30 September 2010: Former strip club sees the light
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports on the re-acquisition by the Church of a property adjoining its cathedral in Hobart, Tasmania: a strip club. The re-purposed club is now known as the Bishop Hay centre and will be used as a Sunday school and child care centre. This is part of a larger restoration programme currently underway at the cathedral due to be completed by Easter 2011.

30 September 2010: Tailgate eucharist in stadium parking lot
The Diocese of Maryland thought that they should offer eucharist in the parking lot for Episcopalians who have to choose between the church and (American) football on Sundays when the local team, the Baltimore Ravens, is in town. ENS tells what they did about it. ('Tailgate' is the North American name given to parties held in and around automobiles in stadium car parks before a sporting event.)

29 September 2010: Southern Africa church, archbishop encourage election of women bishops
News24 (South Africa) reports on the address at the triennial provincial synod by the Most Revd Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town: 'The church is hugely unrepresentative in relation to gender... women constitute the majority in our pews but the reverse is true at every level of leadership, lay and ordained.' He also said in his synod address that one of his dreams is to consecrate the first woman bishop in the province. The ENS reported this story the next day.

29 September 2010: Religious leaders living with HIV face double the stigma
IBNLive (New Delhi) and the Times of India both covered the 27-28 September Interfaith Summit on HIV in Bangalore, Faith in Action in which the Revd J P Mokgethi-Heath, founder of INERALA+ is quoted: 'Religious leaders living with HIV face double the stigma, double the discrimination'.

28 September 2010: Pennsylvania bishop says he won't resign
The US Episcopal News Service quotes Bishop of Pennsylvania Charles Bennison as saying that, despite a plea from the national House of Bishops and from the Standing Committee of that diocese, he will not resign. The report a few days later quoting him 'it is known now that all the witnesses at my trial intentionally perjured themselves' left many people speechless.

27 September 2010: Australian bishop resigns before hearing
The Australian reports on the embattled Bishop of the Murray, Ross Davies, who resigned the day before he was due to face a church disciplinary hearing.

24 September 2010: Fishing with St Wilfrid and St Hilda
A group calling itself the Society of Saint Wilfrid and Saint Hilda today announced its formation in London with a website and a press release. A snippet: ' ... in addition to the provision of an Ordinariate offered recently by Pope Benedict there is to be a new Society [of St Wilfrid and St Hilda] for bishops, clergy, religious and laity in order to provide a place within the Church of England where catholics can worship and minister with integrity without accepting innovations ... '

23 September 2010: Kashmir churches relieved at 'tough action' against Quran protests
The US Episcopal News Service reports that Christian leaders in Kashmir, including the bishop in the Church of North India's Amritsar diocese, have met with security forces to thank them for protecting the Christian community during the recent violent protests over an incorrect Iranian television report which alleged an incident of desecration of the Quran in the US.

21 September 2010: Not-so golden goose opportunity
The Hingham (US) Patriot-Ledger reported on the 'preach at the beach' service, geared toward families with young children, which was witness to hunters shooting geese in front of the congregation. The Revd Timothy Schenck likes to hold outdoor services to remind his human flock that God is found more places than just at the pulpit and in the pews. He commented, 'You don't go to church expecting to see a shooting gallery'. We're confident that these hunters were all churchwardens preparing for Michaelmas.

21 September 2010: US House of Bishops calls for resignation of Bishop of Pennsylvania
The US Episcopal News Service reports that the US House of Bishops has called on its member, Pennsylvania Bishop Charles Bennison to 'tender his immediate and unconditional resignation'.

21 September 2010: Confusion over plea agreement by former Colorado Springs Episcopal priest
Episcopal Café has published an email that purports to clarify the situation surrounding a plea by the defendant that would end the prosecution of Donald Armstrong on various civil charges. We're not yet convinced that there is clarity, so we will do what we always do in breathless situations like this, which is to wait a while and then report. The Denver Post, which as a commercial newspaper does not have the luxury of waiting, declared 'Priest and Pueblo district attorney interpret plea agreement in different ways'.

21 September 2010: New archbishop for Rwanda
The Anglican Communion News Service has announced the election of the Rt Revd Onesphore Rwaje as Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. He will succeed the Most Revd Emmanuel Kolini, who has been archbishop for 12 years.

20 September 2010: Proposed Covenant to be debated in Australia for three years
Anglican Media Melbourne reports 'Australian Anglicans have committed themselves to three years of debate before a decision is taken on whether to embrace an international covenant designed to preserve the unity of their church.' The Sydney Morning Herald reported it as a single-issue controversy about gays.

