Sermon preached by Archbishop Justin Welby on 13 March 2015 at a service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the end of combat operations in Afghanistan.
Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon at Afghanistan service
Sermon preached by Archbishop Justin Welby on 13 March 2015 at a service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the end of combat operations in Afghanistan.
CAPA meets in Cape Town
Anglican Church leaders from across Africa are being hosted at meetings in Cape Town by Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town.
The leaders include Archbishops, Bishops and other members of the Council of African Provinces of Africa (CAPA), a body which coordinates and articulates issues affecting the Church and communities across the continent.
The council, chaired by the Most Revd Bernard Ntahoturi, (pictured) Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi, represents Anglicans in 26 countries from 12 church provinces.
The meetings, which are happening in South Africa for the first time, include Primates (the leaders) of churches and members of the CAPA Standing Committee.
The meetings have included a gathering of members of the Anglican Global South, chaired by the Most Revd Dr Mouneer Hanna Anis of Egypt, President Bishop of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East.
Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, and Premier Helen Zille of the Western Cape sent messages of welcome to the delegates and their spouses.
Archbishop Makgoba said the meetings were a tangible expression of the Anglican family belonging together. He expressed hope that the meeting would renew relations among churches across Africa.
On the first day, participants visited Masikhanye Food Garden in Khayelitsha, an urban food project supported by the Anglican Church of Southern Africa’s outreach arm, Hope Africa.
CAPA meets in Cape Town
Anglican Church leaders from across Africa are being hosted at meetings in Cape Town by Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town.
The leaders include Archbishops, Bishops and other members of the Council of African Provinces of Africa (CAPA), a body which coordinates and articulates issues affecting the Church and communities across the continent.
The council, chaired by the Most Revd Bernard Ntahoturi, (pictured) Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi, represents Anglicans in 26 countries from 12 church provinces.
The meetings, which are happening in South Africa for the first time, include Primates (the leaders) of churches and members of the CAPA Standing Committee.
The meetings have included a gathering of members of the Anglican Global South, chaired by the Most Revd Dr Mouneer Hanna Anis of Egypt, President Bishop of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East.
Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, and Premier Helen Zille of the Western Cape sent messages of welcome to the delegates and their spouses.
Archbishop Makgoba said the meetings were a tangible expression of the Anglican family belonging together. He expressed hope that the meeting would renew relations among churches across Africa.
On the first day, participants visited Masikhanye Food Garden in Khayelitsha, an urban food project supported by the Anglican Church of Southern Africa’s outreach arm, Hope Africa.
Bishop of Rochester supports national Housing Rally
The Right Reverend James Langstaff, Bishop of Rochester is supporting the 2015 “Homes for Britain” campaign which brings the entire UK housing sector together for the first time, in the run up to the General Election. Urging the next government to draw up a long-term plan within a year of taking office, the campaign is asking for an outline of how the new government plans to end the housing crisis. Politicians are being urged to end the UK housing crisis within a generation.
Bishop James said, “A planned, sustainable approach to home building is central to the well-being of civil society and the economy. In 2014, house-building in England hovered below the 125,000 mark for the sixth year in a row; the lowest peacetime levels since the 1920s.The lack of housing which is sufficient, affordable and suitable affects communities across the country, from villages to city centres. The impact is especially marked for those who are the poorest and most vulnerable in our society, but it extends to all sectors of the population. If we rise to the challenge to meet housing need, then addressing other social and economic issues becomes much more possible.”
Bishop James will be one of those addressing over 2,500 people at the rally chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby at the Methodist Central Hall, London on 17 March 2015; the aim is to encourage and challenge all political parties to commit to end the UK’s housing crisis.
Bishop of Rochester supports national Housing Rally
The Right Reverend James Langstaff, Bishop of Rochester is supporting the 2015 “Homes for Britain” campaign which brings the entire UK housing sector together for the first time, in the run up to the General Election. Urging the next government to draw up a long-term plan within a year of taking office, the campaign is asking for an outline of how the new government plans to end the housing crisis. Politicians are being urged to end the UK housing crisis within a generation.
Bishop James said, “A planned, sustainable approach to home building is central to the well-being of civil society and the economy. In 2014, house-building in England hovered below the 125,000 mark for the sixth year in a row; the lowest peacetime levels since the 1920s.The lack of housing which is sufficient, affordable and suitable affects communities across the country, from villages to city centres. The impact is especially marked for those who are the poorest and most vulnerable in our society, but it extends to all sectors of the population. If we rise to the challenge to meet housing need, then addressing other social and economic issues becomes much more possible.”
Bishop James will be one of those addressing over 2,500 people at the rally chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby at the Methodist Central Hall, London on 17 March 2015; the aim is to encourage and challenge all political parties to commit to end the UK’s housing crisis.
