Press Release:  The Anglican Communion in Canada. 
Anglican Bishop Attempts to Evict Orthodox Congregations           
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 2004

	The Anglican parish congregations of Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church, Pender Harbour 
(formerly St. Andrew's) and St. Simon's, Deep Cove received notices threatening eviction from 
the Rt. Rev. Michael Ingham, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster. Bishop Ingham 
told the leadership of these churches that, unless they "reconsider the actions" taken, they are 
"to seek alternate worship space for those whom you lead."   A third congregation, Richmond Emmanuel Church, 
(formerly Emmanuel Church, Richmond) received a "Notice of Closure" threat. 
Earlier in the Spring, the leadership of all three churches, in response to the actions of the 
Bishop and Diocese contrary to Holy Scripture, and with the unanimous support of their congregations, 
ended their relationships with the Diocese and Bishop. In letters dated March 29, 2004, the Priests 
and Wardens of these parishes said,  "Therefore, and regrettably, as of this date, your services as 
our Bishop are no longer required and our relationship with you and with the Diocese of New Westminster 
is hereby severed. We are in a state of broken
communion."     

	Two congregations (St. Simon's and Pender Harbour) who bought and paid for their church land 
and buildings have claimed ownership of their respective properties and resources.  The Pender Harbour 
congregation told Bishop Ingham that..."Given that the trust relationship between the people of the 
Parish of St. Andrew's, Pender Harbour, (now Christ The Redeemer Anglican Church, Pender Harbour) 
and the Bishop and the Diocese of New Westminster has been broken by the actions of the Diocese and 
Bishop, and given that the land, church building and resources have been acquired, built and 
maintained wholly by the Anglican constituency of this community, it is our congregation's intention 
to retain the beneficial ownership of the said properties, buildings and resources for
present and future orthodox Anglican ministry in this locale."   The congregation at St. Simon's made a 
similar decision.

	In the June 23rd letter Bishop Ingham claims that, "Parishioners may choose to leave the
 Anglican Church of Canada and worship elsewhere, but a Parish may not "leave" a Diocese nor declare 
that it is no longer part of the Anglican Church of Canada."    He has made this claim before in
demanding compliance with unorthodox positions he has taken.  However, never before have three entire 
congregations chosen to break communion with their Diocese and Bishop, and be threatened with eviction 
for doing so. It is without precedent in Canadian Anglican history.  

	While the Diocese holds the property deed for Pender Harbour in trust for the parish, it is 
the people of that congregation and the community who have resourced, built and maintained the church 
and properties. St. Simon's, a separate legal entity, owns its church property and building, and the 
Diocese has no legal interest in it.  It is the intention of both these congregations to retain the 
places of worship and ministry that they have worked so hard to build.  Given that there are no remaining 
parishioners in either locale, the threatened eviction action of the Diocese and Bishop can only be 
seen as vindictive, punitive and financially manipulative, revealing a priority of possessions over 
people. Having been rejected by the Anglican constituency in these communities, the Diocesan leadership 
is now attempting to financially inhibit any continuing ministry by taking the congregations' 
buildings and resources.

	All three churches remain Anglican congregations as members of the newly constituted Anglican 
Communion in Canada (ACiC), a missionary body formed under the gracious sponsorship and legitimate 
Anglican authority of the Archbishops of Rwanda, SE Asia, Congo, Kenya and Central Africa in response 
to the present crisis of faith in the Anglican Church of Canada. These congregations, along with 
three other British Columbia congregations, presently continue their worship and community work under 
the temporary adequate episcopal oversight of the Rt. Rev. Thomas Johnston, an Anglican Mission in 
America Bishop.  The ACiC is providing a place of spiritual integrity and safety from which congregations 
persecuted and threatened by their Diocesan government can continue authentic Anglican ministry, and 
a platform from which new churches,
faithful to the true Anglican tradition, can be planted.   

	 For further information please contact: the Rev Ed Hird+, ACiC Acting Media Contact Person, 
ed_hird@telus.net 604-929-5350 http://www.acicanada.ca/  or the Rev, Barclay Mayo, ACiC Acting Coordinator, 
Mission Strategy at 604-883-1371.

