Anglican Church League
Archive January – May 2004


Monday 31 May 2004
Background to the Cathedral’s Annual General Meeting.
This article, from yesterday’s St. Andrew’s Cathedral Courier, gives some background to the media reporting of the Annual General Meeting.
Sunday 30 May 2004
Canadian General Synod starts.

Watch it live here. (Requires Windows Media Player).

See the Canadian General Synod’s main page here – as the Synod begins its discussion of same sex unions.

Thursday 27 May 2004
Joint statement by the Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, and the Head of St. Andrew’s Cathedral School, Phillip Heath.

A joint statement about the Cathedral School’s role in Cathedral services (Issued May 21).

And while you are in the Cathedral site, listen to some of the sermons.

Wednesday 19 May 2004
 “A Crisis in Koinonia : Biblical Prespectives for Anglicans” – paper by David Short.

David Short“For the sake of the gospel, for the sake of koinonia, it is time for Anglicans to realign. Jesus is still building his church.”

“To remain in structural fellowship with any body that formally promotes and recognizes what God’s word condemns as sin is to have communion with the unfruitful works of darkness. In biblical terms, any body that promotes or legitimizes same sex unions has effectively removed itself from the fellowship of the gospel, and the catholic and apostolic faith.”

Read this very helpful paper by David Short – Rector of St. John’s Shaughnessy in Vancouver.

Tuesday 18 May 2004
 Statement from the “Global South” Primates.

“Should ECUSA fail to comply within three months, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates should then take appropriate disciplinary action, which should include the suspension and ultimate expulsion of ECUSA from fellowship and membership of the Anglican Communion.”

Read their full statement – issued 17th May – here.

Tuesday 11 May 2004
 Statement from the Rev Chris Moroney, Senior Assistant Minister at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney.

Following a report of debatable accuracy in Monday’s Sydney Morning Herald about changes at the Cathedral, the Rev. Chris Moroney has released this statement –

“In recent days there have been a number of media enquiries concerning the story on last Sunday night’s meeting about the 6.30pm service and the St Andrew’s Cathedral Choir that appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on 10th May. A number of letters were also published.
There are certain matters that require clarification...”

Read the full text at Anglican Media Sydney.

Tuesday 11 May 2004
 “A Tale of Two Colleges
John Richardson on a far far better thing in Sydney”

John Richardson“The forthcoming Hind Report is undoubtedly correct in seeing the training of its ministers as crucial to the life of the Church. Inevitably, however, whether we have been trained ourselves, or have experienced the ministry of those who have received such training, most of us view theological education within the same, local, context.

I must be one of the few people who has been an undergraduate at two theological colleges twenty years and twelve thousand miles apart. But that distance gives me, I feel, a useful perspective on our present situation.”

Read the full article here from the April edition of New Directions.

Saturday 08 May 2004
 Orthodoxy – The Real Watershed

“The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown’s blockbuster novel, gives us a hauntingly mystical view of Christ. In The Code, Jesus is married to Mary Magdalene and has children with her. Along the way, he also spawns a cult of secret goddess worshippers. According to the novel, in the modern age, the rigidly orthodox Catholic order of Opus Dei fanatically suppresses a group of cultists who keep alive Jesus’ ancient and “true” vision of Christianity.

If you suspect that this plot line is too absurd to gain attention, consider that the novel has spent 52 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and is currently at the top.”

Read this helpful article from Peter Moore, Dean and President, Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry.

Thursday 06 May 2004
 Gay bishop proves it’s never too late to fall in love
With grandson in attendance, 78-year-old cleric marries same-sex partner

The ceremony lasted two hours and 45 minutes. When it concluded, Otis Charles, the world's first openly gay Christian bishop, also became the world’s first bishop to wed his same-sex partner in church...

This news from last week – from the San Francsico Chronicle.

Saturday 01 May 2004
 The Paganization of the United Church

Read this helpful and thought provoking article by Don Faris about the United Church of Canada – with parallels to the Anglican Church of Canada. Remember, many denominations in Australia are not far behind...

“How is it that the United Church of Canada and the lemming-like Anglican Church in Canada are abandoning Christian sexual ethics and adopting pagan sexual ethics?

The answer is that their leadership, their theological colleges and most of their clergy have abandoned the authority of Scripture and accommodated their faith to the ideologies of the surrounding culture.

