The Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria officially inaugurated as 41st Province of the Anglican Communion

From Anglican News-

The former Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa has completed its transition into an autonomous Province of the Anglican Communion. The approval for the move was given by the Primates of the Anglican Communion when they met in Jordan in January. The Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council had already given the new Province the go-ahead.

The General Synod of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East approved the request from the Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East to secede from its province. Under its constitution, the diocese fell under the temporary Metropolitical authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who signed a Dead of Relinquishment legally inaugurating the new Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria.

The Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria will serve 10 countries as the official Anglican Communion presence: Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Chad, Mauritania, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. It is named after the north Egyptian city which was home to one of the earliest branches of the Christian Church.

Announcing the development, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, said: “In recent years we have seen enormous growth in what was the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa, particularly – but not only – in the Gambella region of Ethiopia. It was one of the largest and most diverse dioceses in the Anglican Communion and also one of the fastest growing regions.

More here-

http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2020/06/the-episcopal-anglican-province-of-alexandria-officially-inaugurated-as-41st-province-of-the-anglican-communion.aspx

Archdiocese of Toronto modifies Eucharist rite to observe safety protocols

From Canada-

For the past three months, the Archdiocese of Toronto has worked on different ways to serve its parishioners safely when the time came for Ontario to reopen.

But the Eucharist, one of the most important sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church, remains a difficult rite to navigate.

It traditionally involves a priest placing a wafer of bread on a congregant's tongue or in their hand, then serving them with sacramental wine from a communal goblet.

Neil MacCarthy, director of public relations and communications for the Archdiocese of Toronto, said the organization wanted to make sure the ritual could be performed safely.

"It would be difficult for someone to look at (the Archdiocese's safety protocols) and say, 'These guys aren't concerned about this,"' MacCarthy said in an interview.

More here-

https://www.iheartradio.ca/newstalk-1010/news/archdiocese-of-toronto-modifies-eucharist-rite-to-observe-safety-protocols-1.12818734

Was Jesus Black Or White? How One Church Leader Just Changed The Debate

From Forbes-

What race was Jesus of Nazareth, one of the most consequential figures in the history of the world? Nobody can say for certain, but based on recent comments by the head of the Church of England, it is time to revisit whether or not Jesus should be portrayed as a white man.

In an interview with the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby addressed the question of how the western church portrays Jesus’s race. When asked by the interviewer if the way Jesus is represented through imagery, and whether it is time to “reimagine” the physical presentation, the Archbishop was candid.

"Yes, of course it does," Welby said, noting that in many locations of the Anglican church Jesus was already represented other than as a white man.

More here-

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sethcohen/2020/06/27/was-jesus-black-or-white/#4261eda348e5

‘COVID-19 has provided us opportunity to make fresh start’

From Nigeria-

Archbishop Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, the 5th Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), told journalists, including NKECHI ONYEDIKA-UGOEZE, that Nigeria’s political class has fueled corruption, insecurity and crisis in the country.

How do you see you’re taking over the leadership of the Anglican Communion at a time the country and the world are witnessing a major health crisis? 

THE context in which we took over the leadership of the church was very challenging, being the time of the outbreak of COVID-19 and the lockdown, which was later relaxed.
Before then, we have had issues of banditry, insecurity, kidnapping and other security issues. Apart from that, there is also an economic dimension, but on every side, our nation, Nigeria, and the world are facing a very difficult time. 

More here-

https://guardian.ng/interview/covid-19-has-provided-us-opportunity-to-make-fresh-start/

For less than the price of an average house in St Thomas, you can buy a house of God

From Canada-


For less than the price of an average house in St Thomas, you can buy an historic house of God.

Built in 1877, Trinity Anglican Church is one of the city's oldest congregations and on Thursday the 143-year-old house of God will go up for sale on the province's Multiple Listings Service. 

Faced with mounting bills and a declining membership, Trinity Anglican Church made a decision to sell 18 month ago, once it secured a merger with St. John's Anglican Church on Flora Street, to become the St Thomas Anglican Church. 


