16 November 2008: Fifty years of the trickle-up effect
The Sydney Morning Herald highlights Tranby Aboriginal College, founded fifty years ago by Fr Alf Clint, whose vision for indigenous Australians to participate fully in their society was once considered reactionary, but who now might be considered a man of the times.

16 November 2008: The fourth shoe falls: members of Fort Worth diocese vote to leave Episcopal church
The Star-Telegram (Fort Worth) reports that clergy and lay delegates formerly of the Diocese of Forth Worth have voted to leave and form a new diocese. The usual groups made the expected public statements. Media coverage included the New York Times and the Dallas Morning News. The press-release machines must have been very busy this week, because there was a great deal of secular media coverage that Fort Worth intended to do this. The US Episcopal News Service filed this long, detailed, and accurate report.

16 November 2008: Mumbai's first Anglican church celebrates 155 years
The Indian Express reports on the release of a history of the 'little church on the hill,' St Stephen, which was the first Anglican church in Mumbai.

16 November 2008: Council of General Synod in Canada approves deficit budget
The Anglican Journal reports that the Council of General Synod, the governing body between General Synods for the Anglican Church of Canada, has voted on the 2009 budget with some dissent. A bone of contention appears to be the fact there was less detail provided and a sense of being excluded from the decision-making during the budget's creation. Major factors for the deficit as presented by the Management Team are listed.

15 November 2008: Anglican Church of Canada now officially in Facebook
The Gazette (Montréal) reports that the Anglican Church of Canada has launched an official page on Facebook.

14 November 2008: California monastery destroyed by fire
The US Episcopal News Service reports the destruction of the Mount Calvary Retreat House in Santa Barbara, California, a monastery of the Episcopal Order of the Holy Cross. The Los Angeles Times has extensive coverage of the regional fire, which destroyed more than 150 buildings. Pictures 9 through 12 of the Los Angeles Times photo coverage of the fire show the damage to the monastery. These pictures from the monastery's own website show what it looked like before the fire. So sad.

12 November 2008: Rowan's Rule
Ruth Gledhill discovers the complex character of the Archbishop of Canterbury in a new biography, not authorised by Lambeth, but written with Dr Williams' co-operation. The Times has an extract from Rowan's Rule: The Biography of the Archbishop, by Rupert Shortt. The Daily Mail tracked down the woman to whom Rowan was once engaged (with her husband, she now runs the Lutheran church in Ireand), and found her more attractive than the person described in the biography. There are also reports in The Independent and The Telegraph.

11 November 2008: Brisbane cathedral complete after 102 years of construction
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that 'Construction of Brisbane's St John's Anglican Cathedral has been completed, 102 years after it was started.' The report in the Courier Mail (Brisbane) includes a photograph, and the report in The Age (Melbourne) includes a better photograph. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation filed this report.

9 November 2008: Complexity in Botswana
The Sunday Standard (Gaborone) has published a Letter to the Editor from the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Botswana, who say they wish to 'set the record straight'. Another newspaper (Mmegi Online (also of Gaborone) had earlier noted that the 'sour relationship between the Anglican Diocese of Botswana, Bishop Trevor Mwamba, and some congregations around the country has reached acrimonious dimensions'. As nearly as we can tell by reading the various reports out of Botswana, that country's civil court has denied the bishop the right to withdraw his licence from his clergy. The Sunday Standard suggests that several priests will be jailed, and Religious Intelligence reports that the priests who brought the issue to civil court had allied themselves with the disgraced former bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga.

8 November 2008: A report on Canada's Amazing Grace Project
The Chronicle Herald (Halifax) reports on the status of Canada's Amazing Grace Project, in which many people propose to make a video recording of themselves singing Amazing Grace and send those recordings to a central compiler who will produce a composite for distribution. Last month Canada's Anglican News Service reported that the Amazing Grace Project has found support in South Africa.

7 November 2008: Making ubuntu a reality
As South Africa approaches a general election next year, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba is commending the civility of ubuntu (an African approach that affirms others, which was used at the recent Lambeth Conference) and urging political leaders to avoid the vocabulary of violence.

7 November 2008: Humanitarian disaster in the DRC
The Associated Press reports that nearby African leaders have called for a cease-fire in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where rebels and pro-government militias have been accused of war crimes. In the Church Times, the bishops of Boga and of Bukavu describe the effect of the continuing violence on the local population. The Guardian (London) reports that the United Nations has declared the killing of civilians in this conflict to be a war crime.

7 November 2008: Out with the pews, in with the people
The Journal News (White Plains, New York) reports on a church experimenting with drawing more people in by removing some pews. Newsday (Long Island) also mentioned this oddity.

7 November 2008: Diocese of Quincy votes to move to South America
The US Episcopal News Service reports that delegates to the annual synod of the Diocese of Quincy, in Illinois USA, voted to leave the Episcopal Church and later voted to join the Province of the Southern Cone. In a longer and more detailed report, the ENS noted that the US Presiding Bishop 'laments the Quincy departures'.