The strategy of accommodation to the surrounding culture is indeed at the very heart of liberal theology. This accommodation is thought to be necessary for apologetic reasons. The theory is that it is easier to explain the Christian faith to people if you accept the basic premises of their world-view. The fact is that if you accept the basic premises of the world-view of the surrounding culture, you end up reducing the Christian faith to a mere echo of what the surrounding culture already believes!”

(Emphasis added.) Read the full article on CANN.

Saturday 01 May 2004
 Orthodox ECUSA clergy appeal to Archbishop Eames

The American Anglican Council is endorsing a letter to be sent to Robin Eames, Archbishop of Armaugh and Chairman of the Lambeth Commission – to appeal for help. The letter already has 500 signatories and the AAC is inviting other orthodox Episcopal clergy to add their signatures. The letter reads –

“Dear Archbishop Eames:

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are clergy of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. We are very grateful for your faithfulness and willingness to serve the Communion during these very trying times. These days have been very difficult and demanding for all of us and we make our appeal to you based on our love for the Lord Jesus, our fellowship in the Gospel, and our devotion to the unity of the Anglican Communion.

We are deeply grieved over the state of Anglicanism in North America. It is being torn apart through actions that we thoroughly oppose. We repudiate the decision of the 2003 General Convention’s consent to, and the subsequent consecration of, a non-celibate homosexual to be a bishop of the church. We reject the acceptance and promotion of same-sex blessings as part of the common life of our church. These innovations have introduced unbiblical and immoral teaching into the church, have jeopardized our common witness, and have brought into question our standing in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. 

We have called upon the leadership of the church to repent of and reverse these unbiblical and schismatic actions, but to no avail. These actions are harming the pastoral and evangelistic ministry that we lead and will prove fatal to the unity of the church.

The most recent plan proposed by the Episcopal House of Bishops to provide delegated Episcopal oversight is inadequate because all of the power remains with the revisionist bishops. It does not acknowledge the depth of the crisis facing our Church, it deals insufficiently with Episcopal pastoral care of faithful congregations and clergy, and it fails entirely to address such issues as ordination, the calling of clergy, church planting, finances or property. 

We appeal to you and your commission for your urgent assistance in the restoration of biblical orthodoxy and unity. Without the imposition of discipline, the situation will only continue to deteriorate. We ask you to declare the need for immediate intervention to establish discipline, order, and accountability for the Episcopal Church. 

We are greatly heartened to know that so many of our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Communion are standing with us at this time. While the situation here is painful, it is encouraging to know that the things we believe are the norm in most of the communion. The prayers and support of faithful people around the world strengthen us and their fellowship is a joy and witness to us. We appeal to you to protect these relationships in your final report to the Primates of the Anglican Communion.

Yours in Christ and for His Gospel,”

The letter, with links to a form to add signatures, is available here.

Tuesday 27 April 2004
 “Gay row dean attacks prejudice in church”

In a move likely to provoke renewed aggravation from conservative evangelicals, Canon Jeffrey John, the dean of St Albans, yesterday broke his silence in a sermon in which he reminded the Church of England that Jesus excluded no "untouchables" such as homosexuals from his special care...

Full story from the Guardian.

Tuesday 20 April 2004
 Statement From Reform on the appointment of Jeffrey John as Dean of St Albans

Commenting on the appointment of Jeffrey John as Dean of St Albans, David Banting, the Chairman of Reform, said “This is a provocative move at a time when we had thought that the Archbishop of Canterbury had called for a period of reflection on matters related to human sexuality.

The issue has always been Jeffrey John’s teaching. The doctrinal position he advocates on human sexuality runs counter both to the Bible’s teaching and to the House of Bishops’ own policy position. His teaching weakens marriage and family life and is an affront to the gospel. Over the past year, Jeffrey John has promoted his views actively and has done so with the approval of certain bishops. At his most recent press conference he has continued to show approval for lifelong same-sex unions. It is disingenuous therefore to suggest that he supports the present position of the House of Bishops. The fact that Jeffrey John has been appointed to such a prominent role means that he will now be in an even better position to undermine the House of Bishops’ policy. This demonstrates that the House of Bishops is powerless to maintain order within the Church; that the Archbishop of Canterbury is unable to exercise leadership on this divisive issue; and that the Bishop of St Albans is unable to discern the threat to the unity of his diocese that this appointment poses.

We very much regret this appointment and it is with deep sorrow that now, instead of a time of reflection, we foresee a prolonged period of growing disenchantment, confrontation and disorder as individuals and individual parishes consider the extent to which their communion within the Church of England has been impaired.”

from Reform.