The merger and the forthcoming sale is part of a larger trend, as churches test their ability to hang on amid changing demographics, rising real estate prices and developers looking to pay top dollar for prime land.

Given the mutual benefits, it makes the prospect of selling too tempting an option to turn down for some churches. 

More here-

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/london-st-thomas-ontario-real-estate-church-for-sale-1.5617794

'Weird Christianity' and why young people are embracing orthodoxy online and in church

From Australia-

Gregorian chants, renaissance choral music and incense wafting from a metallic censer. 

In an era when Kanye West runs gospel-inspired services, and megachurches, like Hillsong, release chart-topping hits, these ancient Christian traditions are, unexpectedly, having a moment. 

And they're not just resonating with older generations, either. 

Younger people are flocking to late-night Latin Mass — at least they were pre-COVID — and embracing Christian orthodoxy in online spaces. 

So says Tara Isabella Burton, America-based author of the forthcoming book Strange Rites and a member of the self-proclaimed "Weird Christian" movement.

"The term is often applied to young, online Christians who embrace the elements of their faith that might be considered weird by the modern world," Burton explains.

More here-

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-14/weird-christianity-why-young-people-embracing-ancient-faith/12349466

Singing might not be so great a risk, after all

From Church Times-

NEW scientific evidence from Germany has cast doubt on the claim that singing constitutes a high-risk activity in the transmission of Covid-19.

This and other evidence suggests that, with adequate risk assessment and social distancing, singing could be restored in some contexts as part of church life in the UK.

Stories about the danger of transmitting the coronavirus through singing have proliferated since the widely reported outbreak of Covid-19 in Washington State, where 53 of the 61 members of the Skagit Valley Chorale fell ill after rehearsals on 3 and 10 March, immediately before lockdown measures. The incident was subsequently correlated with two other “super-spreader” events involving choirs in Amsterdam and Berlin (News, 29 May).

An investigation by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, however, established that Skagit Valley choir members were sitting six to ten inches from one another, and sharing snacks and stacking chairs together, and that 19 members with “probable symptoms” were never tested.

More here-

 https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2020/5-june/news/uk/singing-might-not-be-so-great-a-risk-after-all?fbclid=IwAR2cHpQ0NPVdOwpkkiqadJVjaAc5Okj9F1Ml0DlwRmVw6tn90I9hsf0pRko#.XtknXsmSGB4.facebook

Local church reaches out to community during lockdown

From South Africa-

The St Francis of Assisi Anglican Church and Waterkloof Community Action Network (CAN) launched an outreach programme during Covid-19.

CAN is a Covid-19 community response programme, which falls under the Gauteng Together Initiative.

“We are offering services and help in these difficult times to anyone who could use a little,” Diana Higgs from the church said.

CAN was started in Cape Town, at the start of the lockdown, by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to do something for people in communities that would be suffering during this time.

More here-

https://rekordeast.co.za/338897/east-church-reaches-out-to-community-during-lockdown/

When Churches Reopen You May Have to Get a Ticket to Attend Services

From England-

In a bid to maintain social distancing measures and avoid contributing to the pandemic ravaging the entire world, Anglican churches are looking into options to keep their congregations safe, including the possibility of ticketed services.

At the moment, churches are looking at July at the earliest before they can reopen, as laid out in the Prime Minister's lockdown exit strategy earlier this week, which groups religious services in with the hospitality industry and other public places. That's step three of the exit plan, with step 2 in June seeing the phased reopening of shops. Apparently pushing churches into the step 3 category hasn't gone down too well with some religious leaders, with the Catholic Bishop having a moan about that, and demanding that churches be open for private prayer as soon as possible:

More here-

https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/05/ticketed-church-services-post-lockdown/

Not all clergymen saying amen to new church protocols

From Jamaica-

Under the new protocol for churches — which were previously required to have a maximum of 10 people in attendance, maintain the required social distancing and required congregants to have hands sanitised before entry — churches must now do a temperature check on everyone entering the sanctuary, have a sanitisation station at the entrance, maintain social distancing of six feet, and have members of the congregation wearing masks. In addition, churches were asked not to assemble a choir.