1b) DIOCESE OF NEW WESTMINSTER
Anglican Church of Canada
The Right Reverend Michael Ingham, bishop                        
#580 - 401 West Georgia Street 
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5AI
Telephone (604) 684-6306
Fax (604) 684-7017
1-800-665-1105 (B.C. only)

St. Simon Anglican Church
Mr. Nathan Landberg, Mr. Will Fawcett &
The Reverend Edward Hird
1712 Cascade Court
North Vancouver, BC V7G 2H6

                                                                           
June 23, 2004

Dear Messrs.  Landberg, Fawcett & Hird:

On March 31, 2004, a lawyer acting on your behalf, Mr. Robert Kuhn, wrote to me enclosing your undated 
letter which recites certain actions taken at a Vestry held on February 15, 2004.  Subsequently, the 
Incumbent of the Parish, Mr. Hird, has resigned as a Priest of this Diocese and the Anglican Church of Canada.  
Acting presumably with your consent, and as your spokesperson, he has made, public statements declaring 
that your Congregation has left the Anglican Church of Canada and considers themselves a Missionary
 Parish of the Diocese of Rwanda in North America.  Notwithstanding such actions, you and others continue 
to occupy and worship in the Parish buildings.

I write to advise you of the Resolution approved by our Diocesan, Council at its June meeting, 
held June 22.  The Resolution is as follows:

        Whereas the Incumbent of the Parish of St. Simon,s Deep Cove has declared himself no longer 
subject to the jurisdiction, license or discipline of the Bishop of new Westminster, Anglica Church 
of Canada;

        And whereas the Incumbent and others continue to occupy and worship in the Parish buildings, 
notwithstanding such unilateral actions on their part,-

Be it resolved that this Council ask the Bishop, in consultation with the Regional Archdeacon, the 
Regional Dean and one or more of the legal officers, together with such others as he may deem appropriate, 
to consider the implementation of an alternative form of Organization structure, pursuant to Canon 1503 
(a) together with such corollary actions as may be necessary, and to report back to the September 
meeting of this Council as to such actions provided that notice of this Resolution shall be given 
to the Incumbent and Wardens of the Parish by the Bishop (or the Chancellor on his behalf) before 
such alternative form of Organization structure is implemented.

You will see from the Resolution that the Council has asked me to implement an alternative form of 
Organization structure for the Parish. 
I have been asked also to take such actions as may be necessary for that purpose.  I will be away on 
summer vacation much of July.  It is my intention to begin the consultation process described in the 
Resolution on my return.  Meanwhile, I would invite you to seek out alternate worship space for those 
whom you lead.  I am asked by Council to act on this matter and report back by the September meeting 
(to be held September 14).

Parishioners may choose to leave the Anglican Church of Canada and worship elsewhere, but a Parish 
may not "leave" a Diocese nor declare that it is no longer part of the Anglican Church of Canada.

I would be pleased to meet with you on my return in the event that you wish to reconsider the actions 
which you have taken.  If you wish such a meeting, would you please contact the Executive Archdeacon, 
the Ven. Ron Harrison or the Commissary, the Very Reverend Peter Elliott, in my absence.

Yours sincerely,

The Right Reverend Michael C. Ingham
Bishop

2) www.alphacanada.org">www.alphacanada.org and www.invitethenation.org
Press Release:  June 23 2004
EXPECT ANOTHER INVITATION, CANADA!
Building on the resounding success of last year's national campaign which gave Canada a world-leading 
position for public Alpha-awareness, Christians from coast to coast are coming together again this 
summer to invite the nation to dinner - and an Alpha Course!

In massive support of local church and community efforts, a one million dollar campaign of billboard 
and transit shelter advertising will be launched June 28 2004.  

"It will be extremely difficult NOT to hear about The Alpha Course this summer!" says Sally Start, 
Alpha Canada's National Director.  "We're expecting the response this year to be huge."  
 
Last fall 149,000 people responded to the dinner invitation (think population of Abbotsford or Oakville!) 
and 650,000 Canadians have now taken the Alpha Course.  

For more information call Alpha Canada at 1 800 743 0899 or go to www.alphacanada.org and www.invitethenation.org 


3a) http://www.christianity.ca/news/weblog/2004/06.16.html
Weblog: Take Me to Your Leader
Because a hallmark of leadership is creating and communicating a vision, as a voter you must 
decide which leader best represents your vision of Canada. Compiled by Janet Epp Buckingham | posted 06/15/04

On June 28, Canadians go to the polls to elect a new national leader. Of course we are also 
electing our own local candidates. And we also elect the political party that will be the 
ruling party until the next election.

