Document Library

Family Breakdown (Christmas 2001)

The articles in this newsletter tell of increased marriage and relationship breakdown, more children on the streets, more despair fuelling alcohol and drug abuse. But the picture is not all bleak. A Canadian author points out that a marriage breakdown may, in some cases, represent a new start, free from hidden violence and abuse. Many articles tell of vigorous efforts, from all over the Anglican Communion, to help the casualties of family breakdown, both parents and children and the potential of churches and parishes to provide a supportive "family."

The Inter Anglican Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations (IASCER) met in Cape Town, South Africa, from 1 to 7 December.

The 2001 APJN meeting in Aotearoa/New Zealand was memorable for two reasons: for the depth and seriousness of our agenda and discussions, but also for the atmosphere in which we met. Our brothers and sisters in Aotearoa/New Zealand have the great gift of an indigenous people, the Maoris, whose unique culture and spirituality have contributed enormously to the life of the church in the Province.

"Initial meetings at Lambeth Palace with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, and at the Vatican with Pope John Paul II and with officials of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in discerning the mandate of the new commission"

Children and War (Michaelmas 2001)

In 2001, a UN Report concluded that in as many as 50 countries children are suffering in the middle of armed conflict. Increasingly in some areas children are specifically targeted, recruited as combatants or abducted to serve as sexual slaves to soldiers. Articles from Burundi, Sierra Leone, Congo, Rwanda, the Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania, give glimpses of the horror. Not only Africa is affected: authors from Iraq, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Cambodia, Palestine, Israel and Northern Ireland write of the violence perpetrated against children and tell of the ministry of the Church to these casualties of war. 

Dunford House, Midhurst, England, 27-30 July 2001

Education and the Family (Trinity 2001)

tells of the "treasure of education" which is lost through war, poverty, family breakdown or - in parts of the world - is denied to girls and women. The articles give voice to those for whom education is not provided by the state free of charge and shows how the gender gap has a high cost with an increased mortality rate among babies born to ill-educated women. In the developed world, articles from Australia and New Zealand and UK emphasise the importance of value-based education and the need to support and strengthen families.

The frequent gathering of Primates is one of the main ways by which the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion, representing over 70,000,000 Christians, express and build their unity. We are grateful to the Archbishop of Canterbury for inviting us to gather for this time of prayer and deliberation, and to the Episcopal Church, USA for their hospitality at Kanuga Conference Center, North Carolina.

The International Commission of the Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue met in Volos 12th-15th February 2001

An African phase of international conversations between Anglicans and Baptists was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 24-26 January 2001