Many stories from around the Episcopal/Anglican world emerge in any given week that we aren’t able to develop further here at the Cafe. So, here is a roundup of stories you might have missed.
Episcopal Church
A moving story about a vigil service remembering the Pulse shooting in Orlando
https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/tallahassee-church-holds-service-to-remember-pulse-nightclub-victims
In its Mutual Ministry Review, TEC’s Executive Council says its moving in the right direction, plus some other updates from their most recent meeting.
https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2019/06/10/council-is-leading-from-the-future-as-it-emerges-mutual-ministry-review-shows/
Resolutions from the meeting outlined here: https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2019/06/13/a-summary-of-executive-council-resolutions-11/
A closed church in Belmont, NY is being bought by the County Government and repurposed for public benefit
https://www.wellsvilledaily.com/news/20190610/allegany-county-purchases-st-philips-episcopal-church-properties
Mary Frances Shjonberg, long time editor and reporter at ENS was given the House of Deputies medal at the recent Executive Committee meeting.
https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/pressreleases/mary-frances-schjonberg-awarded-house-of-deputies-medal/
From Church Times: The church in South Sudan is consecrating a priest from Wisconsin in part to deepen ties to TEC
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2019/14-june/news/world/us-episcopal-church-builds-on-tie-with-south-sudan
On pension equity for lay and ordained
from CPG: https://www.cpg.org/global/about-us/press/perspective/spring-2019/lay-employees-retirement/
from 815: https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2019/06/13/executive-council-moves-toward-lay-clergy-pension-parity-for-members-of-churchwide-staff/
Bishop Curry
A reflection featured in the Hutchison News (Kansas) inspired by the Presiding Bishop
https://www.hutchnews.com/news/20190607/love-is-commitment-not-sentiment
Bishop Curry also inspired a reflection featured in the Walla-Walla Union-Bulletin (Washington state)
https://www.union-bulletin.com/local_columnists/pastors_columns/what-s-love-got-to-do-with-it/article_47c470a8-887b-11e9-9077-4f3fc050610f.html
Britain and Ireland
Church of England Pensions Board at the forefront of effort to get mining companies to clean up their processes
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-06-09-anglo-american-and-others-come-clean-on-tailings-dams-in-wake-of-vale-disaster/
An editorial from Ireland that is critical of the church, but also offering some interesting food for thought.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/the-irish-times-view-on-churches-and-sexuality-a-relentless-obsession-1.3918045
The Agenda for the upcoming General Synod of the Church of England is now available
https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-06/GS%202129%20Draft%20GS%20Agenda%20July%202019%20%281%29_0.pdf
other GS info is here: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/work-general-synod/agendas-papers/general-synod-july-2019
Anglican Communion
Interesting article on the church’s role in the Hong Kong protests
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/may-web-only/christian-backstory-of-hong-kongs-anti-government-protests.html
The archbishop has also issued a statement calling for the protests to end
http://echo.hkskh.org/news_article_details.aspx?lang=1&nid=6257
Some background on the upcoming election of a new primate for Nigeria
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/as-anglican-church-picks-new-primate/
Representatives from the Anglican Communion spoke to the United Nations about the church’s role in confronting climate change
https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2019/06/united-nations-hears-of-anglican-communion-churches-active-role-in-tackling-climate-change.aspx
Another sign of a growing rift within the GAFCON movement; the reactionary Anglican website Anglican Ink has a report on an ACNA priest who has levelled a charge of heresy against one the Nigerian priests recently selected as a bishop for CANA (CANA is Nigeria’s missionary effort in the US and a ministry partner of ACNA).
http://anglican.ink/2019/06/13/heresy-accusations-laid-against-nigerian-bishop-elect-by-senior-acna-priest/
Image: The former St Philip’s Church in Belmont, NY (Chris Potter/ the Spectator)