Anglican World Issue 131

Anglican

World Magazine of the Anglican Communion • issue 131 APRIL 2013

Archbishop Welby makes a statement Mission pioneers A course for 21st century evangelism

Bitter water The Church of Bangladesh tackles arsenic poisoning

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

|1

e d i to r i a l

The coincidence of self-sacrifice

In several ways this quarter’s edition of Anglican World magazine highlights how people can become so much greater than themselves when they choose to live their lives for the benefit of others.

Archbishop Stephen Than Myint Oo is Primate of Myanmar, serving in one of the most challenging countries in the world. He and other Anglicans in Myanmar operate under the motto: “Thy will be done”. This could also be the motto for CMS Pioneer ministry graduates who train to do God’s will in the most unusual of contexts. They are men and women who have opted to serve where traditional church doesn’t go.

Another surprising initiative sees young Episcopalians Perhaps the best Anglican becoming philanthropists—a giving role traditionally reserved adults. Other young members of our Anglican Communion Communion stories all contain for are currently considering how they might collaborate on a something of our response to global initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls. This has, in part, been informed by the global gathering the Apostle Paul’s call to offer of Anglican women in New York, who brought their voice and story to a major UN commission on an issue that is fast up ourselves as ‘living sacrifices’ their becoming a priority for many around the Communion.

Perhaps this thematic thread of self-sacrifice was somehow inspired by the approach of Easter. Perhaps the best Anglican Communion stories all contain something of our response to the Apostle Paul’s call to offer up ourselves as ‘living sacrifices’ for the glory of Him who sacrificed all for us.

Canon Kenneth Kearon Secretary General of the Anglican Communion

2

|

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

contents

Anglican

world Inside this issue issue 131 APRIL 2013

Produced by The Anglican Communion Office St Andrew’s House 16 Tavistock Crescent London W11 1AP United Kingdom Registered Charity 7311767 Tel +44 (0)20 7313 3900 Fax +44 (0)20 7313 3999 E-mail aco@anglicancommunion.org Web www.anglicancommunion.org Serving The Instruments of Communion: The Lambeth Conference The Anglican Consultative Council The Primates’ Meeting And approximately 85 million Anglicans and Episcopalians in more than 165 countries President The Archbishop of Canterbury Secretary General The Revd Canon Kenneth Kearon Editor Jan Butter Any comments, questions or contributions should be sent to The Editor at news@anglicancommunion.org Advertising Michael Ade Tel +44 (0)20 7313 3915 Fax +44 (0)20 7313 3999 Subscriptions: E-mail aw.subscriptions@ anglicancommunion.org UK £2.50 / US$4 / €3.50 for one issue.

UK £10 / US$16 / €14 for four issues.

See the subscription form at the back of this issue or visit www.anglicancommunion.org/ aw/subscription.cfm Design and Layout Marcus Thomas e-mail info@marcusthomas.co.nz Printed by CPO, Garcia Estate, Canterbury Road, Worthing, W. Sussex BN13 1BW All original material may be reproduced

by Member Churches without further permission of the Anglican Consultative Council. Acknowledgement and a copy of the publications are requested. Permission to reproduce copyrighted work should be sought from the owner.

¢ Editorial

Canon Kearon: The coincidence of self-sacrifice 2

Anglican

World Magazine of the anglican coMMunion • issue 131 aPRil 2013

¢ Communion News

The latest from around the Anglican world 4

Archbishop Welby makes a statement Mission pioneers A course for 21st century evangelism

Bitter water

¢ Feature

The Church of Bangladesh tackles arsenic poisoning

Anglican women in New York 6 ¢ youth

Learning the value of money 9 ¢ COVER FEATURE

An Archbishop enthroned 10 ¢ Feature

Sri Lanka’s Anglicans challenge injustice 13 ¢ past, present and future

Arsenic and God’s grace in Bangladesh 15 God’s house becomes a home 16 Going to where church isn’t 17 ¢ World View

The Communion at a glance 18

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

|1

Cover photo

10 Feature

Dance group Frititi perform Gbeh kpa kpa ba at Abp Welby’s enthronement photo: Picture Partnership 2013

¢ profile

From prison cell to Primate 20 ¢ The last word

The Primus of Scotland reflects on power and service 22

6

Strength in numbers Anglican women from 20 countries attend a global forum on ending violence

ANGLICAN WORLD IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION OFFICE

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

|3

communion news

england

CHURCH JOINS HUNGER CAMPAIGN

The Church of England has joined a coalition of 100 organisations governments, companies and citizens who are determined to make 2013 the year when “dramatic progress” is made towards ending global hunger.

The campaign Enough Food For Everyone If (www.enoughfoodif.org) is being launched in the year when the United Kingdom is hosting the meeting of the G8—a meeting of leaders of the eight countries that represent about 14% of the world’s population, but produce more than 65% of the world’s economic output.

England’s lead bishop on rural issues, Hereford’s the Rt Revd Anthony Priddis, said: “Today, the world produces enough food

KT Bruce/The Door

Members of the Oxford Diocese show their support for the IF campaign

to feed all seven billion of its inhabitants, but nearly one billion still go without. The growing levels of food insecurity in an age of plenty challenge the Gospel

message of abundant life. As a Church we are called upon both to feed the hungry and to expose and eradicate the causes of debilitating hunger.”

ta n z a n i a , n e w z e a l a n d

NEW PRIMATES IN AFRICA AND OCEANIA

ACNS

ANZP

Anglicans in Tanzania and New Zealand have recently chosen new Primates. Bishop of Mpwapwa Diocese Jacob Chimeledya is the Archbishop-elect of the Anglican Church of Tanzania. His election means he succeeds Archbishop Valentino Mokiwa.

New Zealand’s Anglican community has chosen the Rt Revd Philip Richardson, Bishop

of Taranaki, as a new Archbishop.

He was confirmed in March as Archbishop-elect at a meeting in Wellington of representatives of the country’s seven Tikanga Pakeha dioceses. The Archbishopelect is one of three archbishops of the three tikanga or streams of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia.

Top: Archbishop-elect Chimeledya (far left) with other African Primates Left: Archbishop-elect the Rt Rev Philip Richardson, Bishop of Taranaki.

uganda

CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST UGANDAN BISHOP A retired Ugandan bishop arrested for distributing pamphlets calling for an end to high-level corruption has avoided going to jail.

Bishop Zac Niringiye, a longtime critic of corrupt practices within the country, was arrested and, with other campaigners, held in jail briefly before being released on bail and ordered to return to answer the charges.

4

|

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

The police who arrested Bishop Nirigiye claimed the pamphlets contained “false and subversive language”. The documents in fact highlighted the millions of shillings lost from the country’s coffers because of corrupt officials.

