‘England bypassed. Global Communion isolated.’
Many years ago a Dutch friend of mine told me about a cartoon which expressed what they thought about the English attitude: an English newspaper headline read, “Fog in the Channel. Continent cut off.”
In the same way, we have seen English bishops, and indeed Archbishops, complaining that GAFCON has not shown due regard for Anglo-centric structures and personalities — that they, and not ‘self-appointed’ individuals and bodies, have the right to define the terms by which Anglicanism is constituted and operates.…
– John Richardson writes on the mindset of the Church of England at the Ugley Vicar.
C of E General Synod to debate women bishops tonight
Tonight (Australian time) the Church of England’s General Synod, meeting in York, will spend more than four hours debating a motion on women bishops. David Phillips, General Secretary of Church Society, reports that there are 14 amendments proposed.
– See David’s summaries of General Synod for Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
(Photo: Australian women bishops Barbara Darling and Kay Goldsworthy – by Janine Eastlake / Anglican Media Melbourne.).
Dr Phillip Aspinall on ABC Radio
An interview with Archbishop of Brisbane and Primate Dr Phillip Aspinall was broadcast on ABC Radio on Sunday night. The transcript is now available from the ABC.
If we didn’t leave, what did we accomplish at GAFCON?
It is important, when considering what was accomplished at GAFCON, to keep in mind its singular focus. That focus was to identify the Anglican grasp of the apostolic faith, to claim that identity for the whole Anglican Communion and to provide a firm oversight and standing from which to confess the apostolic faith as we Anglicans have received it. …
– Bishop John H. Rodgers Jr., one of the founders of the Anglican Mission in America, at Virtue Online.
See also this interview he gave in February. (Photo: Trinity School for Ministry.)
Book review: Surprised by Hope
N. T. Wright is one of the most talented writers among New Testament scholars today. In this book he presents his understanding of what the Scriptures teach about heaven, the resurrection, and the church’s mission. …
Wright appeals to many because he is brilliant and fascinating, and some of what he says is helpful. Nevertheless, his failure to emphasize the centrality of the gospel is troubling, and pastors who find his work illuminating need to be careful that they do not veer away from their central task of proclaiming the good news to a lost generation.
– Thomas Schreiner, Professor of New Testament at SBTS, reviews Bishop Tom Wright’s recent book, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church – at 9 Marks.
Earlier posts: on Tom Schreiner, on Bishop N T Wright. (Update: David Virtue has a related commentary on recent statements from Bishop Wright – at Virtue Online.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…