6 November 2008: Barack Obama and Gene Robinson
The Times (London) reports on some meetings last year between Barack Obama (presumably you've heard of him) and Gene Robinson, the Bishop of New Hampshire.

3 November 2008: US Prayer Book Society urges Sydney out of GAFCON
The Prayer Book Society of the USA has published an essay by Peter Toon, its President Emeritus, in which he notes that recent actions by the Diocese of Sydney place it diametrically opposite the stated goals and position of GAFCON.

2 November 2008: Archbishop of Melanesia awarded Vanuatu Badge of Honor
The Solomon Star (Solomon Islands) reports that Most Rev Sir Ellison Pogo, Archbishop of Melanesia, was awarded the Republic of Vanuatu’s highest award; the Badge of Honour.

1 November 2008: New bishop for Canberra and Goulburn
The Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn has announced the election of the Revd Stuart Robinson as its next bishop. Newspaper reports include the Goulburn Post and the Canberra Times.

31 October 2008: Zimbabwe bishop wins Human Rights prize
The Anglican Communion News Service reports that 'Bishop Bakare from Zimbabwe was named winner of a Swedish human rights prize for "having given voice to the fight against oppression."' The US Episcopal News Service had somewhat more to say about it.

31 October 2008: A Canadian moratorium with wiggle room
The Anglican Journal reports that the Canadian House of Bishops has issued a statement that affirmed 'a continued commitment to the greatest extent possible' for a moratorium on blessing same-sex unions. But Ottawa and Montreal have already moved to allow blessings, according to The Globe and Mail (Toronto) and this statement from the bishop of Niagara shows that he is clearly upset with the statement of the House of Bishops.

31 October 2008: Bishops' responses to Draft Covenant analyzed
The Church Times reports on and analyzes the responses to the Anglican Covenant by the bishops who attended the Lambeth Conference (which were made public last week). The Church Times also published this editorial about it.

29 October 2008: Wrapup of investigation of London same-sex blessing in May
The Diocese of London has concluded its investigation into the blessing service conducted in the Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great in May this year (see this article in the Church Times or this report by the BBC to refresh your memory of the incident) and has issued this statement. The Church Times reports that the priest who presided over that service has issued a statement of apology.

29 October 2008: London evicts congregation
Ruth Gledhill's blog tells of the Diocese of London's intention to sell St Mark's Mayfair for a centre for well being, with a spa. The BBC reports that earlier this year, the Welsh-speaking congregation of St Benet Paul's Wharf, a Wren church in the City of London, closed its doors because of its dwindling congregation  

28 October 2008: RC Church in Poland publishes instructions for leaving the church
Zenit reports that the Roman Catholic Church in Poland 'has issued a 22 point guide explaining how Catholics who want to leave the Church may do so'.

28 October 2008: English bishop blames God's wrath for credit crunch
The Telegraph (UK) reports that the Bishop of Lewes (a suffragan see of the Diocese of Chichester) has written that he believes God brought on the credit crisis because we are too materialistic.

27 October 2008: Adelaide to sell part of archbishop's residence to pay abuse reparations
According to The Australian, the sale of part of Bishop's Court will make money available to compensate up to 100 victims of sex abuse by church staff. There had been a perception that the diocese had failed to respond adequately to complaints. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation notes that it will take several months to accomplish this, and that more approvals are needed. A local correspondent tells us that the part to be sold is the tennis court at the side of the block. If you zoom in very tightly on this map provided by the ABC, and switch to 'satellite' view, you'll see something remarkable just next to Medindie Road.

26 October 2008: Ghost hunters seek spirits in New York church
The Daily News (New York) reports that St Andrew in Staten Island, New York has permitted the Eastern Paranormal Investigation Center to probe 'strange goings-on' in that parish.

25 October 2008: New bishop for Huron
The Diocese of Huron announced the election of the Rt Revd Robert Bennett as Bishop of Huron. No date for enthronement has been announced. The London Free Press reported in more detail and includes a photograph. We note that Bishop Bennett has been the Acting Bishop of Huron for several months.

24 October 2008: Ring bells for the environment in Massachusetts
The Eagle Tribune (Andover, Massachusetts) reports that the assistant Bishop of Massachusetts has asked the 196 churches in that diocese to ring their church bells 350 times before Advent. The diocese explains that it is to call public attention to the problem of climate warming.

24 October 2008: New bishop for Sheffield
The Church Times reports that the British Prime Minister's office ('10 Downing Street') has announced the appointment of the Revd Dr Steven Croft as Bishop of Sheffield. The diocesan website has more information and more news.

24 October 2008: Sydney votes to allow lay presidency
The Church Times reports that the Diocese of Sydney has moved forward on its long-standing push to allow lay persons to preside at holy communion. The situation is somewhat more complex than the headline might imply, and you should read the actual article. The Diocese itself published this report entitled 'Sydney restates Lord's Supper position'. A friend pointed out to us that that restatement is not unlike Section 30 of the Baptist London Confession of 1689.