After reporting to the police station several times in March, he was released. Police told him there was no case against him.

Bp Niringye

Retired bishop Zac Niringiye

usa

CHURCHES PRESS FOR GUN JUSTICE

Diocese of Connecticut

Remembering the victims

Episcopalians continue to call for the US Government to protect civilians from gun violence. Laity and clergy have lobbied legislators to support gun-control laws, visited gun vendors, hosted gun buybacks, created artwork memorialising gunviolence victims, preached about gun violence and observed a Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath.

The Dioceses of Connecticut and Washington organised a procession in Washington DC on March 25 involving more than 20 bishops and many other Episcopalians from around the country.

“We are taking our witness to

our nation’s capital to say to our political leaders and to our country that we will no longer be silent while violence permeates our world, our society, our church, our homes and ourselves,” Connecticut Bishops Ian Douglas, James Curry and Laura Ahrens wrote to their diocese.

In Chicago, where gun violence has long been a concern, Episcopalians from across northern Illinois and their partners in more than 65 faith-based and civic organisations took part in the second annual CROSSwalk, a four-mile procession to remember Chicago’s murdered youth.

global

YOUNG ANGLICANS ACT TO END GENDER VIOLENCE

An international group of young Anglicans are working together to raise awareness of violence against women and girls across the Anglican Communion. Women and men from countries including India, the USA, England, Ireland, New Zealand and the Philippines are in the planning stage of an initiative that they hope will be taken up by young Anglicans and Episcopalians everywhere.

“Violence against women and girls is a problem in every single society,” said the group co-ordinator Coco Lammers. “The Church is one of the bodies that helps victims and often speaks out on their behalf to the authorities. There are already many effective initiatives and resources out in the Communion that other provinces could benefit from in such work. We are currently investigating how we might capitalise on

ACNS

growing digital technology to share information and support our brothers and sisters around the world to help reduce gender-based violence in their contexts.”

For more information about the proposed initiative contact endgbv@anglicancommunion.org

l a m b e t h pa l ac e

New Canon for Reconciliation for Lambeth Palace The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s first major appointment is Canon David Porter as Director for Reconciliation at Lambeth Palace.

David Porter will work part time on the Archbishop’s personal staff, seconded by Coventry Cathedral where he remains Canon Director for Reconciliation Ministry.

The focus of Canon David Porter’s role will be to enable the Church to make a powerful contribution to transforming

the often violent conflicts which overshadow the lives of so many people in the world. His initial focus will be on supporting creative ways for renewing conversations and relationships around deeply held differences within the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.

David Porter brings extensive front-line experience in the area of reconciliation. This includes serving on the Northern Ireland Civic Forum, chairing its working

Coventry Cathedral

New Canon for Reconciliation David Porter

group on peacebuilding and reconciliation, as well serving as a member of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council.

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

|5

f e at u r e

Strength in numbers Anglican women from 20 countries attend a global forum on ending violence ACNS

b y ja n b u t t e r

Despite the freezing snow and bitter wind, hundreds of women marched out of the UN compound onto the Manhattan streets. Their destination – an unimpressive, wet stage – hardly seemed worth it, but then the march wasn’t about going from A to B, it was about delivering a message to the assembled media and onlookers. That message appeared on the long blue banner carried in front of the procession: End Violence Against Women.

Every year millions of women and girls of every social class from all countries are violently abused. Those marching through the icy cold were just some of the 6,000-plus international delegates who had travelled to New York City for the 57th session of the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women (CSW57); an annual meeting that, this year, had the theme of the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

6

|

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

One of these delegates was Kim Mi-ryoung...

It came as a shock to learn that she had been a victim of violence herself.

Walking the talk One of these delegates was Kim Mi-ryoung. She spoke with quiet passion about her work helping abused women. It came as a shock to learn that she had been a victim of violence herself.

“I’m involved with outreach and rescue,” she explained, “and pimps have attacked me twice.” This is because Mi-ryoung regularly visits the red-light districts in her home town handing out cards with a phone number sex workers can call if they want to escape their life of prostitution.

Mi-ryoung and her husband— a priest in the Anglican Church of Korea—house women who have done so. The couple currently look after 15 women, but over the past 16 years, Mi-ryoung has given shelter to around 800 women.

They have also adopted three children whose mothers were unable to care for them.

Mi-ryoung’s ministry began when she was studying social welfare and undertook a study on prostitution. “As I interviewed the women I thought that I could not just study them, but I needed to live with them to understand [their situation]. It became my passion.”

When the women decide to leave, Mi-ryoung arranges vocational training such as hairdressing, jewellery-making and soap-making for them.

Out of her experiences Miryoung has developed a feminist theology which she hopes will, in time, be accepted by what is a very traditional church. This is crucial because, according to Mi-ryoung, in her church, the Anglican Church of Korea, she is the only one who

Æ

Æ does this work. “In our culture it’s not easy to speak out about rescuing women from prostitution.

People won’t listen, even though my husband is a priest.”

Mi-ryoung said she would be taking her CSW experiences and learnings with her to Korea. “We need a CSW in our country, in our church,” she said with a determined smile.

The root causes Newer CSW delegates can often be surprised how many similarities there are between the difficulties facing women in very different countries. Alice Garrick, from the Church of Pakistan, has attended the CSW four times. “We share and listen and see different experiences from women leaders around the world. Although they are different, their challenges are still the same.

African women are facing the things that we are facing in Asia: stigma everywhere for marginalised women, and for women who are involved in the sex trade.”

Alice said the things that leave women at risk of violence and abuse are the same everywhere: a lack of literacy, a lack of skills, and the effect of poverty. She explained that back in Pakistan she’s involved with projects that help girls avoid such traps.

“A big focus [for us] is women’s education and skills training, finding honourable sources of earning. We want them to avoid the sex trade.”

Being at the table So what is the value of leaving such crucial work and travelling half way around the world to New York?

Australian Ann Skamp was the leader of the Anglican Communion delegation this year. She said attending the CSW is important on several levels; in particular because this group of Anglicans and Episcopalians together have a major opportunity to influence and connect with government delegations and missions, non-governmental organisations, civil society groups and global media.

“The level of engagement and potential for witness is enormous,” she said. “That is apart from what

Mandy Marshall

Southern Africa’s Pumla Titus (left) with model Christy Turlington

we ourselves take back. This year has been a real joy because our strong ecumenical involvement also emphasised the importance of attending this event.”

She disagrees with those who say that the UN is ineffective: “The nature of the UN is that things happen slowly...[but] when something happens it has enormous influence on nation states.”

Ann added that the Anglican Communion delegates ensure they are as informed as possible so they can influence government missions and delegations as they work on agreed conclusions.

