Anglican priest, 12 others perish in Delta auto crash

From Nigeria-

Thirteen persons, including a priest, yesterday lost their lives in a multiple auto accident near Asaba, the Delta State Capital.

The vehicles involved include a Ford bus, with registration number GWK 684 XA, belonging to the Christ Anglican Church, Ibusa; a Mitsubishi L300, with registration number BJ 831 AKD; a commercial bus; and a Honda car, with registration number BEN 413 CF.

 The death of the Anglican priest, Rev Stanley Ejiniwe, it was learnt, threw the entire Asaba Diocese of the Anglican Communion into mourning.

 The Nation gathered that four victims of the crash are receiving treatment at St. Joseph Catholic Hospital and St. Rebecca hospital both in Asaba, while the dead-  11 males and two females, have been deposited at the General Hospital, Ibusa.

More here-

http://thenationonlineng.net/anglican-priest-12-others-perish-delta-auto-crash/

Welby: Church is entering a new spring at last

From The Church Times-

THE Church is entering a new season of revival, despite living in an age of turmoil, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.

“I believe from the bottom of my heart that the long years of winter in the Church — especially in the Church of England — are changing,” Archbishop Welby said last week. “The ice is thawing; the spring is coming. There is a new spring in the Church.”

He was speaking in Harrogate at a conference for church leaders run by the New Wine movement. He praised New Wine for leading the turn-around. “New Wine have been heroes, and will continue to be. You’ve borne the burden; you’ve turned the tide. There is renewal and life springing up.”

He began his speech, however, by suggesting that the world was seeing a time of deep insecurity and uncertainty — the worst since the end of the Cold War, or even the tumult of the 1930s.
More here-

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2016/11-march/news/uk/welby-church-is-entering-a-new-spring-at-last

Three years on, pope leaves Catholic conservatives feeling marginalized

From Reuters-

Three years after the election of Pope Francis, Roman Catholic conservatives are growing increasingly worried that he is quietly unraveling the legacy of his predecessors.

Francis' popularity with most Catholics, and legions of non-Catholics, has given him the image of a grandfatherly parish priest who understands how difficult it sometimes is to follow Church teachings, particularly those on sexual morality.

Conservatives worry that behind the gentle facade lies a dangerous reformer who is diluting Catholic teaching on moral issues like homosexuality and divorce while focusing on social problems such as climate change and economic inequality.

Interviews with four Vatican officials, including two cardinals and an archbishop, as well as theologians and commentators, highlighted conservative fears that Francis' words and deeds may eventually rupture the 1.2 billion member Church.

More here-

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-anniversary-conservatives-idUSKCN0WD0TF

African bishops to boycott meeting of Anglican council over Episcopal Church attendance

From Colorado (via RNS)

The Anglican Church in Kenya has become the latest province to announce it will boycott the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Zambia over the participation of the Episcopal Church.

The Episcopal Church was recently censured at a primates’ meeting in Canterbury, England, because of the American church’s willingness to ordain and marry LGBT people.

According to the sanctions, the Episcopal Church cannot represent the communion at the April meeting or vote on doctrine and polity.

More here-

http://gazette.com/african-bishops-to-boycott-meeting-of-anglican-council-over-episcopal-church-attendance/article/1571938

Child pornography seized with warrant

From Maine-

The former pastor of a Tremont church is under investigation for possession and dissemination of child pornography, according to a state police affidavit for a search warrant executed in January at his Southwest Harbor home.

Members of the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit executed the search warrant at the Ridge Acres Lane home of Wayne Buchanan on Jan. 6, seizing computers, thumb drives and a memory card. Police began their investigation on Dec. 27, after a detective identified a particular computer “making available” files that previously had been identified as child pornography, the affidavit states. Detectives later determined that Buchanan was the subscriber at that Internet address.

Buchanan was pastor of the Tremont Congregational Church and St. Brendan’s Anglican Mission. He resigned on Jan. 7. At the time, the Rt. Rev. Julian Dobbs, diocesan bishop of the Convocation of Anglican Church in North America, issued a statement.

More here-

http://www.mdislander.com/featured/child-pornography-seized-with-warrant

Kansas City soup kitchen is just like a restaurant

From Kansas City (with video)-

There's a new downtown Kansas City dining experience that's getting a lot of attention.  A culinary team makes the menu and a waiter takes your order.  But it's not a restaurant.

It's the Kansas City Community Kitchen at 8th Street and Paseo, and it's providing free meals to anyone in need.  But it's nothing like a typical soup kitchen.

