http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog en doug.bonneville@gmail.com Copyright 2008 2008-11-13T21:55:31-05:00 http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/pittsburgh_re_elects_bishop_duncan/ http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/pittsburgh_re_elects_bishop_duncan/#When:21:55:31Z Read the whole article here: http://www.pitanglican.org/news/local/duncanreelect110708 Bishop Robert Duncan is once again the diocesan bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.  Clergy and lay deputies to a special convention of the diocese on November 7 voted to invite Bishop Duncan back into leadership of the diocese 50 days after the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church voted to remove ("depose") him. “It is good to be back.  God has clearly watched over the diocese and watched over me and Nara as we have walked through these challenging days together.  God willing, I look forward to many years together sharing the good news of Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Duncan. Leaders representing a majority of the world’s Anglican Christians, as well as many inside and outside The Episcopal Church in North America, never accepted the validity of The House of Bishops’ decision to remove Bishop Duncan from leadership.  In spite of the decision’s deep defects, Bishop Duncan and the diocese elected to submit to the purported “deposition,” so long as the diocese was part of that denomination.  The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh was able to invite Bishop Duncan back into leadership after it voted to leave The Episcopal Church and temporarily join the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone on October 4.  The diocese made the decision after years of disagreement with the leadership of The Episcopal Church over basic Christian beliefs about the authority of the Bible, the unique role of Jesus Christ in salvation, and Christian moral standards.  At the conclusion of that diocesan convention, the Standing Committee of the diocese, led by the Rev. David Wilson, announced that there would be a special convention on November 7 for the purpose of electing a bishop. With the election complete, clergy and laity from around the diocese are participating in the “Moving Forward in Mission” conference at Trinity Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh on November 8.  The conference features the Rev. Mike Breen, who has done extensive work helping parishes effectively make new Christians in their local communities. “The most important thing now is to move beyond our conflict with the leadership of The Episcopal Church and turn all of our energies toward living as Christians and effectively sharing the good news of God’s love and mercy for all people in the places God has put us.  I am looking forward to hearing what Mike has to say to us tomorrow,” said Bishop Duncan. - Posted November 7, 2008 - Episcopal Church 2008-11-13T21:55:31-05:00 http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/dio_quincy_votes_to_leave_episcopal_church/ http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/dio_quincy_votes_to_leave_episcopal_church/#When:21:54:31Z From here: http://dioceseofquincy.org/pdfs_and_docs/2008_synod_resolutions.pdf Click the link to read the whole thing. 2008-11-13T21:54:31-05:00 http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/statement_from_the_capa_meeting_held_in_nairobi_on_3rd_4th_sep_08/ http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/statement_from_the_capa_meeting_held_in_nairobi_on_3rd_4th_sep_08/#When:21:51:48Z STATEMENT FROM THE PRIMATES AND STANDING COMMITTEE OF CAPA IN NAIROBI, SEPTEMBER 3RD AND 4TH 2008 We met as Primates of Africa together with the Standing Committee of CAPA at the ACK Guest House on the 3rd and 4th of September 2008. This meeting provided the opportunity to reflect on our journey since our last Council Meeting in Mauritius in October 2007 and also on our experiences of life in the Anglican Communion; particularly in relation to the two great events of Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) and the Lambeth Conference. We felt a deep sense of warmth and fellowship with each other and expressed gratitude to God for his faithfulness. We were however saddened by the absence of our colleagues namely Archbishop Ian Ernest our Chairman who was ill; Archbishops Peter Akinola and Mouneer Anis, who had difficulties with flight connections. We were glad to welcome Bishop Jo Seoka, who represented Archbishop Thabo Makgoba. We welcomed Rev Canon Grace Kaiso our new General Secretary and his Commissioning at All Saints Cathedral was one of the highlights our meeting. We reflected and agonized about the pain that had characterized our efforts to uphold the Anglican Communion in good stead; the events of Lambeth 1998, the Primates meeting of Dromantine 2005 and Dar-es-Salaam 2007. We thanked God for sustaining us with courage to stand up for the historic and apostolic Christian faith as revealed in the Scriptures. We were particularly thankful for the organs that have mobilized us and kept us focused and engaged around the issues that have plagued the Anglican Communion. CAPA and the Global South were appreciated and Archbishop John Chew who was at the meeting was recognized with deep warmth of Christian love. He warmed up the meeting with the presentation of