Talking about Mary
“You would have to be living on another planet not to notice the avalanche of publicity about Mary MacKillop at the moment. …
However, when talking with people from a Catholic background, rather than raising … concerns straight away, it would be better to take another approach. …”
– Mark Gilbert makes some helpful suggestions on how to start a conversation with your Romans Catholic friends – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
How will they hear without a preacher?
“Preaching has fallen on hard times. So suggests a report out of Durham University’s College of Preachers. The British university’s CODEC research center, which aims to explore ‘the interfaces between the Bible, the digital environment and contemporary culture,’ conducted the study to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the College of Preachers. The report is not very encouraging…”
– from Al Mohler’s latest column.
Biblical Baptism revisited
Barry Newman picks up the theme of Baptism in the latest posts on his blog –
“Over September 1 to September 13 2009 I created a series of blogs on the subject entitled “Biblical Baptism”. The material has been discussed by various people in different venues and I have tried to listen carefully to the comments made. What follows is an attempt to further contribute to the debate…”
– Read Barry’s blog here.
Find the Bible boring?
John Piper has some words of exhortation in this video excerpt from a sermon on Philippians 2:14-16.
(Or see the whole thing.)
Mother of three seeks backing of C of E General Synod for North American Anglicans
“A mother-of-three children from Eastbourne is officially to ask the Church of England’s Parliament (General Synod) to support Anglicans in the USA and Canada who are unwilling to conform to what they perceive to be their churches’ reaction of historic Anglican teaching and practice. …
She said: ‘It is my desire to give Synod an opportunity to hear about the unfair treatment of people who have continued to maintain the Anglican faith in doctrine, practice and worship, and to express their continuing fellowship with them as loyal Anglicans.’…”
– Report via Anglican Mainstream. (Photo: Church of England website.)
More Catechesis, Please
“Packer’s last crusade in this world,” the Rev. Dr. J.I. Packer affirms, is recovering catechesis — systematic instruction in the Christian fundamentals — to meet the challenges of an increasingly pagan age.
– Amen to Dr Packer as reported by The Living Church. (Image: Oak Hill College.)
Air Conditioning Hell: How Liberalism happens
Tempted to be embarrassed by the biblical doctrine of hell?
“Though some lampoon the stereotypical “hell-fire and brimstone” preaching of an older evangelical generation, the fact is that most church members may never have heard a sermon on hell — even in an evangelical congregation. Has hell gone dormant among evangelicals as well?
Interestingly, the doctrine of hell serves very well as a test case for the slide into theological liberalism. The pattern of this slide looks something like this…”
– Read this article by Al Mohler in the current 9Marks eJournal. (Photo: Together for the Gospel.)
New Westminster files cross-appeal
“The diocese of New Westminster has filed a cross-appeal of a November decision in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
The cross-appeal was filed in response to an appeal filed by the trustees of four Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) congregations in late December. …”
– report from The Anglican Journal of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Related: New Westminster news page.
Shepherd to the great outdoors
“What does a 62-year-old former Sydney schoolboy do when put in charge of the world’s largest, by area, Anglican diocese – stretching from Dongara to the top of Western Australia, taking in the Kimberley and the Pilbara, the miners, the fishermen, the public servants, the Aborigines, the flotsam of Australia’s remaining great frontier?
David Mulready is aware of the perils of such a life … There is not much money and few clergy are ready to take on the frontier life. For the 155,000 people in the diocese, there are 23 Anglican clergy…”
– This piece on Bishop David Mulready, by Malcolm Brown in The Sydney Morning Herald, is a timely reminder to keep the people of the North West in your prayers. (Photo: DNWA.)
Related: Ministry Opportunities in the Diocese of North West Australia.