Custos of Westmoreland Reverend Hartley Perrin, who pastors an Anglican church in the community of Petersfield in the parish, said that while his church is “feeling the pinch” as a result of limitations imposed since the COVID-19 pandemic, he is not in agreement with the reopening of churches at this time.

“My church is suffering as a result of the fact that we are not able to meet as we normally would. However, I am not so sure that the church [should] have got the priority in terms of reopening,” he argued.

More here-

 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/not-all-clergymen-saying-amen-to-new-church-protocols_194034?profile=1373

Coronavirus: Churches may not be back to normal by end of year

From The BBC-

The Anglican Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Sarah Mullally, said churches might not return to normal services before the end of the year. 

Mosques, churches and temples in the UK have been closed for almost two months. 

The prime minister is due to make a statement about the lockdown restrictions later. 

It is not clear if the government will change its guidance for places of worship. 

But senior religious leaders have told the BBC that faith communities will have to endure long-term changes to their worship in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus. 

Ibrahim Mogra, a senior imam in Leicester, warned the prime minister not to ease restrictions on places of worship before the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month. 

"I am not convinced that we can maintain social distance," he said.

More here-

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52600707

Attacks on Nigerian Christians persist despite pandemic lockdowns

From Nigeria-

Minutes before 9 p.m. Tuesday, Anglican Rev. Canon Bayo James Famonure was praying with his wife and two sons in the family’s sitting room when at least three armed herdsmen stormed into their home in Nigeria’s central Plateau state. 

The latest in a string of attacks on Christian leaders in central Nigeria began with the gunmen demanding money. Famonure said he had no cash, and the intruders shot him in the head and leg. Then they shot his wife, Naomi, in the back, and their two sons in their legs. 

As the assailants fled, neighbors carried the family to a hospital in Jos, the capital of Plateau state. Famonure’s wife underwent surgery on Wednesday, reported Mark Lipdo of the Stefanos Foundation in Jos. Doctors removed a bullet from her back that narrowly missed her spine. Doctors treated the rest of the family and all are in a stable condition, Lipdo said.

More here-

https://world.wng.org/2020/05/attacks_on_nigerian_christians_persist_despite_pandemic_lockdowns

Kaziimba to Government - Clergy Are Essential Workers

From Uganda-

Church of Uganda Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba has asked government to recognise the clergy as essential workers and allow them to perform their spiritual duties during the lockdown.

In his pastoral letter to bishops and clergy, Archbishop Kaziimba yesterday said for many Ugandans, the impact of lockdown has been much harder than the coronavirus pandemic itself, and urged church leaders to continue offering pastoral guidance to Christians.

"The need has increased because of the fear and uncertainty many are experiencing. I call upon government to recognise the clergy and lay readers as "essential employees," to provide psycho-social services to Ugandans," the Archbishop said.

More here-

https://allafrica.com/stories/202005060604.html

Why won't the timid bishops let us mourn our dead at funerals in church?

From The Daily Mail-

The other day I learnt that an old friend had died. But although I can accept this as a matter of fact, I can’t really take it in because there has been no shared recognition among those who knew her that her life is over. 

There hasn’t been a funeral. Tens of thousands of people have died in recent weeks, many from Covid-19, some from different causes. 

Because of lockdown, and the prohibition of more than 10 mourners at a graveside, their deaths have barely been marked in the public sphere. 

And yet one of the most important functions of a funeral is to help us come to terms with the earthly passing of a person we have loved. 

How wrenching it was at the beginning of last month to see photographs of the funeral of 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, who died from Covid-19. 

More here-

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8294415/STEPHEN-GLOVER-wont-timid-bishops-let-mourn-dead-funerals-church.html

British public turn to prayer as one in four tune in to religious services

From The Guardian-

A quarter of adults in the UK have watched or listened to a religious service since the coronavirus lockdown began, and one in 20 have started praying during the crisis, according to a new survey.

