican Observer at the United Nations, Archdeacon Taimalelagi F. Tuatagaloa-Matalavea, was recently named a Member of the Order of Samoa, her native country.

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Pacific Islanders gathered at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell last night (Sunday, April 17) to celebrate their first locally-based Anglican bishop. The Rt Revd Dr Winston Halapua, who was born in Tonga, but a Fiji citizen, has been installed as the first Bishop for the Diocese of Polynesia in New Zealand.

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Maori from throughout Aotearoa will gather at Turangawaewae in Ngaruawahia tomorrow afternoon (10 Feb) to elect a new Pihopa o Aotearoa, or leader of the Maori arm of the Anglican Church.

The election is to fill the vacancy created last year when the Most Revd Whakahuihui Vercoe was chosen as overall head of the church, or Archbishop of Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia.

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The Anglican Diocese of Polynesia has elected its first Bishop for Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Venerable Dr Winston Halapua (59) is based in Auckland where he has served as Principal of the Diocese of Polynesia Theological College and Archdeacon since 1996. Dr Halapua has a Tongan background and is a Fijian citizen but he sees himself as a "multicultural person". He has studied Christian mission and ministry in Tonga, Fiji, England, Israel and Aotearoa New Zealand.

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21 Anglican and Catholic bishops have called for the trial or release of NZ government prisoner Ahmed Zaoui.

The bishops' statement which follows, urges the government to offer Mr Zaoui more humane treatment and requests alternatives be sought to his continuing incarceration in a state prison.

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Aotearoa New Zealand's Catholic and Anglican bishops renewed their stand against the government's proposed seabed and foreshore legislation at a joint meeting this week.

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Churches in Aotearoa-New Zealand are to observe their first ever "Media Prayer Day" on Sunday 8 August, 2004.

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