International Briefing
Episcopal News Service. December 16, 2005 [121605-5-A]
* ANGLICAN COMMUNION: Lambeth Conference 2008 dates announced by Archbishop of Canterbury
* CANADA: Primate reviews 'difficult' year
* ENGLAND: St Albans' bishop offers prayers following oil depot explosion
* ENGLAND: Churches challenge British government on climate change
* HONG KONG: Churches step up advocacy for trade justice
* INDIAN OCEAN: Diocese plants three new churches
* LAMBETH PALACE: Archbishop of Canterbury's Christmas message to the Anglican Communion
* NEW ZEALAND: Anglican Maori Bishops pay tribute to Bishop Max Mariu
* NIGERIA: Anglicans mourn Bishop Ereaku
* WEST INDIES: Archbishop Gomez urges widespread discussion on mission statement
ANGLICAN COMMUNION: Lambeth Conference 2008 dates announced by Archbishop of Canterbury
[SOURCE: Anglican Communion News Service] The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, has officially announced the Lambeth Conference dates in an Advent Letter to the 38 primates of the Anglican Communion. Williams, at whose invitation the bishops come to the conference, outlined his hopes for the global meeting of Anglican bishops. He spoke of the conference as an opportunity for "individual Christian pastors to meet Jesus afresh, for our Church to be renewed in mission, for the world to hear good news."
The conference, which meets every ten years, will take place at the University of Kent in Canterbury from July 16 to August 3, 2008. Williams emphasized the enabling for ministry aspect of the conference. "The main focus I long to see at this conference is the better equipping of bishops to fulfill their task as agents and enablers of mission, as co-workers with God's mission in Jesus Christ," he said.
Full story: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/40/75/acns4086.cfm
The text of Williams' letter can be found online at: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/releases/051216.htm
CANADA: Primate reviews 'difficult' year
[SOURCE: Anglican Church of Canada] Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, will review the highlights and difficult moments of 2005 in a webcast that will be posted to the church's national web site (http://www.anglican.ca/) on Monday, December 19.
Among the highlights, Hutchison notes last summer's Sacred Circle gathering of native people during which it was decided to seek the appointment of a national native bishop within a year. He also highlights the federal government's announcement in November of its intention to offer common experience payments to former students of native residential schools.
Among the "difficult" moments, he mentions the decision by the Council of General Synod to send Canadian members to last summer's meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council in Nottingham, England, while also instructing them not to participate in the proceedings. He also mentions General Synod's budgetary problems, which led to reductions in program and staff lay-offs in 2005.
Further information: http://www.anglican.ca/news/news.php?newsItem=2005-12-15_aa.ans
ENGLAND: St Albans' bishop offers prayers following oil depot explosion
[SOURCE: Diocese of St. Albans] Following the December 11 explosion at the Buncefield Oil Depot at Hemel Hemsptead in England, Bishop Christopher Herbert of St. Albans said, "My prayers and thoughts are with the injured and with the emergency services who are continuing to ... support the many hundreds of people whose lives have been affected by this explosion. My colleagues in the parishes of Hemel Hempstead are focused on providing spiritual and practical help to the community who will no doubt be in shock but grateful that more people were not injured. In addition, chaplains have been supporting the Police, the Fire Service and the local hospitals as they continue to work in the area."
Full story: http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/news/2005/bpexplosion.htm
ENGLAND: Churches challenge British government on climate change
[SOURCE: Ecumenical News International] A church-backed campaign on climate change has challenged the United Kingdom government to state its policy for future negotiations on global warming while also welcoming the agreement reached at the United Nations' conference in Montreal.
The November 29 to December 9 talks in Montreal aimed to start discussions on a long-term strategy to safeguard climatic stability after the expiry in 2012 of current commitments under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce carbon dioxide and other atmospheric gases that many scientists believe cause global warming.
"Time is running out to 'cut the carbon' and turn the conference's hopes into reality," said the Rev. David Pickering, moderator of Operation Noah, a joint project of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) and the Christian Ecology Link, which campaigns for a more environmentally-friendly church. "We in the West have to accept the lion's share of cuts, including in our homes and churches."
