c. 2006 Religion News Service
Nigerian Church Calls Episcopal Church a `Cancerous Lump’
(RNS) The Anglican Church in Nigeria has compared the Episcopal Church _ its liberal counterpart in the United States _ to “a cancerous lump” that “should be excised” from the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The Tuesday (July 4) statement from the Anglican Church of Nigeria also rejects a proposed two-tiered membership system that would try to accommodate both liberals and conservatives in the 77 million-member Anglican Communion.
Instead, the statement from the Anglican bishops of Nigeria suggests that the Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of Anglicanism, should be cut out of the global communion.
“To attempt to condition the whole body to accommodate (the cancerous lump) will lead to the avoidable death of the patient,” the statement reads.
The proposal, from Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, would divide the world’s 38 Anglican provinces between “constituent churches” with decision-making privileges and “churches in association” without them.
The Nigerian statement said the program is a sign that “the wound caused by the revisionists has become difficult, if not impossible, to heal.”
With an estimated 17 million members, the rapidly growing Nigerian church far outnumbers the 2.2 million members in the Episcopal Church and is second only to the Church of England in terms of membership.
Nigeria is one of nine Anglican provinces in Africa that declared themselves in “impaired communion” with the U.S. church since 2003, when openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson was elected in New Hampshire.
Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola has led the chorus of conservative criticism against Episcopal leaders, condemning Robinson’s ordination and the blessing of same-sex unions as a “Satanic attack” on the church.
Akinola recently appointed an American priest, the Rev. Martyn Minns of Virginia, as bishop of the Convocation of Anglican Churches in America. Created to care for Nigerian expatriates in America, the convocation could also become a home for breakaway conservative dioceses and churches in the United States.
“This is not a welcome development,” Jonathan Jennings, spokesman for the archbishop of Canterbury, told the Washington Times. “It’s neither timely or constructive. It further complicates an already complex situation.”
_ Daniel Burke
Seventh-day Adventist Awarded $300,000 in Workplace Accommodation Case
(RNS) A former Seventh-day Adventist UPS deliveryman has been awarded more than $300,000 in a court decision affirming his right to religious accommodation to observe the Sabbath.
Todd Sturgill, 41, of Springdale, Ark., was employed by United Parcel Service when a dispute about workplace accommodation arose, the Adventist News Network reported.
On June 30, a U.S. federal district court in Fayetteville, Ark., awarded him $311,166.75 in lost wages and punitive damages. A UPS spokeswoman said the company may appeal the ruling.
Sturgill had been a driver for the company for 19 years when he joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church in May 2004. That July, he asked his employer if he could refrain from work on Friday evenings during the holiday delivery season. Adventists observe the Sabbath from sunset on Friday through sunset on Saturday.
Sturgill was told he would receive no accommodation but made arrangements with co-workers to adjust his schedule until a Friday in mid-December in 2004. On that day, after repeated requests for assistance, Sturgill was not able to complete his work before sunset. He returned to the UPS center with about 35 undelivered parcels and went home. The following Monday he was fired.
The former deliveryman got a new job with a lower salary but stood by his convictions.
“Through all of this, my faith has grown,” Sturgill told Adventist News Network. “Maybe a lot of people might want to try and blame God for what happened, but I wouldn’t change a thing. If I had lost (in court), … I still would have been thankful for what I’d done, standing up for what I believe.”
Lynnette McIntire, a UPS spokeswoman, said Sturgill’s termination was upheld by a grievance panel that included UPS management and Teamsters union representatives.
“UPS disagrees with the jury’s decision and is considering its options, including an appeal,” she said. “UPS maintains Mr. Sturgill was terminated solely because he twice abandoned his job by refusing to complete deliveries and pickups and returned to the package center with undelivered packages. Sturgill’s religion played no role in UPS’ treatment of him, assignment of job duties, or the decision to terminate his employment.”
_ Adelle M. Banks
Britain Cracks Down on Parents Who Treat Kids as `Witches’
LONDON (RNS) The British government has launched a crackdown on religious leaders and families who it said abuse children by branding them as “witches” or accuse them of being “possessed” by evil spirits.
A new report released by the Department of Education documents at least 38 cases of children in Britain being beaten, burned, tortured and neglected in the name of religious belief since 2000.
Scotland Yard police have code-named the crackdown “Project Violet,” and Detective Superintendent Chris Bourlet, its chief, said “where we identify criminal offenses, these will be taken extremely seriously and a full police investigation will be pursued.”
Most of the cases documented in the government’s report involved families described as Christian, although some were Hindu or Muslim, and in a few cases the religion was not known or disclosed.
The report said the children, all ages 8 to 14 years and all of African or South Asian origin, were subjected to ritual cruelty because of fears by religious chiefs or their families that they would “infect” others with their “evil.”
In one case, an 8-year-old girl from Angola was cut and starved and had chili peppers rubbed into her eyes in an attempt to drive out the so-called kindoki, or spirits. A man has been jailed for that crime.
