www headlines
Breakaway Groups Prevented Anglican Split, Nigerian Primate Suggests
Tuesday, 27 Jul 2010, by Anglican Media
Breakaway Groups Prevented Anglican Split, Nigerian Primate Suggests
It's been three years since the Anglican Church of Nigeria "crossed borders" into the United States to establish a new home for conservatives who were unhappy with the liberal direction of the U.S. Episcopal Church. [Christian Post]
- Primate of Nigeria speaks on homosexuality and border crossing
The Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion) spoke to the gentlemen of press today. He opened, "This is our maiden Press Conference since our assumption to the primacy of the Church. The subject of our address today is on the state of the Church and the Nigerian Nation. This comes as we prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of our dear country." [Episcopal Cafe]
Archbishop Desmond Tutu to withdraw from public life
Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu has announced he is to withdraw from public life. [BBC]
Does the media pick on Muslims?
Wednesday, 21 Jul 2010, by Anglican Media
Does the media pick on Muslims?
So it's our fault, is it? The media's? According to some Aussie Muslims, it is journalists who have given Muslims a bad name. [The Age]
Crisis management 101: Getting the journalists interested
One thing I've observed in 10 years of toiling to get the news media to report humanitarian emergencies is how difficult it is to prick its interest in these stories.
Wilberforce implicated in slavery? And other human rights stories.
Wednesday, 21 Jul 2010, by Anglican Media
New evidence shows William Wilberforce implicated in slavery
New evidence has come to light which suggests that the evangelical campaigner William Wilberforce was involved in slavery, despite his successful campaign to abolish the transatlantic trade. [Ekklesia]
Religious, women speak up against trafficking at UN [Cathnews]
Some Reflections on Religion, Sexuality and the Possible Transatlantic Implications of the HJ (Iran) v. Home Secretary [2010] UKSC 31 [UKSC blog]
Time to practise what we preach on human rights
Discuss July TMA
Monday, 5 Jul 2010, by Anglican Media
Women and gay people fit to lead
Integrity of Scriptures challenged by US move
Dr Cleary bows out to music, praise and a cry for justice
New Synod member? Help is at hand!
Australians have 'written off' church: Bp Parkes
Bishopscourt historian required
Mission surge urged by Fresh Expressions couple
Dr John Davis to move back to Wangaratta
Archdeacons' moves in Melbourne
Readers' letters: The leadership cost of TMA's independence
Indigenous priest in NT recognised for 40 years' service
Abp Sentamu says Jesus is on trial in the modern world
Spong's 'last word' old hat and without hope
The Vertical Self a guide to faith development in a self-obsessed age
Vale Lesley Oliver
Christian yoga helps care for our earthen vessels
Mother & Child - motherhood's agony powerfully portrayed
MasterChef plates up a challenge for the insecure cook
Sea Patrol has plenty of hard knocks, and plenty of stupid
Gillard and God - does it matter?
Thursday, 1 Jul 2010, by Anglican Media
Gillard won't play religion card
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she has no intention of pretending to believe in God to attract religiously-inclined voters. [ABC]
Strange mix of politics and faith
Australians don't care much about religion but we do want conviction, writes Joel Gibson. [Sydney Morning Herald]
Godless Gillard causes concern
Some of Toowoomba's church leaders have voiced concerns for the nation after new Prime Minister Julia Gillard revealed she did not believe in God. [The Chronicle]
Will God cost Gillard votes?
Julia Gillard might not believe in God, but most Coast church leaders do not believe this will affect the way Christians vote. King's Church senior pastor James Macpherson, Nambour Anglican Church reverend James Hall, Uniting church moderator Bruce Johnson and the Australian Christian Lobby group were united in their belief that voters would consider policy and not religious practice when it came to the polls. [Sunshine Coast Daily]
Mexico adopts the Anglican Communion Covenant; reactions and more from the Anglican Communion
Thursday, 1 Jul 2010, by Anglican Media
Mexico
adopts the Anglican Communion Covenant
Mexico has become the first Communion Province to adopt the Anglican
Communion Covenant following its VI General Synod in Mexico City on 11
and 12 June.The
- Anglican power play The proposed Covenant is the culmination of a conservative and homophobic drive for power in the Anglican Communion [Guardian]
Battle over ACC Standing Committee looms
The Bishop in Iran has quit the Anglican Communion's 'Standing Committee'.