copies of the Catechism, a product of the Global South. The commitment of the Global South to resource the Communion was underlined by Archbishop Chew and applauded by the meeting. His call for sustained engagement by the Global South with the process of the Anglican Covenant was supported. We further shared our experiences of both GAFCON and Lambeth; and the statements emanating from the two meetings were shared. Those at Lambeth shared how the absence of some of the CAPA Members was acutely felt. They commended the Indaba framework, it provided space for intense and deep conversations guided by Scriptural readings, and they were particularly encouraged by confessions of discomfort by some Bishops from USA and Canada with the persistent undermining of the authority of Scripture by some of their colleagues. Participants from the CAPA family also appreciated the opportunity for fellowship and witness at the Lambeth; the Archbishop of Sudan was particularly commended for his statement. The Lambeth Conference Walk of Witness, which symbolized the Church’s commitment to improving the quality of life of God’s people through the MDGs’ framework and the multicultural worship that permeated the meeting were noted as some of the highlights at Lambeth. The Lambeth Conference, it was highlighted, did not make any resolutions but offered the Anglican Covenant as one the means forward. The GAFCON, it was reported, was a great time of fellowship and spiritual blessings. The Jerusalem venue and the excursions were appreciated by participants as they deepened the reflections, ‘It was like walking through the Bible Events physically.’ The participants shared the Conference Statement which underlines the commitment to Biblical Orthodoxy and that GAFCON would be a movement for renewal within the communion and not a break-away faction. A Council of Primates had been formed and it was taking steps to seek audience with the Archbishop of Canterbury. As we reflected on the two meetings, we realized the danger of: - Defining each other’s spirituality in light of the choices made to attend either of the two meetings; - Not appreciating that homosexuality and lesbianism are not only issues in the West, but that they are actually at our door-steps; - Overlooking the seriousness of the challenges related to the human sexuality debate and if we attempt to address them, in a fragmented manner; - Getting preoccupied with issues of human sexuality and ignoring other issues that deprive God’s people of their dignity prevalent in our Provinces and when we fail to care and support each other within the CAPA family to respond to those pressing challenges; - Not taking advantage of every space available to engage on the issues affecting the communion as running away gives the space to the devil and eventually will damage us. Being discouraged is not a Christian virtue; - Failing to build our economic capacity as this leaves us vulnerable to diverse interests. Consequently we resolved that on unity and Ministry of CAPA Provinces, CAPA be the space for fellowship, mutual support, encouragement, inspiration and capacity building. We will all work hard at nurturing fellowship and unity of purpose while recognizing that we may not agree on each and every issue, but will endeavor to remain together on ‘major issues’ that is the essentials that make us who we are. We shall endeavor to find practical ways through which we will get to know each others context sufficiently well and to reach out to each other more meaningfully; in this regard - We will support the CAPA Secretariat to operationalize the linkages of Dioceses as agreed upon at the All Africa Bishops Conference in Lagos; - We shall rotate all CAPA events including meetings; - We shall respond to each others needs to the extent that we are able; - We shall establish strategies that will make CAPA economically independent and able to support Provinces in the same direction; this will involve among other things - Sharing good investment practices - Working towards establishing a micro-finance bank - We shall develop pastoral strategies in our respective Provinces to reach out to those who are struggling with their sexual orientation and sensitize the populations against those de-humanizing tendencies/practices; - We shall use all available resources including the catechism, to equip and disciple our flock into the faith and enable them to understand their privileges and responsibilities placed on them in their choice to follow Christ; - That the new Strategic Plan and ongoing constitutional review process pick up those concerns and aspirations. On matters concerning the Anglican Communion GAFCON is encouraged to maintain its commitment to being a renewing fellowship within the Anglican Communion. - We remain engaged on issues concerning the Anglican Communion, and in this regard Primates will respond positively to the invitation by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2009. - Encourage the Global South to speed up the preparations for the 4th Trumpet and mandate them to continue to give us the lead in the on-going dialogue regarding the proposed Covenant. The Most Rev Emmanuel Kolini CAPA VICE CHAIRMAN Reply Forward GmailI can but did not see much new here. Sent from my iPhone Nov 6 (8 days ago) GmailLoading...Nov 6 (8 days ago) Gmail to wimsey1 show details Nov 6 (8 days ago) Reply I can but did not see much