Saturday 17 April 2004
 Gay cleric in line for senior job

“The gay canon forced to stand down as Bishop of Reading, is reportedly to be appointed to another senior position in the Church of England.

The choice of Dr Jeffrey John as Dean of St Albans is likely to cause more controversy in the Anglican church around the world.”

BBC report here.

Friday 16 April 2004
 African churches refuse funding over gay clergy issue

“Africa’s Anglican archbishops decided Thursday to reject donations from any diocese that recognizes gay clergy and refuse cooperation with any missionary that supports the idea.

Their decision at a meeting with their counterparts from Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America was the latest attack by church conservatives against the consecration of an openly gay bishop in the United States.”

.... “We are not against every church in the America. We are not against every in the West,” Akinola said, explaining that in the American Anglican church there were individual churches which did not support what happened in U.S. Diocese of New Hampshire.

Full story from CNN.

Wednesday 07 April 2004
 Peter JensenDownloadable version of Archbishop’s Easter Message

Easter idea: Archbishop Peter Jensen has released his 2004 Easter Message. We’ve formatted it with two copies to an A4 page - so you may like to download, print and copy it for members of your congregation for Good Friday.

Along with links to the Assistant Bishops’ messages, it is in the Easter resources section.

Tuesday 06 April 2004
 Trevor Edwards appointed Assistant Bishop.

Trevor Edwards, the Rector of St. Matthew’s Wanniassa in Canberra, has been appointed Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn.

According to a letter from Bishop George Browning to the clergy of the diocese, Trevor’s brief is to focus on evangelism and ‘growing communities of faith’.

Read the full letter here - on the Anglican Media Sydney website.

Before moving to Canberra, Trevor was Archdeacon of South Sydney and had served in a number of Sydney parishes. His many friends in Sydney will wish him and Ruth well in this new ministry.

Monday 05 April 2004
 Ideas for Easter.
Some resources to help us in preparing for outreach this Easter.

Saturday 03 April 2004
 Four Vancouver ministers leave the Anglican Church of Canada and claim Temporary Adequate Episcopal Oversight from Primates of SE Asia and Africa.

Ed Hird“Dear Michael,

I am writing to inform you that I have accepted the offer of Temporary Adequate Episcopal Oversight from the Primates of SE Asia; Congo; Rwanda; Central Africa and Kenya. I am now canonically resident in the Province of Rwanda. The Primates have invited Bishop TJ Johnston from Little Rock Arkansas to act on their behalf as my Bishop. I have now come under his authority.

As I have left the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) terminating all my benefits, I would be most grateful if you could instruct your Diocesan Officers to close my file and return any documents to the address above.

Yours sincerely in Christ,
The Rev Ed Hird.”

Read the letters sent from one of the churches, St. Simon’s Deep Cove, North Vancouver, to Bishop Michael Ingham.

and then read this statement on the New Westminster website.

Please pray for each of the ministers concerned and for their congregations - having made this difficult decision, and pray that they will remain faithful to the Lord Jesus and his revealed word, no matter what.

Thursday 01 April 2004
 The Tragedy That is Rowan Williams

“The Anglican Communion is at a cross roads, some say it is in the process of an international ecclesiastical meltdown.

The liberal Western provinces largely dominated by post-modern, pluriform thinking - loose on doctrine and morals; faces a vastly outnumbered Global South Anglicanism that is at once orthodox in faith and morals with a high view of the authority of Holy Scripture.”

Wednesday 30 March 2004
 Debunking 815’s Spin

This interesting article from the American Anglican Council documents some of the logic of the ECUSA leadership as they move further and further from any Biblical moorings. ‘815’ refers to the headquarters of the Episcopal Church of the USA.

“Over the last several weeks, the “spin” from 815 has increased rather dramatically. Yesterday, the Presiding Bishop released a letter written to Archbishop Eames and the Lambeth Commission in an attempt to “explain” the “workings of the Episcopal Church.”  In various statements, interviews and again in the letter to Archbishop Eames, Bishop Griswold focuses on two major goals: to downplay the crisis ECUSA faces and to discredit those who stand in opposition to the divisive innovations of General Convention 2003.”

Read the full article here.

Saturday 27 March 2004
 ‘SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT:
What Really Happened at the House of Bishops?’

