October 2007

African bishops respond to the US Episcopal Church

CAPA

November 2007

At the end of the CAPA meeting in October in Mauritius, African Anglican bishops responded to the recent communiqué issued by Anglican bishops from North Africa. The bone of contention between these two groups within the worldwide Anglican Communion is a demand by the African bishops to their colleagues in America, especially the liberals, to repent and apologise for having participated or condoned the ordaining of homosexuals into the priesthood.

In a strongly worded statement, the Anglican bishops were categorical that they “want unity but not at any cost.” They expressed regret that their plea to their American brothers to turn back from their current path of liberalism had been ignored.

“We believe, therefore, that a change of direction from our current trajectory is urgently needed,” was the base line of their statement.

The bishops said that they supported the position taken by the Most Reverend Mouneer Anis, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, who addressed the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church (TEC) recently. He urged them to change direction or acknowledge that TEC has chosen to walk a different way from the rest of the Anglican Communion.

“While meeting in Mauritius, we received a copy of the report of the Joint Standing Committee (JSC) of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council. On first reading we find it to be unsatisfactory. The assurances made are without credibility and its preparation is severely compromised by numerous conflicts of interest. The report itself appears to be a determined effort to find a way for the full inclusion of The Episcopal Church with no attempt at discipline or change from their prior position,” their statement went on.

The bishops said that what is at stake in the crisis is the very nature of Anglicanism - and that to understand it simply in terms of the need for greater inclusivity in the face of changing sexual ethics would be a grave mistake.

“It is not just about sexuality, but also about the nature of Christ, the truth of the Gospel and the authority of the Bible. We see a trend that seems to ignore the careful balance of reformed catholicity and missionary endeavor that is our true heritage, and a desire to replace it with a religion of cultural conformity that offers no transforming power and no eternal hope,” said the primates.

They added that the way forward would be the Anglican Communion Covenant, as a way of upholding their common heritage of faith while at the same time holding each other accountable to the teachings that have defined their life together and to guide them into the future. The primates proposed, among other things that the Lambeth Conference, scheduled for next year, be postponed, and that a special session of the Primates Meeting be called.

“We believe that meeting together is essential if we are prayerfully to allow the Holy Spirit to work through our interactions, and to bring us to a common mind,” they said. The Primates Meeting would review the actual response made by The Episcopal Church - both their words and their actions- finalize the Covenant proposal and set a timetable for ratification by individual provinces.

The primates said that whereas they realize that such actions would be costly, “we believe that the alternative - a divided conference with several provinces unable to participate and hundreds of bishops absent would - be much more costly to our life and witness. It would bring an end to the Communion, as we know it.”

They added that it is their belief that postponing the conference would be good since it will allow the tensions to subside and leave room for reconciliation. It will also ensure that those invited to the Lambeth Conference would have already endorsed the Covenant and would come together as witness to the common faith.

“We are very much aware of the plight of faithful Anglicans in North America during these difficult times. We assure them of our prayers, support and full recognition until the underlying concerns are fully resolved,” the statement added.

“While these current difficulties are challenging for all concerned we do not lose heart because we know that the One we serve is faithful.”

“To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

National Sudan Coalition Founders Call on U.S., International Community to Protect Peace Agreement

Contact: Loralei Coyle (202) 682-4131

11/9/2007

Washington, DC—The IRD’s Church Alliance for a New Sudan and the Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom (SSVF), founding members of the Sudan Coalition, a group of Washington-based activists who brought new visibility to Sudan in U.S. foreign policy, are asking President Bush, members of Congress, the United Nations, and the international community to save Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Sudan Coalition founders urge the U.S. government to return to the provisions of the watershed Sudan Peace Act, which was signed into law by the President five years ago last month. The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between north and south Sudan ended more than two decades of war between the Sudan People's Liberation Army in the south and the forces of the Sudanese government in the north.

IRD Director of the Church Alliance for a New Sudan Faith J.H. McDonnell commented:
The CPA provides the best hope for peace in all of Sudan. Marginalized people groups are coming together with Southern Sudanese as never before.

Last month the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) pulled out of the Government of National Unity that was created by the peace agreement. We support them fully in this action. This step shows their desperation over a situation in which one party has, with no consequences from anyone, failed to honor its commitments.

The vision of the New Sudan is shared by all Sudanese who want just peace, secular democracy, and religious freedom.

The Sudan Peace Act is U.S. law, not outdated by the CPA. Its provisions are applicable to all the marginalized people of Sudan today. In Section 6, if the President certifies that the Government of Sudan is not in compliance with the terms of a permanent peace agreement between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM, there should be consequences for those violations.

Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom President Jimmy Mulla Commented:
The CPA is under serious threat because of the National Congress Party (NCP), formerly known as the National Islamic Front, in Khartoum. When they’re not violating the CPA outright, they are failing to implement its provisions. The NCP refuses to accept the findings of the Abeyi Boundary Commission, which the CPA agreed would be binding. But the Commission found that the oil-rich region of Abeyi is a part of South Sudan. The U.S. and other international partners should pressure them to accept this fact, and not capitulate to their violations.
The people of Sudan are tired of war, and of the NCP’s attempts to force Arabization and racial Islam on an African, multi-religious country. We therefore call on the United States, as well as the UN Security Council and all peace loving people around the world, to take immediate action to avert yet another impending human catastrophe.”