new here. Sent from my iPhone - Show quoted text - On Nov 6, 2008, at 12:25 PM, “Lance Giuffrida” wrote: Justin, do you want to post this on the website? -----Original Message----- From: GSA Web Editorial [mailto:admin@globalsouthanglican.org] Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 11:43 AM To: wimsey1@comcast.net Subject: STATEMENT FROM THE CAPA MEETING HELD IN NAIROBI ON 3RD & 4TH SEP 08 STATEMENT FROM THE PRIMATES AND STANDING COMMITTEE OF CAPA IN NAIROBI, SEPTEMBER 3RD AND 4TH 2008 We met as Primates of Africa together with the Standing Committee of CAPA at the ACK Guest House on the 3rd and 4th of September 2008. This meeting provided the opportunity to reflect on our journey since our last Council Meeting in Mauritius in October 2007 and also on our experiences of life in the Anglican Communion; particularly in relation to the two great events of Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) and the Lambeth Conference. We felt a deep sense of warmth and fellowship with each other and expressed gratitude to God for his faithfulness. We were however saddened by the absence of our colleagues namely Archbishop Ian Ernest our Chairman who was ill; Archbishops Peter Akinola and Mouneer Anis, who had difficulties with flight connections. We were glad to welcome Bishop Jo Seoka, who represented Archbishop Thabo Makgoba. We welcomed Rev Canon Grace Kaiso our new General Secretary and his Commissioning at All Saints Cathedral was one of the highlights our meeting. We reflected and agonized about the pain that had characterized our efforts to uphold the Anglican Communion in good stead; the events of Lambeth 1998, the Primates meeting of Dromantine 2005 and Dar-es-Salaam 2007. We thanked God for sustaining us with courage to stand up for the historic and apostolic Christian faith as revealed in the Scriptures. We were particularly thankful for the organs that have mobilized us and kept us focused and engaged around the issues that have plagued the Anglican Communion. CAPA and the Global South were appreciated and Archbishop John Chew who was at the meeting was recognized with deep warmth of Christian love. He warmed up the meeting with the presentation of copies of the Catechism, a product of the Global South. The commitment of the Global South to resource the Communion was underlined by Archbishop Chew and applauded by the meeting. His call for sustained engagement by the Global South with the process of the Anglican Covenant was supported. We further shared our experiences of both GAFCON and Lambeth; and the statements emanating from the two meetings were shared. Those at Lambeth shared how the absence of some of the CAPA Members was acutely felt. They commended the Indaba framework, it provided space for intense and deep conversations guided by Scriptural readings, and they were particularly encouraged by confessions of discomfort by some Bishops from USA and Canada with the persistent undermining of the authority of Scripture by some of their colleagues. Participants from the CAPA family also appreciated the opportunity for fellowship and witness at the Lambeth; the Archbishop of Sudan was particularly commended for his statement. The Lambeth Conference Walk of Witness, which symbolized the Church’s commitment to improving the quality of life of God’s people through the MDGs’ framework and the multicultural worship that permeated the meeting were noted as some of the highlights at Lambeth. The Lambeth Conference, it was highlighted, did not make any resolutions but offered the Anglican Covenant as one the means forward. The GAFCON, it was reported, was a great time of fellowship and spiritual blessings. The Jerusalem venue and the excursions were appreciated by participants as they deepened the reflections, ‘It was like walking through the Bible Events physically.’ The participants shared the Conference Statement which underlines the commitment to Biblical Orthodoxy and that GAFCON would be a movement for renewal within the communion and not a break-away faction. A Council of Primates had been formed and it was taking steps to seek audience with the Archbishop of Canterbury. As we reflected on the two meetings, we realized the danger of: - Defining each other’s spirituality in light of the choices made to attend either of the two meetings; - Not appreciating that homosexuality and lesbianism are not only issues in the West, but that they are actually at our door-steps; - Overlooking the seriousness of the challenges related to the human sexuality debate and if we attempt to address them, in a fragmented manner; - Getting preoccupied with issues of human sexuality and ignoring other issues that deprive God’s people of their dignity prevalent in our Provinces and when we fail to care and support each other within the CAPA family to respond to those pressing challenges; - Not taking advantage of every space available to engage on the issues affecting the communion as running away gives the space to the devil and eventually will damage us. Being discouraged is not a Christian virtue; - Failing to build our economic capacity as this leaves us vulnerable to diverse interests. Consequently we resolved that on unity and Ministry of CAPA Provinces, CAPA be the space for fellowship, mutual support, encouragement, inspiration and capacity building. We will all work hard at nurturing fellowship and unity of purpose while