* The House of Bishops meeting was tightly controlled and “process oriented”.
* The Presiding Bishop stated in his opening address that V. Gene Robinson has borne all the pain over the last several months.
* The House neither acknowledged nor dealt with the severe level of crisis in the church. The Presiding Bishop’s mantra continues to be, “More unites us than divides us.”...

Read the rest of this summary analysis from the American Anglican Council.

Thursday 25 March 2004
 Episcopal House of Bishops isues statement

The ECUSA House of Bishops has just issued this statement after its meeting in Camp Allen, Texas.

Also see this reaction from the American Anglican Council –

“The House of Bishops has proven once again their dysfunction and inability to acknowledge, much less address, the crisis of the Episcopal Church.  From a format of “process”, small group discussion and multiple revisions, they have produced a plan for episcopal oversight that is undeniably and woefully inadequate.  
 “Adequate” oversight must be determined by those who are seeking it.  The House of Bishops considered the effect of their plan upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Presiding Bishop, individual bishops and their House as a whole; but the voices of the people in desperate need of AEO were not heard.  The plan is designed to be viable only where it is unnecessary, that is, in the few dioceses where bishops agree to AEO. It gives no relief to orthodox beleaguered Episcopalians.  It gives no recourse to those whose very constitutional rights of freedom to associate are threatened. It gives no hope for those who feel abandoned by their church...” (more...)

Tuesday 23 March 2004
 ‘Verdict for Lesbian Minister Looms Over Religious Meeting‘

“A month before the quadrennial conference of the United Methodist Church, the acquittal of a lesbian minister on a charge of violating Methodist law by engaging in a homosexual relationship has outraged traditionalists, elated reformers and energized both groups.”

Story in The New York Times.

Tuesday 16 March 2004
 Gay Episcopal bishop says it’s “pretty clear”opposing bishops violated ordination vows

“The Episcopal Church’s first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, said Monday it is “pretty clear” that five bishops opposed to his election who led an Ohio confirmation service Sunday violated their vows taken as members of the hierarchy.”

(Thanks Gene, now we know who was in the wrong!)

Read the report from the Akron Beacon Journal.

Tuesday 16 March 2004
 Anglican Mainstream Letter to Canterbury – after ECUSA Primate Celebrates Eucharist at Canterbury

“At a time when most of the communion is in some form of impaired or  broken communion with ECUSA, it is inexplicable, indeed highly  provocative, that, at the first major Communion gathering after the Lambeth Primates Meeting, the chief consecrator of Gene Robinson, the  person who ignored the pleas of the Primates last time they met, the presiding bishop who within days of agreeing to a statement with his  fellow Primates acted in direct contravention of it, should be invited to preside at an official Eucharist in Canterbury Cathedral on March 2.”

(emphasis added)

Read the full text of the letter here.

Monday 15 March 2004
 Pirated DVDs of ‘The Passion of Christ’ Flood Jeddah

“Pirated DVDs of controversial Hollywood blockbuster “The Passion of Christ” have hit the streets and are selling like hot cakes, according to street vendors.”

Read this interesting report from Arab News (and then pray).

Thursday 11 March 2004
 Anglicanism on brink of schism over gay ‘marriage’

“Worldwide Anglicanism edged closer to disintegration yesterday after the liberal Canadian Church defied calls for restraint and paved the way for homosexual ‘marriages’.To the dismay of conservatives, it announced that its General Synod would be asked to affirm that there was no bar to Canadian dioceses authorising the blessing of ‘committed same-sex unions’.”

Read the report from the London Telegraph.

Saturday 06 March 2004
“Thou Shalt Not” - interview with Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney George Pell

Report in The Bulletin here.

Saturday 06 March 2004
“Sex before marriage OK”, says Dean of Darwin

“A senior Territory churchman stunned his congregation by telling them it’s OK for unmarried couples to live together.

Mike Nixon, dean of the Anglican Christchurch Cathedral in Darwin, said sex before marriage – one of the church’s greatest taboos – could strengthen bonds between couples.

He said society had changed greatly since the writing of the Old Testament and modern science now offered safe ways for couples to have sexual relations.”

See the full report here from news.com.au

and then read Titus 2:11f, 2 Timothy 2:22 and 1 Coritnhians 7:1f.

Monday 01 March 2004
Carnley’s tensions, poor reflections
– a review by John Woodhouse of Archbishop Peter Carnley’s book “Reflections in Glass”

John Woodhouse“The value of the book, to my mind, lies in its attempt to delineate in some depth a number of the profound disagreements that characterise the Anglican denomination today. Not surprisingly, Dr Carnley is most informative in his articulation of his own views. These views are always interesting, usually controversial and cover a vast range of topics.”...

