You are here
NAIROBI: Anglicans Meet to Discuss Church's Future
The East African Standard (Nairobi)
NAIROBI (June 29, 2005)--The Anglican Church synod meets in Nairobi today for a three-day closed door talks on the church's future.
The meeting, to be held at the All Saints Cathedral, will involve the church's supreme organ, the Provincial Synod and its sub-committee, the Provincial Standing Committee.
Over 200 delegates from 29 dioceses will reflect on the state of the five-million member church in Kenya and the challenges facing it.
Among the issues that the delegates are faced with are the economic and doctrinal links with the wealthy western churches which are seen to support homosexuality, and the proposed economic boycott of Israel.
The church here was scandalised last year when some sister churches in Europe and America endorsed homosexuality and lesbianism.
Known as sexual politics, the controversy that threaten the unity of the world wide Anglican communion is yet to be resolved.
Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi is expected to brief the synod on the progress of the recent crisis meetings that he attended over the controversy.
The synod, that meets once every two years, is expected to endorse the radical plan by African archbishops aimed at protecting the church from liberal influence.
The Israel boycott is being pushed by the world umbrella churches organization, WCC, whose President Agness Abuom and secretary-general, Dr Samuel Kobia ,are Kenyans.
WCC is asking its affiliates across the globe to pull out investments and desist from all forms of economic contacts with Israel. Relevant Links East Africa Religion Kenya
Already, the global Anglican Consultative Council meeting held in Nottingham UK last week has endorsed the boycott that is similar to the one WCC initiated against apartheid South Africa in the 70s.
Sources said the House of Bishops, a meeting of all the diocesan bishops under the chairmanship of Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, would precede the synod.
END
