GAFCON security

Paul Handley in Jerusalem, reporting at the Church Times blog:

security guards have been assigned to some of the GAFCON participants. They were first noticeable on the Mount of Olives, where the Primate of Nigeria was flanked by two guards, complete with Raybans and curly wires leading to ear-pieces.

This was trumped by the Bishop of Rochester, whose press conference was staffed by three attentive guards. Journalists were left wondering whether this said more about about the Bishop or about them.

Dr Nazir-Ali, in reply to a question, said that he had stayed away from home for a day after police advised him to avoid an anti-homophobia rally in Rochester (which turned out to consist of five people, dropping to three when the weather turned). The coincidence of GAFCON with a Gay Pride march on Thursday cannot have helped put organisers at their ease.

If you believe everything you read, the Gafconites are on edge about the Gay Pride march:

“Tactically it positions them to make a statement in the midst of a global orthodox event that is focusing on the redemption of people including homosexuals,” said one North American Anglican bishop.

Gay activists moved the event up from June 21 to June 26 for no apparent reason, but observers believe this was done to embarrass the organizers and pilgrims of GAFCON. “Clearly it is an in your face act because if the appearance of British and American homosexual activists,” said a GAFCON spokesperson.

Both Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola and Church of England Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali (Rochester) have personal security agents standing feet away from them at all times. Both men can only be approached by invitation only (sic).

Last year the Gay Pride Parade drew 10,000 police who guarded the parade because Orthodox Jews stoned them.

Not that there is any connection between that stoning and the stoning story we had this morning. Or that disastrous GAFCON news conference.

The Gay pride parade draws GLBT Jews from around the world.

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