It all seems a bit confusing. In the U.S., it is clear when they are electing their leader, 
the President, and when they are electing their local candidate.

But in Canada, we cast only one ballot, and that is for our local candidate. The party that wins 
the most seats forms a government and the leader of that party is the Prime Minister. There is a l
ot riding on that one ballot.

Unlike in the U.S., the Prime Minister is not the head of state - that is the role of the Governor General. 
The Prime Minister is, however, the head of government, and makes the ultimate decisions about 
policy direction for the government.

With so great a responsibility, clearly, Canada needs a Prime Minister who is a strong leader.

What does it mean to be leader?

A leader is one who has a vision and can impart it to others. Brian Mulroney said it eloquently 
in his eulogy for Ronald Reagan, "leadership
- that ineffable and sometimes magical quality that sets some men and women apart so that millions
 will follow them as they conjure up grand visions and invite their countrymen to dream big and 
exciting dreams."

From a Christian perspective, a number of leadership principles are summed up in 1 Timothy 3. 
We also have many models of leadership in Old Testament leaders like Moses, David and Daniel. 
These are worthy of study for anyone seeking to identify true leadership. And we always remember, 
"Without vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). Leaders are the ones to transmit the vision 
of God to the people.

Now, let's look at our potential Prime Ministers and see if they have that "magical quality." 
All of them are experienced politicians, well educated, bilingual, competitive and motivated.

Paul Martin: Here is a man who dreams of being what his father dreamed of, Prime Minister. Does 
he have a vision for this country? His speeches reflect a desire to dream big and invite Canadians 
to build for the future. But do they reflect a vision? His biggest focus has been on addressing 
the democratic deficit in Parliament-sorely needed! http://www.paulmartin.ca/prime_minister_e.aspx

Stephen Harper: Harper has been in the back rooms and front rooms of political life for many years. 
Does he have a vision for this country? He talks of change. He appears to have a vision of smaller 
government in Ottawa-a fairly common conservative agenda. He has long been a policy guy so it is 
not surprising that his vision consists of specific policy initiatives. http://www.conservative.ca/english/leader.asp

Jack Layton: Layton is fairly new on the federal political scene. The majority of his political 
experience is as a Toronto city councillor. His vision is focused on urban issues like homelessness 
and urban environmentalism. He was drawn to politics after campaigning on issues like affordable 
housing so it is not surprising that this is his vision. http://ndp.ca/about.jack/

Gilles Duceppe: Uh, being the Bloc Quebecois, the page on Duceppe is in French only. Desolι. 
But that is the whole story here. Duceppe has a very clear vision. Unfortunately, it does not 
extend beyond the borders of Quebec. His vision is to protect the interests of Quebec, as the 
Bloc website states, "Parce qu'on est different." http://www.blocquebecois.org/fr/le_chef.asp

There are some visions here. You have to decide which leader best represents your vision of Canada. 
For certain, one of these men is going to be our leader come June 29. Who will it be?

Janet Epp Buckingham is the Director of Law and Public Policy for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. 
See www.evangelicalfellowship.ca Copyright © 2004 The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
3b) (…)Religion has definitely played a role in this election more than others. Lorna Dueck explains why. http://www.christianity.ca/news/commentary/2004/06.000.html  (…)As Christians, we should vote, and be 
prayerful regarding the process and the outcome. For reasons to vote, click on http://www.christianity.ca/news/weblog/2004/06.23.html

4a) http://gs2004.classicalanglican.com/modules/news/
CaNN News
http://www.anglicanmedia.com.au/news/index.php#003878
Anglican Media Sydney, Australia http://www.virtuosityonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=933
Posted by dvirtue on 2004/6/17 22:11:41 (Virtuosity News) A
NGLICAN COMMUNION IN CANADA WELCOMES NEW ALLIANCE By the Rev. Paul Carter 
The Anglican Communion in Canada welcomes the news today that "The Anglican Mission in America, 
in tandem with five other groups, is today announcing an unprecedented level of cooperation among 
leading orthodox Anglican entities in the United States (…) Click to read more: http://www.acicanada.ca/

4b) http://www.virtuosityonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=941
Posted by dvirtue on 2004/6/18 12:44:16 
THEOLOGICAL REALIGNMENT BEGINS ACROSS DENOMINATIONAL LINES
News Analysis By David W. Virtue
(…)But the announcement of a major alliance of six groups in the Anglican tradition this 
week shook the Anglican world.

