The annual meeting of the Anglican Evangelical Assembly was held at St Helen's, Bishopsgate, in London last week and much of the discussion focussed on the situation in Brazil. Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti of the Diocese of Recife, who with 32 of his clergy who had been deposed by the Archbishop of Brazil, had that week been received into the Province of the Southern Cone, said: "The great danger in a situation like ours is to spend all energies in the conflict in its several areas: theological, political, legal and paralyse the life and mission.

"Since the beginning the diocesan leadership was aware of that, and following the model of Israel in the post-exilic reconstruction, be ready for the war and at the same time work on constructive actions". Bishop Robinson was asked about propaganda being circulated from other evangelicals in and from Brazil which contradicted he and his clergy's claim of being faithful to the gospel. "They are post-modern evangelicals," he said. "They speak opinions. They are happy for the church to respect their opinion that Jesus is risen, and happy for others to hold a different belief. They are evangelical opinionists."

The international dimension of the Anglican Communion and learning from Churches elsewhere in the world was to the fore at the annual assembly. It was also addressed by Bishop Samson Mwaluda, chairman of the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion and Bishop of Taita Taveta in Kenya and Canon Anderson from the United States. The Bible Readings were given by the director of Crosslinks mission agency, Canon Andy Lines. Defending the faith by being bold in mission and witness was also the theme presented by Canon Anderson. "The presenting issue is human sexuality. The core issue, though, is basic to Christian belief - the inspiration and authority of the Holy Scripture and the person and work of Jesus Christ. This is ditch I am prepared to die in, to put my family and career at risk for." He went on: "In ECUSA we are up against a Church determined to eradicate us." He claimed their tactics were to take a few liberal people, declare they are the true church, and give them a bishop so that they can be designated the true church, he said. The church is in a process of realignment and transition. "We need a win-win situation.

Let [US Presiding Bishop] Frank Griswold go his own way. The hand of God will not prosper him. We can be set free from Pharaoh." The Anglican Evangelical Assembly represents the national meeting for members of Diocesan Evangelical Fellowships and other evangelical Anglican groups represented on the Church of England Evangelical Council who organise it.

The Rev Dr Richard Turnbull, Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, has been elected to succeed the Ven Dr Paul Gardner as Chairman of the Church of England Evangelical Council. Archdeacon Gardner said that planning would be starting in the New Year for a National Evangelical Anglican Assembly in 2008.

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