Synod evacuated after fire in Eastern Cape

SYNOD members from the diocese of Umzimvubu, in the Eastern Cape in South Africa, were forced to abandon their budgetary meeting at the Glenthorne Centre in Kokstad on Saturday, after the building caught fire. No one was hurt, and the synod was safely evacuated, but the surrounding houses and the former cathedral were gutted. The diocese has experienced a number of difficulties. The Bishop, the Rt Revd Mlibo Ngewu, left his post, after his leadership was criticised by the Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Thabo Makgoba.

Muslims and Christians form alliance in Cairo

MUSLIMS and Christians from Sudan, South Sudan, and Malaysia formed a peace alliance at partnership meetings in Cairo last week. Muslim leaders, including the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University, Dr Ahmed el-Tayyeb, joined the Anglican Primate of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, Archbishop Mouneer Anis, and the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Tawadros II, to discuss questions of language, law, doctrine, and politics that separate the religions, and the different branches of Christianity. Archbishop Foley Beach and Archbishop Charlie Masters from the Anglican Church in North America, were also present at the meetings.

Russian Orthodox Church offers ‘sin-free’ internet

THE Russian Orthodox Church has said that it will offer a “pure” wifi connection near churches and public places in Moscow, The Guardian reported last Friday. The head of the Russian Inter-religious Council, Fr Roman Bogdasarov, told the newspaper Izvestia that the free service would delete any mention of homosexuality, and protect users against “evil under the guise of goodness”. There has been tighter regulation of the internet in Russia during the current third term of President Vladimir Putin.