“It’s slow and it takes time, but when something happens [we have] a document we can use to say to our governments in our own contexts ‘Hey, you’ve agreed to this’.”

The next generation American teenager Hannah Cannon was part of a group of girls brought to the CSW from Fredericksburg, Virginia. Having researched a school project on sexual assault in the military she was no stranger to the issue.

Nevertheless she was clearly moved by her first time at the international gathering, particularly by meeting other young women from India and Kenya.

She said she had been especially challenged by speakers who had highlighted the need to address gender stereotypes as a means to ending violence against women and girls.

“Michael Kaufman [a cofounder of the White Ribbon Campaign for men and boys

working against violence against women and girls] was speaking about the paradox of living in a patriarchal society and bringing up men to standards that can never be achieved,” she explained. “That’s mainly what he advocates for, not having such extremes—men are big and strong and women are weak and emotional—but to bring the gender

It really does come down to the kids because they’re the future of our society.

What they are taught and what they believe will be society one day stereotypes closer to the middle.

“If that happened how different would our society be? Would there be equality? Less violence? Less war?”

She praised Bangladeshi Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury for calling for boys and girls to be taught respect for one another in childhood.

“It really does come down to the kids because they’re the future of our society. What they are taught and what they believe will be society one day...Listening to Ambassador Chowdhury, this is what I wrote down: ‘Men and women are different, but equality can still be achieved’. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell people for a long time... I think people don’t understand the concept of equality. It doesn’t have to be exactly the same, it just needs to Æ be fair.”

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

|7

f e at u r e

Mandy Marshall

ACNS

ACNS

Left: In the UN’s General Assembly Chamber, Centre: Hannah Canon and mentor Carey Chirico, Right: Marnie Dawson Carr, HE Anwarul Chowdury, ACOUN’s Rachel Chardon

Æ Women from the Anglican Communion travelled from countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, England, Burundi, Peru and Brazil to learn, share, lobby and build friendships.

Some came with prayers and litanies on the topic of eliminating and preventing violence against women and girls. Two of these are below.

6,000 women and girls are here this week, but 3.4 billion more populate your land.

Prayer from the Anglican Church of Burundi Heavenly Father, We are all made in your image.

We are all loved by you. We are of equal importance and value before you.

Forgive the insensitivity, lack of compassion, aggression and violence that we show towards one another.

May we be those who affirm others, treating them with dignity and kindness.

Help us to speak out against all forms of violence.

8

|

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

Help us to work to combat abuse and injustice.

Help us to provide protection, comfort and healing.

Help us to speak and act as your servants for your glory and honour.

Amen.

Prayer from the girls of St George’s Episcopal church, Fredericksburg Six thousand women and girls come together for this Commission. Let us share in the Glory as one soul.

For the leadership of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, especially Bishop Katharine who challenges us to make a difference in the lives of 3.4 billion sisters around the world.

ALL: Many sisters, one heart.

Mother and Father of all, guide us as earthly caregivers and guardians, help us to raise girls and boys to be products of your everlasting love.

ALL: Many sisters, one family.

For our sisters who have lost their sense of self amid the chaos of life, materialism, and harmful relationships. May they allow God to guide them to discover their true beautiful self.

ALL: Many sisters, one journey.

For the women whose living

situations demand a daily struggle for survival, help them to overcome the poverty in their communities. May your daughters find the strength to lift themselves and those around them above the hardships of hunger and pain, and allow them to find a home with God. ALL: Many sisters, one hope.

Lord, foster our ambitions for an education, a successful pursuit of learning, and a life of faith. Give us a limitless capacity to dream and fulfil our untapped potential. May those who take risks and make sacrifices for education gain the knowledge to build a better world.

ALL: Many sisters, one dream.

Lord, help us to be aware of the oppression of women in the world, and in our local communities. For victims of rape, human trafficking, genital mutilation, and all other forms of violence against women.

That they may find safe harbour in your peace.

ALL: Many sisters, one voice.

Lord, you give us our lives; all that we are, our bodies and our minds.

You inspire us to learn more about the world around us, about you, and about one another. 6,000 women and girls are here this week, but 3.4 billion more populate your land. We are their voices.

Hear the prayers of your people.

May your dream of love, hope and peace be ever present.

All: Amen!

a n g l i c a n yo u t h

Church youth become philanthropists St Mark’s Episcopal Church

Connecticut teens learn about giving by making grants to local organisations Church youth are often called upon to help others — they may go on mission trips, serve meals at a community kitchen or tutor other students.

But at St Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Canaan, Connecticut, such direct service has been augmented by a different kind of generosity: philanthropy.

Thirteen teens are learning to run a small foundation — the St Mark’s Youth Philanthropy Guild — and in the process are living out the Christian mission of serving the poor. Their discussions about how to disburse the funds are not just practical, but also lead to deeper conversations about what it means to really follow Jesus — with their hearts and with their money — and about the role of the church in society.

By setting up a real-world philanthropy and being led through the process of asset allocation, these high schoolers are asking questions about what it means to be

a Christian, said businessman Gary B. Ward, one of the adult leaders of the group.

“One of the greatest kicks in business is watching people respond when you give them responsibility; they just flower,” Ward said. “Here, you’re watching the Lord’s work in action, and these young people are maturing in terms of judgment and becoming bigger people in many different ways. It’s my small mission for the church.”

The church has entrusted these high schoolers with $5,000 from a fundraiser and has asked them to grant the money to places where it will most help those in need.

Over a period of months they will craft a mission statement, devise a marketing plan, request proposals and then decide which to fund. The grants will be awarded in the spring.

The teens want to participate in the guild out of a sense of altruism, as well as a sense of responsibility.

“We have so much that we are given,” said Kristin Davis, a 10th-

grade student at New Canaan High School and a member of the church.

“We just want to give back to the community and to God and follow his path for us and what he wants us to do as Christians. St Mark’s is such a welcoming community, and the youth leaders make it a lot of fun. It’s informative and collaborative.”

One of the greatest kicks in business is watching people respond when you give them responsibility Read the full story by Alix Boyle at http://bit.ly/Z3sWqQ in Faith & Leadership, the online magazine of Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, which designs educational services, develops intellectual resources, and facilitates networks of institutions

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

|9

c ov e r f e at u r e

Newly enthroned Archbishop Welby gives the blessing

Press Association

Dancing to a different drum The inauguration of an Archbishop of Canterbury, together with royal weddings, funerals and coronations, is a ceremony steeped in history and tradition; one of the great moments of the British establishment. On the afternoon of 21 March 2013, Justin Portal Welby used a troupe of African dancers and drummers to tell the watching world that the Compass Rose in

The presence of leading figures from nonAnglican Churches, demonstrated his commitment to working with other Christian traditions.

