25 July 2010: Fake Episcopal nun in New York goes undetected for a decade
The New York Post reveals that the ubiquitous Manhattan beggar called 'Sister Milindia' is not an Episcopal nun but an employee of a convicted rapist who runs a fake-nun scam.

25 July 2010: Repairs underway to Anglican Cathedral in Stanley
The South Atlantic Remote Territories Media Association describes the ongoing repairs to the belltower clock in Christ Church Anglican Cathedral in Stanley, Falkland Islands. When these folks say 'Remote' they are not kidding.

23 July 2010: Desmond Tutu to retire from public life
The US Episcopal News Service reports that retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu has announced that he will retire from public life later this year.

23 July 2010: Attack on church in Nigeria kills 8
The Church Times reports that local officials suspect Muslims of having launched the gun-and-machete attack that killed 8 people in a Christian church in the Nigerian province of Jos.

23 July 2010: Boris Karloff haunts Anglican churchyard in Australia
The Sydney Morning Herald tells tales of St John, Ashfield, New South Wales, which is showing films in its churchyard at night, asking for a donation to a church charity in return for watching vintage films in their natural environment.

22 July 2010: Dog receives communion in Toronto
St Peter's church in Toronto is known as an inclusive place. And when a visitor came with his dog (pets are welcome at St Peter's), the interim priest gave a wafer to the animal. One parishioner was so affronted that he has left the church. The Area Bishop, Patrick Yu, said that it was a strange and shocking thing, that the minister is too embarrassed to talk about it, and that it will not happen again. The story made the front page of the Toronto Star (it's the slow summer season), and the Sun spoke to the visitor, who seems pleased by the welcome he received at the church.

21 July 2010: Sectarian violence against Christians escalates in Pakistan
The US Episcopal News Service reports that two brothers, both Christians, facing trial for blasphemy, were shot dead outside the courtroom by Muslims who might once have been called extremists but who now, by the standards of Pakistan, are centrists.

18 July 2010: English 'Flying Bishop' speaks out about General Synod
The Bishop of Richborough in the Church of England has issued this pastoral letter reflecting on the Church of England's plans to move forward with the consecration of women bishops. One would expect him to be gloomy, since this decision ultimately spells the end of his bishopric and the advent of women bishops, which he valiantly opposes.

18 July 2010: Sri Lanka diocese celebrates 125 years
The Sunday Times (Colombo, Sri Lanka) reports that the Diocese of Colombo, part of the Anglican Church of Ceylon, is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

18 July 2010: Priest to be slumdog, but no millionaire
After six years in Dubai, the Reverend John Weir is taking early retirement, and joining the Delhi Brotherhood Society to work among the poor of that city. The Gulf News reports that the generosity of Christians in Dubai has made his venture possible. C.F. Andrews, a close associate of Mahatma Gandi, was a member of the Delhi Brotherhood Society.

15 July 2010: Pennies (or £56,000) from heaven save church
The Daily Mail (UK) reports that St Edburgha, an 800-year-old church in Yardley, Birmingham, needed to repair its spire or face closure. They were £56,700 short when an unexpected bequest arrived from Australia in the exact amount needed to reach the £200,000 required.

15 July 2010: First bishop consecrated in new diocese in Tanzania
The Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS) published the USPG report on the inauguration of Dr. Mwita Akiri as the first bishop in the new Diocese of Tarime in northern Tanzania. The diocese has been created out of the existing Diocese of Mara.

14 July 2010: England's General Synod, women bishops, lions and tigers and bears, oh my
The General Synod of the Church of England has finished for this round. We have it on very good authority that issues other than the politics of women bishops were discussed, but you'd never know that from a sampling of the secular media. The General Synod voted to send the draft legislation on women bishops to the dioceses, which is to say in conversational terms that they passed the measure. The Church Times filed this excellent report, at the end of which is a good explanation of 'what happens next' in the Church of England process. The CT also published this leader offering an evaluation of the process and its meaning. You can find the usual vast collection of material here at Thinking Anglicans, including this interesting survey survey [sic] of public opinion about it all.

14 July 2010: History of Early Maori Churches launched
In the 19th century, Maori converts built many of New Zealand's early churches, in a style that combined elements from Maori art and architecture with British ecclesiastical traditions. Whare Karakia (houses of worship) tells the story of these churches. Voxy notes that the author, Dr Richard A. Sundt, is in New Zealand to launch his book.

14 July 2010: Churches told not to ban Jerusalem from weddings
The Telegraph reports that clergy have been advised to be more accepting of requests for this popular hymn at church weddings. Some churches had banned it, seemingly because they had taken too literally William Blake's vision of Jesus in 'England's mountains green'. The advice comes on a website, Your Church Wedding, which helps couples plan their marriage service.

