Anglican World Issue 135

anglican world issue 135 july 2014 | 1

Anglican WORLD

MAGAZINE OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION • ISSUE 135 JULY 2014

Doing too much/not enough at church?Find out how to serve using your strengths

The 7000 km-wide dioceseEurope’s newest bishop speaks about his road map

A decade of churches getting messy

2 | anglican world issue 135 july 2014

Jesus tells his followers that they can distinguish the people of God by

their fruit, by what they produce.

A sign of things to come

e d i to r i a l

MANY PEOPLE MISTAKENLY think of someone becoming a bishop as a promotion – a step up the Church ladder. Indeed, people speak about those who are elected or appointed to that role as having been elevated. Nevertheless, the truth of the matter is that being ordained a bishop is a calling, and perhaps one of the most important aspects of this calling is being a symbol – not least a symbol of unity, and of Christ’s reconciling presence in the world. Laity and clergy in a diocese look to that person to embody the prayer of Christ: “That they may be one as we are one”.

In this quarter’s edition of Anglican World it is not just Robert Innes who has been called to be a symbol. Anglicans and Episcopalians across the world are, through their words and actions, embodying something of God’s Kingdom to those around them. Some symbolise Christ’s intolerance of racism and of buying and selling humans like cattle; others his call to reconciliation, healing and peace. Some demonstrate how God brings order

out of chaos, and others how to treasure and creatively use the good gifts he gives his people.

Christians are called to be Christ’s witnesses –a legal term that brings to mind judges, docks and juries. Believers are all too often accused, criticised and persecuted for the faith that they profess. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells his followers that they can distinguish the people of God by their fruit, by what they produce.

I am delighted then, that from just this small selection of articles from around the Anglican Communion, it is clear there is a lot of good fruit being produced, and a lot of men, women and children acting as creative, dedicated and courageous symbols of God’s call to be salt and light in the world around them.

Canon Kenneth Kearon Secretary General of the Anglican Communion


c o n t e n t s

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ServingThe 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

PresidentThe Archbishop of Canterbury

Secretary GeneralThe Revd Canon Kenneth Kearon

EditorJan Butter

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ANGLICAN WORLD IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION OFFICE

e d i to r i a l

Anglicanworld

ISSUE 135 JULY 2014

Inside this issue

Inside this issue

Cover photoChildren having fun at a Messy Church event CREDIT: KEITH BLUNDY, AEGIES

anglican world issue 135 august 2014 | 1

Anglican WORLD

MAGAZINE OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION • ISSUE 135 AUGUST 2014

Doing too much/not enough at church?Find out how to serve using your strengths.



¢ ANGLICAN YOUTHYoung people in Tanzania and England going radio gaga 22

¢ THE LAST WORDStephanie Taylor asks, ‘What does the Bible say about knowledge?’ 23

16Feature

06When hollywood came callingThe smash hit Hollywood movie The Fault in our Stars has Episcopal connections

¢ EDITORIAL Canon Kearon on being living symbols of Christ’s Kingdom 2

¢ COMMUNION NEWS The latest from around the Anglican world 4

¢ FEATUREWhat do you say when Hollywood asks to use your church? 6

¢ PROFILE Acclaimed author Witi Ihimaera on Anglican partnership 8

¢ FEATUREPriest and backpacker Jesse Zink on Anglican Communion 10

¢ WORLD VIEWThe Communion at a glance 12

¢ FEATURE Discover your strengths, then serve the church 16

¢ PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Celebrating a decade of messiness in our churches 16The bishop with the Communion’s most international diocese 18How climate change threatens and inspires Anglicans 20


c o m m u n i o n n e w s

COMMUNION REPRESENTED AT ANTI-SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUMMIT

Anglicans from the UK and Africa attended the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, 10–13 June in London, England.

Archbishop Rwaje Onesphore of Rwanda, joined a panel discussion, organised by the We Will Speak Out Coalition, on the role of faith leaders and communities in preventing and responding to sexual violence.

