Monsoon flood victims in Pakistan remain in critical need; New Anglican Communion man in Rome; USA – Liturgy for blessing of same sex couples begins use; Australia: Melbourne priest named Queensland’s first woman bishop; links to reports from Palestine, Sudan and Rome
Monsoon flood victims in Pakistan remain in critical need
Communities which are still struggling and recovering from 2010 and 2011 floods were again recently affected by heavy rain, hill torrents and canal breaches. Bishop Leo Rodrick Paul from Multan Diocese, Church of Pakistan sent us information about the humanitarian needs and asks for prayers and financial support to help the communities.
According to the latest report of the United Nation Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA Situation Report No 6 – 2nd of November) 5 million people are affected; 1.1 million acres of crops were spoiled; 14,159 affected villages; 465,526 damaged houses; 159,961 People in relief camps; 118 Relief camps. The flooded areas are in Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh provinces.
The Anglican agency “USPG/Us” has sent funds to support church relief work in Multan Diocese through its Rapid Response Fund.
The Diocese of Multan is located in the Punjab province where 887,345 people have been affected according to the National Disaster Management Agency (IFRC Information bulletin 5th November). Bishop Rodrick explains the main needs of people in the district of Rajan Pur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffar Garh:
Food supplies: the affected communities are low-income families that have already spent much on the sowing of the cotton crop, which has been totally destroyed leaving then without financial means to purchase items. Their food storage and fodder for livestock have been washed away and the nearby markets have been also damaged. Water,
Sanitation and Hygiene: is a great concern due to the outbreak of waterborne diseases and the animosity among the communities that this provokes.
Non-Food Items: when houses collapsed or were swept away, communities lost most of their household assets, such as kitchen utensils, clothing, bedding, tools etc.
Shelter: affected households have urgent needs for enclosure: their main priorities are keeping key possessions, privacy (especially for women) and protection from the coming winter.
For more information about the details of the appeal visit http://www.anglicanalliance.org/news/16418/monsoon-flood-victims-in-pakistan-remain-in-critical-need
New Anglican Communion man in Rome
Archbishop David Moxon is heading to Rome as the Anglican Communion’s chief representative to the Roman Catholic Church.
This means he will step down in April as the Archbishop of the New Zealand dioceses, and thus as one of the three leaders of the Anglican Church in these islands. He will also resign as Bishop of Waikato.
Archbishop David’s new role in Rome will be twofold: as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See, and also as the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome. He expects to take up those responsibilities in May next year.
The representative role involves relating to the Vatican and the Pope on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion; while the Anglican Centre is an Anglican “embassy” in Rome which promotes Christian unity though hospitality, prayer and education – and which brokers new joint endeavours by the Catholic and Anglican churches.
Archbishop David was asked to consider the role earlier this year. After months of prayer and consideration he applied, and he was offered the post by Dr Rowan Williams – who says he is “personally delighted” that Archbishop David accepted.
“There can be few people in the Communion so well qualified for this work,” says Archbishop Williams. “Archbishop David has done distinguished service to the Anglican – Roman Catholic dialogue both locally and globally, and brings to this post both a wealth of experience and a range of profound friendships across the confessional frontiers.”
http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/12/4/ACNS5266
USA – Liturgy for blessing of same sex couples begins use
Episcopal News Service has the news on the first days of use of the liturgy for blessing same-sex couples’ relationships:
In the final debate before General Convention approved a provisional church liturgy to bless the lifelong relationships of same-gender couples, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Deputy Ian Hallas, 22, spoke about his sister, Louisa, and her civil union.
“The love that she shares with her partner is unconditional and speaks to the ideal relationships all of us should strive to have,” he told the House of Deputies on July 10 in Indianapolis. “I often get asked by churchgoers and nonchurchgoers why I am a part of this body. The reason I return is for my sister. I seek to assure that she not only has the same rites as myself but also the same privileges.”
The new rite, “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant,” was authorized for use with diocesan episcopal permission beginning Dec. 2, the first Sunday of Advent.
…
The blessing liturgy is authorized only with the permission of the diocesan bishop, and clergy can decline to preside at a blessing ceremony. Resolution A049 specified that bishops, particularly in dioceses located in civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriages, civil unions or domestic partnerships are legal, could provide a “generous pastoral response” and that bishops could adapt the liturgical materials to meet church members’ needs.
In the months since General Convention approved use of the liturgy, bishops throughout the church have issued pastoral letters outlining the policies for their dioceses.
http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/liturgy/liturgy_for_blessing_of_same_s_1.html
Australia: Melbourne priest named Queensland’s first woman bishop
The Venerable Alison Taylor, Melbourne’s archdeacon for international partnerships and vicar of St. John’s Anglican Church Camberwell, has been appointed to lead the Southern Region of the Diocese of Brisbane as Queensland’s first woman bishop.
She will succeed incumbent Bishop Geoff Smith, who will serve as general manager of the Brisbane diocese from early next year.
Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne Philip Freier said that Taylor’s ministry in the Diocese of Melbourne “has encompassed a breadth of experience as vicar and archdeacon. I am delighted that her leadership, developed within the Diocese of Melbourne, now takes her on to this senior role in Brisbane.”
Taylor says that while looking forward to the new appointment, she is sorry to leave St. John’s Camberwell. “I will be sad to leave the people of St. John’s, but I’m confident they will soon find a new vicar to lead them into their 150th anniversary year in 2013,” Taylor said.
Her senior appointments following ordination have included chairing Anglican Overseas Aid (formerly Anglicord). In 2009, Taylor was personally invited by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to be a member of the Steering Group for the newly created international Anglican Alliance for Development Relief and Advocacy. Taylor also has served as archdeacon of Kew in the Eastern Region of Melbourne.
Senior bishops regret UK failure to back Palestinian statehood
Two senior bishops, one Anglican and one Catholic, have written a public letter to Foreign Secretary William Hague urging fresh thinking about Israel-Palestine.
The Rt Rev Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter and the Church of England’s lead bishop on international affairs, and the Rt Rev Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton and chair of the department for International affairs for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, dscribe the UK government’s recent decision to abstain from supporting the Palestinian bid for non-member observer state status at the United Nations as “regrettable”.
They write: “the Palestinian bid to upgrade its status at the UN represented a legitimate and creative non-violent attempt at breaking the current political impasse. As such, it deserved wide support.”
Palestine upgrade ‘brings obligations under international law’
Palestine’s historic recognition as a non-member observer state of the United Nations brings with it obligations under international law, Amnesty International says.
Palestine is in a position to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other human rights and international humanitarian law treaties, bolstering accountability for human rights violations and crimes under international law.
Outrage at plans for military base on Mount of Olives
Christian, Jewish, Muslim and secular commentators have condemned plans by the Israeli government to build a military base on the Mount of Olives.
The area, which includes the site at which Jesus is believed to have been arrested, has sacred and historical significance in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It is also in East Jerusalem, Palestinian land that is occupied by the Israeli army.
Christians killed in Sudan bombing
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/3/christians.killed.in.sudan.bombing/31194.htm
Rome – Pope joins Twitter at @pontifex
Benedict XVI has registered seven accounts, each to allow tweeting in various languages.
http://www.thejournal.ie/pope-benedict-joins-twitter-699644-Dec2012/
Will his texts be infallible?
The 85-year-old Pope Benedict will make his debut on Twitter in just over a week, reducing to 140 characters the kernel and core of his teaching. Will these be the first infallible tweets?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20593916