News for Week Ending 4/19/2010

Communion Partners Clergy lobby Global South Encounter to adopt covenant

The so-called Communion Partners Clergy, a group of 90 non-episcopal conservative clergy have urged participants of the Fourth Global South to South Encounter being held in Singapore April 19–23, 2010, to adopt the proposed Anglican covenant. Although participants in the Encounter will mostly be clergy from conservative churches of the Anglican Communion in the Global South, Anglican Mainstream has reported that Archbishop Robert Duncan of the Anglican Church in North America and Episcopal bishops John Howe of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida and Mark Lawrence of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina will also attend. The Archbishop of Canterbury was expected to participate, though restricted airline traffic from the U.K. resulting from the Icelandic volcano may preclude his attending. A list of represented provinces can be found here, and the agenda can be found here.

Thinking Anglicans has posted links to early reports on the Fourth Global South to South Encounter here and can be expect to cover the event as news becomes available. Episcopal News Service has published an initial story about the event here. Updates can also be read on Global South Anglican Online.

Senate passes resolution on anti-gay Ugandan bill

On April 13, 2010, the U.S. Senate approved a resolution by unanimous consent condemning the anti-gay legislation now pending in the Uganda legislature. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on African affairs, introduced the bill. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda, but the proposed legislation would introduce the death penalty for certain activities and would otherwise restrict civil liberties. The Senate action was reported by DC Agenda and other media outlets.

Utah nominates partnered gay priest

The Living Church reported April 12, 2010, that the Episcopal Diocese of Utah has nominated the Very Rev. Canon Michael L. Barlowe, the Episcopal Diocese of California’s canon for congregational ministries and a partnered gay priest, as its next bishop. Barlowe is one of four episcopal candidates. The Diocese of Utah has more information on the candidates here.

Portland church members to depart, leaving assets behind

Episcopal News Service reported April 13, 2010, that the rector and 100 members of St. Matthew’s Church, Portland, plan to leave The Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon to form a new congregation in the Anglican Church in North America. Members of the congregation who are not leaving The Episcopal Church will retain parish real estate and other parish property.