Bishop Azad Marshall's decision to stand down will come as a blow to the Archbishop of Canterbury who has sought to vest an unprecedented degree of authority in the new entity—formed by the merger of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Standing Committee of the Primates Meeting.
The Second Time Around - "Why are these Australian Christian men trying to drag us back to 'the old days'?"
Monday, 28 Jun 2010, by Anglican Media
by Ellaine Downie
As I walked into the Better Together conference organised by Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE), it felt like a rerun of the 1970s. Were we really going to hear speakers encouraging us to fight for women's rights, in 2010? Hadn't that battle been fought 40 years ago, and won?
Christians for Biblical Equality is an international, inter-church organization established in 1988 in the United States. In Australia there is only one group based in Melbourne.
Why Melbourne and not Sydney? Because the Sydney Anglican diocese (along with the Continuing Presbyterian church) has done a great job in promoting a now widely-held view in our society that "the church" refuses to allow women in leadership roles. This attitude has not only reinforced the general perception that the church is indeed 'old fashioned and out-of-date', but that it has returned to 'pre-liberation' days by choice.
Seeing this backlash against Feminism here makes one wonder what has been learned in the past 40 years. Why are these Australian Christian men, many of whom have a deep understanding of compassion and justice, trying to drag us back to 'the old days'? Do they think the church has become too 'chickified'? Could it be that they feel (to use a feminist term they despise) 'disempowered?'
Many men at the Better Together conference spoke of these feelings. They said that while everyone had been concentrating on the changes in women's roles, men's lives had also changed, almost unnoticed. Their perception of their place in society, their role in the family, their opportunites for employment had all altered along with the fluidity of circumstances evolving as a result of improved opportunities for women.
They acknowledged that men are now parodied in popular culture - being seen as weak or thick (think of males like Bart and Homer in The Simpsons); that media reports always emphasise men abusing and behaving badly towards women. As one man asked, " What is a man good for?"
Men are suffering an identity crisis across Western society, not just in Australia and not just in the Christian church. This particular backlash against women - preventing them from exercising their leadership and teaching gifts in some churches - is probably more linked with a general sense of loss and bewilderment, than from some 'justification' found in obscure Bible verses.
This backward step rings danger bells : will Western men, by extrapolation, go on to justify a return to earlier abuses and the ultimate loss of women's rights? If this seems alarmist, consider the attitudes that are brought to Australia by many immigrants who come directly from patriarchal, poorly-educated societies where women are treated as property and kept uneducated. Even when in Australia these husbands often prevent their wives from accessing the freedoms that Australian women fought for 40 years ago.
While the loudest voices are often the ones that are heard -the Better Together conference was determined to shout out a different message: that there are plenty of men and women within the church who will not accept a return to patriarchal attitudes and that justice and equity for women needs to be seen as part of a larger global problem.
So, this is no retro issue.
This time round, the fight for equality is not just for ourselves but for all the women in the world.
Ellaine Downie is a parishioner at St Hilary's Kew
ACL comments on leadership change
Monday, 28 Jun 2010, by Anglican Media
ACL comments on leadership changeThe Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today congratulated Ms Julia Gillard on becoming Australia's first female Prime Minister. "We congratulate Julia Gillard on this historic occasion," ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace said. [ACL]
Remembering Rudd
In Milan Kundera's The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, the Czech comrade Clementis places his cap on Klement Gottwald's head on the day of Communist annunciation in 1948. After Clementis is hanged four years later, his head is subsequently airbrushed out of all propaganda photographs. Hence, 'All that remains of Clementis is the cap on Gottwald's head', quips Kundera. [Eureka Street]
Presiding bishop of TEC begins visit Down Under; more Anglican Communion news.