19 September 2010: Former detective reveals how Bishop Muge met his death
Bishop Alexander Kipsang Muge was a critic of Kenyan President Moi's one-party rule when he was killed in a road accident in 1990. There was always a suspicion that the accident had been arranged, and the Daily Nation (Nairobi) reports on claims by a former security service inspector that give the details of how the bishop was assassinated by the government of Kenya.

19 September 2010: Islander bishop appeals to white Australians
Anglican Media Melbourne reports that 'A Torres Strait Islander bishop has called on Australian Anglicans who are not Aboriginal or Islanders to look at the Gospel through the eyes of those who are.' Oh, we forgot (as did the majority of the world's press) that the Anglican Church of Australia is in the middle of its 2010 General Synod right now. We didn't manage to find mention of Australia's General Synod in any major Australian newspapers, so it's a good thing that Anglican Media Melbourne is keeping us all up to date.

19 September 2010: US House of Bishops meeting
The House of Bishops of the US Episcopal Church is meeting in Arizona. They publish daily accounts of their activities, which some people actually read. When they are done they will publish a statement (US bishops don't normally call their statements 'communiqués') and go home. We're confident that one of the topics of discussion has been the mess surrounding the Bishop of Pennsylvania. Some of them may well be gossiping about the nolo contendere plea from the Colorado Springs former Episcopal priest in response to civil criminal charges.

19 September 2010: Sydney diocese in cash row
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Australian Primate, Phillip Aspinall, has asked the New South Wales government to thwart a move by the diocese of Sydney to 'divorce' the rest of the Australian church and leave the national office impoverished. He accused the diocese of wanting Parliament to amend the church property act in a way that would allow it to defy decisions of the national synod unless its own synod approves, and of going through the state government to avoid the proper processes of the church. The deputy chancellor of the diocese denied that Sydney wanted to extract itself from the national federation.

18 September 2010: World's oldest Anglican church celebrates 'almost 400'
The Southern Daily Echo (Southampton, UK), noting that Pear Tree Church is the oldest Anglican church in the world, reports that the aforementioned Pear Tree Church is celebrating its 390th anniversary. It's customary to wait for multiples of 25 or 50 or 100 to have a celebration, but we do always seem to be willing to accommodate the elderly.

18 September 2010: More state-sponsored violence against Anglican Church in Zimbabwe
The Standard (Harare) reports on the latest criminal acts by former bishop Nolbert Kunonga in Zimbabwe. If you've been following Zimbabwe stories, you don't even have to read this article to know what happened: national police routed Anglican worshippers from their church on orders from the President's buddy, former bishop Kunonga. Those worshippers are distraught and helpless and the police are silent and smug.

17 September 2010: Pope in Britain
Pope Benedict XVI is in Britain, where he is generating a lot of press coverage. The Church Times filed this report on his visit to Lambeth Palace. The Vatican website published the text of his address in Westminster Hall, about which the Church Times reported this. Later the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury proceeded to Westminster Abbey for evening prayer, at which the Archbishop made these remarks and the Church Times reported this. Cardinal Walter Casper was originally going to be part of the papal visit; Andrew Brown comments in the Guardian about why he was suddenly removed. If you find Andrew Brown or the Guardian not to your liking, here is coverage in The Telegraph. Pope Benedict flew home on September 19; here is The Guardian's report on his visit, which notes that he was not made to remove his shoes when he passed through airport security on his way home.

13 September 2010: Obituary: Richard Hare
The Telegraph has an obituary of Richard Hare, suffragan Bishop of Pontrefract from 1971 to 1992, 'and one of the 20th century's most interesting, engaging, energetic - and, for some, exasperating - episcopal leaders.' He was the first episcopal participant in the charismatic movement, and saw his chief task to keep the movement within the church.

12 September 2010: Post-earthquake reports from New Zealand
The earthquake that shook Christchurch and Canterbury on the South Island in the early morning hours of 4 September has been followed by numerous aftershocks. Reports and photos are available at the official province website, Anglican Taonga. Also posted is Bishop Victoria Matthews' pastoral letter of 12 September. Media reports include the 7 September article (written by Taonga staff) on the ENS website, the 8 September press release by the Diocese of Melbourne launching an appeal to benefit the Diocese of Christchurch, and reports in The Christchurch Press on 10 September (Church copper theft makes it 'hard to find the love'), 11 September (Spirit stays strong in midst of destruction) and a report of the open-air service held on 12 September outside of Christchurch Cathedral.