Working under the banner of the Anglican Communion Network the six groups representing some 200,000 
Anglican made "common cause" under the Anglican tradition.

The groups, all based in the U.S. came under the chairmanship of the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, 
ACN Moderator. In a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, leaders of the Reformed Episcopal 
Church (REC), the Anglican Mission in America (AMIA), Forward in Faith North American (FiFNA),
the Anglican Province in America (APA) and the American Anglican Council
(AAC) pledged "to make common cause for the gospel of Jesus Christ and common cause for a united, 
missionary and orthodox Anglicanism in North America."

It was stunning and brilliant move, and while not entirely unexpected, it comes at a time when 
the 17-person Lambeth Commission is meeting at Kanuga, NC, within a day of their meeting with 
Frank Griswold ECUSA's Presiding Bishop.

The orthodox are already expressing their excitement and you can be sure that the liberals and 
revisionists in ECUSA will be doing their best to put a spin on this new alliance(…)

5a) http://www.christianweek.org/Stories/vol18/no07/storyA4.html
Debra Fieguth, Special to ChristianWeek, June 18th 2004
ST. CATHARINES, ON-The new head of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, 
says he can find no theological or scriptural basis for gay marriage but he has no problem with 
the blessing of same-sex relationships.

The issue of same-sex unions is the most contentious one that Hutchison, 65, will have to deal 
with in the next few years(…)Hutchison also acknowledged that he believes it's only a matter 
of time before the Anglican Church accepts same-sex blessings(…)

5b) http://www.christianweek.org/Stories/vol18/no07/storyA2.html
June 18th 2004
Canadian Anglican rift deepens
ChristianWeek Staff

ST. CATHARINES, ON-When delegates to the Anglican Church in Canada's General Synod earlier this 
month decided to "affirm the integrity and sanctity of committed adult same-sex relationships," 
they exacerbated a tension that is dividing the church in Canada and around the world.

"This is a terrible decision," says George Sinclair, chair of the Essentials Council, a coalition 
of theologically orthodox Anglicans in Canada. "It is unbiblical and non-Christian."

The decision was greeted with shock and regret by Anglicans throughout the world, who warned that 
the action would "reap devastating
consequences."(…)

5c) http://www.christianweek.org/Stories/vol18/no07/storyA1.html
Anglicans affirm the "sanctity" of same-sex relationships Conservative bishops denounce decision
 as contrary to Scripture Debra Fieguth, Special to ChristianWeek, June 18th 2004

ST. CATHARINES, ON-Delegates to the Anglican Church of Canada's General Synod 2004 agreed to 
"affirm the integrity and sanctity of committed adult same-sex relationships" after a last-minute 
amendment shifted debate from one of jurisdiction-whether decisions on same-sex unions should be 
left to dioceses-to the nature of these relationships themselves(…)


But for many the inclusion of the word "sanctity" is a problem and puts the issue squarely in the 
doctrinal arena. Earlier in the week, Walter Deller, principal of the College of Emmanuel and 
St. Chad in Saskatoon, had observed concern among the delegates that blessing of same-sex unions 
"can't simply be treated as a non-doctrinal issue and would lead to increasing divergence on doctrinal issues."

Richard Schneider, president of the Canadian Council of Churches and an Orthodox Christian, told 
the gathering: "Decisions you make are going to be considered doctrinal and church-defining." 
Their effects, he said, "will be seismic."

Before the affirmation clause was even presented, both Schneider and Canon Geoffrey Cameron, 
representing the Lambeth Commission (which is expected to deliver a report in the fall on how 
to hold the increasingly fractured Anglican Communion together), urged Canadian Anglicans to 
consider the issues in the context of the ecumenical and worldwide church communities.

"Being committed to ecumenical dialogue means you must be willing to be fully accountable to 
your fellow Christians," Schneider said.

Fearmongering?

Cameron told delegates that while the acceptance of same-sex blessings in New Westminster and 
the consecration of a gay man as a bishop in the U.S. brought joy to many who have witnessed or 
experienced "the intolerance and persecution of gay people at first hand...it is also true it 
caused enormous pain in other places: in Pakistan, Uganda, Nigeria and Egypt, where Christians...
have been publicly pilloried and physically attacked, and their homes set on fire and people 
physically assaulted."

