New Abp of the Province of Southeast Asia
“Bishop of the Diocese of Kuching the Most Reverend Datuk Bolly Lapok was officially installed as the fourth Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia at an elaborate ceremony in St Thomas’ Cathedral [in Kuching]… Bolly, who is the first Sarawakian ever to hold the post, succeeds Bishop of Singapore the Most Reverend Dr John Chew…”
– Report from Global South Anglican.
Will General Convention be able to approve same-sex blessings?
“At its meeting last October, the General Convention’s Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music agreed to present at the 2012 session of General Convention a resolution to authorize the trial use, over a three-year period, of a rite for the blessing in a church ceremony of same-gender relationships…
In contrast to those locally approved rites, what is now being proposed is a church-wide standard rite that would have the imprimatur of General Convention itself.”
– The Anglican Curmudgeon, A S Haley, wonders if the TEC General Convention will ignore its own Constitution – again.
Archbishop of Canterbury’s Holocaust Memorial Day Message
See the Archbishop’s message here – or read the text.
Church leaders in Wales attack presumed organ donation consent
“Church leaders in Wales have criticised ‘ill-judged’ proposals to introduce presumed consent rules on organ donation. …
They said the principles outlined in their document ‘seek to preserve the dignity and autonomy of every person whilst creating a proper framework in which the gift of human organs after death is precisely that – an act of solidarity, generosity and love.’…
Under the Welsh government proposal, everyone in Wales would automatically become a donor unless they opted out. … The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, has already called for the legislation to be scrapped.”
– Report from BBC News Wales.
Archbishop Orombi announces retirement plans
“Archbishop Henry Orombi has called for the election of a successor as primate of the Church of the Province of Uganda.
In an address to a meeting of the Ugandan House of Bishops on 7 Jan 2012, Archbishop Orombi said he would step down by year’s end, just short of year before his mandatory retirement at age 65…”
– story by George Conger at Anglican Ink. (Photo: Joy Gwaltney.)
Archbishop of Canterbury’s Advent Letter 2011
Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, has published his Advent letter to the Anglican Communion – on the Lambeth website.
Bishop Lawrence writes about Disciplinary Board Decision
“For now given no more allegations from anonymous sources within the diocese it is my hope we can all get back to focusing our full attention on proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit and to Glory of God the Father that the Church here in the Diocese of South Carolina may add daily to its number those who are being saved.…”
– Bishop of South Carolina, Mark Lawrence, writes to his diocese about the dropping of ‘Disciplinary proceedings’ against him.
Earlier: Allegations of ‘abandonment’ against Bishop of South Carolina
CMS UK looking for new leader
“The Executive Leader is responsible for leading the community and its organisation in pursuing the vision of a world transformed by the love of Jesus, and the fulfilment of the aims of making disciples, resourcing leaders and transforming communities…”
– Details from CMS UK (PDF fie).
US Diocese asked to rehabilitate Pelagius
“The Diocese of Atlanta has been asked to rehabilitate Pelagius.
Delegates to the diocesan convention will be asked to reverse the condemnation of the Council of Carthage upon Pelagius, and to explore whether the Fifth century heretic may inform the theology of the Episcopal Church…”
(Of course, they may vote No…)
– George Conger writes for the Church of England Newspaper. Photo: Diocese of Atlanta.