Better communication would help global church, says Archbishop

The Archbishop of the Philippines has spoken of his desire to see greater information sharing between Anglican Churches around the world.

The Most Rev Ephraim Fajutagana appealed for better communication and information sharing during a visit to the Anglican Communion Office in the UK.

The Archbishop said he greatly valued learning about what other national Churches and Provinces are doing around the world.

He said that more collaboration, sharing and cooperation could only improve the work of the church.

“What is a problem in the Philippines, poverty for example, is not only a problem in the Philippines, it is a worldwide issue," he said.

"Human trafficking is not only a problem in the Philippines, but also a problem elsewhere in the world, here in the UK as well.

“We want communications to be better between churches so we can hear more about how Churches achieved what they did. How did they succeed in bringing that concern to the government in a way that the government responded positively?”

The Archbishop heads the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, the second largest church in the Philippines after the Roman Catholic Church.

He was accompanied on his visit by his chaplain Fr Osborne Ortaleza and Fr Salvador Telen, who until recently was chaplain to London's Filipino community.

The IFI is currently campaigning to end political killings in the country and a "culture of impunity" protecting the killers.

Archbishop Fajutagana noted that some of the biggest challenges facing the Church are a lack of national peace and order, a lack of transport for clergy, and a shortage of priests.