10

|

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

the cathedral floor was more than merely decoration.

After the drum beats had faded away, he smiled and quipped, “It’s got a good reverberation this cathedral”, and then stated clearly to those within and without Canterbury Cathedral: “We are an international community”. If there was any doubt about the Archbishop’s affection for the Anglican Communion before his enthronement there was certainly none afterwards. Archbishop Welby was blessed in French by Burundian Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi, included music by a Sri Lankan writer in his choice of hymns, and had Anglican Communion representatives place items from their provinces on the altar. The Anglican Communion Primates had travelled to attend the enthronement and were gathered on his right and left as he was placed in the Chair of St

Augustine by Cathedral Dean the Very Revd Robert Willis and members of the Standing Committee also sat close by.

The presence of leading figures from non-Anglican Churches, and his signing of an Ecumenical Covenant during the service, demonstrated his commitment to working with other Christian traditions. For the first time in history, a woman - the Venerable Sheila Watson, Archdeacon of Canterbury - carried out one of the two enthronements when she installed the Archbishop on the diocesan throne in the cathedral, symbolising his appointment as Bishop of Canterbury.

All in all it was a traditional service—well-loved hymns, the presence of Britain’s Prime Minister and royalty, bewigged legal counsel, sufficient pomp and ceremony—but with a very personal twist.

c ov e r f e at u r e

Sermon at the Inauguration of the Ministry of the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury

Justin Portal Welby Press Association

Archbishop Welby is welcomed into the cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral, 21st March 2013 (Commemoration of Thomas Cranmer, Feast of St Benedict) Ruth 2:10-16; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Matthew 14:22-23; “Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid”, Matthew 14:27

We are an international community.

The Dean has already welcomed you, but may I add my own welcome to all those who have come from near and far to this service today, some from a great distance indeed.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, friends from other faith traditions, from all over the world.

To each one of us, whoever and wherever we are, joining us from far away by television or radio, or here in the cathedral, Jesus calls through the storms and darkness of life and says, “Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid”.

Our response to those words sets the pattern for our lives, for the church, for the whole of society.

Fear imprisons us and stops us being fully human. Uniquely in all of human history Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the one who as living love liberates holy courage.

“If it is you, tell me to come

to you on the water” Peter says, and Jesus replies, “come”. History does not relate what the disciples thought about getting out of a perfectly serviceable boat, but Peter was right, and they were wrong. The utterly absurd is completely reasonable when Jesus is the one who is calling. Courage is liberated, and he gets out of the boat, walks a bit, and then fails.

Love catches him, gently sets him right, and in a moment they are both in the boat and there is peace.

Courage failed, but Jesus is stronger than failure.

The fear of the disciples was reasonable. People do not walk on water, but this person did. For us to trust and follow Christ is reasonable if He is what the disciples end up saying He is; “truly you are the Son of God”. Each of us now needs to heed His voice calling to us, and to get out of the boat and go to Him. Because even when we fail, we find

peace and hope and become more fully human than we can imagine: failure forgiven, courage liberated, hope persevering, love abounding.

For more than a thousand years this country has to one degree or another sought to recognise that Jesus is the Son of God; by the ordering of its society, by its laws, by its sense of community. Sometimes we have done better, sometimes worse. When we do better we make space for our own courage to be liberated, for God to act among us and for human beings to flourish.

Slaves were freed, Factory Acts passed, and the NHS and social care established through Christliberated courage. The present challenges of environment and economy, of human development and global poverty, can only be faced with extraordinary courage.

In humility and simplicity Pope Francis called us on Tuesday to be protectors of each other: of Æ

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

| 11

c ov e r f e at u r e

Knocking to be let in

Æ

the natural world, of the poor and vulnerable. Courage is released in a society that is under the authority of God, so that we may become the fully human community of which we all dream. Let us hear Christ who calls to us and says, “Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid”.

The first reading we heard dates from the time of Israel before the Kings. It is the account of a Moabite refugee – utterly stigmatised, inescapably despised – taking the huge risk of choosing a God she does not know in a place she has not been, and finding security when she does so. The society Ruth went to was healthy because it was based on obedience to God, both in public care and private love.

Today we may properly differ on the degrees of state and private responsibility in a healthy society.

But if we sever our roots in Christ we abandon the stability which enables good decision making.

There can be no final justice, or security, or love, or hope in our society if it is not finally based on rootedness in Christ. Jesus calls to

Press Association

us over the wind and storms. Heed his words and we will have the courage to build society in stability.

For nearly two thousand years the Church has sought, often failing, to recognise in its way of being that Jesus is the Son of God. The wind and waves divided Jesus from the disciples. Peter ventures out in fear and trembling (as you may imagine I relate to him at this point). Jesus reconciles Peter to Himself and makes the possibility for all the disciples to find peace. All the life of our diverse churches finds renewal and unity when we are reconciled afresh to God and so are able to reconcile others. A Christ-heeding life changes the church and a Christ-heeding church changes the world: St Benedict set out to create a school for prayer, and incidentally created a monastic order that saved European civilisation.

The more the Church is authentically heeding Jesus’ call, leaving its securities, speaking and acting clearly and taking risks, the more the Church suffers. Thomas Cranmer faced death with Christ-

given courage, leaving a legacy of worship, of holding to the truth of the gospel, on which we still draw.

I look at the Anglican leaders here and remember that in many cases round the world their people are scattered to the four winds or driven underground: by persecution, by storms of all sorts, even by cultural change. Many Christians are martyred now, as in the past.

Yet at the same time the church transforms society when it takes the risks of renewal in prayer, of reconciliation and of confident declaration of the good news of Jesus Christ. In England alone the churches together run innumerable food banks, shelter the homeless, educate a million children, offer debt counselling, comfort the bereaved, and far, far more. All this comes from heeding the call of Jesus Christ.

Internationally, churches run refugee camps, mediate civil wars, organise elections, set up hospitals. All of it happens because of heeding the call to go to Jesus through the storms and across the waves.

There is every possible reason for optimism about the future of Christian faith in our world and in this country. Optimism does not come from us, but because to us and to all people Jesus comes and says, “Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid”. We are called to step out of the comfort of our own traditions and places, and go into the waves, reaching for the hand of Christ. Let us provoke each other to heed the call of Christ, to be clear in our declaration of Christ, committed in prayer to Christ, and we will see a world transformed. © Justin Welby 2013

Press Association

Left to right; The 105th occupant of St Augustine’s Chair; Archbishop of York John Sentamu; Communion Primates prepare

12

|

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

feature

Being light in the darkness Sri Lanka’s Christians hold a day of “peaceful dissent” for the nation istockphoto

f ro m t h e c h u rc h o f c e y lo n

On February 4 Sri Lanka normally celebrates Independence Day, remembering the moment in 1948 when control of the country passed from the British to Sri Lankans.