In another case, London police said an African boy was slain in what was possibly a human sacrifice and his body slung into the River Thames. Only his mutilated torso has been recovered.
Education Secretary Beverley Hughes said religious beliefs in “witchcraft” and “demonic possession” have become a “hidden problem in some parts of our society.”
Katel Kirby, chief executive of the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, warned The Times newspaper in London that more research is needed because “it’s still not very clear where faith stops and culture starts. For some communities there is no difference.”
“We have to find a way of saying to communities, `Even if it’s your faith, this is illegal.”’
_ Al Webb
Women’s Prayer Section at the Western Wall May Be Enlarged
JERUSALEM (RNS) Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski has agreed to enlarge the women’s prayer section at the Western Wall Plaza, the municipality announced on Wednesday (July 5).
In a statement, Lupolianski, who is an ultra-Orthodox Jew, said that his decision to allocate additional space to women, who are separated from men by a high divider, was made in response to complaints by female worshipers that their section is too small.
“There’s no reason that in the most sacred site for the Jewish people, the men will have a big comfortable plaza while the women will have to be cramped and crowded,” Lupolianski said.
Lupolianski’s decision will change the religious status quo set forth by the country’s Orthodox religious authorities after Israel captured East Jerusalem from Jordan in 1976. Not long afterward, the authorities established separate side-by-side sections for men and women.
The women’s section _ always somewhat smaller than the men’s section _ shrank a few years ago, after the wall supporting the Mugraby Path, an entrance to the Temple Mount, collapsed. The fenced-off area where repairs are taking place cuts into the women’s section.
It remains to be seen whether the Prime Minister’s Office will approve Lupoliansky’s plan, which would require changing the route of the Mugraby Path. To avoid ill will from Muslims, the Israeli government would presumably need to consult the Wakf, the Islamic Trust that oversees all Temple Mount activities and institutions.
The Temple Mount, which is the holiest site in Judaism and sacred to Muslims and Christians as well, has been the scene of many violent episodes, and any change in the religious status quo brings risks.
Officials at the Wakf were unavailable for comment.
A Jerusalem city spokesman said that the mayor has instructed Municipality Director-General Eitan Meir to closely monitor the progress of the work being done and contact the relevant bodies in order to expedite the process.
_ Michele Chabin
Presbyterian Church (USA) Reports Missing $100,000; Official Fired
(RNS) A top treasury official of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has been fired after she admitted to embezzlement, denomination executives announced.
More than $100,000 in church funds have disappeared and church officials in Louisville, Ky., said restitution and insurance should cover the losses. They also said the case will be handled by prosecutors, the Presbyterian News Service reported.
Judy A. Golliher, who was the denomination’s second-ranking financial officer, was confronted after staffers discovered the theft on June 27, church officials said in a statement released Thursday (July 6) by the General Assembly Council. She admitted to embezzlement and officials ended her employment.
The missing funds were in the denomination’s general operating fund, which includes church members’ contributions and church investment interest. Church officials expect that programs will not be affected by the theft.
“Our own internal processes detected the misconduct and we took immediate action,” said Linda Valentine, who began working as the General Assembly Council’s new executive director in the same week that the firing was announced.
“In addition to continuing our investigation, we will take steps with external auditors to review and strengthen our internal controls to ensure that funds entrusted with us are properly used.”
Golliher, who served as treasurer for the PC(USA) church corporation, said she would repay the amount she admitted stealing, officials reported.
“While we appreciate the offer of cooperation, we will vigorously pursue our internal investigation and our work with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office,” said Eric Graninger, the denomination’s general counsel.
“We must take every means available to make a full recovery of the church’s funds.”
Golliher was named the denomination’s interim controller in October 2004. In 2005, she became the associate director for finance and accounting and her additional treasurer role began in February.
_ Adelle M. Banks
Graham Says Baltimore Sermon Could Be His `Last Time’ Preaching Gospel
BALTIMORE _ Evangelist Billy Graham said Sunday (July 9) that his appearance before a crowd at his son’s crusade could be “the last time I’ll have an opportunity to preach the gospel to an audience like this.”
At age 87, the elder evangelist gave the closing sermon of the three-day Metro Maryland Festival headlined by his son, Franklin Graham, and organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Festival officials said the last day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards drew a crowd of 33,500, who stood to their feet to welcome the elder Graham as he entered the stadium on a motorized cart.
His comments about his future included the likelihood that his days of appearing with team members who have worked with him for six decades may soon be over.
“Unfortunately, I’m getting too old to do this,” he said, wearing a gray suit and speaking in a strong voice. “I thought on the way out this may be the last time I’ll have an opportunity to preach the gospel to an audience like this and to have Cliff Barrows here and George Beverly Shea.”
Barrows, 83, the longtime music director, recalled visiting Baltimore for Graham crusades in 1949 and 1981 and led the audience in singing traditional hymns. He introduced “97 years young” Shea, who became famous as a soloist at Graham’s crusades and Sunday received a standing ovation after singing a couple of brief songs.
