New venture announced as Zambian priest is appointed Anglican Communion Mission and Evangelism Officer

In a new co-operative venture with the Church Mission Society (CMS), the Revd Canon Kenneth Kearon, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion Office (ACO) is delighted to announce the appointment of the Revd John Kaoma Kafwanka as Mission and Evangelism Desk Officer for the Anglican Communion. The position became available after the recent retirement of the Anglican Communion Office Director of Mission and Evangelism, Mrs Marjorie Murphy.

Muslim and Christian honoured at joint dinner

In the midst of escalating accusations and misunderstandings between Christians and Muslims it was a pleasure to attend an event with a different focus. The National Muslim-Christian Liaison Committee (NMCLC) held its awards dinner on Tuesday, September 19th, 2006 to honour two people who have contributed to Muslim-Christian dialogue and mutual understanding. Over 70 people attended the dinner hosted at the Ameer Restaurant in Toronto, representing the Muslim, Christian, Sikh and Jewish faiths. Each place at the table was marked with a napkin ring inscribed alternately with a crescent or a cross as an encouragement to sit among one another. The tide of conversations filled the room as questions of each other were exchanged and new understandings grew. Bishop Michael Bedford-Jones and Bishop George Elliott were two of the Anglicans participating in the dinner.

Compass Rose Society grant supplies theological colleges with Anglican Way books

As the result of the generosity of a number of members of the Compass Rose Society, TEAC (the Anglican Communion Theological Education Working Party) is supplying theological colleges in Asia and Africa with key books in the field of Anglican Studies. The purpose of these book grants is to enable students training for Anglican ministry in theological colleges with limited library resources to have greater access to books which will provide an overview of Anglican history, liturgy and spirituality.

Faith walk to Manitoba legislative building kicks off CLYG 2006

On Thursday afternoon, over 1,200 youth, in Winnipeg for the 2006 Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering (CLYG 2006), flowed out of the Winnipeg Convention Centre, the main site of the gathering, and into the streets of downtown for a faith walk to the Manitoba Legislative Building to kick-off the start of CLYG 2006. In her opening keynote speech to CLYG 2006 participants, Rev. Kathy Martin, told the youth, “at this gathering we are going to do things differently. We’re going to head out there and make a difference.”

Archbishop to visit China

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, is to visit China this autumn. The visit is at the invitation of the senior leadership of the post-denominational Protestant Churches in China. It will take in five cities, including the capital, Beijing.