This statement was issued
by the Synod of Bishops on 26 September 2012.
"For such a time as this" (Esther 4:14)
The Bishops of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) met together in
Synod at the St George’s Hotel and Conference Centre in Centurion, Pretoria
from 23rd to 26th September 2012. It was a joyous reunion and a time of deep
fellowship for all. Our time was spent in an alternating rhythm of worship
(both the Eucharist and Daily Offices) and work, with each informing and being
informed by the other.
We were privileged to have an opportunity to meet with Governor Gill Marcus,
Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, and to be made aware of the extent
of the global financial crisis and the long term implications it has for the
nations of the Anglican Province of Southern Africa. Her address was
challenging and inspiring. It would seem that the economic downturn will
continue for some time, and that economic recovery will be slow, and that, as
always, it will be the poor who suffer the most.
As we listened to our own bishops speaking about the national crisis in the
South African mining industry, the massive challenges facing our education and
health services, rising corruption in all sectors of the community, and the
internal crises affecting the life of the people of God in our dioceses (most
notably those in the Cathedral of Pretoria and the Diocese of Umzimvubu). We
were struck by the fact that we are struggling with not only economic, but also
social, collapse. Much of this crisis, we believe, reflects a desperate need
both for principled leadership in church and society, and for Christians to
live out their faith in community in ways that set the common good of all above
the selfish desires of greed and personal self interest.
The readings in our worship have also spoken to us powerfully about anointed
leadership. In a reading from the Book of Esther, Mordecai speaks to Queen
Esther warning her that her destiny as a Jew is inextricably bound up with that
of her people and suggesting that she has “come to royal position for such a
time as this” (Esther 4:14). For such a time as this, we need Christian
leadership that will stand in solidarity with all of God’s people. For such a
time as this, we need prophetic voices that will speak God’s word with boldness
and set before us the radical vision of God for a world transformed by God’s
grace. For a time like this, we need faithful people willing to be conformed to
the purposes of God rather than to the ways of the world (Romans 12:1-2).
This has much to say to us about developing and nurturing Christian leaders
within the church, for leadership not only within our churches, but also for
our world. We have begun discussion on ways in which we could more
intentionally promote the spiritual formation of God’s people for this purpose.
We are discussing the formation and training of new bishops, and ways in which
we could better guide and mentor those experiencing difficulties within their
dioceses.
However, we also recognised that the socialisation, training and formation of
people for leadership begins in the earliest years of life. In this regard we
recognise the need for the church once again to play a prominent role in
education, especially amongst the very young. We strongly affirmed the
Archbishop’s Initiative in Education and its proposed objectives:
• To strengthen what the Anglican Church of Southern Africa is already doing in
the field of education
• To encourage parishes in the ongoing upliftment of all their communities
through partnership with local public schools
• To create more excellent church schools for all.
We also affirmed the Lent Course, “People of the Way”, that was produced by the
Diocese of Johannesburg and encouraged plans to expand it into a three year
discipleship programme for the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. In addition,
we continued to discuss, in depth, the need for excellence in the theological
formation of our clergy and future clergy. We gave thanks for progress made at
the College of the Transfiguration in Grahamstown and committed ourselves to
support the College as it continues and develops its ministry.
The Synod of Bishops gave thanks for the “Anglicans ACT” Vision and Mission
Statement of ACSA and for the way in which they are catching the imagination of
our people. In particular we endorsed the forthcoming “Anglicans Ablaze”
Conference in Johannesburg and the Bible studies that were produced in
preparation for it. We also encouraged Dioceses and Parishes to find ways to
participate in the Celebration of “Anglicans ACT” on 25th November this year.
Central to the life of ACSA is a rhythm of daily and weekly prayer and worship.
It feeds our common life, theology, ministry and mission. Through this rhythm
we and our people engage daily with God and one another through the Scriptures.
We therefore welcomed the introduction of the Revised Common Lectionary to
guide our Sunday Bible readings and worship as from Advent 2012. This brings us
into line with most of the church worldwide. We gave thanks for the wonderful
resource, “Word and Worship”, which has been produced by an Ecumenical team
based at Ekklesia in Stellenbosch. Arising from this discussion we have asked
the Liturgical Committee to investigate the possible revision of the Anglican
Prayer Book 1989 or the production of a new Prayer Book.
We welcomed Bishop Graham Cray, Missioner to the Archbishops of Canterbury and
York, among us. He addressed us on the missionary nature of the church and its
implications in our changed and changing cultures. One strategy is to encourage
a “mixed economy” of traditional and “fresh expressions” congregations in our
dioceses and parishes. In all of this we recognised, once again, that making
Christian disciples is the key. We also took note, with great interest, of the
“New Monastic Movement” that is emerging worldwide.
The Synod of Bishops gave thanks for the faithful and effective ministries of
our bishops who are retiring or have recently retired: Paddy Glover (Free
State), Merwyn Castle (False Bay) and Brian Germond (Johannesburg). We prayed
for those who have recently been elected to serve as Bishops: Ellinah Wamukoya
(Swaziland), Dintoe Stephen Letloenyane (Free State), and Stephen Moreo
(Johannesburg), and also for the Diocese of False Bay, preparing for their
Elective Assembly in the coming week. We welcomed the appointment of Bishop
Rubin Phillip (Natal) as Dean of the Province.
