Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

The head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams is in South Africa to be a keynote speaker at an international conference titled ‘Towards Effective Anglican Mission’ (TEAM). The focus of the conference will be the United Nations Millennium Development Goals which include, poverty eradication and the combat of HIV and AIDS and malaria. The conference will bring together key representatives from the worldwide Anglican Communion in a context of prayer and theology; sharing diverse experiences and views on specific social issues; renewing the church's commitment and capabilities to respond to God's call to service in the 21st Century.

[More]

Thank You

First, I want to thank all the members of the Church of Uganda and others who were praying so fervently during this meeting of the Primates of the Anglican Communion. It was the most intense meeting I have ever attended. Even until the last night of our meeting, we were in a deadlock. But, the Lord has prevailed. Biblical authority is being restored, and from that, we are hopeful that Biblical mission will be the result. Thank you for upholding me and all of the Primates in your prayers.

Actions towards TEC

In 2003, the Episcopal Church USA, now abbreviated as TEC (T – E – C), culminated years of their theological revision by consecrating as Bishop a divorced man living in a same-sex relationship. This was a blatant action in violation of Scripture and the historic teaching of the Church. 

[More]

'Finding the Heartlands of Anglicanism' - Trinity Theological College, Melbourne

Sisters and brothers in Christ, it is a great pleasure to be with you this morning.  Thank you for this invitation.

In 1832 Thomas Arnold, then head of Rugby School said 'The Church of England as it now stands, no human power can save.'

Well, over a hundred and seventy years later, the Church of England, and the Anglican Communion, are still standing.  But once again, we might be tempted to look at our situation and say no human power can save us.

[More]

The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane, is to receive the annual Peacemaker award from the Commission on Peace of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington today (Monday 6 November).

The Commission on Peace was founded in 1982 by the Bishop of Washington, John Walker, to increase the activity and the voice of the Diocese of Washington in promoting peace, both in the USA and internationally. The late Bishop Walker was the first African-American Episcopalian Bishop of Washington and he developed a close relationship with Archbishop Desmond Tutu in support of the struggle against apartheid. Archbishop Tutu was one of the previous recipients of this award. Bishop Walker's widow will be guest of honour at the dinner at which the award is presented.

[More]

Statement on Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu's past remarks on the Anglican Church and Homosexuality.

I must first point out that Archbishop Tutu's remark that he was 'ashamed to be an Anglican' as quoted in a newspaper headline this morning was - according to John Allen's biography - from a private communication with Archbishop George Carey over one particular issue at a particular time in Anglican Church history.

Since I became Archbishop we have moved on from that point and, certainly in the Anglican Church in Southern Africa the debate on homosexuality has been increasingly opened in a way that it never was before.

Archbishop Tutu is aware that the Anglican Church world-wide stood by him during the difficult apartheid years and I feel sure that his remark in no way reflected on his feelings for the church as a whole.

[More]

From Sunday August 27 Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane, who is head of the Anglican Church in the Southern African region, will visit Mozambique for three days to begin distribution of 16,500 mosquito nets, treated with a long-lasting insecticide. This is part of an Anglican Church malaria control programme which has been funded by Standard Chartered Bank and Episcopal Relief and Development - a development organisation of the Episcopal Church in the U.S.A.

[More]

In his keynote speech to the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town today, Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane, addressed, among other matters, what he called the 'critical issue' of the abuse of women and children.

The Archbishop said that churches have not done enough to overcome their past histories of conspiring with patriarchy to devalue, marginalise and oppress women, both within church structures and in wider communities.

"It is a terrible fact that the evil of HIV/AIDS feeds off the evil of oppression of women and girls and violence against them," he said.

[More]

Our catchphrase at African Monitor is 'African Voices for Africa's Development' and our chief goal is to hold the G8 countries (and African governments) to their promises and pledges to halve the number of people living in poverty by 2015.

While we appreciate the importance of debt and disease relief in the suffering of Africa's poorest, the key element of success in providing sustainable livelihoods for most Africans is trade.