Others who took part in the summit included Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Archbishop of Burundi Bernard Ntahoturi, Archbishop of DR Congo Henri Isingoma and Vijula Arulanantham representing the Church of Ceylon. UN envoy Angelina Jolie meets Rwanda Primate Rwaje Onesphore

u k , a f r i c a

ANGLICAN WEBSITE FOR EVANGELISM, CHURCH GROWTH RESOURCES LAUNCHED

g l o b a l

Anglicans and Episcopalians interested in evangelism and church growth now have a new website where they can find the latest resources and examples of best practice.

Anglicanwitness.org is described as “a one stop shop resource hub for church growth, discipleship, youth and children ministry, and other forms of evangelism”.

It was built by the core group

of the Anglican Witness: Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative, whose members say the site “brings together Anglicans from across the world committed to strengthening evangelism within communities; seeing churches grow spiritually and numerically; building capacity to engage the whole of God’s creation with Christ’s love; and seeing God’s name glorified in everyday life experience.”

NEW PRIMATES FOR OCEANIA, ASIA CHURCHES

a u s t r a l i a , p h i l i p p i n e s

Two Member Churches have new senior bishops this quarter. The Anglican Church of Australia elected Archbishop of Melbourne Dr Philip Freier to replace Archbishop Phillip Aspinall shortly before the General Synod.

In Asia, the Episcopal Church in the Philippines announced the Rt Revd Renato Mag-gay Abibico, Bishop of Northern Luzon as its new Prime Bishop-elect. The Most Revd Nathaniel Makoto Uematsu was re-elected as Primate of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (the Anglican Church in Japan).

Archbishop Philip Freier

MARGIE DOMOGUEN

TEARFUND

ENS

Prime Bishop-elect Renato Abibico


c o m m u n i o n n e w s

CHURCHES TAKE A PUBLIC STAND AGAINST RACISM

Mediators from each diocese in Wales have been specially trained

j a p a n / e n g l a n d

w a l e s

A new service has been launched by the Church in Wales to help settle conflict when it arises between parishioners or clergy.

The new mediation service aims to help manage workplace conflicts positively and resolve them constructively.

Clergy or parishioners in dispute will be able to apply to seek the help of a mediator who will then organise a series of joint and private meetings in which both parties can talk and listen to each other.

Mediators, both lay and clergy, from each of the six dioceses in Wales have been specially trained and will be supported by the Church’s Human Resources team.

CHURCH IN WALES LAUNCHES NEW MEDIATION SERVICE

Japanese Anglicans have strongly condemned racism in the country and vowed “to eradicate hate crime and hate speech and strive to establish a true multiracial and multicultural society.”

In a statement issued after their 61st synod, representatives of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai Synod pulled no punches as they criticised a lack of

government legislation against hate crimes and hate speech.

Earlier in the month, the House of Bishops of the Church of England voted to make membership or support of the British National Party (BNP) or National Front a potential disciplinary offence for its clergy.

English clergy are no longer allowed to join groups like the BNP

ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY AND POPE FRANCIS MEET IN ROME

r o m e

Archbishop Justin and Pope Francis are said to get on well

EPA ALESSANDRA TARANTINO

In their second meeting within eighteen months Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby have recommitted themselves resolutely to the struggle against modern slavery and human trafficking.

Following their first meeting last year the two global leaders have continually spoken out to challenge this crime against humanity, and have acted decisively to support the foundation of the new faith-based Global Freedom Network.

Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin also spoke about areas in conflict and how churches around the globe are called by Christ our reconciler, to act as peacemakers. They described their Christian passion for peacemaking in places torn apart by war, and pledged their ongoing commitment to act as agents of reconciliation.

experienced than us.We listened as they told us about

the impact their radio programmes were having on their community. They shared with us their challenges including a lack of equipment, and the fact that sometimes people were unwilling to be interviewed by them. But we also heard about the impact the project had had on them personally, Many now had more confidence in their own abilities, and renewed aspirations for the future.