The Synod of Bishops rejoiced with all of ACSA at the celebration of the
twentieth anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood. We gave
thanks for the many ways in which the widening ministry of women continues to
enrich the life of our church.
The Synod of Bishops gives thanks to God for the loving, wise and godly
leadership of Archbishop Thabo Makgoba. In all these things we thank our God of
holiness and love for continuing to inspire and guide us as we strive to
oversee the life, mission and ministry of the church in such a time as this.
“Now to God who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly
far more than all we can ask or imagine, to God be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
It is a constant
meditation of my heart to contemplate the role of the church in Christianity.
This extract from
Archbishop shows one side of what we are called to!!
This morning I was
Challenged by 1 Peter 2:9 - (go read it)…. Yes we need to reflect more on what
God sees his Church as - and what we are called to be and do...
An Extract from the
Archbishops Ad Laos (to the people)
Dear
People of God
‘Cry
aloud to the Lord!’ writes Jeremiah in his Lamentations, ‘Let tears stream down
like a torrent day and night … Arise, cry in the night, at the beginning of the
watches. Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord!’ (Lam
2:18,19).
South
Africa has been rocked by the tragedy at Marikana mine – the death of 34 miners
at the hands of the police, after a further 10 deaths, including of police, in
the preceding week. But this is only part of a greater tragedy: the tragedy
that the situation could be allowed to deteriorate so far; the tragedy of
appalling working and living conditions; the tragedy of such a breakdown in
relations between employers and unions and employees and government; and the
tragedy that across our country similarly dreadful situations are festering.
They are like smouldering logs that, if left unattended, are ready to ignite.
What should be the church’s response to this?
First,
we should know how to lament – how to cry out to God, in our pain, our
frustration, our anger, our distress, our deep, deep hurt. We should not hold
back in speaking the truth of what we see, what we feel, what we fear. We bring
before the throne of grace all that is broken, all that is awry, all that ought
to be better but is not. And in opening our hearts to God, we call on God to
step in, to act, to respond to the great need in which we find ourselves. ‘Weep
with those who weep’ wrote St Paul to the Romans (Rom 12:15), and so we must.
Now is a time to weep. We mourn for all who have died; and we mourn for all
else that grieves us. We bring it all before God with a purpose – we come to
ask him to take it all, and redeem it, to change it, and to change us, and give
us a fresh start, so we may make a good and godly difference.
And so
we are not left helpless in our weeping, and we must not despair. St Paul also
writes ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’ (Rom 12:21).
Though I have been twice to Marikana since those terrible shootings, and found
conditions that shocked me, nonetheless I am optimistic, for ours is a God who
shines light in every darkness. Though I felt the very ground crying out to my
soul that ‘All is not well’, and though it felt that the whole area is on a
knife edge, still I am hopeful. For this can be to us not a prophecy of doom,
but a wake-up call.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Amanzimtoti
Grace and peace to
you from our Lord Jesus Christ - to the Saints of the Church of the Good
Shepherd Amanzimtoti.
I write to thank you
for your wonderful hospitality. I was blessed to meet you all at the midweek
Eucharist and the fellowship evening, and I am so looking forward to getting to know you all
better when we move down in January.
I wish to extend a
special thank you to Mtr Margie, from my family and I. Margie has opened her
heart and her home to us and really helped us to get a sense of place in
preparation for our move. We praise God for His wonderful gift to the parish in
her, and for all that she is doing. May God bless you abundantly, Margie, and shower His goodness upon you.
Be assured that you
will all be in my prayers and that you have won my heart, and I thank God for
the opportunity given me to serve you in this place.
With Love
Fr Andrew.
Fr Andrew and his
wife Michelle and Children Jamie, Matthew and Noah are moving from the Parish
of Evander with Secunda in the Diocese of the Highveld to the Parishes St
Mary's Kingsburgh and The Good Shepherd Amanzimtoti in the Diocese of Natal, in
January 2013.
He can be followed
on Twitter at ManningFr: or on facebook at www.facebook/andrewmanning or on
his blog at www.andrew-runningwithhorses@blogspot.com
Kingsburgh
Grace and peace to
you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
It was so wonderful
to meet you all at our fellowship dinner on the 6th of September.
My Family and I were
really blessed by the evening and we look forward to our return in January and
our stay here in Kingsburgh.
A special thank you
to Mtr Margie. Her hospitality to us has been wonderful and her love for you
all is very evident. Please keep her in your prayers as she undergoes this
period of major change in her life. God be praised for her faithfulness to her
calling and all that she has done over the years here on the South Coast.
Be assured that you
will all be in my prayers and that you have won my heart, and I thank God for
the opportunity given me to serve you in this place.
With Love
Fr Andrew.
Fr Andrew and his
wife Michelle and Children Jamie, Matthew and Noah are moving from the Parish
of Evander with Secunda in the Diocese of the Highveld to the Parishes St
Mary's Kingsburgh and The Good Shepherd Amanzimtoti in the Diocese of Natal, in
January 2013.
He can be followed
on Twitter at ManningFr: or on facebook at www.facebook/andrewmanning or on
his blog at www.andrew-runningwithhorses@blogspot.com
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