Monday, 28 Jun 2010, by Anglican Media
Presiding bishop commences visit to Australia, New ZealandThe Anglican churches in Australia and New Zealand are hosting Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori for an informal two-week visit to the two provinces.[Episcopal News Service]
Ballarat bishop Michael Hough cleared by church
An investigation into Ballarat bishop Michael Hough has been dropped by the Anglican church. In a statement released to the media this afternoon, the Episcopal Standards Commission said in light of complaints against the bishop being withdrawn, it would take ''no further action''. [The Courier]
The Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea elects a new Archbishop
The decision making body of the Anglican Church of PNG (ACPNG), known as the Provincial Council has elected a new Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea. [ACNS]
"I'm not religious, but I'm spiritual"
Monday, 21 Jun 2010, by Anglican Media
Australians are turning their backs on God, but still see themselves as "spiritual" people, according to a survey reportedly about to be published by the Christian Research Organisation. What does this mean for the Church?
Let's show gratitude with ritual of silence
A Christian Research Association survey last week revealed Australians are turning their backs on God and religion in record numbers. Of those surveyed, only 16 per cent attended a religious service at least once a month. That's down from 23 per cent in 1993. [Daily Telegraph]
Hugh Mackay on spirituality vs religion
The Christian Research Association is about to publish the results of a major survey into changing patterns of belief in Australia. Researchers quizzed 1718 people, and the results were compared with similar surveys conducted in 1993 and 1999. According to reports in the Fairfax press, one of its key findings is that while there's a marked decline in adherence to institutional religion, more people are saying they are, nevertheless, 'spiritual'. [Eureka Street]
'2010 Make it Count': Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott to speak live to Christians across the nation
Monday, 21 Jun 2010, by Anglican Media
'2010 Make it Count': Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott to speak live to Christians across the nation [pdf]
In the lead up to the 2010 federal election the leaders of Australia's two major political parties have agreed to speak live to Christians across the nation. [Australian Christian Lobby]
Hough petition to be presented to Anglican synod
A Petition will be presented at this weekend's Anglican synod in Portland calling for the resignation of embattled Ballarat Bishop Michael Hough. [Courier]
Short term income management may work if linked to capacity building support
Families experiencing complex financial hardship may benefit from short term income management where it is linked to financial counselling and other services to improve their lives in the long term Anglicare Victoria said today. [Anglicare Victoria]
Melbourne Anglicans in Queen's Birthday honours
Thursday, 17 Jun 2010, by Anglican Media
Melbourne Anglicans are among those named in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours list, in recognition of their diverse contributions and service to fellow citizens in Australia and internationally.
"I want to give my strong support to the awards made through the Australian Honours System', said Australia's Governor General Quentin Bryce. "They elevate the concept of giving to others. They heighten our respect for one another, and they encourage Australians to think about the responsibilities of citizenship in our democracy."
"Awards in the Australian honours system represent the highest level of recognition accorded by our nation for outstanding achievement and service. The Honours announced today recognise community values and celebrate what is important and unifying in Australian life", Ms Bryce said.
(We acknowledge there could be others also associated with church activities who are not as obvious and to them we also extend our sincerest congratulations. Please let us know of any omissions of recipients of awards from the Diocese of Melbourne by posting their names below!)
MEDAL (OAM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Mr Brian Maurice Coopersmith, Ringwood.
For service to the community of Maroondah, particularly through sporting organisations. Supporter, Yarra Valley (Church of England) Grammar School, 1980s; Chairman, Fête Team.
Mrs Mary Elwyn Lewis, Belmont.
For service to the community of the City of Greater Geelong. Current Parishioner, All Saints' Anglican Parish of Newtown and Geelong West; Warden, Vestry Member; Member, Finance Committee; Chair, Stewardship Committee, Benevolent Fund, and Building and Maintenance Committees; Honorary Lay Minister; Lay Pastoral Minister.
Mr Mark Lane Robertson, East Melbourne
For service to the community through executive roles with charitable organisations, and to the hospitality sector. Foundation Board Member, Geelong (Church of England) Grammar School, 1998-2006; Council Member, since 2006.
COMPANION (AC) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Dr Allan Douglas Hawke, Canberra.