11 September 2010: Málaga's English Cemetery gets new lease on life
The Leader (Spain) reports on the founding of a new organisation to maintain the English Cemetery in Málaga. The cemetery is also the home of the church of St George, 'the oldest Anglican church in mainland Spain'.

10 September 2010: Moravian Church province votes full communion with US Episcopal Church
The US Episcopal News Service reports that the Southern Province of the Moravian Church voted Sept. 10 to enter into full communion with the Episcopal Church

7 September 2010: Mark Lattime consecrated in Alaska
ENS reports on the consecration of the eighth bishop for the Diocese of Alaska, the Rt Revd Mark Lattime.

7 September 2010: Military chaplain targets spiritual wounds
The ACNS reports on the award of a Churchill Fellowship to Australian Chaplain Rob Sutherland to research programmes and methods to help soldiers with spiritual wounds that stem from combat operations and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

6 September 2010: St Alban Abbey consecrates new bells
The St Albans Review (UK) reports on the historic ceremony at St Alban Abbey on 4 September when 13 new bells were blessed, washed, anointed with oil and bathed in incense. They replace 12 bells, some of which date back to 1699. The Review notes that the previous bells were never designed to be heard together, and that bell ringing at the cathedral dates back to the 11th century. Pictures and background information are available on the St Alban website.

3 September 2010: Wrap-up and reflection on African bishops meeting
The Church Times published this wrap-up of the meeting in Entebbe of African bishops. See also the summaries by the US Episcopal News Service, The Living Church, Anglican-Information, and various others. As usual with news reports of events that are primarily political, the vast majority of the reportage consists not of statements about what happened but about what the writer wishes it to mean. If you are well-read in global Anglican politics, you can invariably identify the organization that published a report by the slant of its content.

3 September 2010: Sentamu speaks up on human trafficking
The Yorkshire Post has published an opinion piece by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, concerning the UK government's decision to opt out of an European Union directive designed to tackle sex trafficking. 'Our Government should be ensuring Britain leads the way on tackling slavery, just like it did in the days of William Wilberforce.' The same paper published a follow-up article the next day.

3 September 2010: English RC Archbishop says Pope not fishing for Anglicans
Reuters report that Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols has said, two weeks before the Pope visits England, that the Pope is not going there to search for converts. As an irrelevant aside, every time we see a news photograph of Pope Benedict, we are struck by his visual resemblance to the old Warner Brothers cartoon character named Beaky.

3 September 2010: Bishop of Eau Claire
The US Episcopal News Service reports that the Diocese of Eau Claire, which has been without a bishop for more than two years, has elected a (provisional) bishop.

2 September 2010: US church leader says Bishop of Pennsylvania should have the wisdom to resign
The US Episcopal News Service reports that the President of the US Episcopal Church House of Deputies has said that she wishes the recently-reinstated Bishop of Pennsylvania had the wisdom to understand that he ought to resign as bishop.

1 September 2010: More Kunonga antics in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwean reports that Kunonga, defrocked bishop and ally of Mugabe, has turned a church into a school in Chitungwiza while church members must worship in the open. The paper 'was told that the school caters for anyone who can pay, but members of the bona fide Anglican Church led by Bishop Chad Gandiya are not allowed to send their children there.'

31 August 2010: New Bishop of Ely
The British Government has announced the appointment of the Rt Revd Stephen David Conway as the next Bishop of Ely. Here is that diocese's report, which includes photographs.

31 August 2010: RIP: Randall Giles
ENS reports on the passing on 27 August of Randall Giles, composer, ethnomusicologist, and an Episcopal Church missionary in India. His funeral will be at St George Cathedral, Chennai (Madras) on Monday morning, 6 September.

29 August 2010: Week-long meeting of African bishops ends in Entebbe
The Anglican Communion News Service reflected on the 7-day All Africa Bishops Conference. Many bishops made many passionate statements at this meeting. The aforementioned ACNS reported 'bishops draw a line in the sand' and 'climate change will kill more Africans than malaria or AIDS', among other stories. Thinking Anglicans has overwhelming coverage of the Entebbe meeting. The Church Times, analyzing the sermon delivered by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the opening eucharist, reports 'Dr Williams warns African bishops to listen and take risks'. In The Guardian, Andrew Brown analyzed the same sermon and came up with a more cynical interpretation. We haven't found an Australian newpaper or magazine that even mentioned this conference, let alone commented on it. In truth, most of the world's news media appear to have ignored this event; for example, we found no mention in the New York Times, the Straits Times, South Africa's largest newspaper the Sunday Times, or the National Post.