"We have a baked chicken an oven baked chicken," said one worker at the Kansas City Community Kitchen.  "We have a french fry but instead of being fried, its actually being baked.  We have green beans that have been flavored with a turkey bacon."

All of those items were on the menu at the Kansas City Community Kitchen on Wednesday.  It looks and smells like a restaurant, and there's a friendly staff to take your order.  But the meal is free for everyone.

"We don't want it to be a soup kitchen, for us it's about being a community kitchen so it's about breaking walls and letting people see anyone can be in need," said Beau Heyen at Episcopal Community Services.

More here-

http://www.kmbc.com/news/kansas-city-soup-kitchen-is-just-like-a-restaurant/38427134

EPISCOPAL PRELATE SLAMS LIBERIA OVER HARRY GREAVES DEATH

From Liberia-

The long-standing controversy surrounding the death of Mr. Harry A. Greaves, the former Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company is expected to be laid to rest as family, friends and well-wishers prepare for burial today. Sympathizers turned out in large numbers Wednesday night to bid farewell to Greaves who died under mysterious circumstances. As Greaves finally departs the world with circumstances surrounding his death still unknown, many paid tributes to the late Greaves memorializing the deceased as wreaths and flowers were laid on the mortal remains.

Murmurs Over Body’s Identity

At the start of the wake, several family members were heard discussing the identity of the body with some openly saying that the appearance of the body was far from recognition and does not look like the deceased. One family source told FrontPageAfrica that the funeral parlor said that they were doing reconstruction work and did not prepare the body properly. “The children were grumbling and said it was not their daddy and that their father’s face was brighter,” a family member told FrontPageAfrica.

Giving tribute, the Rector of the St. Augustine Parish, and Arch-Deacon of Sub-Western Archdeaconry Rev. Fr. Victor King expressed disappointment in the handling of the death of Greaves who was an Episcopalian. He blamed the security apparatus headed by some Episcopalians, adding that they head the security of the state describing the work of these Episcopalians as disappointing.
 
More here-

http://frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/news/7740-episcopal-prelate-slams-liberia-over-harry-greaves-death

CEO Sarah Eagle Heart Grows Nonprofit 'Native Americans in Philanthropy'

From Indian Country-

Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) has revved up its outreach and networking since Sarah Eagle Heart, Oglala Lakota, came on board as its new chief executive officer in fall 2015. Eagle Heart is a fierce advocate of building strong, healthy tribal communities while preserving Native traditions.

Founded in 1990, NAP strives to power reciprocity and investment in Native communities. The national membership-based nonprofit promotes collaboration to develop meaningful philanthropic opportunities rooted in Native values. NAP is not a grant maker but rather a facilitator, connecting nonprofits and emerging leaders with Native communities. NAP recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary as the only national organization that raises awareness and support for Native and non-Native practitioners of philanthropy through engagement, education and empowerment.
Read more at -

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/03/08/ceo-sarah-eagle-heart-grows-nonprofit-native-americans-philanthropy-163667

Infallibility — Hans Küng appeals to Pope Francis

From National Catholic Reporter-

Next week, Hans Küng, the Catholic priest and Swiss theologian, will mark his 88th birthday. The fifth volume of his complete works, titled Infallibility, has just become available from the German publishing house Herder. In connection with the release of Infallibility, Küng has written the following “urgent appeal to Pope Francis to permit an open and impartial discussion on infallibility of pope and bishops.” The text of his urgent appeal is being released simultaneously by National Catholic Reporter and The Tablet.

It is hardly conceivable that Pope Francis would strive to define papal infallibility as Pius IX did with all the means at hand, whether good or less good, in the 19th century. It is also inconceivable that Francis would be interested in infallibly defining Marian dogmas as Pius XII did. It would, however, be far easier to imagine Pope Francis smilingly telling students, “Io non sono infallibile” — “I am not infallible” — as Pope John XXIII did in his time. When he saw how surprised the students were, John added, “I am only infallible when I speak ex cathedra, but that is something I will never do.”

More here-

http://ncronline.org/news/theology/infallibility-hans-k-ng-appeals-pope-francis

“The only certainty in the world is Jesus Christ” - Archbishop Justin Welby

From ACNS-

The text of an address given by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the New Wine Leadership Conference in Harrogate, Yorkshire, on 2 March 2016

I can’t tell you what a privilege it is to be here. It’s beyond what I can easily express. The New Wine movement has done so much in our lives and in our family’s lives. God has worked through you in so many amazing ways, and so much in the church.