22 October 2008: Disestablishment discussion in the UK
Thinking Anglicans reports on the discussion in the United Kingdom over the possible disestablishment of the Church of England, and provided this update a couple of days later.

22 October 2008: Yes and no to same-sex blessings in Canada
The assembly of the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior (formerly the diocese of Cariboo) has asked its bishop to allow clergy to bless civilly-married gay couples where at least one party is baptized, while the bishop of Ontario has ruled, on the advice of his chancellor, that a similar motion was out of order. The Anglican Journal reports on this and related events.

22 October 2008: Demise of 'Religion Report' in Australia pleases Sydney
The Sydney Morning Herald has gathered comments and responses to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's ending of its 'Religion Report' radio program (we reported this last week). It states that the Diocese of Sydney was 'grateful for the program's demise'.

22 October 2008: Covenant Design Group publishes 'Lambeth Commentary'
The Anglican Communion News Service reports that 'The Covenant Design Group publish[ed] today the Lambeth Commentary, which sets out the responses of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference in their discussions of the St Andrew's Draft for an Anglican Covenant.' If this seems to you to be more than a little arcane, you might be right.

21 October 2008: US Episcopal Church advised not to consider Anglican Covenant
The US Episcopal News Service reports that 'If a proposed Anglican covenant is released in mid-May for adoption by the Anglican Communion's provinces, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will "strongly discourage" any effort to bring that request to the 76th General Convention in July.'

21 October 2008: Two new bishops in Rwanda
The New Times (Kigali) tells of the election of Bishop Augustine Ahimana to the newly created Diocese of Kivu, and of Nathan Gasatura in the Diocese of Butare. Pastor Gasatura had been the president of the National Commission for the fight against Aids.

20 October 2008: US Episcopal Church creates 'Anglican Communion Relations' post
The US Episcopal News Service reports that the Rt Revd Herbert Donovan, Jr has been named as deputy to the Presiding Bishop for Anglican Communion Relations. We don't know how many provinces have deputies for communion relations, but we'd venture a guess that it's not many.

18 October 2008: Religious radio program cancelled in Australia
Religious Intelligence reports that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation has ended its weekly 'Religion Report' radio broadcast. Responses vary.

18 October 2008: New bishop in Lesotho
The African Press Agency reports that the Bishop of the Anglican Church of Lesotho, Mallane Adam Taaso, was consecrated by the Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba.

17 October 2008: Joint Christian-Muslim conference in UK issues non-violence communiqué
The Church Times and the US Episcopal News Service both reported on the 3-day meeting at Lambeth Palace entitled 'A Common Word and Future of Christian-Muslim engagement' and noted that those in attendance produced this communiqué condemning violence.

17 October 2008: Australia re-elects its primate
The Australian reports that the Anglican Church of Australia has re-elected Brisbane Archbishop Phillip Aspinall as its leader for a further six years. The official press release is here (PDF format).

17 October 2008: Inquiry established into Lambeth Conference finances
The Church of Ireland Gazette reports that the Church of England’s Archbishops’ Council and Church Commissioners have set up an independent review committee to examine the financial management of the recent Lambeth Conference.

17 October 2008: Obituary: Mother Sarah Neufville
The Daily Observer (Monrovia) published this obituary of Sarah Hneanyene Elliott Neufville, who was 95.

17 October 2008: Church and state in Zimbabwe
The Ecumenical News Service reports that the Bishop of Harare blames State corruption and political patronage for a collapse in social services in the country, where at least 20 people have died of cholera in recent weeks.

16 October 2008: Church and state in Botswana
Mmegi Online (Gaborone) reports that a Botswana high court judge has ordered that suspended Anglican priests there be reinstated. We reported their petition on 22 September (see below).

16 October 2008: Ethnic violence in Nigerian church
The Nigerian Tribune (Ibadan) reports the goings-on in Benin City, Nigeria (unrelated to the country Benin) surrounding the takeover of an Anglican church by an Igbo group.

16 October 2008: Obituary: Bishop Bill Flagg
The Telegraph (London) published this obituary of the Rt Revd Bill Flagg, missionary statesman and former Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Council of South America.

16 October 2008: Obituary: Hugh McCullum
The Anglican Journal published this obituary of Hugh McCullum, a former editor of the Canadian Churchman.

14 October 2008: Obituary: Richard Wood
The Namibian (Windhoek) published this obituary of Bishop Richard Wood, one-time thorn in the side of apartheid regimes in South Africa.

14 October 2008: US priest inhibited because she converted to Islam
The US Episcopal News Service reports on the inhibition of the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding for publicly professing her adherence to the Muslim faith. Most newspaper coverage simply reprinted the ENS piece, but the Seattle Times had this to say.

13 October 2008: New bishop in Idaho
The US Episcopal News Service reports on the consecration of the Rt Revd Brian Thom as Bishop of Idaho.