recognizing that we may not agree on each and every issue, but will endeavor to remain together on ‘major issues’ that is the essentials that make us who we are. We shall endeavor to find practical ways through which we will get to know each others context sufficiently well and to reach out to each other more meaningfully; in this regard - We will support the CAPA Secretariat to operationalize the linkages of Dioceses as agreed upon at the All Africa Bishops Conference in Lagos; - We shall rotate all CAPA events including meetings; - We shall respond to each others needs to the extent that we are able; - We shall establish strategies that will make CAPA economically independent and able to support Provinces in the same direction; this will involve among other things - Sharing good investment practices - Working towards establishing a micro-finance bank - We shall develop pastoral strategies in our respective Provinces to reach out to those who are struggling with their sexual orientation and sensitize the populations against those de-humanizing tendencies/practices; - We shall use all available resources including the catechism, to equip and disciple our flock into the faith and enable them to understand their privileges and responsibilities placed on them in their choice to follow Christ; - That the new Strategic Plan and ongoing constitutional review process pick up those concerns and aspirations. On matters concerning the Anglican Communion GAFCON is encouraged to maintain its commitment to being a renewing fellowship within the Anglican Communion. - We remain engaged on issues concerning the Anglican Communion, and in this regard Primates will respond positively to the invitation by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2009. - Encourage the Global South to speed up the preparations for the 4th Trumpet and mandate them to continue to give us the lead in the on-going dialogue regarding the proposed Covenant. The Most Rev Emmanuel Kolini CAPA VICE CHAIRMAN Reply Forward Lance Giuffrida to me show details Nov 7 (7 days ago) Reply Not much, I agree, except for their unity. It is Abp Kolini, and they do not disparage GAFCON, so… -----Original Message----- From: Gmail [mailto:justin.giuffrida@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 12:42 PM To: - Show quoted text - Subject: Re: STATEMENT FROM THE CAPA MEETING HELD IN NAIROBI ON 3RD & 4TH SEP 08 I can but did not see much new here. Sent from my iPhone On Nov 6, 2008, at 12:25 PM, “Lance Giuffrida” wrote: > Justin, do you want to post this on the website? > > -----Original Message----- > From: GSA Web Editorial [mailto:admin@globalsouthanglican.org] > Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 11:43 AM > To: wimsey1@comcast.net > Subject: STATEMENT FROM THE CAPA MEETING HELD IN NAIROBI ON 3RD & > 4TH SEP 08 > > STATEMENT FROM THE PRIMATES AND STANDING COMMITTEE OF CAPA IN > NAIROBI, SEPTEMBER 3RD AND 4TH 2008 > > We met as Primates of Africa together with the Standing Committee of > CAPA at the ACK Guest House on the 3rd and 4th of September 2008. > This meeting provided the opportunity to reflect on our journey > since our last Council Meeting in Mauritius in October 2007 and also > on our experiences of life in the Anglican Communion; particularly > in relation to the two great events of Global Anglican Future > Conference (GAFCON) and the Lambeth Conference. > > We felt a deep sense of warmth and fellowship with each other and > expressed gratitude to God for his faithfulness. We were however > saddened by the absence of our colleagues namely Archbishop Ian > Ernest our Chairman who was ill; Archbishops Peter Akinola and > Mouneer Anis, who had difficulties with flight connections. We were > glad to welcome Bishop Jo Seoka, who represented Archbishop Thabo > Makgoba. We welcomed Rev Canon Grace Kaiso our new General Secretary > and his Commissioning at All Saints Cathedral was one of the > highlights our meeting. > > We reflected and agonized about the pain that had characterized our > efforts to uphold the Anglican Communion in good stead; the events > of Lambeth 1998, the Primates meeting of Dromantine 2005 and Dar-es- > Salaam 2007. We thanked God for sustaining us with courage to stand > up for the historic and apostolic Christian faith as revealed in the > Scriptures. We were particularly thankful for the organs that have > mobilized us and kept us focused and engaged around the issues that > have plagued the Anglican Communion. > > > CAPA and the Global South were appreciated and Archbishop John Chew > who was at the meeting was recognized with deep warmth of Christian > love. He warmed up the meeting with the presentation of copies of > the Catechism, a product of the Global South. The commitment of the > Global South to resource the Communion was underlined by Archbishop > Chew and applauded by the meeting. His call for sustained engagement > by the Global South with the process of the Anglican Covenant was > supported. We further shared our experiences of both GAFCON and > Lambeth; and the statements emanating from the two meetings were > shared. > > Those at Lambeth shared how the absence of some of the CAPA Members > was acutely felt. They commended the Indaba framework, it provided > space for intense and deep conversations guided by Scriptural > readings, and they were particularly encouraged by confessions of > discomfort by some