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	African bishops respond to the US Episcopal Church CAPA November 2007 At the end of the CAPA meeting in October in Mauritius, African Anglican bishops responded to the recent communiqué issued by Anglican bishops from North Africa. The bone of contention between these two groups within the worldwide Anglican Communion is a demand by the African bishops to their colleagues in America, especially the liberals, to repent and apologise for having participated or condoned the ordaining of homosexuals into the priesthood. In a strongly worded statement, the Anglican bishops were categorical that they “want unity but not at any cost.” They expressed regret that their plea to their American brothers to turn back from their current path of liberalism had been ignored. “We believe, therefore, that a change of direction from our current trajectory is urgently needed,” was the base line of their statement. The bishops said that they supported the position taken by the Most Reverend Mouneer Anis, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, who addressed the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church (TEC) recently. He urged them to change direction or acknowledge that TEC has chosen to walk a different way from the rest of the Anglican Communion. “While meeting in Mauritius, we received a copy of the report of the Joint Standing Committee (JSC) of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council. On first reading we find it to be unsatisfactory. The assurances made are without credibility and its preparation is severely compromised by numerous conflicts of interest. The report itself appears to be a determined effort to find a way for the full inclusion of The Episcopal Church with no attempt at discipline or change from their prior position,” their statement went on. The bishops said that what is at stake in the crisis is the very nature of Anglicanism - and that to understand it simply in terms of the need for greater inclusivity in the face of changing sexual ethics would be a grave mistake. “It is not just about sexuality, but also about the nature of Christ, the truth of the Gospel and the authority of the Bible. We see a trend that seems to ignore the careful balance of reformed catholicity and missionary endeavor that is our true heritage, and a desire to replace it with a religion of cultural conformity that offers no transforming power and no eternal hope,” said the primates. They added that the way forward would be the Anglican Communion Covenant, as a way of upholding their common heritage of faith while at the same time holding each other accountable to the teachings that have defined their life together and to guide them into the future. The primates proposed, among other things that the Lambeth Conference, scheduled for next year, be postponed, and that a special session of the Primates Meeting be called. “We believe that meeting together is essential if we are prayerfully to allow the Holy Spirit to work through our interactions, and to bring us to a common mind,” they said. The Primates Meeting would review the actual response made by The Episcopal Church - both their words and their actions- finalize the Covenant proposal and set a timetable for ratification by individual provinces. The primates said that whereas they realize that such actions would be costly, “we believe that the alternative - a divided conference with several provinces unable to participate and hundreds of bishops absent would - be much more costly to our life and witness. It would bring an end to the Communion, as we know it.” They added that it is their belief that postponing the conference would be good since it will allow the tensions to subside and leave room for reconciliation. It will also ensure that those invited to the Lambeth Conference would have already endorsed the Covenant and would come together as witness to the common faith. “We are very much aware of the plight of faithful Anglicans in North America during these difficult times. We assure them of our prayers, support and full recognition until the underlying concerns are fully resolved,” the statement added. “While these current difficulties are challenging for all concerned we do not lose heart because we know that the One we serve is faithful.” “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” National Sudan Coalition Founders Call on U.S., International Community to Protect Peace Agreement Contact: Loralei Coyle (202) 682-4131 11/9/2007 Washington, DC—The IRD’s Church Alliance for a New Sudan and the Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom (SSVF), founding members of the Sudan Coalition, a group of Washington-based activists who brought new visibility to Sudan in U.S. foreign policy, are asking President Bush, members of Congress, the United Nations, and the international community to save Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Sudan Coalition founders urge the U.S. government to return to the provisions of the watershed Sudan Peace Act, which was signed into law by the President five years ago last month. The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between north and south Sudan ended more than two decades of war between the Sudan People's Liberation Army in the south and the forces of the Sudanese government in the north. IRD Director of the Church Alliance for a New Sudan Faith J.H. McDonnell commented: The CPA provides the best hope for peace in all of Sudan. Marginalized people groups are coming together with Southern Sudanese as never before. Last month the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) pulled out of the Government of National Unity that was created by the peace agreement. We support them fully in this action. This step shows their desperation over a situation in which one party has, with no consequences from anyone, failed to honor its commitments. The vision of the New Sudan is shared by all Sudanese who want just peace, secular democracy, and religious freedom. The Sudan Peace Act is U.S. law, not outdated by the CPA. Its provisions are applicable to all the marginalized people of Sudan today. In Section 6, if the President certifies that the Government of Sudan is not in compliance with the terms of a permanent peace agreement between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM, there should be consequences for those violations. Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom President Jimmy Mulla Commented: The CPA is under serious threat because of the National Congress Party (NCP), formerly known as the National Islamic Front, in Khartoum. When they’re not violating the CPA outright, they are failing to implement its provisions. The NCP refuses to accept the findings of the Abeyi Boundary Commission, which the CPA agreed would be binding. But the Commission found that the oil-rich region of Abeyi is a part of South Sudan. The U.S. and other international partners should pressure them to accept this fact, and not capitulate to their violations. The people of Sudan are tired of war, and of the NCP’s attempts to force Arabization and racial Islam on an African, multi-religious country. We therefore call on the United States, as well as the UN Security Council and all peace loving people around the world, to take immediate action to avert yet another impending human catastrophe.”