·         Asian Churches to develop advocacy network to fight the sexual exploitation of children

An ecumenical consultation on the dignity and rights of children in Asia has spoken of the need for churches to work together to tackle sexual exploitation of children. After a five-day meeting this week in Jakarta, Church leaders issued a communiqué warning that sexual exploitation, including child prostitution and child pornography” was rife in countries such as Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Philippines, and Indonesia. They say that these countries “have become a safe haven for paedophiles to avoid easy detection of their activities.” The Church leaders are calling for an ecumenical regional network to uphold and protect the dignity and rights of children.

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·         “We must create a new history of true peace” – east Asian Anglicans pledge on Korean peace

Leaders from Anglican Churches in east Asia have expressed repentance for not playing “a proper role” in the Korean conflict. The comment was made in a communiqué issued at the end of this year’s meeting of the Council of the Church in East Asia (CCEA) – which brings together Anglican provinces from South East Asia, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan – a diocese of the US-based Episcopal Church – together with the Anglican Church of Australia and the Philippine Independent Church. They had met at the Ganghwa Peace Observatory, which sits on the de-facto border between North and South Korea.

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·         British and US clergy join leadership team at the Anglican Episcopal Diocese in Jerusalem

The Anglican / Episcopal Archbishop in Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, has appointed a US-priest as his chaplain and a British priest as Dean of St George’s College. Centred on the City of Jerusalem, the diocese attracts thousands of visitors each year as it is home to the birthplace of Christianity. It also serves Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Syria and Lebanon. Dr Donald Binder, currently Rector of Historic Pohic Church near Mount Vernon in Virginia, will become Archbishop Suheil’s new chaplain; while the Revd Richard Sewell, currently Rector of the Barnes Team Ministry in South West London, will become Dean of St George’s College. Both will begin their appointments in October.

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