Bishops from USA and Canada with the persistent > undermining of the authority of Scripture by some of their > colleagues. Participants from the CAPA family also appreciated the > opportunity for fellowship and witness at the Lambeth; the > Archbishop of Sudan was particularly commended for his statement. > The Lambeth Conference Walk of Witness, which symbolized the > Church’s commitment to improving the quality of life of God’s people > through the MDGs’ framework and the multicultural worship that > permeated the meeting were noted as some of the highlights at > Lambeth. The Lambeth Conference, it was highlighted, did not make > any resolutions but offered the Anglican Covenant as one the means > forward. > > The GAFCON, it was reported, was a great time of fellowship and > spiritual blessings. The Jerusalem venue and the excursions were > appreciated by participants as they deepened the reflections, ‘It > was like walking through the Bible Events physically.’ The > participants shared the Conference Statement which underlines the > commitment to Biblical Orthodoxy and that GAFCON would be a movement > for renewal within the communion and not a break-away faction. A > Council of Primates had been formed and it was taking steps to seek > audience with the Archbishop of Canterbury. As we reflected on the > two meetings, we realized the danger of: > > - Defining each other’s spirituality in light of the choices made to > attend either of the two meetings; > - Not appreciating that homosexuality and lesbianism are not only > issues in the West, but that they are actually at our door-steps; > - Overlooking the seriousness of the challenges related to the human > sexuality debate and if we attempt to address them, in a fragmented > manner; > - Getting preoccupied with issues of human sexuality and ignoring > other issues that deprive God’s people of their dignity > prevalent in our Provinces and when we fail to care and support each > other within the CAPA family to respond to those pressing challenges; > - Not taking advantage of every space available to engage on the > issues affecting the communion as running away gives the space to > the devil and eventually will damage us. Being discouraged is not a > Christian virtue; > - Failing to build our economic capacity as this leaves us > vulnerable to diverse interests. > > Consequently we resolved that on unity and Ministry of CAPA > Provinces, CAPA be the space for fellowship, mutual support, > encouragement, inspiration and capacity building. We will all work > hard at nurturing fellowship and unity of purpose while recognizing > that we may not agree on each and every issue, but will endeavor to > remain together on ‘major issues’ that is the essentials that make > us who we are. We shall endeavor to find practical ways through > which we will get to know each others context sufficiently well and > to reach out to each other more meaningfully; in this regard > > - We will support the CAPA Secretariat to operationalize the > linkages of Dioceses as agreed upon at the All Africa Bishops > Conference in Lagos; > - We shall rotate all CAPA events including meetings; > - We shall respond to each others needs to the extent that we are > able; > - We shall establish strategies that will make CAPA economically > independent and able to support Provinces in the same direction; > this will involve among other things - Sharing good investment > practices - Working towards establishing a micro-finance bank > - We shall develop pastoral strategies in our respective Provinces > to reach out to those who are struggling with their sexual > orientation and sensitize the populations against those de- > humanizing tendencies/practices; > - We shall use all available resources including the catechism, to > equip and disciple our flock into the faith and enable them to > understand their privileges and responsibilities placed on them in > their choice to follow Christ; > - That the new Strategic Plan and ongoing constitutional review > process pick up those concerns and aspirations. On matters > concerning the Anglican Communion GAFCON is encouraged to maintain > its commitment to being a renewing fellowship within the Anglican > Communion. > - We remain engaged on issues concerning the Anglican Communion, and > in this regard Primates will respond positively to the invitation by > the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2009. > - Encourage the Global South to speed up the preparations for the > 4th Trumpet and mandate them to continue to give us the lead in the > on-going dialogue regarding the proposed Covenant. > > The Most Rev Emmanuel Kolini > CAPA VICE CHAIRMAN Communion Matters 2008-11-13T21:51:48-05:00 http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/modern_martyrs/ http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/modern_martyrs/#When:02:36:49Z From here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article5021028.ece One grey-haired woman understands more than most the fear that has gripped Iraq’s beleaguered Christian community over the past month. Her brother, Bashar al-Hazim, was among the first to be murdered in a wave of targeted killings that has forced more than 2,000 Christian families to flee the northern city of Mosul. Masked gunmen walked up to Mr Hashim as he stood with his two children outside their house in the east-side of Mosul in late September. They