World briefs: July

Key Africans quit Lambeth

Uganda’s Anglican leaders have announced they will not attend the world’s key gathering of bishops in 2008, because the Archbishop of Canterbury invited Americans who agreed with the consecration of a homosexual bishop.

“We have decided that if the American bishops are invited, the bishops of the Church of Uganda are not going,” said Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi.

Earlier, Archbishop Akinola of Nigeria revealed he was also considering a boycott. He said Rowan Williams’ decision to exclude American evangelical Martyn Minns, who was consecrated by Akinola, was akin to “withholding an invitation to the entire House of Bishops of the Church of Nigeria”.

Ugandan and Nigerian bishops represent one third of the world’s 75 million Anglicans.

Christian kids arrested

At least 20 Christians, including young children and a Baptist pastor, were arrested and detained when security forces raided homes near the Eritrean capital of Asmara on May 27. Police were looking to break up a prayer group.

Teachers finally freed

Three Christian women who were jailed in 2005 for attempting to convert Indonesian Muslim children at a Sunday school have been granted early release on parole.
Rebekka Zakaria, 49, Eti Pangesti, 45, and Ratna Bangun, 40, are now home with their families.

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