‘Bishop defends gay priest appointment’ – updated
“The Anglican Bishop of Gippsland has defended his decision to appoint an openly gay priest to a local parish, saying he has acted appropriately…”
– Story and audio from ABC Gippsland. (February 27th 2012)
Related: ACL Statement on developments in the Diocese of Gippsland.
Update March 8th:
Bishop John McIntyre of Gippsland Responds, “I have no intention of responding…”
(Photo: Diocese of Gippsland.)
Archbishop Peter Jensen on the DNWA election
Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, has issued this statement on the election of Gary Nelson to be the new Bishop of North West Australia –
“I’m delighted to welcome the election of Gary Nelson as Bishop of Northwest Australia.
Gary is a Gospel-hearted man, firmly grounded in the Scriptures, with a wide experience of ministry and a deep desire that all God’s people grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
We look forward to continued fellowship with him and the Diocese of Northwest Australia in the years to come.”
(with thanks to Russell Powell / SydneyAnglicans.net.)
ACL Statement on developments in the Diocese of Gippsland
“The Anglican Church League expresses its dismay at the appointment of an openly homosexual man as priest in charge of a parish in the Diocese of Gippsland as announced in the December 2011 issue of The Gippsland Anglican.
The teaching of Scripture about appropriate sexual behaviour for disciples of Christ and the appointment of elders who are ‘beyond reproach’, is quite clear. Resolution 1.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference, the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008, the professional standards embodied in the document Faithfulness in Service (a document approved by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia) and the express commitment of the General Synod on a number of occasions to uphold the biblical teaching on marriage and human sexuality leave no room for ambiguity. Appointments like this put unwanted strain and tension upon relationships between the various dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia. It also contributes to the fragmentation of the Anglican Communion.
For the sake of the parish, the diocese and the Anglican Church of Australia we call upon the Bishop of Gippsland to rescind this appointment. We also call on him to make clear his commitment to the teaching of Scripture, to Lambeth 1998 Resolution 1.10, to the standards embodied in Faithfulness in Service and the various resolutions of the General Synod of the Anglican Church on this issue.
Mark Thompson Robert Tong
President Chairman. ”
ACL congratulates the Rev Gary Nelson on his election
The Anglican Church League congratulates the Rev Gary Nelson on his election as the seventh bishop of the diocese of North West Australia. Gary has been a godly and effective minister of the gospel in the diocese of Sydney since his ordination in 1983. Having served curacies in Seaforth and Dapto, he was rector of Panania for 17 years before he took on responsibility for the Department of External Studies at Moore College. Read more
Gary Nelson new Bishop for North West Australia
The Election Synod of the Diocese of North West Australia has elected Gary Nelson as the seventh Bishop of the Diocese. Gary is the Director of External Studies at Moore College in Sydney. Details here.
Prayers for North West election Synod
The Election Synod of the Diocese of North West Australia begins today (Synod is set to run February 10–12). Please uphold in prayer all the Synod members and also the six brothers who have been nominated (and their families). Voting is expected to begin on Saturday morning.
In his pre-Synod letter, Administrator of the Diocese, Dean Jeremy Rice writes:
“At the Election Synod we will need the wisdom of God, to elect a Bishop with the wisdom of God. It is my prayer that we will elect a faithful shepherd who will have his heart and mind firmly fixed on the author and perfector of our faith, Jesus Christ.”
Brian Rosner named as new Principal of Ridley
From Ridley College in Melbourne –
“The Board of Ridley Melbourne is delighted to announce the appointment of New Testament scholar and author, Dr Brian Rosner to the position of Principal. Dr Rosner will take up the role at the beginning of second semester, July 2012. …
Dr Rosner is currently Senior Lecturer in New Testament and Ethics and Faculty Research Coordinator at Moore Theological College.”
Special day rates for Mission Convention
The Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn is offering a special day rate for locals to help them attend the Provincial Mission Convention, January 26-29. Details here.
‘Stop the Loss’ coalition
Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower draws attention to a new pro-pokie-reform website.
“I ask parishes to print out this… to stem this hemorrhaging of life blood from the vulnerable among us. Let’s care for the needy and protect the addicted…” – at Imaginary Diocese.