This year, however, members of the Church of Ceylon—Anglicans in Sri Lanka—instead treated the day as one of repentance and lamentation after leaders called on clergy and laity to “a period of lamenting together for the terrible state of our nation today, and repentance for our failing as a Church to love mercy, to seek justice and to walk humbly with the Lord.”

Back in January the Bishop of Colombo the Rt Revd Dhiloraj Canagasabey had written a letter to church members saying that the country’s leaders had ignored repeated appeals to respect the rule of law. This had resulted in “a climate of fear and helplessness, where people remain silent rather than speak out against rampant injustice, intimidation, violence and falsehoods.”

A day of repentance and lamentation was therefore to be a symbolic act of witness; the Church was publicly calling on its faithful not to be disheartened and to affirm publically that it stood for truth, for justice and the rule of law.

By 9am on February 4 the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, situated on one of the main avenues of Colombo, began filling up with white-clad worshippers under the watchful eye of a small police contingent.

The service began with the hoisting of the national flag and the singing of the national anthem.

The tolling of the bell called those assembled to worship.

Bishop Canagasabey spoke a few words of welcome and called for prayers for peace and prosperity for the nation and harmony amongst all the different communities and religions who inhabited the island.

The invocation was in the form of a lyric sung in Tamil and was followed by the call to confession by the Archdeacon of Colombo.

“God of Justice and Mercy,

we confess that we have silenced our prophets. We have covered our ears to those who speak out for justice because it makes us uncomfortable. We ignore calls to end oppression and violence

We avoid the looks of the poor because they embarrass us.

Forgive us Lord, for not learning from the mistakes of our ancestors, who ignored and killed their prophets. because it is inconvenient for us. We avoid the looks of the poor because they embarrass us. Forgive us Lord, for not learning from the mistakes of our ancestors, who ignored and killed their prophets. Forgive us when

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

Æ

| 13

f e at u r e

The Church of Ceylon

Left and above; Sri Lankan Anglicans in white at the service

...the Church had made Æ use of the little space available to provide a forum for peaceful dissent and had made a clear stand in the context of dwindling democratic space in the country.

istockphoto

14

|

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

we follow their steps instead of following your ways. In the name of Christ who forgives us, we pray.”

The Revd Sunil Ferdinando, the Revd D K Balakirshnan and Bishop Canagasabey gave three reflections, based on Habakkuk 3:17-19, on why is God silent in the face of the perversion of justice; Psalm 46 on God’s continuing presence and sovereignty over all the earth even in times of trial and tribulation; and Luke 4:17-20 on Jesus’ Nazarene declaration and on his mission to the poor, the enslaved, the oppressed and sightless.

The singing of hymns and lyrics in all three languages used in the country were interspersed with moments of silence for prayer and quiet reflections throughout the entire service.

The intercessions, once again in the three languages, had for their theme forgiveness, repentance, justice, the healing of broken relationships between communities and prayers for peace and reconciliation. Small clay lamps representing each of these prayers were symbolically laid on the altar.

istockphoto

The service ended with the declaration by all present of a common prayer and the great prayer of St Francis of Assisi, “Lord, make me an instrument of your Peace”.

The blessing was followed by the singing of the final hymn Hymn for Ceylon whose words were written by the Revd Walter Stanley Senior, scholar, poet, educationalist and CMS missionary who served in Ceylon in the early 20th century.

In addition to a very large turnout by the Anglican community, many heads of protestant churches, Roman Catholic sisters and brothers, and worshippers from member churches of the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka attended the service.

Non-Christian attendees included a prominent Buddhist monk.

While no media publicity was sought and in fact was discouraged, several journalists were present and the subsequent press reports were of the opinion that the Church had made use of the little space available to provide a forum for peaceful dissent and had made a clear stand in the context of dwindling democratic space in the country.

past , present and future

Church programme prevents death by water Water can be a killer in Bangladesh because of the natural presence of arsenic.

The Anglican Alliance reports how the Church of Bangladesh is helping communities to tackle the problem – and save lives.

Water should be a fount of life but in Bangladesh it can be a killer. That’s because the chemical poison arsenic is naturally present in the water supply. However, the Church of Bangladesh has been doing campaigning work in the community to protect people from being exposed to arsenic poisoning (arsenicosis), and possible death.

Despite significant progress to mitigate the problem, arsenic poisoning in the ground water of Bangladesh is a critical issue for the country. Every day around 35 to 70 million people are exposed to arsenic in drinking water collected through shallow “tube” wells. The issue has been described as the largest mass poisoning in history.

A study in 2009 found that one in every 18 young people affected by arsenic were dying. The impact on individual families and communities in the worst affected areas was harsh. People living in arsenic-contaminated villages found themselves socially isolated from other villages, with subsequent

reluctance to form friendships or marriages. There was also a huge loss to the country’s productivity.

The Church of Bangladesh initiated efforts to address the problem in one of the worst areas affected by arsenic, Meherpur district. Following a survey and after consulting with experts, the Church launched several programmes to raise people’s awareness of the problem, mark the affected tube wells, ensure alternative sources of safe drinking water, and treat arseniccontaminated patients.

The Church’s programmes aimed to make people in the affected areas aware of the effects of the arsenic and the role of nutrition in combating these. The Church promoted the cultivation of vegetables, and helped raise awareness of the need to eat more green vegetables, soya beans, protein-rich beans and pulses.

Tube well water was tested and contaminated wells given a warning marker, deep wells were restored

The Church of Bangladesh

and new wells dug. The programme also supported patients who had arsenic poisoning and provided vitamin therapy treatment.

The project had a huge impact in Meherpur. Hundreds of people were protected from the danger of arsenic and given access to safe drinking water. Patients were helped to recover from arsenic poisoning and given the knowledge to avoid an inevitable death.

The Church’s approaches to tackle the problem of arsenic in Bangladesh’s water supply have been being highly appreciated by the community, the local administration and health aid agencies, especially for its commitment and persistent efforts to deal with the crisis.

Its support for the communities affected has prevented many further deaths from arsenic poisoning.

The Church of Bangladesh’s programme to date: Awareness campaign

reached 5,000 households

New deep wells dug in affected areas

18

Old deep wells restored

10

Arsenic-affected tube wells tested and given warning markers

4,455

Patients with arsenic poisoning given vitamin therapy

800

Hand tubes provided

150

Deep tube wells installed

17

The Church of Bangladesh

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

| 15

past , present and future

Church partnership to tackle housing crisis Church in Wales

by anna morrell, c h u rc h i n wa l e s

People in Wales struggling to find homes they can afford may soon be turning to their local church for help.

