Lord bishop encouraged to be missionary and pilgrim
In preparation for taking up his role as Bishop of Winchester, Canon Timothy Dakin, the Executive Leader of the Church Mission Society, was this week ordained and consecrated bishop by the Archbishop of Canterbury in St. Paul's Cathedral, London. Preaching at the service, the bishop of Chelmsford, The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, encouraged him to "be a missionary and pilgrim rather than master and lord". CMS trustees are currently interviewing for a new leader and hope to make an announcement during February. Bishop Dakin will be installed in Winchester in April 2012.
Egypt summit announced
Exactly a year after the start of the Egyptian revolution that resulted in the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has supported a call by Christians in Egypt for an international day of prayer. WEA Secretary General Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe said, “the WEA is calling on our global community to stand in united prayer with our sisters and brothers in Egypt at this crucial time in Egypt's history." Dr. Tunnicliffe also announced an Egypt Summit in Washington DC to take place on 7-8 February 2012. At this invitation-only summit, Egyptian Christian leaders will provide an analysis of their current reality and provide a framework of how best organizations/churches/foundations etc. can partner with the Church in Egypt at this critical time of transition. The WEA has asked Christians to pray with Christians in Egypt for a peaceful transition within the country and for cooperation among all other parties in order to achieve equality, freedom and justice in the nation.
Prayers for Egypt
Christians around the world have been marking the first anniversary the uprising in Egypt that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Prayers have been said in churches in Cairo and in many other places for the peace and future stability opf the nation. In Britain the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK, Bishop Angaelos, offered his prayers for people in Egypt, especially those who lost their lives or suffered as a result of the social and political upheavals of the last year. “In reality" he said, "at least in the short term, the transition has brought greater social divisions and subsequently given rise to increased attacks on minorities, mainly Christians, we therefore offer our prayers for all those who have suffered at this time as a result of these challenges, as well as those affected by an ailing economy, increasing unemployment and general breakdown in law and order.”
Fighting continues in Kano, Nigeria
Following the attacks last Friday in which at least 185 people died, terrorists have again attacked a police station in the city of Kano in northn Nigeria. Around 30 gunmen rained bombs and gunfire on the police station killing a woman in the latest attack at 6.30pm last night. This attack is also being blamed on the Islamist group Boko Haram which has killed more than 935 people since they launched a violent campaign in July 2009. Yesterday's attack seems to have been provoked after police tried to arrest a suspect earlier in the day and came under heavy fire at his hideout in the city. Christianity Today also reported attacks on two churches in Kano this past Sunday but with no known casulties.
Korean unification warrior dies
The death has been announced on 21 January of Rev. Kang Young-sup (left) one of most significant Christian leaders, whose efforts for the reunification of North and South Korea have been significant throughout his life. Kang Young-sup was the chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Christian Federation (KCF), and had a long standing relationship with the World Council of Churches. The General Secretary of the WCC, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, said “As a patriotic religious leader in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Rev. Kang Young-sup played an important role in nation building, as well as in working for peace and reconciliation on the divided Korean peninsula.” The National Council of Churches in Korea also expressed sorrow over Young-sup’s passing away, and reaffirmed their commitment to continue with his mission for peace and reunification in North and South Korea.
Ceasefire for the Karen in Myanmar
Christian communities in Myanmar have expressed a cautious welcome for the cease-fire agreement, signed in Hpaan on 12 January, between the government olf Myanmar and the Karen National Union (KNU). As a large minority ethnic group, with many Christian members, the Karen people have been in armed conflict with the government for 60 years. According to reports from human rights groups, military forces have routinely burned Karen villages, homes and churches. As a result, thousands of Karen have been forced from their homes, with over 100,000 seeking refuge in neighboring Thailand. Since the internal conflict began in 1948, an estimated 500,000 people have been killed. Welcoming the ceasefire KNU Vice Chairman, Saw David Tharc Kabaw, added, “I’m cautious, very cautious, there is no certainty, we’re still not sure of the real agenda.”
Christian worker dies in Fiji
Andrew Duxfield (pictured left with Rev Luke Ravudolo), a Christian worker from New Zealand, has died this week while on mission placement in Fij. Andrew was checking out a number of water projects in Fiji on behalf of the Anglican Missions Board (AMB), New Zealand, and Engineers without Borders (EWB) at the time of his death. “The staff of AMB and the Diocese of Polynesia are shocked at the sudden loss of such a valued friend and colleague,” says Robert Kereopa, the Executive Officer of the AMB. “Andrew had been visiting Fiji since 2004 and was instrumental in brokering a partnership between AMB, EWB and the Diocese of Polynesia to develop water projects in Fiji. May he rest in peace, and rise in glory.” Andrew Duxfield was 51, and is survived by Charmaine and their four children.
Fighting continues in South Sudan
"Inter-ethnic conflict in South Sudan" claims Christian Aid, is "being fuelled by decades of underdevelopment and the proliferation of small arms in the newly independent country's largest state." The British based development agency is currently providing relief to some of the tens of thousands of civilians displaced by fighting in South Sudan, assisting the wounded and supporting the reconciliation work being led by the Sudan Council of Churches and Archbishop Daniel Deng. Fighting between the Lou Nuer and Murle ethnic groups was sparked by recent cattle raids and child abductions, and has led to the South Sudanese government declaring Jonglei a “human disaster area” and appealing for international assistance to bring the crisis to an end. The UN estimates that more than 60,000 people have been displaced by the latest round of fighting.