World Report
Episcopal News Service. June 28, 2006 [062806-1-A]
* BURUNDI: Integrated Health Program to combat malaria supported by ERD
* ENGLAND: Key debate on women bishops set for July Synod
* LAMBETH PALACE: Archbishop of Canterbury responds to Bethlehem appeal
* MELANESIA: Religious Order celebrates silver jubilee
* NIGERIA: 1st Anglican National Conference will meet this week
* RWANDA: Social Therapy Program for Reconciliation introduced
* SOUTH AFRICA: Ndungane comments on Blair's announcement of the Africa Progress Pane
Note to Readers: ENS continues to gather international reaction to the Archbishop of Canterbury's June 27 statement, "The Challenge and Hope of Being an Anglican Today." Further reports will follow.
BURUNDI: Integrated Health Program to combat malaria supported by ERD
[Source: Anglican Church of Burundi] The Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi welcomed Dr. Stephen Dzisi from Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) for one week in June to assess the situation regarding malaria and to see how the Church might best intervene in the prevention of the disease.
The Province will receive 16,500 long-lasting mosquito nets for distribution around the dioceses and is preparing to embark on a program of education and training about their use and malaria in general -- part of ERD's wider program to distribute 1 million nets across 17 countries in Africa.
Malaria, though easily preventable, continues to kill many people every year. It is estimated that in some places malaria is killing more people than HIV/AIDS. Early recognition of symptoms is essential as the delay between onset of illness and care is often the cause of death.
Full story: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/provincialnews/eab/client/news/client_news_detail.cfm?naid=859
ENGLAND: Key debate on women bishops set for July Synod
[Source: Church of England] The Church of England's General Synod, which will be held at the University of York from 4 p.m. on Friday, July 7, to lunchtime on Tuesday, July 11, has a full and demanding agenda, including debates on women bishops and a substantial amount of major legislative business.
The Synod will be explicitly invited to reach a view on whether admitting women to the episcopate in the Church of England would be theologically justified. If that motion is carried, the House of Bishops will invite the Synod to agree that a legislative drafting group be established, with a view to preparing a range of specific options that the group would submit for consideration by the House of Bishops, and then to the Synod, in advance of first consideration of the Measure.
The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. John Sentamu, will deliver the Presidential Address.
Full story: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr6306.html
LAMBETH PALACE: Archbishop of Canterbury responds to Bethlehem appeal
[Source: Lambeth Palace] The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, has responded to an urgent appeal from secular and religious authorities for assistance to meet a deepening humanitarian crisis in Bethlehem.
In his appeal, the Governor of Bethlehem, Salah Tamari, observed that "our hospital no longer has drugs [and] people do not have food." The Greek Catholic Archbishop, Elias Chacour, wrote "we hope and pray that a resolution will soon be found to this crisis but in the meantime we need your help to save the lives of the most vulnerable."
Williams has responded with a financial contribution to the Naaman Trust, a U.K. registered charity that is providing medical supplies and other relief in Bethlehem. "I hope this offering for essential medical support will show to the local community that we know of, and care about their suffering," he said.
Full story: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/releases/060627%20gift%20to%20Bethlehem.htm
MELANESIA: Religious Order celebrates silver jubilee
[Source: Melanesian Messenger] The Home grown religious order for women in the Church of Melanesia, the Community of the Sisters Melanesia (CSM) commemorated its 25th anniversary on Sunday, June 4.
The Silver Jubilee celebrations took place at the Community's Headquarter at Verana'aso, on West Guadalcanal where nearly a thousand Associates, relatives and Christians gathered to mark the occasion.
Father of the Sisters of Melanesia, Archbishop Sir. Ellison Pogo, celebrated and preached during the occasion, congratulating the Religious Community on its achievements and challenging its members to take risks as they venture into the future.
The Religious Order was born on November 16, 1980. Today, the Community has flourished to become the largest women's religious order in the Anglican Communion in terms of membership.
Full story by Richard Toke: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/provincialnews/melanesia/client/news/client_news_detail.cfm?naid=832
NIGERIA: 1st Anglican National Conference will meet this week
[Source: Church of Nigeria] Hundreds of Anglican delegates will gather in Abuja June 28 to launch the 1st National Conference of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and discuss how to build the welfare of the nation.
The three-day conference, with the theme 'Welfare of the Nigerian Nation: Role of the Anglican Communion in Nation Building' will be declared open by the Most Rev. Peter Akinola, Primate.
Delegates will listen to and discuss papers presented on the role of the Church in education, political development and economic development.
The conference will also address the role of the church in health, unity of the country, legal development and youth participation.
Full story: http://www.anglican-nig.org/angnational_conf.htm
RWANDA: Social Therapy Program for Reconciliation introduced
[Source: L'Eglise Episcopal au Rwanda] The Anglican church of Rwanda has introduced a social therapy program in Gicumbi District to foster unity and reconciliation among the residents, said Bishop Onesphore Rwaje June 11.
The social therapy program was launched in 2005 by the District to heal the wounds of the 1994 Genocide as a result of a breakdown of the social bond that kept all Rwandans together.
"The program has helped community members to allocate themselves in various groups. Each group is comprised of ten members who always meet to discuss and sort out their differences for social harmony," Rwaje said. "The church is committed to working around the clock with the government for the good of the nation. We are expressing our total commitment to the development of the country through promotion of unity and reconciliation."
He urged Rwandans to reconcile and love one another and pledged to work hand in hand with the local district authorities for community development.
Full story by Grace Mugabe: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/provincialnews/rwanda/client/news/client_news_detail.cfm?naid=855
SOUTH AFRICA: Ndungane comments on Blair's announcement of the Africa Progress Panel
[Source: Anglican Church of Southern Africa] Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of Cape Town, Primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, has issued a statement in response to Tony Blair's announcement that he has decided to convene a panel of world leaders from all sectors to ensure that aid and debt relief promises to Africa are being kept.
The Africa Progress Panel will measure progress against the commitments made to and by Africa at the Gleneagles and other G8 and UN summits, towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Kofi Annan will chair the Panel and Bob Geldof and President Obasanjo of Nigeria will be two of the panelists. Bill Gates will be a major funder.
"We deeply appreciate Tony Blair's commitment to keep Africa and issues affecting Africa on top of his agenda," Ndungane said. "It is critically important that voices from all over Africa are included in that process ... We also welcome Tony Blair's request for an additional session on Africa at the forthcoming G8 meeting. This is in line with our objective: keeping Africa on top of the world agenda."
Full statement: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/41/50/acns4160.cfm