British-born bishop to share Wellington’s load
THE Revd Dr Eleanor Sanderson, Canon Theologian in the diocese of Wellington, New Zealand, has been elected as its first Assistant Bishop. Canon Sanderson, Vicar of St Alban’s, Eastbourne, and Chaplain of Wellesley College, in the diocese, was born in Eyam, Derbyshire, baptised at Christ Church, Clifton, in Bristol, by the current Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, and raised in the UK. She is married to Tim, and they have two sons. She will become one of three serving women bishops in the Province when she is consecrated in Wellington on 2 June.
Iranian Christians’ trial delayed
A VERDICT in the trial of the Iranian Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and three members of the Church of Iran (News, 29 July 2016), has been delayed, after local authorities decided to refer the case to Tehran, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reported on Monday. The men are charged with “action against national security” and could face a maximum of five or six years in prison. A ruling had been expected before the Iranian New Year on 21 March. The chief executive of CSW, Mervyn Thomas, said that the decision to delay was “puzzling”, and that the case should be dismissed.
Shut up, Primate tells Ghana’s ‘prophets of doom’
THE Primate of West Africa, the Most Revd Daniel Yinkah Sarfo, has spoken out against self-described “prophets” in Ghana, the Ghana Star reported. The founder of God’s Crown Chapel in Daaban, Kumasi, Prophet Reindorf Oduro Gyebi, claimed that he had foreseen the fall of trees on Kintampo Waterfall which killed 19 students this month. “Instead of making prophecies that will ensure that the country progresses, they are only interested in prophecies of despair,” the Primate said. “These prophets of doom should shut up. God really loves Ghana; he has done a lot for us.”
Christian women in Eritrea die after hunger strike
TWO Pentecostalist hunger strikers in Eritrea died this month soon after being transferred to hospital from Wi’a military camp, where they were being detained, CSW reported on Tuesday. The women were transported to Massawa Hospital in a critical condition on 12 March and died five days later. They had reportedly been protesting at physical and sexual abuse during their detention. The chief executive of CSW, Mervyn Thomas, said that the young women were “the latest known victims of a regime deemed guilty of perpetrating crimes against humanity against its own people”.