The elder Graham made a similar statement about his preaching at an appearance with his son in New Orleans in March, saying, “this is probably the last evangelistic sermon I’ll ever preach.”
After Billy Graham invited members of the crowd to come down to the ballfield to make a Christian commitment, it was his son _ at a smaller podium on the opposite side of the stage, almost a mirror image of his father _ who prayed with the hundreds who came forward.
“You know, you’d have to be the father of a man like this to realize how proud you are and so happy to have a son that’s preaching the gospel like he is,” Graham said of his son at the start of his sermon. “I’m grateful.”
_ Adelle M. Banks
Church of England Moves to Allow Women Bishops
LONDON (RNS) In a bold and historic shift away from tradition, the Church of England’s governing body has ruled that the ordination of women as bishops can be theologically justified _ but it is a move certain to stir yet more vexation within its ranks.
The church’s General Synod, meeting in York, voted 288-119 on Saturday (July 8) in favor of the controversial move that, if carried through, could allow women into the highest ranks of the church.
The ruling, although strongly supported by bishops and clergy, is sure to antagonize many traditionalists. It also puts the church on a potential collision course with the Vatican, which has warned that women bishops would render unity between the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches “unreachable.”
Traditionalists point to the Bible and say Jesus chose only men to be his apostles. But leading biblical scholars, including Durham Bishop Tom Wright, say there is evidence of the involvement of women in the earliest days of the Christian church, and cite Mary Magdalene, who was the first to relay news of Jesus’ Resurrection _ the central message of Christianity.
With its dramatic vote, the General Synod signaled that it accepted that ordination of women can be justified from a theological viewpoint and that the move was “consonant with the faith of the church.”
Among the 38 autonomous churches that make up the global Anglican Communion, only the United States, Canada and New Zealand currently allow female bishops. The latest is Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, who recently was elected presiding bishop of the 2.4-million-member Episcopal Church.
In the Church of England, bishops, clergy and lay people vote separately on such important issues, and the General Synod’s move still has to gain approval from the laity.
Archbishop of York John Sentamu, who led the General Synod’s debate and supported the proposal, said, “I must pay tribute to the Anglican women who have been tested for nearly 90 years. They have kept the faith and remained loyal to the Church of England.”
_ Al Webb
Church Groups Criticize Bush Plan to Block Aid to Cuban Church Council
(RNS) Two leading ecumenical agencies have sharply criticized the Bush administration’s tightening of sanctions against Cuba, including blocking humanitarian aid from reaching the Cuban Council of Churches.
The recommendations, contained in a 93-page report approved by President Bush on Monday (July 10), are meant to aid the opposition to Cuban leader Fidel Castro and promote democracy in the post-Castro era. The recommendations include $80 million to aid opponents of the 80-year-old Castro.
The report was drafted by the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba, which is jointly chaired by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.
The U.S. has had economic sanctions on the Cuban regime since 1961, two years after Castro seized power. Under Bush, the U.S. has steadily tightened those controls.
But church groups say that one element of the new plan, which would no longer allow the Commerce Department to grant licenses for humanitarian aid that go through the Cuban Council of Churches, violates religious freedom.
The Geneva-based World Council of Churches, in a Monday (July 10) letter to Bush, said the proposal is “a gross violation of religious freedom and a remarkably aggressive interference in religious matters.”
“We strongly feel that it is completely inappropriate for the U.S. government, or any government, to determine who is and who is not a legitimate national council of churches and to restrict or deny Christian fellowship and humanitarian assistance to any particular national church council, including the Cuban Council of Churches,” the Rev. Samuel Kobia, the WCC’s general secretary, said in his letter to Bush.
Separately, the New York-based National Council of Churches and Church World Service, its sister humanitarian aid organization, also expressed its opposition to the proposal.
Church World Service has a long history of providing humanitarian aid to the Cuban people through the Cuban Council of Churches, which represents many of Cuba’s Protestant churches; the Bush administration maintains that the Cuban church agency is “controlled” by the Castro government.
“Ecumenical bodies have a right to determine their partners and to relate internationally,” said the Rev. John McCullough, CWS executive director. “This (proposal) raises grave concerns apart from the politics of U.S.-Cuban relations.”
In Cuba, the report was denounced by government officials and some dissidents said it would do them more harm than good.
“I don’t doubt the report’s good intentions, but it just adds kindling to the fire,” Elizardo Sanchez of the Cuban Commission on Human Rights and Reconciliation told the Associated Press.
_ David E. Anderson
Quote of the Week: Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams
(RNS) “We may be in a thorough mess, but at least we shall not mislead anyone into supposing that the power and wisdom of God depend on the smooth coherence of the Church of England’s workings.”
_ Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who is spiritual leader of the world’s 77 million Anglicans, addressing tensions within the church over human sexuality.
DSB END RNS