29 August 2010: Pakistan bishops deliver aid to flood victims
Vox Bikol reports that the Anglican Bishop of Lahore and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Multan led a convoy containing food and bottled water to districts of the southern Punjab submerged under flood waters.

26 August 2010: Church's undie Sunday a success
St Mary's Episcopal Church in Manchester, Connecticut collected about 1200 pairs of underwear for the homeless and needy. The Hartford Courant noted that it was billed as 'a project we can get behind'. You may rest assured that a large number of publications around the world found a reason to include this story; we just picked one rather at random.

26 August 2010: New cathedral dean in Auckland
The New Zealand Herald reports on the small ceremony installing Jo Kelly-Moore as Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland.

20 August 2010: Tribunal ruling on lay presidency in Sydney
The Church Times report on the Appellate Tribunal ruling that both lay and diaconal presidency at the eucharist are not permitted under existing General Synod canons is the usual high-quality report one expects of this paper. Their report is not entirely compatible with last week's report from the US Episcopal News Service.

20 August 2010: Wells astronomical clock to be wound by hand for last time
The astronomical clock in Wells Cathedral has been keeping time since the late 1300s - only the Salisbury cathedral clock is older. For the past five generations, it has been wound by members of the Fisher family, but when the current horologist, Paul Fisher, announced his retirement, no replacement could be found. The Telegraph (UK) notes that the clock will now be wound by an electronic motor.

20 August 2010: Revised Anglican Consultative Council not a threat to Cantuar's authority
The Church Times quotes the legal adivser to the Anglican Consultative Council, who has denied that its new constitution will impinge on the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury or of the Primates’ Meeting.

19 August 2010: Burundi celebrates 75 years of Anglicanism
The Province of Burundi posted a press release, photos, and video (direct link) about the celebrations surrounding its 75th anniversary. The release was picked up by ACNS and ENS as well.

19 August 2010: Kiswahili commentary released
The Standard (Nairobi) reports on the launch of the Africa Bible Commentary in Kiswahili, Ufafanuzi wa Biblia Katika Mazingira na Utamaduni wa Kiafrika, which is written in the African traditional context. It targets an estimated 126 million speakers, especially in East and Central Africa.

17 August 2010: Iqaluit's igloo-shaped cathedral being rebuilt
The rebuilding of St Jude cathedral in Iqaluit, which was destroyed by arson in 2005, has begun. The building is shaped like a traditional igloo with the addition of a spire. But, according to Nunatsiaq Online, the interim rector cautions there are not enough funds to complete the structure, and unless a miracle happens, the congregation will not be able to worship in the building. The story was picked up by the National Post (Ontario) as well.

14 August 2010: Atheist author finds bishops in agreement
BBC Scotland reports on the book discussion at the Edinburgh International Book festival between Philip Pullman and retired bishops Richard Harries (Oxford) and Richard Holloway (Edinburgh). They were discussing themes in Pullman's latest book, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ.

14 August 2010: Jesus probably drank ale, not red wine
The Yorkshire Evening Post reports on the assertion by an Anglican author that based on his socioeconomic status, Jesus was far more likely to have drunk ale than red wine at supper.

12 August 2010: Australian Appellate Tribunal rejects Sydney's lay presidency
The US Episcopal News Service reports that the Appellate Tribunal of the Anglican Church of Australia disagrees with the Diocese of Sydney's decision that people other than priests may preside at Eucharist. The Anglican Church of Australia's canon law commission ruled in 1995 that the introduction of lay presidency would not be possible under the church's national constitution. We understand that it's quite possible in Presbyterian churches.

12 August 2010: Old computer gets new life in bell tower
The Northern Star (Goonellabah, Australia) reports on an old computer pressed into service as a simulator for training bellringers at St Andrew in Lismore, New South Wales.

11 August 2010: Public outrage in Pennsylvania at bishop's return
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports a public protest at the headquarters of the Diocese of Pennsylvania of the reinstatement of its bishop, who had been suspended for his role in concealing a sexual abuse case. The US Episcopal News Service reports that the rector of a key parish in Philadelphia has made a public appeal to him to resign. Bloggers are almost always angry about something, so it's not surprising that numerous bloggers are calling for him to step down.

11 August 2010: New constitution for the Anglican Consultative Council
The Anglican Communion News Service (London) reports that the Anglican Consultative Council has a new constitution. If you aren't entirely sure what the Anglican Concultative Council might be, how it might affect your life, and why it needs a constitution at all, that report is reasonably helpful. Hint: it's about liability.

10 August 2010: All eyes on the Pope as he visits 'Protestant Britannia'
The Belfast Telegraph opines about the upcoming visit of a sitting Pope to a protestant (e.g. Anglican) country.