It was easy to forget that these young people were there because of their involvement in ZAPHA+, because their lives had been affected by HIV/AIDS. We were moved by the courage of these boys and girls who speak out in their communities, often about extremely difficult social issues.

On day two with ZAPHA+ we collaborated with the young reporters to create radio programmes. We were pleased with the finished radio packages, but it was the experience of working with these young people, their professionalism and passion, which I will most remember.

The second project, Mkombozi, operates as both a live-in centre for children living on the streets and an organisation that promotes

children’s rights. The project works with much younger children, who clearly know their rights when asked: shelter, education, and being allowed to express their views. It was thanks to the work of Mkombozi and the radio reporting skills provided by CRF that the children could see a future of opportunity ahead of them.

Meeting the young reporters was a joyful experience. Our special time together not only developed our radio skills, but also helped us better understand challenges in each of our local contexts. Even with a language barrier we talked, laughed, sang and danced and formed friendships that, though we are unlikely to ever meet in again person, will be cherished.

Connecting via radioSHUTTERSTOCK

CHILDRENS RADIO FOUNDATION

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

by ellie coote

IN THIS DIGITAL age, it is easy to forget that radio still plays a crucial role across Africa. Not least, because radio is still the most effective medium to empower and inform children and youngsters there. This is why the Children’s Radio Foundation (CRF) trains young people on the continent to become youth radio reporters.

CRF partners with local radio stations and community organisations on over 50 projects in South Africa, Zambia, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania to create opportunities for broadcast, youth dialogue, leadership, and social engagement.

In February I and four other young radio reporters from England travelled with CRF to Tanzania to meet with two of its partner organisations –Zanzibar Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (ZAPHA+), and Mkombozi (Centre for Street Children) in Moshi – and to collaborate with CRF-trained young reporters there.

Both the Brits and Tanzanians had all received the same training, but on our first day at ZAPHA+ (which works with and for families affected by HIV/AIDS) it was clear the young Tanzanian radio journalists were far more


Below: Ellie (second from left) and other CRF-trained radio reporters

Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than jewels and all that you desire cannot compare with her. Proverbs 8.10-11

WHAT DOES THE Bible say about knowledge? I have been pondering this as a new member of staff at the Anglican Communion Office tasked with managing information and knowledge. I’ve been surprised by just how much it does say. Proverbs in particular, has a veritable feast of verses on the subject. Time and time again we are called to value knowledge; seek it; heed it; apply it. We learn that knowledge, understanding, insight and wisdom bring strength, hope, a future; help us to determine what is best; show us the way; bear fruit. But from where should this knowledge come?

Proverbs 2.1-5 tells us:My child; if you accept my words

and treasure up my commandments within you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; if you indeed cry out for insight, and raise your voice

for understanding; if you seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures – then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

What really speaks to me from this and other passages is that we must truly desire knowledge, and yearn for a connection with God; that this knowledge, this connection, has the capacity to make us more Christ-like. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes: I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death. (Philippians 3.10).

But that connection shouldn’t stop with God. We must also yearn to connect with one another, and crucially, knowledge alone is not enough – we also need love.

For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and

unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1.5-8)

And If I have the gift of prophecy and

can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13.2)

The Anglican Communion encompasses over 165 countries and comprises some 85 million people. We, as the Body of Christ, are intertwined, interdependent. We are also abundantly blessed with information! Proverbs 24.3-4 tells us, By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. In managing our knowledge and information, and empowering the Communion to draw on, harness, and share that understanding, it is my desire that we will build and furnish this house together, and bear fruit. I look forward to working with and serving you.

Stephanie Taylor, ACO Information and Records Manager email: [email protected]

t h e l a s t w o r d

Head knowledge vs heart knowledge

SHUTTERSTOCK

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


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anglican world issue 135 august 2014 | 1

Anglican WORLD

MAGAZINE OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION • ISSUE 135 AUGUST 2014

Doing too much/not enough at church?Find out how to serve using your strengths.



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Anglican World Issue 135

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Transcript of Anglican World Issue 135