Security Services pledge a peaceful election for Nigeria
The full resources of the Nigerian military and police will be used to ensure the country’s forthcoming general elections will be free and fair, the government told the Independent National Electoral Committee, whose members include the Primate of All-Nigeria, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh. On 7 March 2015 the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh and the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, told the committee whose members include the leaders of the country’s Anglican and Catholic churches and the Sultan of Sokoto, the leader of Nigeria’s Muslims the situation in the north was now under control. Attacks by the Islamist terror group, Boko Haram had prompted the Elections Committee to postpone the general elections by six weeks to 28 March 2015. Committee member Justice Rose Ukeje noted: “they said that there is no fear and there will be a violence free and credible election and also that there is no fear of a further adjournment of the election because there is no room for that in the constitution.” Speaking to reporters at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Abuja, Archbishop Okoh warned the threat to peace did not stem only from Boko Haram. He urged political leaders to restrain their supporters from turning their political passions into political violence. “This is the period to work for integrity. So, Christians should pray for Nigeria so that people will not get into bloodshed during and after the elections,” he said, adding: “Nigerians are good people and these elections are for Nigerians and not politicians only.’’
Security Services pledge a peaceful election for Nigeria
The full resources of the Nigerian military and police will be used to ensure the country’s forthcoming general elections will be free and fair, the government told the Independent National Electoral Committee, whose members include the Primate of All-Nigeria, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh. On 7 March 2015 the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh and the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, told the committee whose members include the leaders of the country’s Anglican and Catholic churches and the Sultan of Sokoto, the leader of Nigeria’s Muslims the situation in the north was now under control. Attacks by the Islamist terror group, Boko Haram had prompted the Elections Committee to postpone the general elections by six weeks to 28 March 2015. Committee member Justice Rose Ukeje noted: “they said that there is no fear and there will be a violence free and credible election and also that there is no fear of a further adjournment of the election because there is no room for that in the constitution.” Speaking to reporters at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Abuja, Archbishop Okoh warned the threat to peace did not stem only from Boko Haram. He urged political leaders to restrain their supporters from turning their political passions into political violence. “This is the period to work for integrity. So, Christians should pray for Nigeria so that people will not get into bloodshed during and after the elections,” he said, adding: “Nigerians are good people and these elections are for Nigerians and not politicians only.’’
Nigerian church rejects bribery accusations
Claims the government of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan gave £20 million to the leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at its February meeting to encourage its members to vote for him in the country’s General Election schedule for 28 March 2015 were untrue, said the Rt. Rev. Peter Imasuen, Bishop of the Anglican Dicoese of Benin, and chairman of the Edo State branch of CAN. On 16 Feb 2015 an independent pastor, the Rev. Musa-Dikwa claimed the president gave each CAN state chairman the money to help bring out the vote in support of the government. However Bishop Imasuen said he knew nothing about the claim and had received no money. He told reporters: “I am not a politician; what we owe the country is prayer. So, I don’t know anything about money. They didn’t give me any money and I was not even there when we had the last CAN meeting …” Asked if he would have accepted money from the government he responded: “Collect the money for what? What will I use the money for? We are men of God; we are to pray for the peace of the country. At the time you now take money, how will God answer your prayer? I don’t run after riches. I run after blessings; riches come and go but blessings remain.” He added that taking a bribe was not only immoral, it was impractical. “Even if you give me money, I would be afraid; I will not sleep because the politicians will be after you, everybody will be after you, the thieves will know that you have money. So, I will rather relax my mind and be okay with whatever God gives me.”
Nigerian church rejects bribery accusations
Claims the government of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan gave £20 million to the leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at its February meeting to encourage its members to vote for him in the country’s General Election schedule for 28 March 2015 were untrue, said the Rt. Rev. Peter Imasuen, Bishop of the Anglican Dicoese of Benin, and chairman of the Edo State branch of CAN. On 16 Feb 2015 an independent pastor, the Rev. Musa-Dikwa claimed the president gave each CAN state chairman the money to help bring out the vote in support of the government. However Bishop Imasuen said he knew nothing about the claim and had received no money. He told reporters: “I am not a politician; what we owe the country is prayer. So, I don’t know anything about money. They didn’t give me any money and I was not even there when we had the last CAN meeting …” Asked if he would have accepted money from the government he responded: “Collect the money for what? What will I use the money for? We are men of God; we are to pray for the peace of the country. At the time you now take money, how will God answer your prayer? I don’t run after riches. I run after blessings; riches come and go but blessings remain.” He added that taking a bribe was not only immoral, it was impractical. “Even if you give me money, I would be afraid; I will not sleep because the politicians will be after you, everybody will be after you, the thieves will know that you have money. So, I will rather relax my mind and be okay with whatever God gives me.”