8 August 2010: Bees denied communion in Norfolk church belltower
The Eastern Daily Press (Norfolk) describes the safe removal of a colony of bees from the belltower of St Mary in Ditchingham, just in time for Open Churches Week.

5 August 2010: Diocese unable to account for missing six million Rand
The Daily Dispatch (East London, SA) reports on the results of a forensic audit into alleged maladministration in the Diocese of George.

5 August 2010: Bishop of Pennsylvania to be reinstated after winning on appeal
The US Episcopal News Service reports that an ecclesiastical review court ruled in favor of Bishop Charles E. Bennison with respect to two alleged disciplinary charges stemming from his response to his priest brother's sexual misconduct some 35 years ago, and that he will be reinstated as Bishop of Pennsylvania. If you care about this issue, it is worth your while to read the full article and the ruling.

4 August 2010: Not-in-communion priest charged in Ponzi scheme
The Riverfront Times (St Louis) reports on the wheeling and dealing of Marty Sigillito who is now being sued for racketeering to the tune of USD $45 million. Sigillito is referred to as being a bishop of the 'Anglican Church International Communion', as well as having a career as an attorney. Our favorite quote: 'He puts himself out there as this sort of trustworthy bishop figure...I wouldn't trust a thing that guy says, even if his tongue were notarized.'

3 August 2010: St George and the dragon come to Perth cathedral
The Australian tells of the artistic patronage given by St George's Cathedral in Perth over the past two decades. Its most recent contribution is a massive sculpture of St George and the dragon, on the front lawn. The dean wanted something that would 'attract, exhilarate and even confront' passersby.

3 August 2010: Church of Uganda takes a stand on angi-gay legislation
Episcopal Café reports that it has found news stories about the Church of Uganda taking a stand on the anti-gay legislation in that country's parliament.

2 August 2010: 'No covenant please, we're Anglican'
The Guardian (UK) published an opinion piece with the above title by the general secretary of the Modern Church, Jonathan Clatworthy. His premise: 'The Anglican communion has always been inclusive, not confessional. Our differences of opinion are signs of maturity'. The American Anglican Council, which has been strongly in favour of the notion of a covenant, has published a statement that the proposed Covenant needs major revisions.

2 August 2010: Liverpool's bogus vicar hunted by police
The Liverpool Echo tells of the search for George Gordon, a fraudster who has posed as thirteen different Anglican priests, and swindled a number of charities. We think they should see if he might be at Villa Diodati.

1 August 2010: Foot-tearing pilgrimage from Winchester to Canterbury cathedrals
James Milton, a former British Army captain, walked barefoot to raise money for a charity that assists servicemen and women who were wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. His trek followed an old pilgrimage route, and the Independent notes that the walk was planned so he could attend a service at Canterbury Cathedral on his 35th birthday.

1 August 2010: New archbishop for Polynesia
The Fiji Times reports on the installation of Winston Halapua, who was the first Principal of the College of the Diocese of Polynesia at St John's College, Auckland, and ordained as the Bishop for the Diocese of Polynesia in Aotearoa in 2003, as Archbishop of Polynesia. 3news (New Zealand) notes that Dr Halapua has critcized the military coup of 2003, and that part of the ceremony required government permission. In his new context, however, he is reserving judgement of the current regime.

1 August 2010: George Herbert going digital
The University of North Carolina Greensboro announced the awarding of a grant to create a fully digital authoritative edition of manuscript and early print versions of George Herbert's poetry (which dates from the early 17th Century).

29 July 2010: Plans for the upcoming All African Bishops' Conference
The New Vision (Kampala) reports on the upcoming All African Bishops' Conference 23-29 August. This will be the second such conference. With the theme of 'Securing our future: unlocking our potential (Hebrews 12:1-2)', the bishops will 'discuss issues like war, poverty, poor leadership, diseases and corruption'.

28 July 2010: History prof to study missionaries and First Nations
The Broken Arrow Ledger (Oklahoma, US) reports on the new research project of Russell Lawson, a history professor at Bacone College. He has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to research indigenous tribes and their interaction with missionaries in Ontario.

27 July 2010: Diocese ordains first woman priest
The Ghana News Agency reports on the ordination of the first woman priest in the Diocese of Kumasi.

26 July 2010: IDs and security checks in Uganda
The Columbus News (US) carried the Religion News Service story on measures being taken in Uganda to ensure the safety of worshippers. The Rt Revd Stanley Ntagali (Diocese of Masindi-Kitara) is quoted as saying, 'We do not want the wrong people to enter into our churches'.

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.