13 July 2010: Church of England to relax rules on wedding venues
In an article highlighted by a photograph of an underwater wedding with everyone in formal diving outfits, The Guardian reports that at its General Synod, the Church of England approved a measure to relax the very strict rules on wedding venues. We wonder offhand how the bride and groom might kiss at the appointed moment if they are both breathing from air hoses.

11 July 2010: Rain doesn't stop church picnic
The News and Sentinel (Parkersburg, West Virginia, USA) notes that the weekly summer picnic at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Parkersburg was not spoilt by the rain showers that interrupted it.

11 July 2010: Obituary: Nerva Cot Aguilera
The US Episcopal News Service reports that Nerva Cot Aguilera, Latin America's first woman bishop, died on 10 July. She was responsible for the churches in western Cuba.

11 July 2010: Credo: an interview with Mpho Tutu
The Washington Examiner (USA) interviewed the Revd Mpho Tutu about her faith and the newly published book, Made for Goodness: And Why This Makes All the Difference, which she co-wrote with her father, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

9 July 2010: Church of England General Synod commences
One can keep abreast of the agenda and listen to audio of the debates at the Church of England's website for General Synod, which runs from 9-13 July. For a thorough compilation of articles and analysis of Synod actions and debates, we refer you to our friends at Thinking Anglicans.

9 July 2010: Proposed road project threatens historic church in India
Citizen Matters, a newsmagazine in Bangalore, reports on the threat to Whitefield Memorial Church by a proposed project to widen the road along which it is built. The plans would demolish the entire altar portion of the church, the oldest heritage building in the area and home to congregations of the Church of South India and Anglican Church of India.

8 July 2010: Church of England reviews stake in Israeli rail
The Jewish Chronicle (London) reports the ethical investments advisory group of the C of E is reviewing its investment in a company building Jerusalem's light railway amid concern that the tramline 'will help to cement Israel's hold on occupied east Jerusalem'.

8 July 2010: New Bishop in Moosonee
The Sudbury Star (Canada) reports on the 6 July installation of the Rt Revd Thomas A Corston as the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Moosonee. The Timmins Times report of the installation includes photos of the new bishop as well.

7 July 2010: High praise for iconic church
The Reading Post (UK) reports St Laurence, originally built in the Norman period, has been named 'best cared for' in the region by English Heritage. The church was presented with the award for caring for a historic place of worship in the region ahead of more than 2,250 other contenders.

7 July 2010: Bishop of Southwark won't be Jeffrey John
Thinking Anglicans has its usual exhaustive roundup of articles about the ongoing saga of selecting the next Bishop of Southwark. Apparently, the ABC was not pleased word got to the press about Dr John's inclusion on the shortlist.

6 July 2010: The Queen's spiritual adventure
The Toronto (Canada) Globe and Mail published an opinion piece on the visit of the current 'Defender of the Faith' to Toronto where she attended a Sunday morning service at the Cathedral of St James. The homily preached by the Dean can be found here.

4 July 2010: Jeffrey John on shortlist for Bishop of Southwark
Seven years ago the Archbishop of Canterbury demanded that Jeffrey John withdraw his intention to become Bishop of Reading. Dr John was made Dean of St Albans as some sort of consolation prize. Today the Telegraph reports that he is on the shortlist to be the next Bishop of Southwark, and offers this survey of the situation.

4 July 2010: Anglican Church of Kenya to establish a university
The KBC (Kenya Broadcasting Corporation) reports that the Bishop of Nairobi has announced plans by the ACK to establish its own university.

3 July 2010: Divisive conflict in Malawi
The BBC reports on the state of the 5-year effort to install a bishop in the Diocese of Lake Malawi.

2 July 2010: Housing expenses for Church of England bishops 'out of control'
The Church Times reports that expenditure on bishops' houses is out of control, forecast to be £21 million this year. And we hear that it costs £100 to have a mitre cleaned. No wonder some cautious people carry it under their arm instead of sticking it atop their head.

2 July 2010: ABC warns Methodists to avoid posturing
The Church Times claims that the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned the Methodist Conference to 'avoid posturing and easy words'. We are speechless.

2 July 2010: Changes at the Anglican Standing Committee
The US Episcopal News Service notes the announcement of new Standing Committee members and of resignations, lists the current members, and takes a shot at explaining what it all means.

1 July 2010: New Primate for Burundi
The US Episcopal News Service reports that Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi has been re-elected Primate of the Anglican Church of Burundi for another 5-year term.