Full story by Martin Revis: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_70221_ENG_HTM.htm
HONG KONG: Churches step up advocacy for trade justice
[SOURCE: Anglican Church of Canada] As the 6th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) meets in Hong Kong from December 13-18, the Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, KAIROS, joined the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) and other bodies in lobbying national governments and WTO delegates.
KAIROS is urging its partners to call upon their governments to refuse to sign any trade deal in Hong Kong that doesn't: give countries the power to choose their own development path, including the ability to safeguard local markets that provide an affordable, reliable, and healthy source of food; allow countries the power to maintain public services like health and education; and make trade negotiations transparent and accountable.
Full story: http://www.anglican.ca/news/news.php?newsItem=2005-12-15_WTOHongKong.fyi
INDIAN OCEAN: Diocese plants three new churches
[SOURCE: Anglican Communion News Service] Three new churches have been planted in the Sambava region of the Diocese of Antsiranana.
The churches were planted in Belambo-Lokoho, Andrafekona and Fanambana after the opening of the new St. Augustine's educational center.
"Mission and evangelism with the proclamation of the Good News is imperative," said Bishop Roger Chung Po Chuen of Antsiranana. "People are responding positively and this builds up the assurance of proactive mission."
Chuen confirmed more than a hundred people during a pastoral visit to the region.
Full story: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/40/75/acns4087.cfm
LAMBETH PALACE: Archbishop of Canterbury's Christmas message to the Anglican Communion
[SOURCE: Anglican Communion News Service] In his Christmas 2005 message to the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams refers to the devastation caused by the tsunami and the hurricanes that impacted the U.S., offering a reminder that "Christmas ... is God's way of responding to suffering."
The full text of Williams' Christmas message, which is available in Chinese, English, Korean and Spanish, can be found online at: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/40/75/acns4088.cfm
NEW ZEALAND: Anglican Maori Bishops pay tribute to Bishop Max Mariu
[SOURCE: Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia] The five Maori bishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia traveled to little Waihi Marae near Turangi on December 15 to mourn Takuira Max Mariu, the first Maori Roman Catholic bishop, and to acknowledge the warm and close relationship they had shared.
Archbishop Whakahuhui Vercoe, primate, described Bishop Max as "a committed Christian, committed to his Maori people, and to his church."
Bishop Max, he said, was a deeply faithful Roman Catholic -- yet he was a man whose "aroha" -- a Maori quality that is essential to the survival and total well-being of the world community -- wasn't confined to his denomination.
"He was very popular with all Maori," said Vercoe, "and he was able to relate right across the board, to young and old, irrespective of church and faith."
Full story: http://www.anglican.org.nz/news/AnglicanMaoriBishops.htm
NIGERIA: Anglicans mourn Bishop Ereaku
[SOURCE: Church of Nigeria] The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) is mourning the death of Bishop Laudamus Atushiaka Ereaku of the Diocese of Bauchi, who was killed on Monday, December 5, in an automobile accident while on an interfaith peace program in the State. The three other occupants of the vehicle, including the Islamic Sheikh, also died in the accident.
Ereaku, who would have been 53 on January 13, 2006, served as diocesan bishop for seven years.
"He was like a son to me," said Archbishop Peter Akinola, primate, recollecting Ereaku's days as a field evangelist for several years in the Diocese of Abuja.
Full story: http://www.anglican-nig.org/bshpereaku_death.htm
WEST INDIES: Archbishop Gomez urges widespread discussion on mission statement
[SOURCE: Bahama Journal] Archbishop Drexel Gomez, primate of the Province of the West Indies and Bishop of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, is calling for widespread discussion on a new mission statement for the diocese, the Bahama Journal reports.
Gomez told Anglicans at Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau on November 27 that literature will be provided to facilitate discussion and discernment and that, at every level, contributions will be invited on two points: a new mission statement for the diocese; and an outline of a strategic plan for the diocese over the next 10 years.
Full story by Clunis Devany: http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=124&a=6537