News for Week Ending 5/24/2010

Observer chides CoE over gay persecution

London’s newspaper The Observer published an editorial on May 23, 2010, complaining that Anglican leaders in England have failed to speak out against homophobic statements made by some Anglican clergy in Africa. In particular, the editorial refers to a statement made by Nigerian bishop Isaac Orama. The editorial concludes:

The Anglican hierarchy in Britain has avoided speaking out too frankly on this matter to avoid a schism, but the church’s quiet diplomacy has done nothing to help the victims of homophobic repression. Increasingly, it looks like complicity.

The Lead, on the other hand, called the editorial too mild.

ACNA shows signs of stress

A major component of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has been the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) an operation under the sponsorship of the Church of the Province of Rwanda. The AMiA, a founding member of ACNA, has been a jurisdiction of ACNA, but, according to a special report on the AMiA Web site, it is about to become a Missionary Partner, a status that ties the AMiA less closely to ACNA. According to the report, the “dual citizenship” of the AMiA had become “untenable.” A May 11, 2010, news analysis piece by conservative journalist David Virtue suggests that the status change is at least in part the result of conflicts over women’s ordination. Links to additional material are available at Thinking Anglicans.