Church of England parishes consider first step to break away over sexuality...more

Church of England parishes consider first step to break away over sexuality A group of parishes is preparing what could be the first step towards a formal split in the Church of England over issues such as homosexuality, with the creation of a new “shadow synod” vowing to uphold traditional teaching.

Representatives of almost a dozen congregations in the Home Counties are due to gather in a church hall in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, later this week for the first session of what they say could eventually develop into an alternative Anglican church in England.

Organisers, drawn from the conservative evangelical wing of Anglicanism, say they have no immediate plans to break away - but are setting up the “embryonic” structures that could be used to do so if the established church moves further in what they see as a liberal direction...

Church Of England Parishes Could Break Away Over Gay Marriage ...They have already scheduled debates on a motion upholding orthodox Christian teaching known as the “Jerusalem statement”, with five having already passed the motion.

The Rev Dr Peter Sanlon, one of the main organisers behind the gathering, told the Telegraph: “If senior leaders of the Church of England water down the teaching of the Church of England on key issues like homosexuality, then this synod could easily evolve into a new Anglican jurisdiction in England.

“The Archbishop of Canterbury has signalled that he is aware of the possibility that a significant proportion of the church will not accept a change in the church’s teaching.

“This could be the beginning of that playing out.”...

Muslim mob murders 8 in revenge attacks in Northern Nigeria The Church of Nigeria’s Bishop of Gusau, the Rt. Rev. John Danbinta Garba...reports a sectarian riot erupted last week at the Abdu Gusau Polytechnic in the city of Talata-Mafara in Northern Nigeria after a Muslim mob attempted to lynch a man who had converted to Christianity. On 21 Aug 2016 a newly baptized Christian was describing his conversion to fellow students when Islamist militants began to assault him. The penalty for apostasy from Islam was death, they said, and attempted to lynch him. Christian students intervened and rescued the convert and a Muslim bystander drove the injured man to the hospital. The mob then turned their sights upon the Muslim good samaritan -- they marched to his home and set it ablaze, killing eight people inside. The  mob destroyed the school’s Christian campus ministry office and marched into town demanding vengeance against Christians...