From Austrailia-
THE shaken Anglican Archbishop of Sydney admits he has wondered whether God had decided to punish his diocese.
Peter Jensen confessed yesterday to being grief-stricken by the size of the diocese's $160 million financial loss and called on his faithful not be panicked or paralysed by the money crisis but to turn to God in ''active faith''.
In an impassioned speech aimed at lifting morale at the annual synod, Dr Jensen said he had been struggling emotionally to come to terms with the losses which have triggered cuts to ministries and jobs, including senior clergy positions. He believed the loss could be a warning to the wealthiest Anglican diocese in Australia not to rely on its wealth.
The global crisis has slashed the value of the diocese's assets and forced a restructure of its regional organisations in a year it is undertaking a million-dollar mass evangelisation campaign.
Dr Jensen told the church faithful yesterday he most regretted the loss of four archdeacons, some of the church's most senior clerics, the impact of the crisis on the budget of St Andrew's Cathedral and Youth Works, the diocese's youth mission.
Since November, when it became apparent the cuts would be twice as large as first anticipated, Dr Jensen said he had felt initial doubts - which he had subsequently rejected - about whether the diocese had engaged in ethically dubious practices by highly gearing its investments and uncertainty about how to address the losses.
More here-
http://www.smh.com.au/national/jesus-saves-but-shattered-anglicans-regret-not-having-that-luxury-20091019-h4zn.html
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