Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

The Church of the Province of West Africa (Anglican Communion) meeting in Douala, Cameroon, on the 11th day of April, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Eight, having considered very carefully, among other pressing and very important issues, the current general state of the Anglican Commuion in the light of same – sex relationship receiving official recognition and approval by some dioceses and provinces, an issue which is seriously threatening the unity of the Communion, do hereby make the following statement:

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My dear Sisters and Brothers,

As we enter another New Year, it must be our prayer that this year will be a better one than last year.  Although this is the case, there was also much to be thankful for last year.  We give thanks to God for the blessings of the 2005, and that we have lived to see in 2006. The outgoing year - from the day after Christmas 2004 to the present - was marred by one disaster after another: both man-made and 'natural.'  On the morning after Christmas Day 2004, we were horrified by the news of the tsunami in South East Asia.  As this news unfolded over the following days and weeks, the extent of the disaster went beyond our comprehension.  The immediate loss of life and the massive task of rebuilding lives and livelihoods presented a desperate situation.  The resilience and determination of people, who had lost so much, was humbling and inspirational.  We are sometimes privileged to witness something in the human spirit that seems to be able to rise above the horror of such experience.

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Dear readers,

Christ is Risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

The season of Easter-or the Feast of the Resurrection-is a time of great celebration in the Church. Jesus' resurrection from the dead assures us that we too can have eternal life in the presence of God. However, it is clear that the resurrection of Jesus on the first Easter Day would not have been possible had it not been preceded by the first Good Friday. The light and joy of Easter has to be preceded by the darkness and pain of Good Friday.

More here:

http://www.observer.gm/artman/publish/article_5128.shtml

Article by the Rt Revd Dr S Tilewa Johnson

The Episcopal Church of Liberia begins its 76th Diocesan Convention tomorrow 2-6 February at the St Barnabas-on-the Field Episcopal Church in Unification Town, Margibi County.

According to Episcopal Bishop, the Rt Revd Dr Edward Neufville, the Convention will be held under the theme: "There Can Be Hope In The Desert," from the text: Isaiah 35:1-10.

Flanked by executives of the Episcopal Church of Liberia, Bishop Neufville told journalists that despite the difficulty the church and the people of Liberia have experienced over the years, the Lord will give them hope in the desert.

More here: http://allafrica.com/stories/200502020217.html

An Anglican Church-run orphanage in Bolgatanga, Ghana, held a celebration on 15 December to highlight its work and to educate communities on the needs of orphans.

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The Anglican Diocese of Gambia last week received 30 British pilgrims from the Diocese of Chichester in the Church of England. The Bishop of Gambia, the Rt Revd Dr Solomon Tilewa Johnson (of the Church of the Province of West Africa), thanked the visitors for coming, saying, "I pray that your mission in The Gambia will be fruitful and will open up a new visit that will link the people of Chichester Diocese and the Diocese of the Gambia to bring about true and meaningful Christian fellowship in our drive to proclaim the good news."

The visitors were led by the Rt Revd Lindsay Urwin, the Bishop of Horsham. The delegation was shown the work of missionary schools in the Greater Banjul Area, said the Gambia's Observer newspaper, and are due to preach in various Anglican parishes nationwide until 30 November.

More here: http://www.gambiadiocese.com/

A message from the Church of the Province of West Africa received by the Anglican Communion Office states that the Rt Revd Dr Justice Ofei Yaw Akrofi will today be enthroned as the province's Archbishop and Primate in the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Accra, Ghana.

The Church of the Province of West Africa includes dioceses in Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Guinea, and Liberia.