For eminent service to public administration, particularly through the formulation and implementation of policy in the areas of transport, defence and education, and to the strengthening of bilateral relations with New Zealand. President, Barnados Canberra, since 2009. Former Board Member, Canberra Girls' Grammar School.
The churches' take on the World Cup
Wednesday, 16 Jun 2010, by Anglican Media
Local church takes on pubs to bring you soccer World Cup action
If you don't fancy watching Lucas Neill and company in a crowded pub early on Monday morning from Durban, you can see the excitement unfold in a Freshwater church. [Manly Daily]
Film exposes poverty and exploitation behind the World Cup facade
As World Cup hosts South Africa kick-off the tournament against Mexico today, the charity War on Want is launching a new film which contrasts the huge sums spent by the South African government with growing poverty for the country's people. [Ekklesia]
African religious leaders warn about HIV during World Cup
A group of African Christian and Muslim leaders is warning of increased vulnerability to HIV infections during the soccer World Cup in South Africa which runs for a month from 11 June. [ENI]
Hostility to women in Melbourne diocese?
Wednesday, 16 Jun 2010, by Anglican Media
Men lead, women obey?
There is a growing backlash against women being treated as equals in churches around Australia, with some women being pressured not to become priests. Barney Zwartz reports on the battle looming. [The Age]Barney Zwartz has written a long article quoting the experience of people from both sides of the debate in Melbourne.
Previously:
Numbers of young men now being ordained are hostile to women in ministry, according to the Revd Dr Kevin Giles.
"...In earlier years, Evangelicals in Melbourne had been leaders in support for women's ordination through the advocacy of Ridley College principal, Bible scholar Leon Morris. But since 1995, the atmosphere had changed significantly, Dr Giles told a meeting at St Mark's, Templestowe last month ...
... The view that God had put men in charge of the church and the home had increased in recent years, he said. The strategy of not mentioning it in the hope that the opposition to women would go away had meant that the situation has just got worse, he added.
But the church was healthier when men and women shared leadership, said Dr Giles, a retired Melbourne vicar and scholar who has written extensively in support of women's full equality.
Dr Giles said that ordination was just the tip of the iceberg, as he outlined his concern for the damage that could be done through the view that men should be "head" of the home.
"In the home this teaching can encourage men to be selfish, or even to abuse their wives," he explained. "Percentage-wise, there is more abuse in the home in churches that teach male headship.""
The article prompted a strong response from our readers. "The current new wave of anti-women clergy puts the Church at odds with
moves in society to treat women equally with men at work, at home and in
public life," says Alan Nichols in our Readers' Letters this month. However, Clare Rogers, Chair of the Board of Ridley College, says "Ridley Melbourne is proud to be associated with leading women in
ministry".
You can have your say below. Please be respectful and courteous in your conversation. Comments are moderated and may take some time to appear.
Another controversial consecration?
Thursday, 20 May 2010, by Anglican Media
Andrew MacGowan, Warden of Trinity College Theological School, reflects on the recent consecration of the new Bishop of Wollongong:
"Controversial Consecrations...
"There has been recent news about a new bishop whose election and consecration reflects and deepens the divisions within the Anglican Communion.
No, not that one..."
Anglican Bishop brings innovation to Illawarra
For the newly appointed Bishop of Wollongong, Canon Peter Hayward, taking charge of the Wollongong Diocese brings a taste of both new and old. [Northern Leader]
"Home-grown" Bishop of Wollongong appointed
The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, has announced the appointment of Rev. Canon Peter Lindsay Hayward as the new Bishop of Wollongong. [Sydney Anglicans]
Church shelter for asylum seekers gets mixed rseponse
Thursday, 20 May 2010, by Anglican Media
The Federal Government has reportedly approached church bodies for facilities to host asylum seekers.
"The Uniting Church ... would not be party to providing accommodation in circumstances where guards are present and people's freedom of movement is restricted". [The Age] (This quote is present in the print copy from 19/5 but not the online version of the article.)
Ballarat churches support housing asylum seekers
Ballarat churches have embraced the idea of housing asylum seekers, amid news that detention centres are reaching capacity. Anglican and Catholic representatives have expressed their support for accommodating immigrants, provided the churches have the necessary facilities. Bishop Michael Hough of the Anglican Diocese of Ballarat said it was an "excellent proposal".