The Church in Wales is supporting a new project to encourage churches to work with housing providers to create affordable homes to help tackle the nation’s housing crisis.

The event aims to encourage local congregations to think about how they can best use their space for affordable housing.

Faith in Affordable Housing is run by the Christian charity Housing Justice and is about to appoint its first project officer to work with Welsh churches. The new officer will help churches identify space or land in both rural and urban areas that could be converted to housing, and will bridge the gap between churches and housing associations.

The project could include selling or leasing closed churches and glebe land, as well as church halls and vicarages no longer in use.

The charity and the Church in Wales will highlight the project at a joint conference in Cardiff in April supported by the Welsh government. The event aims to encourage local congregations to think about how they can best use

16

|

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

their space for affordable housing.

It will also be a chance for people working in local authority housing or planning departments and other housing providers to learn more about church land and buildings.

Keynote speakers will be the Welsh government minister for housing, regeneration and heritage, Huw Lewis, and the chief executive of Cytûn – churches together in Wales - Revd Aled Edwards.

Alex Glanville, head of property services at the Church in Wales and a member of the project’s steering group, who will also be speaking at the conference, said: “This is an exciting project which could benefit people in desperate need of housing. It will also help churches to explore opportunities to free up unused land or space to benefit communities.

“For many people in Wales the notion that there is still poverty and homelessness in our country may be unbelievable. Yet the number of homeless and poorly housed people in Wales is rising fast, and charities are calling for urgent action now to prevent a major housing crisis.”

He said that the latest government figures showed that 6,515 people were accepted as in need of help in 2011-12, up 4.4% from 2010-11, and around 73,000 households in Wales are on waiting lists for council or social housing.

The charity Shelter Cymru believes there are 20,000 homeless people in Wales. “The Welsh government has said that by 2019 no family should be homeless, but local authorities are clearly struggling to provide affordable homes,” said Alex Glanville.

“Clearly this is an issue the Church in Wales is very concerned about. As Christians we are called to care for each other and help people in need, particularly those on the edges of society and those facing social injustice. Good housing is a basic humanitarian need. Research shows that poor housing puts people on a spiral of decline; children struggle at school, their health suffers, families break up and jobs are difficult to get or keep.

“As a Church, we increasingly have more building space than we need across Wales and we are keen to see how some of it could be converted into affordable housing.” He added that many churches built 150 years or so ago are too large and difficult for today’s small congregations to maintain, and they could be leased or sold to housing associations if they become redundant, or partly converted if they are still used for worship. “All the money raised would be ploughed back into the Church’s ministry.”

Since 2007, the Church in Wales has sold four churches to housing associations and has a further six being sold or under consideration.

One example is St John’s Church, Hafod, in Swansea, a 130-year-old Grade 2 listed building that was sold on a 125-year lease to Gwalia Housing. Today it provides 10 flats for elderly people and still retains an area for worship.

The Faith in Affordable Housing Conference takes place at St Mark’s Church, Gabalfa, Cardiff, on 26 April.

The full programme can be read at: http://bit.ly/17mxw7c

past , present and future

When God says “stop” Jonny Baker/CMS

Left: Berni, called to something new. Right: CMS pioneers by jonny baker, cms

Last summer Berni gave up a good job working in a management role in social care. She sensed God had something new, something different for her to do in mission, and was telling her to “stop”. At that time she wasn’t exactly sure what this would mean but was simply obedient to the call. She is a member of a local Anglican church in Penge, South London. She has been a Christian for five years and in that time has grown a passion for mission with those outside the church, especially those on the margins. The vicar recognised Berni’s call but saw in her a gift that didn’t fit the usual church leadership route. He encouraged her to join CMS’s new pioneer mission leadership training, to be equipped through the lens of crosscultural mission to do something beyond the edge of where the church was currently engaging with people.

Berni is now well into her training and it has proved to be a wonderful suggestion. She is befriending people and sharing Christ out and about on the streets of Penge with those she meets, and through the church community project for the homeless. It will be

exciting to see what emerges as she follows the pioneering journey she has begun.

CMS has always encouraged and trained mission pioneers who have crossed borders to share the gospel with diverse cultures around the world. Britain needs mission pioneers just as much as elsewhere, so the Church of England made what now seems an obvious move in inviting CMS to develop a new training pathway. Rachel Jordan, the National Mission Advisor for the Church of England says, “CMS is uniquely qualified to train pioneers for the urgent missionary task in the UK. CMS pioneers will benefit from CMS’s years of experience in cross-cultural mission and the church will gain many well equipped and specifically trained individuals for 21st century mission.”

Students train at the same time as developing mission, whether in prisons, colleges, YMCAs, local parks, pagan festivals, on poor housing estates, art galleries, community centres, churches, cafés and so on. Many start new Christian communities and churches that reflect the context they are ministering in. They train on the job, completing a series of modules over a period of three years that can lead to a university foundation degree

or MA. The course has just entered its third year with an intake of over 50 students having been involved so far. If you arrive at CMS on a teaching day the place is buzzing with students. Berni reflects on her first few months: “I cannot even begin to explain what a journey I’m going on triggered by so much of what I’m hearing. If this is how I feel now I can’t imagine where I’ll be in 3 years time. Amazing!”

The vicar recognised Berni’s call but saw in her a gift that didn’t fit the usual church leadership route.

In a ground-breaking move CMS has been given approval to train those selected for ordination who are designated as pioneers in an exciting partnership with Ripon College, Cuddesdon. The first five pioneer ordinands are now half way through their first year.

It’s early days but this is a really welcome innovation in leadership training and theological education in the UK.

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

| 17

world view

The Communion at a glance 4,000 parishes pooling energy costs The Church of England has started buying electricity and gas in bulk. Supermarkets, hospitals and government already do this to take advantage of economies of scale.

Now parishes, cathedrals, diocesan

offices and church schools can access prices based on combined electricity and gas spends. The resultant savings means more financial resources for mission and ministry.

Church of England

Diocese of Jamaica & The Cayman Islands

Rousing welcome for rededication Hundreds of Jamaicans filled Kingston’s St Alban’s Mission to capacity in an open-air service in December to rededicate the church.

Founded in 1888, the Mission had been in disrepair for several years but is to be refurbished in a J$6 million programme.

ACNS

Secretary General visits Uruguay Early in January this year the Secretary General visited the Diocese of Uruguay in the Province of the Southern Cone. As well as preaching at both the English and Spanish services in the Cathedral in Montevideo, he visited a number of social projects associated with the church. As always, the value of such visits is in meeting people; here he is seen with Patricia from the Spanish speaking congregation at the Cathedral.