Cameron's remarks clearly made an impact on many delegates. But Archbishop Terence Finlay of 
Toronto dismissed those who expressed concern for the international church as using "scare 
tactics" and "fearmongering."

The decision to move forward and affirm same-sex relationships is troubling to many indigenous
 Anglicans, several of whom asked for more time. Larry Beardy, a priest in Split Lake, Manitoba 
and archdeacon in the Diocese of Keewatin, said his community is dealing with more urgent issues, 
such as unemployment, suicide, alienation and the residential school legacy.

"There's still a lot of healing and reconciliation work to be done in indigenous communities," 
added Murray Still, a priest in Winnipeg. Still asked the church to be respectful and listen to 
aboriginal elders. "They speak wisdom."

6a) Evangelicals will boycott Dean http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/80256E4E00384246/httpPublicPages/A36971C4BD4F489080256EB6003F0B0F?opendocument
by Rachel Harden, Church Times, UK
MEMBERS of St Albans Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship (DEF) say they will boycott the installation 
of the Rt Revd Dr Jeffrey John as Dean of St Albans next month because of his homosexuality(…)

6b) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/06/21/nbish121.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/06/21/ixhome.html
Gay bishop must go 'or the church will split'
By Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent
(Filed: 21/06/2004)
Anglicanism's first openly gay bishop was invalidly consecrated and must be stripped of his post 
if the worldwide Church is to avoid schism, a leading conservative demanded yesterday.

In an extraordinary twist in the civil war over homosexuality, the Primate of the West Indies, 
Archbishop Drexel Gomez, said Bishop Gene Robinson, of New Hampshire, must be replaced or the Church 
would split in two.

The ultimatum by Archbishop Gomez, a member of the Lambeth Commission set up by the Archbishop of 
Canterbury to broker peace between the warring factions, will outrage liberals and further polarise positions.

It would be unprecedented for a bishop to be stripped of his post after his consecration. Dr Jeffrey John, 
the gay cleric named as Bishop of Reading last summer, withdrew before the ceremony.

But a paper prepared for Archbishop Gomez by prominent theologians, thought to include the Bishop of 
Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, uses arguments similar to those by Dr Rowan Williams during 
the Dr John furore.

The proposals were presented to the 17-strong commission during a critical meeting in America last week. 
The commission's final report, on which the future of the worldwide Church will hang, is due to be 
published in October.

7a) http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=534656
Gay blessing by US bishop defies advice from church
By Andrew Clennell, 24 June 2004, Independent Newspaper, UK
The Archbishop of Canterbury's office has described as "extraordinary" a decision by the Bishop of 
Washington to carry out a "blessing" service involving a gay priest and his partner of 12 years.

The blessing service went ahead despite a request from Dr Rowan Williams to liberal Anglican provinces 
to refrain from gay blessings and ordinations until the Lambeth Commission, set up last October, 
reports on homosexuality and the church later this year(…)

The Church was plunged into crisis last year by the ordination of the openly gay Gene Robinson as 
Bishop of New Hampshire last year and by the decision of the New Westminster Diocese in Canada to 
authorise a rite for same-sex blesssings. The Canadian Church's General Synod has decided not to 
authorise same-sex blessings this summer out of respect for the Eames's Commission's work(…)

7b) Row as bishop blesses same-sex clergy couple http://www.churchnewspaper.com/?go=news&read=on&number_key=5723&title=Row
as bishop blesses same-sex clergy couple
Church of England Newspaper, UK, No. 5723   Date: June 24,
An American diocese has dealt an "extraordinary"blow to hopes of keeping the Anglican Communion 
together by proceeding with the blessing of a same-sex couple.

The Bishop of Washington, the Rt Rev John Chane, has refused the Eames Commission's calls for restraint 
and officiated at the church blessing of a union between one of his clergy, the Rev Michael Hopkins, 
and his partner, John Clinton Bradley.

Anglican leaders are outraged at the action, which threatens to render the work of the Eames Commission 
futile as liberals are making clear that they will press ahead with their agenda unchecked(…)

The Primate of the Southern Cone, Archbishop Greg Venables, said: "It's one more example of what 
appears to be a total lack of respect for the procedures which the Archbishop of Canterbury and the 
Primates have put into motion."