Govt sounds out churches on housing asylum seekers
The Federal Opposition says the Government is scrambling on its asylum seeker policy by approaching church groups to help house women and children asylum seekers from Christmas Island. [ABC News]
Women bishops legislation for UK set for July debate
Monday, 17 May 2010, by Anglican Media
Stage set for key July debates on legislation to enable women to be bishops
The Church of England has published the 142-page report of the Revision Committee that has been considering in detail the draft legislation to enable women to become bishops in the Church of England. Also published is an amended version of the draft, eleven clause Measure and associated draft Amending Canon. [Church of England News]
Women bishops - GRAS response
GRAS (the Group for the Rescinding of the Act of Synod) have issued this press release. GRAS - For women as bishops, against discrimination
Resolutions A, B, and C to go under draft women Measure
Conscience provision to be by 'request' and diocesan scheme. Paul Handley looks at the conclusions reached by the revision committee. [Church Times]
Further reaction from Forward in Faith to Revision Committee Report
Church faces turmoil over plans for women bishops
Traditionalist Anglicans have warned that new proposals to pave the way for women bishops would force them to leave the Church of England. [Telegraph.co.k]
Population issues - discuss the Anglican perspective
Wednesday, 12 May 2010, by Anglican Media
Today we reported:
Overpopulate and perish, says Anglican body
The Public Affairs Commission for the national Anglican Church has joined the population debate, urging governments to abandon the pursuit of population growth to maintain economic growth, through policies like the Baby Bonus payment.
In a discussion paper that has yet to be put before the General Synod, the PAC has urged Christians to become acutely aware of the issues that surround population, and to be prepared "to make personal and corporate sacrifices for the common good of all Creation". One of these sacrifices should be the Baby Bonus which, the PAC says, "provides an incentive specifically and primarily to increase Australia's population". Read Overpopulate and perish, says Anglican body here.
What do you think? Are we being too fearful in our reluctance to address this issue? Does the population policy of our relatively small country make much of a global difference, anyway? And what about that immigration issue? Have your say below.
Provocative Jesus on page and screen
Tuesday, 11 May 2010, by Anglican Media
In the wake of the New Atheism, it seems like a critique of religion itself was just the beginning. Now Jesus seems to be fair game too in these new interpretations of Jesus, the man.
- The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ
At first glance this atheist's retelling of the story of Jesus Christ looks like a calculated provocation. [The Age]
- American TV company considers Jesus Christ cartoon series
How low can they go?
Virgin film hammered as documentary maker Justin Sisely flees to US
A Melbourne filmmaker who plans to auction two virgins on camera will do so overseas to avoid prostitution charges in Victoria. [Herald Sun]
Have you pre-ordered your iPad yet? Obama says No.
Obama laments tech-driven distractions
US President Barack Obama lamented Sunday that in the iPad and Xbox era, information had become a diversion that was imposing new strains on democracy, in his latest critique of modern media. [The Age]
Archbishop of Canterbury tells Global South: "no quick solutions"
Tuesday, 11 May 2010, by Anglican Media
The Archbishop of Canterbury has used his video address to the Fourth Global South to South Encounter meeting in Singapore to emphasise that it is the work of God's Spirit that can heal the tensions within the Anglican family.
Dr Williams was speaking specifically to two items on the meeting's agenda: challenges for the Church's mission and the Anglican Communion Covenant, which he described as a new way of "grounding our mission". [ACNS]
Number crunching in the Global South
Anglican Mainstream have done some number crunching and assert that the Global South has the numbers in the Anglican Communion. They assert that the official numbers of Anglicans worldwide needs to be reduced by 20 million, but that of those left, 80% are in the Global South.
Indaba continues
In the meantime, documents relating to the "Indaba process" begun at the Lambeth Conference in 2008 are available on the internet here.
- Fourth Trumpet from the Fourth Anglican Global South to South Encounter
- Global
South's final statement calls for greater holiness, purpose and
discipline