FOCUS

Beyond the Diocese
US Anglicans on
the presidential
election result
Members of the US-based
Episcopal Church responded to
the presidential election victory
by Donald Trump with leaders urging the
“healing of America”.
Bishop Mariann Budde from the
Diocese of Washington said it was time
for the nation to come back together after
listening to Trump’s victory speech.
“In faithfulness to God, we will seek
the welfare of the cities, towns and
communities in which we live,” she said.
“As Americans, we give thanks for the
peaceful transfer of political power and we
respect it.”
The Provisional Bishop of South
Carolina, Skip Adams, said that responses
to the election result ranged from joy and
delight to surprise, confusion, lamentation
and grief.
Bishop Skip urged people in Christian
charity to be kind to yourself and one
another, especially with those whom you
disagree.
First study in 30 years on the growth
and decline of Anglican Communion
A
new academic study into growth
and decline in the Anglican
Communion will be marked with
the publication of a new book edited by
The Rev’d David Goodhew, director of
ministerial practice at Cranmer Hall, part
of St John’s College at Durham University,
England.
The book, titled Growth and Decline in
the Anglican Communion – 1980 to the
Present, is described by publishers as the
first study of the [Anglican Communion’s]
dramatic growth and decline in the years
since 1980.
Prepared by an international team of
researchers based across five continents,
the academic study provides a global
overview of Anglicanism alongside
twelve detailed case studies of Anglican
Churches in Australia, the United States,
Singapore, England and a number of
New President of the United States of America, Donald Trump
“Our baptismal promise is to respect
the dignity every human being holds in all
circumstances,” he said.
Bishop Skip pointed to the prayers for
our country and president in the province’s
Book of Common Prayer, where we ask
of God that we be saved from violence,
discord and confusion, from pride and
arrogance, and from every evil way.
“Pray for Donald, our President-elect
that he be granted God’s wisdom and
strength and do God’s will … filled with love
of truth and righteousness,” he said.
“As for me, I will continue to work
tirelessly for the marginalised of our world.
“I hope that the election results make us
more resolute in response to this call, for
it is in our actions of love and compassion
where we will find resurrection hope and
bring the love of Jesus to bear.”
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal
African nations.
Routledge, which
published the book
described it as a critical
resource for students
and scholars seeking
an understanding of
the past, present and
future of the Anglican
Church.
“More broadly, the
study offers insight into
debates, surrounding
secularisation in the contemporary world,”
the publishers said.
The book will be launched during a day
conference in London during February with
speakers including Fr David and Professor
Jesse Mugambi from the University of
Nairobi in Kenya.
“The essays in this book invite readers
Church, Michael Curry, has not
commented directly on the election result.
In a video message released the day after
the election, but recorded as votes were
still being cast, Bishop Michael said that it
was part of “the democratic process” that
the office holders elected that day would
be a mix of Republicans, Democrats and
independents.
“That’s how we govern ourselves in our
country and we will all live with the results of
those elections, but we will all live together
as fellow Americans, as citizens,” he said.
“And so the time will come, to bind up
our wounds, to overcome our differences,
to reconcile with each other, to reach
out to those who differ with us, and to
be Americans: One nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
“And an America like that will truly be a
shining city upon a hill.”
The Anglican Church of Congo is one of 12 case-studies in a new academic
publication on the growth and decline in the Anglican Communion
to further discourse on growth and
decline within the respective provinces
of Anglicanism in particular, and within
Christianity in general,” Professor
Mugambi said.
“This book is worth reading as a whole,
and informative in its wide range of
contributions.”
22 | FOCUS | February/March 2017