The findings of the poll reinforce indications of an increase in the numbers of people turning to faith for succour amid uncertainty and despair.

The Church of England has said that unexpectedly high numbers of people are tuning into online or broadcast services, and 6,000 people phoned a prayer hotline in its first 48 hours of operation. Other faiths have also reported surges in people engaging with online religious activities as places of worship have been closed during the lockdown.

The survey of more than 2,000 people, commissioned by the Christian aid agency Tearfund and carried out last weekend, found that a third of young adults aged between 18 and 34 had watched or listened to an online or broadcast religious service, compared with one in five adults over the age of 55.

More here-

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/03/british-public-turn-to-prayer-as-one-in-four-tune-in-to-religious-services?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR3rhgPsd3Jx-E_fxh85lE6cxtugY-VZQsxSsj02xACNeFBcw4o0Q2m1qNE

Anglican Bishop warns priests against allowing worshippers without face masks into church

From Nigeria-

The Bishop of Anglican Communion, Aba Ngwa North, Rt. Rev Nathan Kanu, has threatened to sanction any priest that allows members to attend church service without face mask.

The Anglican Bishop also decried negligence of the government’s directives on COVID-19 lockdown put together by governors of the affected states in containing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Kanu made this known while delivering sermon attended by our correspondent on Sunday.

He said church leaders in various denominations in Abia State assured to take personal responsibility for the enforcement of the rules on social distancing and face masks during service.

More here-

https://dailypost.ng/2020/05/03/covid-19-anglican-bishop-warns-priests-against-allowing-worshippers-without-face-masks-into-church/

Let churches reopen, just like restaurants - Sapit

From Kenya-

Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit has appealed to the government to allow churches to reopen with a condition of operating on under the guidelines set by the Ministry of Health.

Sapit said just like restaurants - which have been allowed to reopen pending obtaining of new permits - churches also have enough space to prevent close contact during their services.

“Using the church premises, not only the church building itself but the church compound, we can still gather people and worship God with strict measures,” Sapit said.

Sapit spoke on Thursday at St. Luke ACK in Narok county, where he asked the Ministry of Health to be transparent and give proper accountability on the resources put in their hands by well-wishers who have given money to combat Covid-19.

More here-

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2020-04-30-let-churches-reopen-just-like-restaurants-sapit/

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As the coronavirus shutdown drags on, many churchgoers might be experiencing the longest absence of the Eucharist they have had in years — perhaps even their lives.
And while faith leaders have resorted to virtual services or maybe even “drive-through Holy Communion,” there has been the debate about whether the Eucharist can still be called that if the pastor is alone in a church on Facebook Live.
The Eucharist is the Christian ceremony commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated. Faith leaders of different religions are divided on whether the Eucharist can be done at home.
Churches in the Catholic tradition, including Anglicans, Episcopalians and Old Catholics, often use the “Eucharist” term to refer to the entire rite, according to the Episcopal News Service website. The Communion is used for only the bread and wine, the sacramental elements itself.
The Church of the Apostles says, “because the Eucharist is vital to the Body of Christ, we are making every effort to receive this grace.” Each family and household can receive communion in the context of a shared, corporate worship service in their homes while worshiping online.

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Twitter

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As the coronavirus shutdown drags on, many churchgoers might be experiencing the longest absence of the Eucharist they have had in years — perhaps even their lives.
And while faith leaders have resorted to virtual services or maybe even “drive-through Holy Communion,” there has been the debate about whether the Eucharist can still be called that if the pastor is alone in a church on Facebook Live.
The Eucharist is the Christian ceremony commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated. Faith leaders of different religions are divided on whether the Eucharist can be done at home.
Churches in the Catholic tradition, including Anglicans, Episcopalians and Old Catholics, often use the “Eucharist” term to refer to the entire rite, according to the Episcopal News Service website. The Communion is used for only the bread and wine, the sacramental elements itself.
The Church of the Apostles says, “because the Eucharist is vital to the Body of Christ, we are making every effort to receive this grace.” Each family and household can receive communion in the context of a shared, corporate worship service in their homes while worshiping online.

Facebook

Twitter

Email

Print

• Save

As the coronavirus shutdown drags on, many churchgoers might be experiencing the longest absence of the Eucharist they have had in years — perhaps even their lives.
And while faith leaders have resorted to virtual services or maybe even “drive-through Holy Communion,” there has been the debate about whether the Eucharist can still be called that if the pastor is alone in a church on Facebook Live.
The Eucharist is the Christian ceremony commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated. Faith leaders of different religions are divided on whether the Eucharist can be done at home.
Churches in the Catholic tradition, including Anglicans, Episcopalians and Old Catholics, often use the “Eucharist” term to refer to the entire rite, according to the Episcopal News Service website. The Communion is used for only the bread and wine, the sacramental elements itself.
The Church of the Apostles says, “because the Eucharist is vital to the Body of Christ, we are making every effort to receive this grace.” Each family and household can receive communion in the context of a shared, corporate worship service in their homes while worshiping online.

Questions remain about Christ Church Cathedral after Lawrence decides against appealing

From Australia-

THE abuse vortex.

That's the term the Anglican Dean of St John's Cathedral in Brisbane, Peter Catt, used in October last year to describe the whirlwind of anger, confusion and often disbelief that swirls through church communities dealing with revelations of clerical child sexual abuse.

Reverend Catt was writing in the Newcastle Herald soon after the defrocked former Anglican dean of Newcastle, Graeme Lawrence, was sentenced to eight years jail for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 1991. 

A few weeks later, the High Court of Australia would accept a second appeal from Cardinal George Pell after his original conviction in the so-called "Cathedral trial" was upheld the first time. 

Lawrence lodged his own appeal at the end of October, and was no doubt buoyed when he learned that Cardinal Pell's appeal would be heard, and then succeed. 

More here-

https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/6735734/former-anglican-dean-graeme-lawrence-and-the-vortex-of-clerical-child-sexual-abuse/?cs=7

Anglican Bishop: Church coped well over Easter

From Trinidad-

Anglican Bishop the Rt Rev Claude Berkley said the church coped "relatively well" in ministering to its flock amid covid19 restrictions over the Easter weekend."Usually, at Easter, attendance is higher than usual. But I would say we coped relatively well. Services and prayer meetings were offered by different parishes, mostly on social media," he told Tobago Newsday ."The response was gratifying, judging from the social media measurement and direct feedback."The Tobago-born Berkley said parishioners used technology to access the services.

"Another factor of encouragement was the moment of technological advance by persons who hitherto, resisted Many more mature persons would have migrated to social media."Berkley said although covid19 has changed the way people operate, they have been coping reasonably well so far."We have been comforting and consoling members and others by telephone and social media. And that expands to e-mail, WhatsApp, Messenger, to actual social distance conversations where possible "to encourage one another to pass the message along."

More here-

https://newsday.co.tt/2020/04/15/anglican-bishop-church-coped-well-over-easter/

I Dare Police To Stop Me – Anglican Archbishop Says As He Holds Church Service Amid Lockdown

From Nigeria-

Archbishop of the Enugu Province and Bishop of Enugu Anglican Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, yesterday, said the Province will not shut any of its branches over the Coronavirus pandemic.

He said shutting the church at a time like this would mean giving the devil an opportunity to ravage the people and the country, Sun News reports.

Chukwuma faulted the order of government to close churches and places of worship. He said it is unfortunate and wrong to categorise church and worship centres with drinking parlours, night clubs, markets and companies.

The cleric said he would not shut the churches because he is not the owner, as the church belongs to Jesus Christ, adding that if people were stopped from “running to their God in worship in a time like now the whole world is in confusion, where would they run to for safety, help and deliverance?”

More here-

https://sundiatapost.com/i-dare-police-to-stop-me-anglican-archbishop-says-as-he-holds-church-service-amid-lockdown/