‘The future has arrived’ – Gafcon declares itself as the true Global Anglican Communion
Gafcon, the breakaway Anglican movement opposed to same sex relationships and women’s ordination, has declared that it is now the true Global Anglican Communion, separating itself from the existing Anglican Communion. In a statement issued yesterday, it says “the future has arrived”. It rejects the structures which hold the Anglican communion together, including the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury, a role now held for the first time by a woman, Dame Sarah Mullally. The statement, signed by the chair, the Archbishop and Primate of Rwanda, Dr Laurenty Mbanda, says Primates in Gafcon met yesterday and resolved: “the reset of our beloved Communion is now uniquely in the hands of Gafcon, and we are ready to take the lead.” They will not have communion with “advocates of the revisionist agenda”. They will refuse to participate in meetings called by the Archbishop of Canterbury, refuse to make any financial contribution to the Anglican Consultative Council, nor receive any money back from the ACC or its networks. They will form a Council of Primates of all member provinces to elect a chairman, first amongst equals. Gafcon’s Primates Council has 11 members, including seven from Africa and one from South America. The Anglican Communion has 42 Primates. Initial reaction is that a schism, where they set up a rival denomination, severing ties and forming new structures, will be hard to achieve, as there are extensive and interwoven financial, institutional and historical connections between Anglican provinces worldwide. It is said to be significant that only one Primate put their name to the statement. Gafcon statement here.
PM announces further £10 million to protect British Jews
The Prime Minister has announced that security around synagogues and Jewish schools will be ramped up, with a further £10million in emergency funding, following the rise in hate crime and the attack on Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester. He made the announcement during a visit to the Community Security Trust, which provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK. He also ordered a review of antisemitism in the NHS, led by Lord Mann, saying “clear cases” are not being dealt with adequately. The Board of Deputies has welcomed the announcement. In a statement it said: “It is right that the government is looking at additional measures to curb the hate we have seen at protests for nearly two years, a commitment to name and act on the Islamist extremist threat and the need for proper action to promote community cohesion. What is needed now is a comprehensive government strategy on tackling antisemitism. We have been working with communal partners on the shape of this and will be publishing our recommendations next week following consultation with our deputies.”
Pope calls for end to hunger as a ‘profoundly moral duty‘
Pope Leo has appealed for an end to hunger as a “profoundly human and moral duty.” He told a meeting at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome to mark World Food Day, that there must be a shared global commitment to end hunger and malnutrition. The UN Hunger Report shows that 673 million people go to bed hungry and 2.3 billion lack a nutritious diet. The Pope called the persistence of hunger “a collective moral failure and a historical fault.. Ending these evils requires the contribution of all: governments, institutions, civil society, and every individual person.” Pope Leo expressed deep concern that food is being used as a weapon of war, calling this a “cruel strategy that denies men, women, and children their most basic right — the right to life.”
‘Deliveroo-style chaplaincy’ proposed to make City of London more faith-friendly
A report on Faith in the City of London has called for a “Deliveroo-style” mobile chaplaincy to serve the workforce, after identifying gaps in faith provision across the Square Mile. It recommends chaplains on bikes offering pastoral care, along with a kitemark scheme for religious literacy training, space for prayer and flagship events celebrating different faiths. The City has one of the most international workforces across the globe, with 35 per cent Christian and 22 per cent of other faiths. Although there are 36 churches, a survey of 1,000 employees found limited facilities for other faiths, with one worker praying in a stairwell and a visitor waiting 90 minutes for kosher food to be delivered from outside. Almost 70 per cent of Muslims, Jews and Dharmic faiths said there was a lack of awareness of their faith traditions. The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Rowan Williams, patron of the project producing the report, said there is a challenge to create a culture of trust, commitment and loyalty “which, while professional and in the broader sense competitive, is also humane and nurturing”. The report was launched at an event sponsored by the City of London Corporation, which said the survey had brought evidence for further action and there was an opportunity to create a more supportive environment reflecting the needs of each faith. The project is now seeking funding and is establishing an advisory group to move to the next stage.
Charity Commission reviewing complaint of ‘toxic culture’ at World Vision
The Charity Commission is assessing a complaint against the Christian organisation World Vision, claiming it has a toxic and hostile workplace culture. Civil Society reports that it has seen a complaint raised by current and former staff members saying incidents of racism, sexism and homophobia have been ignored, silenced or inadequately handled. World Vision issued a statement saying the allegations are false and it operates to the highest standards set by the Charity Commission. It has recently gone through a restructuring exercise which has involved job losses and redundancies. A spokesperson told Premier Christian News that the complaints came from a “small number of former employees who have recently left the organisation.” World Vision filed a serious incident report with the Charity Commission, following the allegations
Methodist president supports Luton church campaign against hate
Methodists in Luton invited their president, the Rev Richard Andrew, to see how an ecumenical group called Grassroots is dealing with the rising tide of hate and division over asylum seekers. Churches and other faith groups are working together to support minority communities and counter the far right. Grassroots was founded by local Methodists and the district chair, Rev Dr David Chapman, said: “The recent presence of flags on lamp posts in communities and the way symbols of patriotism are being misused to send a message that some people are not welcome has been a wakeup call. Grassroots shows that we can be engaged in our local communities and work with other faiths to overcome divisions and show solidarity.” Luton is a diverse town where half of the population are of global majority heritage and 140 languages are spoken. The President met a Muslim leader who said people were frightened, but they drew strength from joining people across all faiths. David Jonathan, Director of Grassroots, coordinated the visit and said the Methodist leaders had offered calm and reassurance that communities would continue to stand together, particularly in the context of hate.
Muslim and Jewish women rebuild interfaith relationships
More than 40 Jewish and Muslim women will gather in London this Sunday (19 October) for the Nisa-Nashim Mini Conference. This coming together will discuss how to rebuild fractured faith relationships in the UK, after the ceasefire in Gaza. It will also see Jews and Muslims show solidarity to each other after the recent terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester and arson attack on a mosque in Peacehaven. A highlight of the morning will be a joint memorial session to remember all the lives lost and ruined in the war. There will also be a seminar on how Jews and Muslims can, despite the divisions, speak to each other about the conflict, acknowledging the deep pain and mourning on both sides while allowing conversation and friendship to continue. Another important moment will see the women join hands and physically come together as one community, in the face of rising and violent antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred.
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