Sri Lankan bishop resigns after
'complaints'
THE Bishop of Kurunegala, the Rt Revd Greg Shantha Kumar
Francis, has resigned, after "numerous complaints that he brought
his Church and ministry into disrepute", Lambeth Palace confirmed
on Tuesday. Of particular concern, the statement said, was his
involvement in "unresolved criminal proceedings relating to
misappropriated pension funds. Members of his own diocesan standing
committee had requested that he should resign, and he agreed to do
so."
Persecution list warns of Middle East
exodus
THE exodus of Christians from the Middle East threatens the
survival of Christianity in the region, a new report from the
charity Open Doors warns. Its World Watch List, published on
Wednesday, suggests that there are now just 300,000 Christians in
Iraq, compared with 1.2 million in 1990; and more than 700,000
Christians have left Syria since the conflict broke out in 2011.
The rise of Islamic extremism is noted as a "major factor" of
persecution against Christians in 18 out of the top 20 countries in
the list.
www.opendoorsuk.org
New Principal for Edwardes College
A NEW Principal has been appointed at Edwardes College,
Peshawar: Professor Nayer Fardows took charge on 16 December, after
being appointed by the Board of Governors. The previous principal
of the college - the country's only Church of Pakistan college -
the Revd Dr Titus Presler, was removed by the Board last year, a
decision that was the subject of a legal challenge (News, 25
April).