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Church Briefing: An Archbishop's Interfaith Meeting, and Leadership Changes Across the Communion

By The FaithDaily Desk

Good morning. Anglican Ink reports that the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, met a delegation from the Board of Deputies of British Jews, led by its president Phil Rosenberg, at Lambeth Palace. The two sides met to discuss Christian-Jewish relations in the United Kingdom.

The Communion also recorded two elections. Anglican Ink reports that the Nippon Sei Ko Kai, the Anglican Church in Japan, elected the Rt Revd Dr Renta Nishihara — Bishop of the Diocese of Chubu and Administrator Bishop of the Kyoto Diocese — as its 21st Primate, at the church's 71st General Synod. In the United States, the same outlet reports, the Episcopal Diocese of Florida elected the Reverend J. Randolph (Randy) Alexander Jr. as its ninth bishop, chosen by a convention of more than 200 clergy and lay delegates at the Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center.

There was a departure to set against the arrivals. Anglican Ink reports that the Dean of St John's Cathedral in Brisbane, Peter Catt, announced his retirement after 20 years in a letter that also addressed his involvement in a Stan television programme featuring a pornographic actor; the letter conveyed his deep regrets.

Away from church governance, several outlets covered faith and American politics. Religion News Service published a podcast conversation with Congressman Jared Huffman, co-founder of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, on what he describes as authoritarian impulses and Christian nationalism, tied to his book "No Prophets." Charisma News reports that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told the National Baptist Convention she is "amazed watching how God works" through leftist politics. Charisma News also reports that Rep. Jim Jordan said he intends to step down as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and, per Politico, does not seek to return to the House Oversight Committee.

On technology and culture, Charisma News reports that the AI company Anthropic says it blocked attempts to use its models for malicious ends, including efforts to build a biological weapon and to mount cyberattacks. The Gospel Coalition weighed in twice: a review of the book "Forgiveness" argues that a culture shaped by outrage has lost the habit of pardon, while a separate article contends that if AI goes wrong, the fault lies with the humans who trained it on themselves. Charisma News additionally reported on the Trump administration's new Space Catalyst Partnership, an initiative to widen space cooperation with other governments.

Zoom out: Across the day's reporting, the churches' own transitions — a new primate, a new bishop, a retiring dean, an archbishop's interfaith meeting — sat alongside sharper arguments about faith, politics and technology in the wider culture.

What we're following

Religion News Service: Congressman Jared Huffman: The Fight to Save Democracy From Christian Nationalism Read it
Charisma News: Trump Admin Launches the Next Space Race Read it
The Gospel Coalition: Cancel Culture Has Forgotten How to Forgive Read it
Anglican Ink: Statement on meeting between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Board of Deputies Read it

Sources

Congressman Jared Huffman: The Fight to Save Democracy From Christian Nationalism Religion News Service
Trump Admin Launches the Next Space Race Charisma News
Cancel Culture Has Forgotten How to Forgive The Gospel Coalition
Statement on meeting between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Board of Deputies Anglican Ink
AOC Says ‘God Works’ Through Leftism Charisma News
Clancy Juror Who Voted to Acquit Was a ‘Super-Fan’ of Another Accused Murderer Charisma News
AI Company Reports Attempts to Create Bioweapons and Malicious Cyberattacks Charisma News
Jim Jordan to Step Down as House Judiciary Chairman Charisma News
What AI’s ‘Confessions’ Teach Us About Us The Gospel Coalition
‘Deep regrets’, Dean of Brisbane, Peter Catt, set to retire Anglican Ink
Anglican Church in Japan announces new primate Anglican Ink
Episcopal Diocese of Florida Elects The Reverend J. Randolph (Randy) Alexander Jr. as Ninth Bishop Anglican Ink

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