What I’m hoping to do today is start by looking at some of the wider view that I have the privilege of getting to see a bit of around the world - not just in the church but more widely. And then to narrow it down and talk about some things that affect us, and particularly something about New Wine. And if you’ve got a Bible with you, you may find it helpful a bit later in the talk to look at 1 Corinthians 4: 1-13.

More here-

http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2016/03/the-only-certainty-in-the-world-is-jesus-christ-archbishop-justin-welby.aspx

Is anyone surprised that the Queen didn’t approve of gay marriage?

From The Spectator-

Of all the frankly riveting stuff in the Daily Mail’s serial of what it calls ‘The Unknown Queen’ — nicely timed for the Queen’s 90th birthday — is there anything less surprising than the revelation she was/is opposed to gay marriage? Is the head of the Church of England a Christian? Well, it seems so.

‘There is,’ say Richard Kay (a friend of the late Princess Diana) and Geoffrey Levy, ‘one area of social policy where Her Majesty holds more traditional views…same sex marriage.’ Talking about the issue in the home of a close friend around the time the legislation was being passed by Parliament, the Queen is said to have expressed her frustration and unease. ‘It was the “marriage” thing she thought was wrong,’ says the friend, ‘because marriage ought to be sacrosanct between a man and a woman. I said to her couldn’t she do something about it and she replied: “I can’t. I can only advise and warn.”‘

More here-

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/03/of-course-the-queen-is-opposed-to-gay-marriage/

Nigeria: Kidnapping of Schoolgirls Was Traumatic for Us, Says Anglican Archbishop

From Nigeria-

The Archbishop of Lagos Mainland Diocese (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Adebayo Akinde, on Monday, disclosed that the abduction of three female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu was sad and traumatic for the proprietors of the school.

Akinde, however, commended the Lagos State Government and the State Police Command, noting that their prompt response largely contributed to the rescue of the schoolgirls on Sunday.

He expressed gratitude at the State House at a meeting with the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and some members of the State Executive Council.

The archbishop visited the governor alongside other bishops of the Anglican Church, Principal of the school, Ven. Olaoluwa Adeyemi and parents of the three rescued female students among others.
More here-

http://allafrica.com/stories/201603080240.html

First bishop of the Anglican Military Ordinariate elected

From Anglican Journal-

In the first election of its kind, Col. the Ven. Nigel Shaw, director of chaplaincy operations for the Canadian Army, Navy and Air Force, was chosen as the new bishop-elect of the Anglican Military Ordinariate March 5 via an electronic electoral synod.

“It’s very humbling, at one level, to realize how much trust has been placed in you by the people of the Ordinariate,” Shaw said in an interview. “The thought of being able to continue to minister with the community that I’ve been a part of and loved so dearly for so long is really exciting.”

Shaw said that one of his priorities as bishop is the expansion of lay people’s role within the Ordinariate in the wider church.

More here-

http://www.anglicanjournal.com/articles/first-bishop-of-the-anglican-military-ordinariate-elected

New Zealand’s “way forward” on same-sex marriage: An evaluation

From The Living Church-

Like most of the churches in the Western/Northern world, the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia (ACANZP) has for some time been discerning how to respond to cultural changes in relation to same-sex relationships. The latest report, to be debated at its General Synod in May 2016, arises from the “Way Forward Working Group,” whose title, remit, and constraints were set by an agreement reached at the 2014 General Synod (A Way Forward – He Anga Whakamua — Na Sala ki Liu). There was to be no change to the traditional doctrine of marriage but recognition of “a diversity of voices about what constitutes a right ordered intimate relationship between two persons regardless of gender.” The group was to develop a process and a structure and to propose a liturgy that would hold together with integrity and “in communion under scripture, doctrine and law” those who believe blessing same-gender relationships is contrary to “scripture, doctrine, tikanga, or civil law” and those who believe it is consonant with these (tikanga is a reference to three culture streams within ACANZP: Maori, Pakeha [i.e., European influenced], and Pasefika [i.e., Polynesian]). In doing so the working group was asked also to consider ordination and the theology of marriage.

More here-

http://livingchurch.org/covenant/2016/03/08/new-zealands-way-forward-on-same-sex-marriage-an-evaluation/

For Indigenous Anglicans, Gay Marriage a Colonialism Issue: Bishops

From Canada-

A group of Indigenous Anglican Bishops have released a statement agreeing with Eastern Newfoundland Bishop Geoff Peddle that their community is on a different page when it comes to marriage equality, but not for the reasons you might think. VOCM's Andrew Hawthorn explains.

Gay Marriage isn't an issue of right or wrong in indigenous communities. It's an issue of colonial oppression.