28 June 2010: Church and Republic Police in Zimbabwe
The US Episcopal News Service reports that 'Hundreds of Anglican pilgrims traveling to the Bernard Mizeki Shrine for their annual commemorations on June 25 were driven away by the Zimbabwe Republic Police despite court rulings granting them access to Anglican church property.' This struggle in Zimbabwe is going to continue until that country manages to shed both its dictator Robert Mugabe and the power structure he has assembled to stay in control. We will report individual battles from time to time.

27 June 2010: Mayor of Leicester loses trousers in school event
The BBC reports that recently the new mayor of Leicester stood up to address a group of schoolchildren and his trousers fell to the ground. He clearly should have had someone praying for his belt or suspenders.

27 June 2010: Mayor of Leicester appoints secular chaplain
The new mayor of Leicester has appointed a humanist chaplain, and refused to attend the traditional cathedral service that welcomes new Lord Mayors. There is comment in This is Leicestershire, the Guardian, the BBC and the Telegraph.

27 June 2010: Church postponed for World Cup
The Bishop of Shrewsbury has postponed a confirmation service so that people can watch the England - Germany soccer match. The Diocese of Lichfield website notes that the bishop is confident that England can win without overtime, otherwise he may have to announce the result as the congregation share the peace.

26 June 2010: Complaints against bishop dropped when he resigned
The embattled Bishop of Ballarat, accused of bullying, decided to resign to give the diocese a fresh start, and The Courier (Ballarat) notes that the complaints against him were then withdrawn. The effective date of his resignation is still many months in the future, so this might not be over. The Courier reported a few days ago that the investigation of Bishop Hough's behaviour might continue even though charges were dropped.

25 June 2010: Further desperate proposals about women bishops in England
The Church Times reports that the Archbishops of Canterbury and York 'have published their intention to amend the women-bishops legislation that is being discussed at the General Synod next month, in order to help secure the continued place of traditionalists in the C of E'. Yawn. The same day, the Guardian published an opinion piece by Lindsay Southern, recently ordained in the C of E, responding to archbishops: 'you have shown your unwillingness to reflect the diversity of the church'. The Times (London) headlined 'Archbishops accused of bowing to "powers of darkness" over women bishops' and published this opinion piece about it.

25 June 2010: More fussing about 'Mitregate'
The Church Times reports various facts about women bishops and mitres and regulations that bolster the notion that the occupants of Lambeth Palace are too busy chasing their tails to look out the window. And Episcopal Café has published an email from Lambeth Palace offering an explanation of this episode.

25 June 2010: Support and challenge for the new Nigerian president
At its recent synod, the Diocese of Nnewi congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on his new position, but challenged him to tackle a rising wave of corruption, unemployment and banditry, reports the Nigeria Champion.

24 June 2010: US Presiding Bishop visiting Australia and New Zealand
The US Episcopal News Service reports that US Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has begun a 2-week visit to Australia and New Zealand.

22 June 2010: Seminary partnership announced
The US Episcopal News Service reports Virginia Theological Seminary and St George College in Jerusalem have finalized a partnership agreement committing the two organizations to providing educational opportunities for members of the seminary community. Outside North America, a seminary is referred to as a theological college.

21 June 2010: Bishop chased out of church
St Paul's church is an Igbo-speaking congregation in the mainly Yoruba Diocese of Lagos West. Tensions between the congregation and the bishop exploded when Bishop Adebiyi visited, and church members tried to bar him from entering, disconnected the light and public address system and after five hours booed him out of the church. PM News (Lagos) reports the story, and George Conger gives background in the Church of England Newspaper.

21 June 2010: Bishop explains partisan prayers to the CBC
The Bishop of Croydon (Nick Baines) was in Winnipeg for the G8 religious leaders summit, and was interviewed by the CBC about his soccer prayers. Although he did not at first write a prayer for England to win, since God is not partisan, after watching the team's aimless performance against Algeria, he was moved to compose 'God, who played the cosmos into being, please help England rediscover their legs, their eyes and their hunger: that they might run more clearly, pass more nearly and enjoy the game more dearly. Amen.'

21 June 2010: New bishop in Ghana
Ghana News Agency reports the election of the Revd Dr Jacob Kofi Ayeebo as Bishop Coadjutor of Tamale.

20 June 2010: Ballarat bishop resigns
The Courier (Ballarat, Australia) reports that controversial bishop Michael Hough has submitted his resignation.

18 June 2010: Moravian communion with Episcopal Church
The Moravian Church grew up among the followers of the Czech reformer John Hus, a century before the reformation in England, and established a presence in Pennsylvania in 1741. The US Episcopal News Service reports that the Northern Province of the Moravian Church has voted to enter into full communion with the US Episcopal Church.

