Africa

Bishops Plan to Shun A Key Conference-"A growing number of Anglican bishops -- one-third by some accounts -- are planning to stay away from the denomination's once-in-a-decade Lambeth Conference, reflecting the depth of division over biblical teaching on homosexuality. While the majority of those planning to boycott the conference in southeast England next month are traditionalists from Africa, where the majority of the world's Anglicans (Episcopalians) live, they are being joined by some high-profile colleagues based in the West. They include the outspoken Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, who is to date the most senior clergyman in the Church of England -- the "mother church" of the worldwide Anglican Communion -- to declare his intention to stay away from Lambeth....Those planning to stay away are doing so because the church's titular head, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, has invited U.S. Episcopal (ECUSA) bishops to Lambeth despite the unresolved dispute."Those who have gone against church teaching should not attend representative Anglican gatherings," Nazir-Ali said in a statement this week."My difficult in attending the Lambeth Conference has to do with being in eucharistic fellowship with and teaching the common faith alongside those who have ordained a person to be a bishop whose style of life is contrary to the unanimous teaching of the Bible and of the Church down the ages," he said.About 77 million Anglicans around the world belong to 38 "provinces" or regions. It is the world's largest Protestant denomination, and the third largest in Christendom, after the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches...Halfway through Gafcon, organizers and participants continue to stress that the crisis is about biblical authority, not sex. Mainstream media coverage has focused on allegations of homophobia, and reports of divisions among the participants over the way forward....He also accused liberal bishops of "persecuting" conservative clergy in North America."-See more on African Pro-Life and Family views for values voter contrast to the Obamas.

Canada

Famed Theologian Quits Anglican Church of Canada-"J.I. Packer, one of the world's most renowned evangelical theologians, left the Anglican Church of Canada, citing "poisonous liberalism" in the church body....Packer, 81, who was named one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in the world by Time magazine in 2005, quit the Canadian arm of the global Anglican Communion with 10 other B.C. Anglican clergy last week, he said, according to The Vancouver Sun. They joined the more conservative and orthodox Province of the Southern Cone in South America....While the controversy has focused on homosexuality, Stackhouse says the issue is about more than sex. "This is about the fundamental question of how we derive any kind of Christian truth," he said, according to The Canadian Press. Packer, who has outlined a conservative Christian theology in his 1973 bestseller Knowing God, described the Bible as "absolute" authority on divine truth and that it clearly describes homosexuality as a grave sin, as reported by The Vancouver Sun."

Germany

Prospect of gay Lutheran bishop divides Germans-"Germany could elect its first openly gay Lutheran bishop next month, a move conservatives say would alienate many Christians and open divisions in the Church. The July 12 election brings to Germany the question of gay clergy and same-sex unions which has caused rifts in several countries and faiths, including the Anglican community.Others have been quoted as saying Gorski's appointment would damage the standing and weight of the Lutheran Church, founded by German Martin Luther in the 16th century and now one of the largest Protestant denominations....Last year the largest U.S. Lutheran body, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said it would allow homosexual clergy in sexual relationships to serve as pastors."

USA

Unbalanced Committee Courts Presbyterian Moral Relativism-"On June 24, a General Assembly committee voted to change the constitutional standards for deacons, elders, and ministers to be ordained to office. Among the ordination standards is a requirement for sexual morality, in particular that officers of the church "live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness." What we have at this point is one committee's recommendation, and it appears to be a group clearly atypical among Presbyterians. While Presbyterians as a whole lean in a theologically conservative direction by roughly a two-to-one margin, this committee evidenced roughly a four-to-one split in the other direction, toward theological liberalism. That is a vast deviation from the reality of Presbyterians out in the churches! "These troubling committee decisions will likely be reversed when the full set of commissioners decide the issue in plenary session. An informed, organized, articulate, and faithful group of commissioners will be prepared to advocate for refusing to lower moral standards that are based on God's best for humankind. And even if General Assembly should vote to change our church constitution, the amendment would likely fail for lack of ratification by regional presbyteries. "Presbyterian Action stands shoulder to shoulder with faithful Presbyterians to maintain the integrity of our denomination's enduring message of moral truth."

Colombia and Romania

World Congress of Families Gravely Concerned About OAS 'Sexual-Orientation/Gender Identity' Resolution-"Pro-family organizations were not given an opportunity for input..."Once again, a political institution has been co-opted by the international homosexual movement. Once again, a transnational organization has chosen to enlist with one side in the culture war, to the manifest displeasure of majorities in the nations they represent. Latin cultures, in particular, are noted for their traditional, pro-family orientation." World Congress of Families recently garnered the support of 110 pro-family leaders from 23 countries for a petition in support of Romania's pending move to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman."