Agonizing

Akinola: Anglicans must not sacrifice Bible for unity
August 24, 2007

ABUJA, Nigeria --Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola, a leader of Bible traditionalists in the Anglican world, says the "the moment of decision is almost upon us" about whether Anglican conservatives and liberals can stay together.

In a statement Monday, Akinola said that theological conservatives cannot stand by as the U.S. Episcopal Church -- the Anglican body in the U.S. -- and the Anglican Church of Canada move toward full acceptance of gay relationships.

It's all here ...

 

and there's a curious followup...

Software suggests Minns rewrote Akinola’s letter
by Pat Ashworth
Church Times

A BISHOP in the United States has been revealed as the principal author of a seminal letter to the Church of Nigeria from its Archbishop, the Most Revd Peter Akinola, which was published on Sunday.

The letter includes a suggestion that the Archbishop of Canterbury’s status as a focus of unity is “highly questionable”. It also refers to a “moment of decision” for the Anglican Communion, which is on the “brink of destruction”.

The document, “A Most Agonising Journey towards Lambeth 2008”, appears to express to Nigerian synods the personal anguish of Archbishop Akinola over his attendance at the Lambeth Conference.

But computer tracking software suggests that the letter was extensively edited and revised over a four-day period by the Rt Revd Martyn Minns, who was consecrated last year by Archbishop Akinola to lead the secessionist Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) (News, 11 August 2006). Bishop Minns, along with the Rt Revd Gene Robinson, has not been invited to Lambeth (News, 25 May).

It’s all here … followed by this hot denial from the Archbishop's communications officer...

PRESS RELEASE
24th August, 2007
RE: Software suggests Minns rewrote Akinola’s Letter –Church Times

It is very insulting and racist to infer that the Primate of All Nigeria is being dictated to.  Is this in continuation of the ‘jamming’ of people opposing the agenda?

I would have believed the ‘computer software’ story were it not for the allegation of ‘minor amendments’ by the Canon Chris Sugden who had nothing to do with the document.

It's all here ...

... and here, so you can try it yourself.

Comments

[Sarah Dylan Breuer]

Many, many thanks for posting the actual file in question. Remarkable. Personally, I'd have a hard time dictating such extensive revisions, almost entirely replacing the original text, over the telephone.

[JamesW]

This still proves absolutely nothing. Two things need to be kept in mind:

1. The software can not tell you what person did the changes, only who was logged in. All that we can tell from the evidence is that the changes were made on Martyn Minns' computer. Go ahead and try it out - borrow a friend's laptop, create a document and see who the author is listed as.

2. At the time the changes were made, Peter Akinola was visiting Virginia. A Nigerian official reported emailing the document to Martyn Minns so that Akinola would have access to it for editing purposes.

3. Put two and two together, and it is perfectly natural that Akinola would use his host's computer to edit the letter. Or Minns and Akinola could have collaboratively edited the letter on Minns' computer.

Really, folks, for anyone who is remotely familiar with computers, Word, and Akinola's travel schedule, this isn't a story, its more of a cheap smear, taking advantage of people's ignorance of computers to make something appear to be what it isn't necessarily.