“Dr Carnley is correct to see that the place of the essential mystery of God in his theology is very different from the faith of evangelicals. However he misunderstands the difference.”

Read the review here on Anglican Media Sydney.
Dr. John Woodhouse is Principal of Moore Theological College.

Thusday, 24 February 2004
Homosexuality Is Divinely Ordered, Says New Anglican Catechism

“A radical rethink of Church teaching on homosexuality that declares it to be ‘divinely ordered’ is revealed this week in a catechism commissioned by the Archbishop of York.

The second most senior churchman in the Church of England, the Most Rev David Hope, has given the new catechism his imprimatur and describes it in his foreword as ‘a celebration of Christian living.’

Written by Canon Edward Norman, canon and treasurer of York Minster, the catechism seeks to define Anglicanism for the first time since Thomas Cranmer wrote The Book of Common Prayer in 1662.”

Read the full report here. (As one member pointed out, Cranmer was with the Lord in 1662!)

Tuesday, 24 February 2004
The Good News of God's Wrath - by Archbishop Peter Jensen
At the heart of the universe, there is a just and gracious God.

Peter Jensen“Some Christians today are nervous about the Atonement.

They think that we can know little or nothing about how God has been righteous and yet he “justified the ungodly” (Rom. 4:5) at the same time.

Especially because of the doctrine’s associations with “the wrath of God” and “punishment” and other harsh language, they would prefer to leave the question of How? in the sphere of theory and speculation, if it is to be handled at all.”

Read this adaptation of an address given at the National Evangelical Anglican Congress in the UK last year.

Sunday, 22 February 2004
Interesting articles on Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”

Many evangelical Christians are looking forward to using Mel Gibson’s movie as an evangelistic tool. We should all pray that many will come to Christ.

Much has been written on the movie. These four articles give some interesting background...

The Passion of Mel Gibson
Why evangelicals are cheering a movie with profoundly Catholic sensibilities.
by David Neff, from Christianity Today.

What Mel Missed
There’s a reason why the Gospels don’t dwell on the blood and gore of the crucifixion.
by Frederica Mathewes-Green on Belief.net

Mel on hell:
“Even the missus may miss out on salvation”
from AzCentral.com

The Greatest Story Ever Told
“...when it comes to The Passion of the Christ, I believe it has the potential to dramatically impact Christian viewers and, even more importantly, change the lives of the many unsaved audience members who could potentially be drawn to it. There are no specific references to unique Catholic doctrine in the film — it is a straightforward depiction of what both Protestants and Catholics agree is the single most important event in human history”
- James Dobson

Saturday, 15 February 2004
Two interesting articles from the current issue of “New Directions”

John Richardson looks at the arguments of Jeffrey John

John Richardson“In the run-up to its February session, members of the Church of England’s General Synod will have received complementary copies of Permanent, Faithful, Stable by Canon Jeffrey John. This little booklet is described on the back as ‘one of the most powerful arguments for the acceptance and blessing of homosexual relationships by the Church’. However, as any dictionary will tell you, ‘argument’ in this sense is not just the presentation of a viewpoint but the setting forth of reasons. And reasoning must stand up to scrutiny.”

Read it here.

and

Letter from Australia - The end of an error by David Chislett, Rector of Wickham Terrace Brisbane

David Chislett“In a surprise announcement last month, Dr Peter Carnley said that he would bring forward his retirement as Archbishop of Perth and Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia to May next year, after completing his duties in February and then taking accumulated leave. He and his wife, Ann, will move to their property in the southwest, where he looks forward to gardening and writing.”

An interesting reflection on the liberal theology of Peter Carnley - from an Anglo-Catholic perspective. Read it here.

Tuesday, 10 February 2004
Terry Dein to be new Archdeacon of North SydneyTerry Dein

Archbishop of Sydney Dr Peter Jensen has announced the appointment of Canon Terry Dein as the next Archdeacon of North Sydney. Terry will assist Bishop Glenn Davies in his oversight of the region. He succeeds Ernie Carnaby who retires as Archdeacon in March.

Terry is currently Rector of St. Andrew’s Wahroonga.

He will begin as Archdeacon on May 10th. Terry’s many friends will wish him the Lord’s richest blessings as he takes on this new role.