18 June 2010: Canon Kearon at the Episcopal Church's Executive Council
After discontinuing the membership of five US Episcopal Church members from ecumenical dialogues, the secretary general of the Anglican Communion, Canon Kenneth Kearon, was invited to address the US Executive Council (which rejected his request that the session be closed to all but council members). The Council asked clear questions about recent events, but did not feel that it received clear answers. The US Episcopal News Service also noted that Canon Kearon said that they should have expected consequences.

18 June 2010: New archbishop for Papua New Guinea
The Anglican Communion News Service reports the election of the Rt Revd Joseph Kopapa as the new Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea.

17 June 2010: Mitregate
Since the Church of England does not yet accept women bishops, visiting female bishops are asked not to exercise episcopal functions. When the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church preached at Southwark Cathedral, she was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury not to wear a mitre. So she carried it during the service. Bishop Ann Tottenham of the Diocese of Toronto recalled preaching in the same cathedral, without any similar restrictions, concluding that it 'makes the insult to the Presiding Bishop even more gratuitous.'

16 June 2010: Residential school reconciliation events begin in Canada
The Mongreal Gazette reports that residential school survivors, former school staff, and interested members of the public gathered in Winnipeg as part of the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) national event. The Anglican Journal filed this report on that event.

16 June 2010: Bishop of Derry responds to Saville report on Bloody Sunday
The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good, has responded to Lord Saville's Report about the 'unjustifiable' shooting of protesters on that day.

16 June 2010: Race up the stairs at Liverpool Cathedral to raise money
Click Liverpool reports that a local curate has set up a race to the top of Liverpool Cathedral as a fundraising exercise. They'll need to race the clock, not each other, because the ancient stairs are barely wide enough even for one person.

15 June 2010: Virginia splinter groups lose court battle
The Courthouse News Service (USA) reports that 'Conservative Anglican congregations that broke away from the Episcopal Church over the installation of an openly gay bishop lost their battle for church property in the Virginia Supreme Court.' The only remaining place for them to appeal that verdict is the US Supreme Court.

12 June 2010: Local church takes on pubs to bring you soccer World Cup action
The Manly Daily (Australia) reports on an alternative to watching World Cup matches in a crowded pub early on Monday morning from Durban: one can see the excitement unfold in a family-friendly atmosphere in a Freshwater church. St Mark is briefly transforming their house of worship into a sea of green and gold for the Socceroos’ three group games against Germany, Ghana and Serbia.

12 June 2010: Sale of convent lands angers residents
The Telegraph (UK) reports on the plans by the Order of the Holy Paraclete in Whitby, North Yorkshire, to dispose of 16 acres of farmland and outbuildings around St Hilda's Priory to developers.

12 June 2010: General Synod ends in Scotland
The Scottish Episcopal Church is widely rumoured to have completed its work on June 12, but, as usual, the website for the Anglican Church of Scotland is not accessible in the countries where the AO News Centre is being edited. We recall having seen the website of the Scottish Episcopal Church actually working a few times.

11 June 2010: Vicar held 'sham' marriages for illegal immigrants
The Daily Mail (UK) reports on the court case of a vicar who conducted hundreds of sham marriages between Eastern Europeans and African illegal immigrants desperate to stay in the UK.

11 June 2010: General Synod ends in Canada
The Anglican Journal (Canada) has probably written about everything that took place at the recently-ended General Synod 2010, but we confess that we've had a bit of trouble finding summaries or transcripts of what happened. If you go to the Anglican Journal's home page and click around, you'll find a lot of reports, such as the report on the resolution calling the final Covenant document 'a step in the right direction' about which the Anglican Church of Canada will make up its mind by 2013.

10 June 2010: Christmas 2010 ad campaign announced
The ACNS reports on the 2010 'Christmas Starts with Christ' advertising campaign by ChurchAds.net. This year's poster uses the slogan 'He's on His way' and features an ultrasound image of a baby in the womb. "This image—of a baby in the womb—is one that transcends cultures. There's no reason this image wouldn't deliver the same challenging message in Singapore or Kenya. So I'm inviting Anglicans right across the Communion to take this initiative and make it global."

10 June 2010: In Australia, men lead and women obey?
The Age (Melbourne) asserts 'There is a growing backlash against women being treated as equals in churches around Australia, with some women being pressured not to become priests.'

8 June 2010: Warring Anglicans removed from ecumenical committee
The Times (London) reports that the Archbishop of Canterbury, ever fierce, has removed the US Episcopal Church from committees engaged in ecumenical dialogue as punishment for their support of homosexual bishops. The Anglican Curia has not announced its next steps.

7 June 2010: Church opens in formerly 'Godless' Telford
The BBC reports on the first services of a new church in a Shropshire town once described as 'Godless' for having among the lowest-recorded church attendances in Britain.