It has been estimated that if Africa increased its share of world exports by only 1%, it would generate $70 billion. That is about five times what our continent receives in aid.

Therefore we would like to press for the re-opening of the talks and use our influence to ensure that reason prevails.

[More]

On the eve of a UN high level meeting on HIV and AIDS to be held in New York from tomorrow (May 31), Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane, has called HIV and AIDS a 'global emergency'. In response to reported bickering between different government representatives and between governments and civil society organisations over the wording of a political declaration on the disease, the Archbishop has called for urgent action.

[More]

Anglican bishops under the leadership of Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane have said that they continue to be deeply concerned about the treatment of women in our society. So much so that, in solidarity with all women in Southern Africa, they intend organising a series of special events on August 9 this year.

This decision was taken during a five-day, bi-annual meeting of the Synod of Bishops in Bloemfontein last week.

[More]

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland and Anglican Church in Southern Africa to work together to address social ills

Anglican Archbishop, Njongonkulu Ndungane, earlier today met with a delegation from Finland, led by Archbishop Jukka Paarma of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in that country.

The purpose of this meeting was to strengthen ecumenical ties between the two churches and to continue discussions regarding an ongoing partnership. Partnership discussions have been focused on finding a mutually beneficial model of collaboration between Finland and South Africa where some of the goals for development, specifically those that deal directly with poverty, may be addressed.

[More]

One of the strongest homegrown voices for African development, the African Monitor, will soon be lobbying the plight of the continent's people, the poor in particular, in the corridors of power all over the world.

African Monitor will press for urgent and effective implementation of commitments to Africa in ways that deliver tangible development at grassroots level.

This African civil society voice, described as the missing 'fourth piece of the jigsaw', alongside existing stakeholders of donor governments and institutions, their African counterparts, and donor-based NGOs and civil society, is to be launched in Cape Town on 3 May 2006.

[More]

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.

[More]

The College of the Transfiguration, a residential theological college belonging to the ACSA, is seeking to appoint a new lecturer who specialises Christian Education. The anticipated starting date is 1st January 2006, and subject to the satisfactory completion of a probationary year this appointment will lead to a tenured position on the academic staff of the college.

[More]

Statement from Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane on Criticism of the Quality of Community Housing

On returning from a week-long retreat, I read with concern the reports in the newspapers about allegations made against the Cape Town Community Housing Company (CTCHCo) - whose board I chair - by Mr Robin Carlisle of the Democratic Alliance.

[More]

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will escort trucks carrying four and a half thousand good quality blankets provided by the Anglican Church, as well as 37 tons of maize, beans and oil donated by other churches, to Zimbabweans displaced by Operation Murambatsvina ('Drive Out Trash') today Monday 1st August.

[More]

The Sundays River Valley is the largest citrus producing area in South Africa. One of the problems facing the community is that of seasonal labour and unemployment. Employment opportunities are largely limited to the picking season. The result is a community struggling with poverty and its associated social evils. HIV/AIDS is particularly prevalent in the area.

[More]

Nobel Peace Laureate for 2004, Professor Wangari Maathai who founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, is to launch the newly-established South African Faith Communities Environment Institute (SAFCEI) on July 20 in Johannesburg.

This groundbreaking Institute was established following a national conference in March this year of major faith groups of South Africa.

[More]

We are extremely shocked by what has happened in London this morning. There is no excuse for these brutal attacks on civilians and they must be condemned in the strongest possible way.

We pray for those who are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones and for all those who have been injured - that they may be returned to full health in the shortest possible time.

We commend those in the emergency services who are working right now to restore peace and order and wish them strength to deal with this disaster. We are confident that the British people have the courage and fortitude to deal with this tragedy in the most appropriate way.

There are many South Africans living and working in London and many of us have family and friends in Britain. Our thoughts are with them at this time.

The Diocese of Grahamstown is now actively involved with a Land Justice program, transferring the ownership of church-owned land to local people in the poorer rural areas.

[More]