Tuesday, 10 February 2004
Last Signal to the Carpathia - by Dr Paul Zahl, Dean of Cathedral Church of the Advent, Birmingham, Alabama

“It has been astonishing to me, after almost 30 years ordained service in the Episcopal Church, that almost none of my old friends who are now Episcopal bishops or leaders on the ascendant side have reached out, personally.”

Take the time to read this thoughtful address from Paul Zahl on possible ways forward in ECUSA.

Thursday, 05 February 2004
Academic issues challenge - Archbishop accepts

In Wednesday’s Letters section of the Sydney Morning Herald, Dr Tom Hubble of the University of Sydney issued a challenge to Dr. Pater Jensen – read it here (scroll down to “ A pulpit challenge”.)

And then read Archbishop Jensen’s reply in Today’s Letters section. (Scroll down to “True believers in a game of call my bluff, so to speak”.)

Monday, 02 February 2004
“Heresy better idea than schism” – Peter Lee, Episcopal Bishop of Virginia

Heresy is better than schism, the Episcopal bishop of Virginia said yesterday in a speech that gently chided church conservatives for imperiling the unity of the country’s largest diocese over the consecration of the denomination’s first homosexual bishop last November.

“If you must make a choice between heresy and schism, always choose heresy,” said the Rt. Rev. Peter J. Lee to 500 Episcopalians meeting for the annual diocesan council at the Hyatt Regency in Reston.

“For as a heretic, you are only guilty of a wrong opinion,” Bishop Lee said, quoting Presbyterian scholar James McCord. “As a schismatic, you have torn and divided the body of Christ. Choose heresy every time.”

Read the full report from The Washington Times.

 

Friday, 21 November 2003
“Anglican bishop considers locking out dissenters”

“A group of Anglican churches in British Columbia opposed to the blessing of same-sex unions has become so intransigent that reconciliation is almost impossible, their bishop, Michael Ingham, said yesterday.”

Read the report from the National Post (Canada).

Tuesday, 18 November 2003
Russian Orthodox Church suspends contacts with ECUSA over Robinson

“We will not be able to co-operate with those people either in the realm of theological dialogue or in the humanitarian, religious and public spheres. We cannot afford even to a certain degree share their position, which is, in our opinion, profoundly anti-Christian and sacrilegious...”

Full the full report from Novosti.
Friday, 14 November 2003
‘Is the Episcopal Church a Christian Church Anymore?’
Tuesday, 11 November 2003
‘Secret Document Reveals Primates Excommunication Plans’

Read this report from David Virtue.
(Search for the text "08".)

Sunday, 9 November 2003
More fallout from ECUSA consecration

“Name dropping: Episcopal school weighing a change”

“Trinity Episcopal School of Ministry, a refuge for conservative seminary students, may change its name.
‘We would just drop the word Episcopal from our name,’ the Rev. Peter Moore, dean and president, told WORLD. Nothing is final, but such talk underscores the potential realignment in the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) following the consecration of gay Bishop Gene Robinson.”

Full story from WorldMag.

“ECUSA won’t heed Eames Commission, say Primates ”

“The consecration was also condemned in Egypt, where the Bishop, the Rt Revd Mouneer Anis, declared the participants to be ‘among the violaters of the teaching of the Holy Book, and therefore, they have become dissociated with Jesus’s Church’.”

Full story from the Church Times.

Sunday, 9 November 2003
Buckle withdraws offer to New West parishes
Bishop Buckle

“Bishop Terrence Buckle of the Yukon is withdrawing his offer of episcopal oversight to parishes in the diocese of New Westminster that do not agree with the blessing of same-sex unions.
‘It is apparent to me that the way ahead in this regard is to allow a new process and … it is necessary for me to now withdraw,’he wrote in a letter to the coalition of parishes called the Anglican Communion in New Westminster.”

Full story from Anglican Journal.

Saturday, 8 November 2003
‘Former Archbishop of Canterbury says U.S. gay bishop damage ‘incalculable’ ’

“In a letter to the Times of London newspaper, Carey said he shared the distress of conservative evangelicals following Sunday’s consecration of Gene Robinson as Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire.”

Full story from CBC Canada.
Wednesday, 5 November 2003
Archbishop Drexel Gomez of Bahamas says American bishops can attend church - but that’s all

“America does make the largest contribution to the world-wide Anglican Communion. That’s a matter of fact... As much as we need the money, the gospel must come first. We are prepared to suffer. Money cannot be the overriding factor in the proclamation of the gospel.”