demanded to see his identity card, confirmed he was Christian and executed the 41-year-old on the spot. “I could have died when I found out. He was a dear brother and was killed in a very despicable way,” said the woman, 60, who was too afraid to give her name. She, like thousands of other Christians who have left the city since the start of October, claims to have no idea who carried out the attack. Fear of potential repercussions appears to prevent many in the region from speaking their mind. “We’re peaceful people. When my brother was executed he had no enemies. Why was he killed? He was not a member of a party. There was no reason except for being Christian,” the woman, dressed in a black gown, said. Worried that they would be next, she and her family evacuated to Bartella, a Christian town 20 miles north of Mosul in the Nineveh Plains, which border the largely-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. They took shelter in a stone building attached to a churchyard, where some 19 other families were also gathered. Of the estimated 13,000 Christians to flee Mosul this month, some have since returned but the majority remain refugees in monasteries and convents to the north and east of the city as well as in spare rooms in the towns and villages that dot the Nineveh Plains. In the churchyard dwelling, the only furniture is a smattering of beds, mattresses and plastic chairs. There is also a battered, old stove. “We left Mosul with just the clothes on our back. Our nerves are shredded,” the woman said, sitting on a bed with her husband who suffers from angina. “It is not very comfortable here, but at least we have security.” Persecution 2008-10-28T02:36:49-05:00 http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/archbishop_of_canterbury_deposed_pittsburgh_bishop_meet_at_lambeth_palace/ http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/archbishop_of_canterbury_deposed_pittsburgh_bishop_meet_at_lambeth_palace/#When:16:09:10Z From here: http://www.dfms.org/81808_101796_ENG_HTM.htm Episcopal News Service] Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and deposed Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop Bob Duncan met privately in London last week. The Lambeth Palace press office confirmed that the meeting took place on October 15, but would not disclose details of the conversation between Williams and Duncan, saying it was “one of many private meetings” the archbishop hosts at his London residence. Duncan was deposed on September 19 by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori with the consent of the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops. Addressing the media on October 17 at All Souls Church, Langham Place, London, Duncan said he maintains regular contact with the Archbishop of Canterbury but stopped short of revealing that a meeting had taken place. “I have tried in the last five years never to surprise him,” he said. “He is certainly aware of my presence here in the United Kingdom. He is informed about our situation. He is attempting to lead in what are clearly uncharted times.” Duncan said that the “institutions of the Anglican Communion are in a season of real re-evaluation,” adding that he thinks the Archbishop of Canterbury “has not found it possible, in terms of what he believes the limitation of his office are, to have done the things that actually would have secured the role of his office over the long haul of the 21st century. This is not an office which, in terms of the life of the Anglican Communion for the future, is going to look anything like it did for the previous century.” Duncan was charged with “abandonment of communion” for his actions in openly planning to remove his diocese from the Episcopal Church to align with the South America-based Province of the Southern Cone, which is led by Archbishop Gregory Venables. A September 18 news release posted on the website of the realigned diocese said that “Bishop Duncan’s own continuing status as a bishop in the Anglican Communion has been secured by the Province of the Southern Cone” and quoted Venables as saying that “effectively immediately” Duncan was a member of that House of Bishops. In 1974, the Archbishop of Canterbury handed over metropolitical authority for the dioceses of the Southern Cone and, in 1981, a new province was formed that includes Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. British immigrants brought Anglicanism to South America during the 19th century and the South American Missionary Society (SAMS) continues its work today among its indigenous peoples, the Anglican Communion website notes. Diocese of Pittsburgh Assistant Bishop Henry Scriven will become SAMS mission director, a new position based in the U.K., on January 1, 2009. Duncan has also been leading the effort to organize and have recognized an Anglican province in North America. He began that effort in earnest in September 2007 when he gathered 51 bishops representing several self-identified Anglican organizations in Pittsburgh and announced the plan. The Common Cause Council of Bishops said on September 28, 2007 that it planned to spend the next 15 months developing an “Anglican union” that at least some Anglican Communion primates would recognize. In June 2008, the Global Anglican Future Conference, a gathering of conservative Anglicans and former Episcopalians, including some Anglican Communion