18

|

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

Episcopal Church of Liberia

Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association

Cathedral carvings will help raise funds

Largest Christian gathering in Asia

The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Monrovia, Liberia, unveiled 14 Stations of the Cross in carved wood each Sunday until Holy Week.

It hoped that each unveiling would bring in gifts of US$1,000, which will be used for renovation work. The wooden panelled Stations of the Cross were donated by Vivien Jones in memory of his parents, who were members of Trinity Cathedral.

The annual Maramon Convention in Kerala, southern India – the largest annual Christian gathering in Asia – took place in February, attracting about 160,000 participants. Philip Mounstephen, executive leader of the Church Mission Society, was the keynote speaker and also closed the conference. The first Maramon Convention took place in 1895.

Bilingual services book for Ireland

Church of Ireland

A new Irish and English bilingual services book was launched in Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral in February. Bishop Michael Burrows said the book “offers a new opportunity for the two languages to stand side by side in harmony and enrichment”. The book, which features Irish and English language versions of Holy Communion and other frequently used services, was compiled by Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise, and is also available on CD.

Anglican Church of Melanesia

Melanesian religious on mission to UK A ten-member team from the four religious orders of the church of Melanesia is currently on a two months mission to the UK. The purpose of the tour is for them to showcase the Melanesian way of approaching people and sharing of God’s words through the theme: “Simply living”.

ACNS

Anglican-Methodist body completes work The final meeting of the Anglican-Methodist International Commission for Unity in Mission (AMICUM) took place 22 February to 1 March 2013, in Jamaica. The Commission has after five years completed the phase of work mandated to it by the World Methodist Council and the Anglican Communion, and has now prepared a report for both bodies. See the members listed at http://bit.ly/Xz9Jz6

New church for Malaysia A new church in Juata Korpri, in the Sabah diocese of Malaysia, was consecrated in December. About 350 worshippers attended the consecration service in the Gereja Kristus Gunung Batu church, which was described as an “historic milestone of Anglican church-planting work”.

Diocese of Sabah

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

| 19

p ro f i l e

Primate has crosses but owes all to one of them (L to R) The Archbishops of Japan, Myanmar and Bangladesh b y m a r k b ro l ly

Thirty years ago, Stephen Than Myint Oo, then a prisoner in Myanmar (Burma), could not reconcile his mind’s loss of faith with its stirrings in his heart. He prepared to end his life.

But out of those depths came a turning point for the man who is now Anglican Primate of Myanmar and Archbishop of Yangon (formerly Rangoon, the country’s old capital).

As Stephen prepared to die, he saw a purple cross come towards him and felt it touch his forehead.

He fell back, unconscious, and felt himself going down towards a very bright white light, when he heard a soft, clear voice say, “My son, I am with you always”, before waking up, bathed in sweat.

“After that, no more doubt,” Archbishop Stephen said. “That is why we need to make mind and heart one.”

He was recalling the episode at Summer Under The Son, the Church

20

|

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

Missionary Society’s Victorian gathering at Phillip Island, at which he was a keynote speaker.

He was born in the Irrawaddy Delta, in the village of Kyaung Su. The Archbishop’s grandfather was an Anglican and his grandmother, a Buddhist, became a Christian after her marriage.

One of seven children, he entered Holy Cross Seminary in Rangoon in 1989, was ordained a deacon in 1993 and a priest the following year. After 13 years at Holy Cross as a lecturer, librarian and Dean of Studies until 2006, Archbishop Stephen was appointed to lead the Hpa-an diocese, near the Thai border. He became Primate in 2008, and is married with three adult sons.

Archbishop Stephen’s second visit to Australia comes at a critical and hopeful time for his homeland.

In 2011 the country’s military rulers decided to open up Myanmar to the world and a host of visitors came, including a former

ACNS

Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, who made a pastoral visit at the request of his successor, Dr Rowan Williams.

The reforms – personified by the release from house arrest and the authorities’ acceptance of an active political role for Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi – offer the hope of increased participation in political life, greater prosperity and a renewal of Church life almost 50 years after foreign missionaries were expelled and religious schools and hospitals were nationalised.

“Most of the people are very positive about this change, even though some of them have a little bit of scepticism. But most of them are very happy and they have some confidence about this... We share that, we feel like that as the Anglican Church,” Archbishop Stephen said.

He said Aung San Suu Kyi truly believes in democracy and justice and wants equal rights for all religions, including Christianity,

Æ

Æ

even though she is a Buddhist.

She knows about Christian values because her mother was a Baptist and when she was young she studied in Christian schools. He added that the revered leader can sing some Christian hymns by heart.

He hoped schools would be restored to the Anglican Church, which once ran quality education for all people in Myanmar.

There are now only 70,000 Anglicans in Myanmar, where 87% of the 60 million people are Buddhist. Christians make up 6% of the population, with Baptists and Roman Catholics the biggest churches. There are 135 ethnic groups in the country.

But the Archbishop said people in Myanmar still had a positive attitude towards Christians and Christian missions.

“I believe that they think that Christians are very committed, faithful, meek, disciplined and lovers of peace and they still have in their minds that Christian schools give good education for the people.

“Still in their [the people’s] minds [is that] if Christians... get a chance to reopen their schools, that would be a very good sign for Christians in Myanmar.”

The Anglican Church also ran hospitals, including women’s and maternity hospitals in Mandalay and Yangon.

But Archbishop Stephen lamented that the Anglican Church in Myanmar had no expertise or finance to do this as things stood.

“We are a very poor church now.”

The Church has put its toe in the water by starting a pre-school in the diocesan offices, having sent several young women to Singapore for training. If this is a success, the preschool may be extended to primary and middle schools.

Asked why the regime had finally decided to reform the country, Archbishop Stephen replied, “Even though they are government, they are also people, Burmese. Somehow or other, they may have some compassion as Burmese for their own people.

“As human beings, I am sure that they love peace, prosperity and development of the nation. That is why – because they are tired of ruling and pressing upon the

Sue Parks

Abp Stephen, his wife Nan Myint Yi and the then Archbishop Rowan Williams

people and they came to realise the suffering of the people.”

For its part, the Anglican Province of Myanmar has embarked on a mission under the motto “Thy will be done”. By 2020 it aims to increase its membership to 100,000; be active in church planting and establishing parishes; add two dioceses to the six already in existence; and to open a school of evangelism.

Three pillars are to support this – leadership nurturing and formation, self-reliance and education (theological and general).

“God in England and God in Burma is the same. He loves [the] English, he loves Australians, he loves [the] Burmese.”