Read the story from the Nassua Guardian.

Wednesday, 5 November 2003
Archbishop Peter Carnley “regrets the decision” to consecrate Robinson
Tuesday, 4 November 2003
Statement of Primates from the ‘Global South’
“It is with profound sadness and pain that we have arrived at this moment in the history of the Anglican Communion.
We are appalled that the authorities within the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) have ignored the heartfelt plea of the Communion not to proceed with the scheduled consecration of Canon Gene Robinson. They have ignored the clear and strong warning of its detrimental consequences for the unity of the Communion...”

Read the full statement from Archbishop of Nigeria Peter Akinola - for and behalf of the working committee for the Primates of the Global South.

Tuesday, 4 November 2003
Archbishop Peter Jensen on ABC’s lateline last night
Monday, 3 November 2003
Consecrated: but nothing prepared Gene Robinson for the protests

“The Reverend Gene Robinson knew there would be protests, he knew there would be people objecting to him making history. He knew those protestors would be vocal, they would not sit quietly by while he was consecrated as the Anglican church’s first openly gay Bishop.
But surely the 56-year-old divorced father could not have anticipated the words of Father Earle Fox, a retired priest from Pittsburgh, who intervened dramatically during yesterday evening’s consecration service in Durham, New Hampshire, after the head of the US Episcopalian Church asked if there were objections.”

Full story from The Independent.

Monday, 3 November 2003
Archbishop Peter Jensen on ABC TV tonight

We hear that Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen will be on ABC TV’s Lateline tonight at 10:30pm. Please pray for Peter as he speaks.

Monday, 3 November 2003
Forward in Faith North America - Statement

“November 2, 2003

From Forward in Faith North America

“The loving God revealed to us in Holy Scripture is adored and worshipped by the Christian Church in thanksgiving for His message and divine initiative for the world’s salvation, healing, and wholeness.  Today, He is mocked by people whose intent is the creation of a new religion.  A religion not based on divine revelation, but on the human desire to fashion God in their own image. 

A once honored and respected church that claimed to be both reformed and Catholic has today ritually formalized its identity as an eccentric religious sect.  This sect is based upon the spirit of the age and a willfulness to abandon and dismiss its foundational doctrine and moral teaching.  Therefore, those who affirm and celebrate the episcopal ministry of Gene Robinson have placed themselves outside the Christian religion.

This is a day of great sadness for those who are submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, Catholic Truth, Apostolic Order and Evangelical Faith.  But it is equally a call to them to unite and move forward with the proclamation of the saving and transforming love of Jesus Christ.”

American Anglican Council condemns Robinson consecration

Read their full statement here.

“Today is a grievous day in the history of our Church. Heresy has been held up as Holy. Blasphemy has been redefined as blessing. The hope of the transforming love of Jesus Christ has been denied. Holy Scripture has been abandoned and sin celebrated over sanctification. The arrogance of the leaders of the Diocese of New Hampshire and the Episcopal Church is nothing less than stunning...”

Monday, 3 November 2003, 8:50am
Bishops Statement of Objection to the Consecration of Gene Robinson

As the consecration of Gene Robinson takes place in New Hampshire, this statement of Objection has been released -

“In keeping with our consecration pledge to guard the faith, we, the undersigned bishops are registering our objection to the consecration of a person whose ‘chosen lifestyle’ is incompatible with Scripture and the teaching of this church...”

Read their full statement here.
Sunday, 2 November 2003
‘Williams set to condemn gay bishop’

“The fragile unity of the Anglican Church looks set to be blown apart later today with the consecration of the first openly gay bishop. Conservative church leaders from around the world will call on the Archbishop of Canterbury to condemn the move and Rowan Williams is expected to issue a strongly worded statement attacking the consecration of Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire within the next 24 hours. ”

Full story from the Observer.

‘Primates break with Church over homosexuality’

“Twenty Anglican primates who oppose the ordination of homosexuals will announce today that they have split from their North American counterparts.”

Full story from the UK Telegraph.
Sunday, 2 November 2003
‘Critics Go to N.H. for Gay Bishop's Ceremony’

“The Rev. V. Gene Robinson is set to be consecrated Sunday as the Episcopal Church’s first openly gay bishop in a ceremony here replete with historic significance, religious pageantry and a designated opportunity for protesters to speak out against him.”