primates, said in its Jerusalem Declaration that “we believe the time is now ripe for the formation of a province in North America for the federation currently known as Common Cause Partnership to be recognized by the [GAFCON] Primates’ Council.” Communion Matters 2008-10-24T16:09:10-05:00 http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/christianity_today_interviews_bishop_bob_duncan/ http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/christianity_today_interviews_bishop_bob_duncan/#When:15:45:22Z Monday, October 13, 2008 Bishop Duncan Predicts Swift Movement on Formation of a New Province From Christianity Today magazine on-line (bold-faced emphasis added by me): CT: Are you confident that there will be a new province for the North American Anglicans a year from now? And are you the most likely person to be the primate of that province? +BD: The simple answers are yes and yes. I do believe that the Common Cause partners will put everything in place that we need to put in place by Christmas. The time has come. In terms of my leadership I think I understand, and those who put me in this place understand, that in this particular moment my task, my call has been to bring the partners to a place, to the creation of a province and to the beginning of its life, and then I’ll be happy to give it over as soon as it’s clear that I’m not called to do it anymore. We will operate in a way in which the primate of the province is a diocesan bishop, will serve for a term, and may be reelected for a term. Then another will take up that primacy. The full article is here http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/octoberweb-only/142-11.0.html Communion Matters 2008-10-24T15:45:22-05:00 http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/ground_breaking_dig_backs_up_jesus_divinity/ http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/ground_breaking_dig_backs_up_jesus_divinity/#When:19:48:04Z The link is here http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/sydneystories/ground_breaking_dig_backs_jesus_divinity/ The Life of Jesus film crew has gained rare access to an archaeological find that cements historical evidence early Christians worshiped Jesus as divine. Dr John Dickson, the series’ host and co-founder of the Centre for Public Christianity, will guide viewers through the remains of an ancient prayer hall unearthed at Megiddo in central Israel. “The inscriptions on the mosaic floor are remarkable,” Dr Dickson says. “One of them names a benefactor called Gaianus who is described as a centurion. Another mentions a woman called Akeptous who ‘…offered this table in memorial of the God Jesus Christ’.” The inscriptions cast more doubt on claims made by prominent atheists and popular authors that Jesus’ divinity was an invention by the fourth century church. “Here is extraordinary physical evidence from the century before Constantine and the Council of Nicaea that Christians, including Roman officials, were worshipping Jesus as divine,” Dr Dickson explains. Historical 2008-10-10T19:48:04-05:00 http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/episcopal_church_timeline/ http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/episcopal_church_timeline/#When:03:25:54Z Timeline of some of TEC’s actions. http://hopeanglican.us/walkingapart/tiki-index.php Communion Matters, Episcopal Church 2008-10-10T03:25:54-05:00 http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/presiding_bishop_schori_interview/ http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/presiding_bishop_schori_interview/#When:03:13:03Z Schori gives her thoughts on the relationship of Johnathon and David. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VzLSR2h3ec&feature=related 2008-10-10T03:13:03-05:00 http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/archbishop_kolini_writes_in_support_of_bishop_duncan/ http://allsaintsamia.org/index.php/asa/all_saints_blog_archive/archbishop_kolini_writes_in_support_of_bishop_duncan/#When:02:43:08Z Our Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini writes to Bishop Duncan in support. From here: http://support-duncan.blogspot.com/2008/09/archbishop-kolini-offers-support.html Friday, September 19, 2008 Archbishop Kolini Offers Support From Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda: 17 September 2008 News is circulating around the United State and the Anglican Communion that the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops is likely to depose the Rt. Rev. Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh, this week at a special meeting. I have known and worked with Bishop Duncan for a number of years, and I know him to be a godly man. As he faces this time of trial, I encourage him to remember that he is not being deposed by God, but only by man. He will remain very much a part of the new work that God is creating within Anglicanism. In addition, he and his family will remain in my thoughts and prayers, and I am confident that the Lord will bless Bishop Duncan in this new season of ministry. I am reminded of Joseph’s words to his brothers that are recorded in Genesis. (Genesis 50 : 20a, New King James Version). May this also be true for Bishop Duncan as he continues his faithful service to God and the Church. Most Reverend Emmanuel Kolini Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda Communion Matters 2008-10-10T02:43:08-05:00