International Briefing
Episcopal News Service. September 30, 2005 [093005-1-A]
* BURUNDI: Anglican Church inaugurates new diocese, consecrates two bishops
* CANADA: African leader calls on Canadians to help combat corruption
* CONGO: ERD assists displaced people in northeastern Congo
* IRAQ: Anglican lay leaders missing, feared dead
* IRELAND: Statement by Archbishop Robin Eames of all Ireland on IRA decommissioning
* NIGERIA: Primate clarifies recent church actions in press briefing
* TAIWAN: Episcopal institute upgrades to university of technology
* WALES: Archbishop supports new book that challenges church line on gays
BURUNDI: Anglican Church inaugurates new diocese, consecrates two bishops
[Source: Anglican Church of Burundi] The weekend of November 5-6, 2005, is set to be memorable and historic for the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi as two newly-elected bishops are consecrated, and the new diocese of Muyinga is inaugurated.
Plans to divide the diocese of Gitega and create a sixth diocese, with its center in the town of Muyinga, have been under discussion for several years. The diocese will serve the parishes in the predominantly-rural north-eastern areas of Cankuzo and Muyinga that stretch to the border with Tanzania. Many of those seeking repatriation will pass through the diocese of Muyinga.
The Rev. Eraste Bigirimana, diocesan secretary for the diocese of Gitega, has been elected by the House of Bishops to be the Bishop of the new diocese.
The Rev. Sixbert Macumi has more recently been elected by the House of Bishops to be the third Bishop of Buye. He will succeed the former Archbishop and Bishop of Buye, the Most Rev. Samuel Ndayisenga, who is retiring.
CANADA: African leader calls on Canadians to help combat corruption
by Marites N. Sison
[Source: Anglican Journal] Bishop Mvume Dandala, general secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), has urged Canadians to join African churches in condemning the role of developed nations in perpetuating corruption in Africa and the rest of the developing world.
"The matter of corruption is a matter that requires all churches to act together because there are two aspects of corruption," Dandala, who visited Toronto in September, said in an interview with the Anglican Journal. "First, it is challenging our own people to actually confront this problem head on. There's another problem and that is the fact that even the international world has developed values of wanting to deal corruptly when it cuts deals with people from the developing world."
Dandala argued that others besides African churches need to speak out because "we're not just speaking to the African people. It becomes the worldwide community that needs to speak to all the structures that deal with the people of the developing world, holding them responsible for their actions."
Full story: http://anglicanjournal.com/extra/news.html?newsItem=2005-09-29_a.news
CONGO: ERD assists displaced people in northeastern Congo
[Source: ERD] Episcopal Relief and Development is providing emergency assistance to people forced out of their homes after conflict in and around the northeast town of Boga in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rebel groups from the country as well as neighboring Rwanda and Uganda have descended on Boga and Tchabi, forcing people to flee and abandon all their possessions and belongings. Thousands of people are now displaced and have fled to other towns in the province such as Buleyi, Eringeti, and Bunia. Violence has recently increased due to ongoing political, military, and ethnic tension in the northeast province of North-Kivu.
"People who have been displaced left everything and have nothing at all," said the Most Rev. Dr. Dirokpa Balufuga Fidele, Archbishop of Congo and Bishop of Kinshasa and Bukavu. "While a number of the refugees have already arrived in the towns or large villages, many others are still walking to reach aid centers."
ERD is providing emergency assistance to the Diocese of Boga to provide immediate needs such as food to displaced people. The diocese will work with the local markets to supply critical foods. ERD's support will also provide long-term support such as seeds and essential tools to displaced families so they can farm and rebuild their homes.
To make a contribution to help people affected by this crisis, donate to the Africa Relief Fund at www.er-d.org, or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development, Africa Relief Fund, PO Box 12043, Newark, NJ 07101.
IRAQ: Anglican lay leaders missing, feared dead
The entire lay leadership of St. George's Anglican Church in Baghdad, Iraq, is missing and feared dead after being attacked on a dangerous road west of Baghdad while returning from a trip to Jordan.
The five Iraqis were last heard from on September 13. "The most difficult thing is not knowing for sure what has happened," Canon Andrew White, rector of St. George's, told Episcopal News Service.
"We have no news of them and fear the worst," the Most Rev. Clive Handford, president bishop of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, reportedly told BBC News.
St. George's Church has flourished in recent months with regular Sunday worship attendance at 800.