Archbishop Venables commented that it showed that people will go ahead unilaterally whatever is decided, 
and expressed dismay at Bishop Chane's action. "It is a very sad day when a bishop chooses to 
flagrantly reject the pleas of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates of the Anglican Communion 
and it's an even sadder day when he uses biblical language to promote disobedience of the Bible's teaching."

A Lambeth Palace spokesman admitted that the development is very concerning for the future unity of 
the Communion. He said: "Given the stage at which the Commission working with Archbishop Eames has 
now reached, it is extraordinary that such a development has occurred. This complicates still further 
the work of the Commission."

8) http://sify.com/movies/hollywood/fullstory.php?id=13500713
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?section=Celebrity&OID=53407
http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,12589,1242043,00.html
http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2004/06/18/forbes_names_mel_gibson_most_powerful_celebrity/
MEL Gibson most powerful celebrity
Forbes  Friday, 18 June , 2004, 10:03      
Sify - Delhi, India
Guardian - UK
Boston Globe - Boston, MA,USA
Mel Gibson most powerful celebrity 

New York: Mel Gibson, whose controversial film "The Passion of the Christ" paid off big at the box office, 
is the year's most powerful celebrity, according to Forbes magazine's Celebrity 100 power rankings.

Gibson, who directed, produced and co-wrote the violent movie about the last hours of Jesus, earned 
$210 million and tremendous media buzz from the project, according to Forbes magazine, which factors 
in media attention to compare the biggest money-makers from various fields of entertainment.

Press clippings, TV and radio coverage and Internet hits are all factored into the ranking formula. 
Money earned in the last 12 months was used to identify the finalists in each category.

Golf star Tiger Woods, the leading money-maker among athletes with $80 million, was second on the list, 
followed by talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, who matched Gibson in earnings.

Actor Tom Cruise ($45 million) was fourth, followed by venerable rock group Rolling Stones ($51 million). 
"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling was sixth on the list, boosted by her earnings of $147 million(…)

Casualties from the previous list included singer/actress Jennifer Lopez, who ranked fifth last year, 
and her former fiancee and movie bomb "Gigli" co-star Ben Affleck, rated seventh in 2003. Both failed 
to make the 2004 list(…)

9) http://www.charismanow.com/a.php?ArticleID=9288
June 22, 2004 edition
Persecution Watch: China
More than 100 house-church leaders were recently arrested in the country's central region, part of a 
growing crackdown on worship outside the state-controlled church. On June 11, about 50 policemen raided 
a religious retreat held by the China Gospel Fellowship (CGF) in the city of Wuhan, located in Hubei 
province, according to China Aid Association (CAA), a U.S.-based human-rights group. The whereabouts 
of those arrested are still unknown, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

A senior CGF leader, Xing Jinfu, 39, was among those detained. Jinfu has been arrested at least three 
times before for his church activities and was sentenced to three years re-education through labor in 
1996 for his "illegal preaching." Police also detained pastor Shen Xianfeng, CGF's leader, who was 
put under house arrest after authorities searched the house where he was recovering from leg injuries.

The CGF was established in the mid-1980s and is one of the five major house-church groups with an 
estimated membership of at least 5 million. CAA said the communist government ordered a new crackdown 
on independent religious groups following a recent conference on religious affairs, the AP reported.

Meanwhile, a well-known house-church leader was recently released from custody after publicity raised 
by international pressure. According to the Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), Zhao Wenquan, 60, was freed two 
weeks after his May 9 arrest in Hegou Town, located in Anhui province.

He was arrested when police raided a group of more than 4,000 Christians gathered for a special harvest 
celebration. Wenquan reportedly suffered only "minor beatings" during his incarceration and was in 
good spirits after his release.

He has been working in the nation's unregistered churches for more than 30 years. About a dozen other 
church leaders who escaped arrest on the day of the harvest celebration are still on the run, VOM said.

Elsewhere, house-church leader Gu Xianggao, 28, was beaten to death on April 27 while in custody of 
authorities. Xianggao Gu was a teacher in the 500,000-member church group known as "Three Grades Servants," 
based in Heilongjiang province, located in northeast China.

The authorities reportedly paid Xianggao's family about $28,000 in local currency to stay silent in 
an attempt to cover up his murder, VOM said. In addition to Xianggao, police also arrested Three 
Grades Servants leader Xu Shuangfu, who has been arrested more than 20 times, and spent more than 
20 years in prison(…)