It’s a long way for Archbishop Stephen, and for his homeland; from his period in jail from 1982-84, sharing his prison quarters with others, including Communists, whom he acknowledged partly succeeded in having him abandon his Christian faith for a time.

“In that time, intellectually, I lost my faith but never in the heart because of my Sunday School and churchgoing,” he said.

“I found myself that I am just a nominal Christian, a traditional Christian. My heart, it believed and it experienced somehow the Christian faith that no longer was in my mind. That saved me, [persuaded me] not to commit suicide.”

After leaving jail, he was shunned

even by some friends because they were afraid.

“I don’t know [at that time] that I will be a bishop or an archbishop; my heart just wants to serve the Lord and just share the love of God with His people.

There are now only 70,000 Anglicans in Myanmar, where 87% of the 60 million people are Buddhist. Christians make up 6% of the population, with Baptists and Roman Catholics the biggest churches.

“Somehow I have to serve as the people’s leader, to stand for them, to talk for them.

“I never think about running away from my people. Even though I [may] try to run, [I] can’t even move one step.”

This article first appeared in The Melbourne Anglican newspaper http://bit.ly/Yr74Be

anglican world issue 131 april 2013

| 21

the last word

shutterstock

The ears of your heart B y B i s h o p D av i d C h i l l i n g w o rt h It’s been a very Benedictine day here at Canterbury. The anthem in Archbishop Justin Welby’s Enthronement Service included that wonderful phrase from the Rule of St Benedict “incline the ears of your heart”. The speaker at dinner this evening was the Abbot from the Benedictine Community from which Pope Gregory sent Augustine to Canterbury. I’ve been thinking about my friends in Holy Cross Monastery in Ireland where I go on retreat – grateful for how much they have taught me about the Benedictine way.

I happened to do a Thought for the Day for BBC Northern Ireland and this is what I said: “This is an important day for the Anglican Communion across the world as Archbishop Justin Welby is seated in St Augustine’s Chair in Canterbury as the 105th Archbishop. He will be the focus of the hopes and prayers of many.

“Those of us who practice the strange arts of leadership in the church – described by some as a task like herding cats – have a particularly sharp understanding

22

|

of the task ahead of him. He has to help the Church of England to find an answer to its difficulty about the consecration of women bishops. He will help it to be both a pilgrim, missionary body and the historic national and established church. He will have a significant national profile as a faith leader. He will be a ‘first among equals’ leader among the Anglican primates – the leaders of the 38 Anglican provinces – helping the Anglican Communion to be a global body which expresses communion without centralised authority.

Justin Welby has slender shoulders for such a task. But he has a big and prayerful heart – both for mission and for reconciliation across the Anglican Communion.

And he also has the sort of acerbic toughness which he needs to have to exercise leadership in difficult times.

My reflections on leadership more and more lead me back to the Rule of St Benedict – and Canterbury Cathedral was originally a Benedictine Foundation. The Rule embodies 15 centuries of distilled wisdom about living in community. I pay particular

anglican world issue 131 129 april september 2013 2012

attention to what St Benedict says about the Abbot – who he says should “aim to be loved and not feared”. Clearly Benedict is concerned that the abbot should manage to balance truth and love.

“Even in his corrections, let him act with prudence and not go to extremes, lest, while he aimeth to remove the rust too thoroughly, the vessel be broken.”

This world sees too much violence, too much directive use of authority, too much use of economic power to gain political advantage. The question here is whether faith communities and their leadership can embody and model for others a compassionate and listening use of authority. Not weakness or soft compliance. But an authority which is so firmly rooted in a true spirituality and holiness that it can afford to care deeply about people and relationships and about human need, suffering and the demands of justice.

Bishop David is the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church. This was first published on his blog Thinking Aloud at www.bishopdavid.net

News to share The Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS) has been the leading news and information service for more than two decades, keeping generations of Anglicans and Episcopalians informed about the things that matter.

If you are not yet a subscriber, then why not visit http://bit.ly/QTHh61 today and sign up. It’s quick, easy and free! You will get no more than a few news articles a day sent to

your email inbox.

ACNS, along with its Twitter account (@acoffice) and Facebook page http://on.fb.me/lqyoeo reaches tens of thousands of subscribers in more than 165 countries. So if you have news or information to share with the rest of the Anglican Communion, then why not send it to news@anglicancommunion.org?

Why not subscribe to Anglican World magazine?

Anglican

World Magazine of the anglican coMMunion • issue 130 january 2013

Global Anglicans gather in New Zealand The next Archbishop of Canterbury What do we know about Justin Welby?

100 years of Anglicans in Iran A century of highs and lows for laity and clergy

anglican world issue 130 january 2013

|1

I would like

If you have enjoyed this edition, why not get Anglican World magazine delivered straight to your door four times a year for only £2.50 (US$4/€3.50) per edition? Each magazine will be packed with the latest news, features and profiles from across your Anglican Communion.

the rest. You can also subscribe online at http://shop.anglicancommunion.org/

Just fill in and send the form below (a photocopy is fine too if you don’t want to damage the magazine) and we’ll do

Please allow 14 days for the processing of your order.

subscription(s) of Anglican World

Send to: Anglican World Subscriptions, 16 Tavistock Crescent, Westbourne Park, London, W11 1AP, United Kingdom

NB: Each subscription costs £10* (€14/US$16)

Billing Address

Delivery Address (Leave blank if same as billing address)

Title

Title

Initial

Initial

Surname

Surname

Address

Address

Country

Country

Postcode/ZIP

Postcode/ZIP

I enclose a cheque payable to the Anglican Consultative Council for

Delivery Address (Leave blank if same as billing address)

or please charge my credit card for*

Title

(NB: We accept Mastercard or Visa only)

Surname

Card no

Address

Initial

Start date Expiry date CCV (security number)

Country

Signature

Postcode/ZIP *NB: Credit card payments will be charged at the Sterling rate, your account will be charged in your local currency.

Photo competition Anglican life happens every second of every day in more than 165 countries worldwide. To capture and share just some of those moments Anglican World magazine is inviting Anglicans and Episcopalians everywhere to enter its photography competition.

The theme is The Spirit of the Anglican Communion.

The rules are simple: just take a photo on a camera or phone and upload it to our Flickr site: www.flickr. com/groups/anglicanworld. We’re not necessarily looking for the most professional shot, rather we’re looking for the best single image that captures the spirit of what it means to be part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

There are four categories and there will be prizes for the best in each, with one overall winner receiving £250. The best photos will also be featured in a future edition of Anglican World magazine. The categories are: • Our mission • Our fellowship • Our worship • Our people You can find a full explanation of the rules and terms & conditions at www.flickr.com/groups/ anglicanworld/rules. Deadline for entries now June 11, 2013.