That's according to three indigenous Bishops who released the statement declaring commitment to 'the traditional, spiritual, indigenous understanding of marriage'.

There are those on both sides of the issue who would say homosexuality was once treated one way or another by indigenous peoples, but the Bishops, expressing kinship and support of the LGBT community, point out as their culture was almost entirely erased, it is difficult to say what the traditional attitude really was.

More here-

http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&id=60977&latest=1

Draft programme for Anglican Consultative Council meeting published

From ACNS-

Anglican Bishops, priests and laity from across the world will gather in Lusaka next month for the 16th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC-16). Members will discuss a range of issues around the theme “Intentional discipleship in a world of difference” – how Christians can be faithful to the Gospel in all aspects of their lives in the different cultures and situations that Anglicans find themselves in.

The Anglican Communion Office is now inviting applications for media accreditation for journalists who wish to attend ACC-16.

The ACC facilitates the co-operative work of the 38 autonomous but interdependent national and regional Churches and the six extra-provincial churches and dioceses that are in Communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Through the ACC, churches of the Anglican Communion exchange information and co-ordinate common action. The ACC also advises on the organisation and structures of the Anglican Communion, and seeks to develop common policies on world mission and ecumenical matters.

More here-

http://www.anglicannews.org/features/2016/03/draft-programme-for-anglican-consultative-council-meeting-published.aspx

Tanzania: Arusha High Court Rejects Bishop's Appeal

From Tanzania-

The High Court has rejected the appeal lodged by Bishop Manaseh Martin and two pastors, Tito Tunda and Jarome Andrea, challenging their removal from their respective posts following a leadership crisis which engulfed Kanisa la Elim Pentecoste, Coast Region Diocese.

Judge John Ruhangisa reached into such a decision after upholding some grounds of objection presented by advocate Emanuel Makene, for Registered Trustees of the church, who had vehemently opposed to the hearing of the appeal.

"Since the appellant (Manaseh Martin, Tito Tunda and Jarome Andrea) advocate has conceded to the preliminary objection raised by the respondent (Registered Trustees of Kanisa la Elim Pentecoste), the appeal is hereby struck out accordingly," Prof. Ruhangisa ruled.

More here-

http://allafrica.com/stories/201603071073.html

The UK ordinariate, five years on

From Catholic World Report-

The Sunday School is now too large and the children just can’t fit comfortably into the Parish Room in the Rectory.  So a Children’s Choir has been formed from among the older children, those who have made their First Communion. There has been considerable enthusiasm and the choir has now been rehearsing for some weeks. They will sing regularly at Mass—proper Mass settings, drawn from both the Catholic and the Anglican musical tradition. They are being trained by a paid musical director, who also oversees a professional choir—of which more below.

More here-

http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/4625/the_uk_ordinariate_five_years_on.aspx

National Cathedral windows are stirring controversy

From The Post-Gazette-

Among the memorials inside the Washington National Cathedral is a dazzling stained-glass window near the tomb of Woodrow Wilson, the only U.S. president buried in the capital’s prominent Gothic structure.

While millions of visitors have passed by President Wilson’s crypt and walked across the bronze presidential seal laid into the floor in front of it, many of them probably never noticed two finely detailed Confederate flags in the “War and Peace” windows that are part of the Woodrow Wilson Bay.

We might have missed them, too, if we hadn’t visited the cathedral several months after Dylann Roof confessed to shooting and killing nine African-Americans in a Charleston, S.C., church.

More here-

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/travel/2016/03/06/National-Cathedral-windows-that-include-Confederate-flags-are-stirring-controversy/stories/201602280010

What’s a Christian to do?

From Pittsburgh-

The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes opens with a famous phrase: “Vanity of vanities ... All is vanity.” I look at the state of public Christian faith today and wonder if it should say: “Ironies of ironies … All is irony.”

And there is irony on both the right and the left.

On the right, many Christians, including some of our presidential candidates, reject Darwin’s theories of evolution while embracing social Darwinism.

Social Darwinism is based on “survival of the fittest”: Those who rise to the top — the most “fit” — deserve to enjoy the fruits of their success and should not be encumbered by those near or at the bottom who cannot secure their own rewards.

Christian belief runs counter to survival of the fittest. Christ’s teaching and example in the gospels oppose survival of the fittest. They promote the fittest lifting up the least fit, telling those at the top that they should do everything they can to lift up everyone else, especially those on the bottom.

More here-

http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2016/03/06/Many-conservatives-share-our-faith-but-not-our-compassion-while-many-liberals-share-our-compassion-but-not-our-faith/stories/201603060034