American Anglican Council on the Archbishop of Canterbury announcement

Bishop David Anderson of the American Anglican Council writes:

“Archbishop Welby, in his new appointment, will have to work with the more orthodox Global South provinces, especially the GAFCON Primates who represent a huge majority of the churchgoing Anglican world. The new Archbishop will need to find a way to disengage the Anglican Communion Office and the office and work of the Archbishop from the incestuous ties with the American Episcopal Church’s money, influence and power.”

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New Archbishop of Canterbury announced

Just in:

“Justin Welby appointed 105th Archbishop of Canterbury

The Queen has nominated the Right Reverend Justin Welby, MA, Hon FCT, the Lord Bishop of Durham, for election by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury in the place of the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Rowan Douglas Williams, MA DPhil DD FBA, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan.”

– The official announcement.

Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.

In a statement issued after the announcement, the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, said “We welcome the appointment of Bishop Welby to the ministry of Archbishop of Canterbury. It remains an important role though obviously the events of the last decade have diminished its significance in the world-wide Anglican Communion. Bishop Welby has our prayerful support.” Dr Jensen said. “We look forward to him speaking with clarity from the word of God about the gospel and its impact on the issues confronting the Church in England and the West.

Message of welcome to Archbishop of Canterbury Designate

November 9, 2012 – from Archbishop Eliud Wabukala   Read more

Some questions for the new Archbishop of Canterbury

Mark Thompson does us a great service by respectfully raising key questions for the next Archbishop of Canterbury –

“There is a great deal that is wonderfully hopeful in this appointment. Bishop Welby self-identifies as an evangelical. He is able to communicate clearly and winsomely. However, as he prepares to take up this challenging role at a very challenging time, one characteristic that has not been attributed to him is ‘courage’. So there are a number of questions which I would like to put — or at least have someone put — respectfully but seriously, to the next Archbishop of Canterbury.” 

Full text here – Read more

Fake e-mail sent to South Carolina clergy

“The Diocese of South Carolina reports that an email fraudulently bearing the name and seal of the diocese was sent to its clergy inviting them to attend a clergy conference. … Sources in the diocese also report that members of the clergy are being pressured not to attend the diocese’s 17 November 2012 special convention…” – Report from Anglican Ink.

Read the Diocese of South Carolina’s statement here.

“The sender intentionally impersonated the diocese with an unauthorized use of our Diocesan seal and by stating that the sender was the Diocese of South Carolina…”

Report: Bishop of Durham to be Archbishop of Canterbury

A report from The Telegraph –

“Sources have confirmed that the Eton-educated bishop [Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham] will be announced as successor to Dr Rowan Williams as early as Friday, after the Crown Nominations Commission put his name forward to Downing Street. …”

Photo: Diocese of Durham.

A Report from the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Auckland

Canon Phil Ashey reports from what he sees as an “intensively stage managed and choreographed” meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council.

Canon Ashey is Chief Operating and Development Officer of the American Anglican Council.

Here’s his conclusion:

“In terms of what schemes seem to be emerging, I would respectfully suggest the following as a “pincer” movement that ACC/ACO is going to place upon confessing Anglicans:

1.  Through Continuing Indaba dialogue and stories, bolstered by the work of the BILC resources, Biblical interpretation of human sexuality and its limits will be rendered value-neutral with no limits on Biblical interpretation within the Communion. Lambeth 1.10 will be declared in effect non-binding;

2.  Then, through the new Code of Conduct and the Safe Church resolution, any objection to sexual expressions that are not Biblical will be deemed “harassment,” chilling any speech and bringing consequences to those who, in Anglican communion meetings, dare to raise the subject.”

Read his full report to see why – Read more

‘Cloak and dagger’ Archbishop of Canterbury selection

“The committee choosing the next leader of the world’s 77 million Anglicans is facing growing discontent from within the Church amid clams that the long-running process has become a ‘cloak and dagger’ procedure.…

The first that the world’s 77 million Anglicans are expected to know of the identity of their new leader will be when the name is announced from Downing Street.”

– Opinion piece in today’s (UK) Telegraph.

Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Wabukala

Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, Chairman of the FCA Primates Council, has released this Pastoral Letter:

“The Primates’ Council has just concluded its October 2012 meeting in Dar es Salaam where we witnessed the blessing of God in a number of key areas:

•  In the increase of our numbers
•  Through the achievements of our April meeting
•  By the testimonies of those who are joining with us
•  In the new funding provided for our communication efforts
•  Through our decision to meet again in a Global assembly
•  By the recognition that we are not alone in this spiritual battle …”

– Read it all here.

Church Society urges C of E General Synod to reject Women Bishops measure

Church Society has written to members of the Church of England’s General Synod:

“…our Council and membership contain a substantial body of ordinands, younger clergy, lay leaders and laity all of whom subscribe fully to the Society’s position, such that their ministry within the Church of England will be threatened by the proposed Measure, if it is enacted. It would be immensely damaging to the Church of England and to our country if the ministries of such men and women were seemingly rejected by our beloved national church.

It would also put us significantly at odds with most of the provinces, and the vast majority of Anglicans, in the global Anglican Communion, who do not have female bishops.…”

– Read the full letter at Evangelicals.org.

FAQs on South Carolina and TEC

The Diocese of South Carolina has posted an FAQ to get you up to speed on what’s happening – with a timeline of events.

Global South to South Carolina: We’re praying for you

Letter from the Global South Primates Steering Committee to Bishop Mark Lawrence

“We thank God for your stand for the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! We are proud that you are willing to suffer for the faith once delivered to the saints.”

Dear Bishop Mark Lawrence,

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Several of the Global South Primates met recently as we gathered in Singapore for the Installation of Rt. Rev. Rennis Ponniah as the new Bishop of Singapore.

We were saddened, but not surprised, by the news of your inhibition and possible deposition by the TEC. We all want to assure you and the Diocese of South Carolina of our continuing prayers and support. We thank God for your stand for the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! We are proud that you are willing to suffer for the faith once delivered to the saints.

Please be assured that we are with you, and that our Lord is also proud of you and our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of South Carolina.

May the Lord bless you!
Yours in Christ,
+ Mouneer Egypt

The Most Revd Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis
Primate of Jerusalem & the Middle East
Bishop of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa
Chairman, Global South Primates Steering Committee

+ Ian Mauritius
The Most Revd Ian Ernest
Primate of the Indian Ocean
Bishop of Mauritius
Hon. General Secretary, Global South Primates Steering Committee

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Archbishop Philip Freier’s Melbourne Synod charge

Archbishop Philip Freier’s opening address to the 50th Melbourne Synod earlier this month is now available on YouTube, or as a PDF file.

(The full video of Archbishop Peter Jensen’s 2012 Sydney Presidential Address is now online as one higher quality file here, courtesy Audio Advice.)

‘Episcopal Church abandons Bishop and Diocese’

Comment from the Diocese of South Carolina –

“These actions … are not just an attack upon Bishop Lawrence. They also represent an assault on  this Diocese and its congregations. Two of the three actions that the Episcopal Church claims prove his abandonment are in fact actions of the Diocesan Convention.”

Full text: Read more

North West Australia 2012 Synod

Bishop Gary Nelson addressed the first Synod of the Diocese of North West Australia since his arrival in May. Read his full address here (PDF). And there’s a brief report on the Synod here.

“I certainly feel I know the diocese better, even if it seems somewhat blurred at this precise moment in time. What a great God-given honour it has been to:

  • glimpse gospel ministry throughout this vast diocese;
  • meet with faithful gospel servants;
  • hear of God’s work in the lives of congregational members;
  • share with people of many backgrounds and experiences – yet one in Christ.

But what next? Where do we journey together as we love and serve our great God? Let us reflect on those questions by looking to God’s word; and then, drawing some implications for us. We will focus on three significant issues as we ponder our future. …”

‘New level of repression signalled by charges against Bishop Lawrence’

“The certification of abandonment by ECUSA’s new Disciplinary Board for Bishops, communicated to Bishop Mark Lawrence by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on October 15, 2012 raises some very troubling questions. It also evidences a new degree of repression operative in ECUSA…”

– A S Haley, Anglican lawyer writing as The Anglican Curmudgeon, takes a close look at the latest moves against South Carolina.

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