January 10 2000

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Harry Goodhew, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, has rejected a decision by his synod to allow laity and deacons to preside at Holy Communion. The synod voted two-to-one in favor of the "lay presidency" proposal October 19. Had Goodhew agreed to it, the proposal would have been a first in the worldwide Anglican Communion. Supporters of lay presidency say they will revive the issue at the next General Synod, scheduled for Brisbane, Australia, in 2001. Opponents of the measure warn it could create a church split.

World Evangelical Fellowship, the Lausanne Movement for World Evangelization, and AD2000 and Beyond have created the Great Commission Global Roundtable to "connect diverse segments of the Body of Christ in hope of achieving closer coordination and cooperation in sharing the Gospel." Bertil Ekstrom (Brazil) serves as chair, Iman Santoso (Indonesia) is vice chair, and John Robb (U.S.) is the group's international coordinator.

Disagreement with some bishops over homosexuality is prompting conservative evangelical parishes in the Church of England to consider proposals for new oversight. Proposals include creating a system of bishops parallel to the existing structure of diocesan bishops and the possibility of oversight by missionary bishops. David Holloway is an evangelical and leading member of Reform, the group that proposed the new oversight structures. Vandals painted pro-homo sexual graffiti outside Jesmond Parish Church, where Holloway is vicar, in October.