IRELAND: Statement by Archbishop Robin Eames of all Ireland on IRA decommissioning
[Source: Church of Ireland] Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Robin Eames welcomed the destruction of IRA weapons in a September 26 statement, calling it a "major step towards and peaceful and just society." The full text of Eames' statement follows:
"Any destruction of terrorist weapons must be warmly welcomed. For Irish Republicanism today's announcement represents a massive step. For all of us it can become a major step towards a peaceful and just society if it heralds the end of all criminality and violence in future. Ultimately, all paramilitary weapons must be placed beyond use.
"So many people who have been disappointed in the past will take a great deal of convincing and we must understand their thinking. However, I urge that all politicians reflect carefully on what has been stated today and measure their response most carefully.
"I fully respect and accept the integrity and judgment of Fr. Alex Reid and the Rev. Harold Good, who have offered such a clear picture of their experiences.
"Today, I urge everyone to remember in their prayers the families of all who lost loved-ones as a result of IRA terrorism. For them, today must be a time of deep emotion and memories.
NIGERIA: Primate clarifies recent church actions in press briefing
[Source: Church of Nigeria] The Most Rev. Peter Akinola, primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), delivered a statement to the press September 29 clarifying recent actions of the church's General Synod which amended its constitution, deleting any references to the "See of Canterbury."
"We treasure our place within the worldwide family of the Anglican Communion but we are distressed by the unilateral actions of those provinces that are clearly determined to redefine what our common faith was once," Akinola said. "We have chosen not to be yoked to them as we prefer to exercise our freedom to remain faithful. We continue to pray, however, that there will be a genuine demonstration of repentance."
The statement continued: "We are Anglicans and have done nothing or ever think of doing anything capable of breaking up the Communion. Some find the historic tenets of our common beliefs old fashioned and unacceptable to their modern culture. They are introducing new religious practices unknown to scripture and our history and are the ones tearing apart the very fabric of our Communion."
Full statement: http://www.anglican-nig.org/primate's_pressbrief.htm
TAIWAN: Episcopal institute upgrades to university of technology
[Source: St. John's University, Taiwan] St. John's University, formerly St. John's and St. Mary's Institute of Technology, located in Tamsui, Taiwan, celebrated an upgrade from Institute of Technology to University of Technology with ceremonies on August 1. More than 200 dignitaries, faculty, alumni, and government officials were in attendance for the day's activities.
Bishop David J.H. Lai of Taiwan addressed the gathering during a morning service, which was followed by a ceremony that included presentations from representatives of the Taiwan government and the unveiling of the University's new sign.
Established in Taiwan in 1967, St. John's and St. Mary's was the successor school to St. John's University in Shanghai, China, which was in existence from 1879 to 1952.
"It is a very great encouragement to the students as well as the faculty" said President Yang of St. John's University. "Originally St. John's was one of the best universities in mainland China, with many great accomplishments by its alumni. Already here in Taiwan as an institute we have accomplished much. Becoming a formal university will mean finally restoring the great legacy of St. John's University."
St. John's University is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, and is a member in good standing with the Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion. The university is located in Taipei County, just north of the city of Tamsui. For more information about St. John's University, visit www.sju.edu.tw.
WALES: Archbishop supports new book that challenges church line on gays
[Source: John Hunt Publishing] The Archbishop of Wales, Dr. Barry Morgan, has welcomed a 'cogent' new book by 22 leading theologians that argues for gay people's inclusion within Anglican ministry. "Gays and the Future of Anglicanism" challenges the moratorium on gay consecrations and same-sex blessings of the Anglican Communion and "throws down a formidable challenge to the Anglican Communion. It cannot afford to ignore it," Morgan commented.
One of the people serving on the Lambeth Commission on Communion which recommended the moratorium in its Windsor Report, Morgan made it clear that the issue is far from settled. "The arguments advanced for including gay people [in the church] deserve to be read and pondered by all who are involved in the debate about human sexuality," he said. The book "shows up the superficiality of previous Anglican discussion of this subject" and should "give the Anglican Church in many places cause for penitence for the way it has treated and thought about gay people."
Edited by Oxford theologian Andrew Linzey and Richard Kirker, director of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, the book will be published by O books at the end of September. Among the 22 contributors are Archbishop Rowan Williams' successor at Oxford, Dr. George Pattison, the Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity.
Full story and Archbishop Morgan's statement: http://o-books.rmlconsult.com/oBooks/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=17&osCsid=6f5919ed2f96d4aba8fc4d5bf6f49c63