Chilean synod to vote on new provincial constitution

THE diocese of Chile, in the Anglican Church of South America, is expected to take a further step tomorrow towards becoming an autonomous Province of the Anglican Communion. Its Extraordinary Synod in Santiago will be asked to follow up a decision taken at Temuco in 2015 by approving the new constitution and canons, and elect the diocesan bishops for the four proposed dioceses, as well as the future Primate, the Anglican Communion News Services reports. The Bishop of Chile, the Rt Revd Héctor Zavala, said that the step was “undoubtedly important for the missionary growth that we long to experience as a Church in future years”.

Ten-year sentences for Iranian Christians upheld

THE ten-year prison sentences for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and four other Christians in Iran found guilty of “acting against national security” have been upheld on appeal, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported this week. Three of the men, Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh, and Saheb Fadaie, also await the outcome of their appeal against a sentence of 80 lashes each after a 2016 conviction for drinking wine during a communion service. All four were arrested on 13 May 2017, and accused by the 26th Chamber of the Revolutionary Tribunal of receiving £500,000 per year from the British government through their church (News, 14 July 2017).

WCC tribute paid to African-American theologian

TRIBUTE has been paid on behalf of the World Council of Churches to the leading African-American liberation theologian the Revd Dr James Cone, who died on 28 April, aged 81. He was the author of more than ten books, beginning with Black Theology and Black Power (1969), and held a chair in systematic theology at Union Theological Seminary, New York. Dr Agnes Abuom, moderator of the WCC’s central committee, said: “May Dr Cone’s commitment for justice, liberation, and anti-racism continue to energise and provide impulses to our work as pilgrims of justice and peace.”