Full story from the Washington Post.
Saturday, 1 November 2003
‘Liberals start legal backlash in USA’

“The opening legal salvo against American conservatives was fired this week in Pittsburgh when a group of liberal clergy, with the support of the National Church’s legal officers, filed suit against the Bishop of Pittsburgh.”

Report from the Church of England Newspaper.

Friday, 31 October 2003
Letter to Rowan Williams and the Primates of the Anglican Communion

“In the event that the Episcopal Church USA proceeds to “consecrate” Rev. Robinson’s election as Bishop, we ask that you declare publicly your refusal to recognize this act, and that you exercise appropriate fraternal discipline by declaring that the Episcopal Church USA has alienated itself from the worldwide Anglican Communion.”

Read this letter from The Association for Church Renewal

Friday, 31 October 2003
N.C. diocese feels fallout
Episcopal donors protest gay bishop

“Less than three months after the Episcopal Church USA approved its first openly-gay bishop, the North Carolina diocese is feeling the repercussions -- church pledges for next year are down $1.1 million from what the diocese sought.

Diocesan officials acknowledge that people are angry with the denomination's recent decisions and are choosing to protest with their pocketbooks.”

Full story from News-Observer.com

Tuesday, 28 October 2003
BBC Radio interviews with Bp Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh and Bp Michael Ingham of New Westminster

Listen to this interesting interviews - Broadcast on the BBC on Sunday. Realaudio format at

www.bbc.co.uk/religion/realmedia/sunday/s20031026z.ram Runs for 6'37".

Tuesday, 28 October 2003
Seven Anglican Priests Face Charges

Overnight (Sydney time), the website of the Anglican Communion in New Westminster has reported that seven clergy of the ACiNW parishes have been officially charged.

“The charges, identical for all seven clergy, include disobedience to the bishop, contemptuous or disrespectful conduct towards the bishop, schism, conduct causing scandal, and ‘otherwise offenses against the lawful authority of the bishop’.”

This is what happens when godly men “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 1:3).

See the full article here.

Monday, 27 October 2003
“Reclaiming Christian Orthodoxy”
Address by Michael Ingham of New Westminster at the Halfway to Lambeth conference

The “Halfway to Lambeth Conference” held in Manchester on the weekend was designed to influence the way the homosexual agenda will be discussed at the next Lambeth Conference.

As the organisers say, “After the debacle of 1998 no one can doubt that the next Lambeth Conference in 2008 will have to address human sexuality again. The question is how will it do so?
Who will be shaping the debate over the next  five years? How will your voice be heard?”

In his address to the conference, Bishop Michael Ingham of New Westminster had this to say -

“a change in the understanding of human sexuality and especially homosexuality is culturally and theologically difficult for some. Just as we ourselves argue for a new respect for gay and lesbian Christians, so we must ourselves show respect for those of a traditional conscience in these questions.” (Really? - Ed.)

Read what he said here.

The list of consultants also makes interesting reading.

Monday, 27 October 2003
A time for Prayer

As the consecration of Gene Robinson draws closer (Sunday November 2), readers are encouraged to pray for Bible-believing Christians in ECUSA who feel betrayed by their denomination. The days immediately following will likely see resignations from ECUSA by theologically orthodox clergy, as well as other reorientations in the Anglican Communion.

Monday, 27 October 2003
“Church ‘to split in a week’ over gay bishop”

“Implacable statements from two of the Anglican church’s leading archbishops yesterday put the Church of England on a seven-day countdown to a permanent split.”

Read the full article from the Independent.

Wednesday, 22 October 2003
Two articles worth reading -

“50 Theses on the Future of the Church of England”
by David Holloway, and presented at NEAC4 in Blackpool

“Archbishop Peter Akinola Responds to Episcopal Church USA Heresy” - a recent statement from the Primate of Nigeria.

Tuesday, 21 October 2003
Sydney Synod speaks on crisis in the Anglican Communion
Reaffirms authority of Scripture - dissociates itself from actions of New Westminster and New Hampshire - and calls for repentance

This evening, the last session of the 2003 Synod of the Diocese of Sydney addressed the current crisis in the Anglican Communion.

Archbishop Peter JensenArchbishop Peter Jensen gave a preliminary response to last week’s Primates’ Statement. In part, he said,

“November 2nd may or may not be a crucial moment for the Anglican Communion. It symbolises, however, the state of the Communion and it puts us under obligation to encourage, support and sustain those who wish to stand for the same principles as we do throughout the Christian community.”

Read his full comments here.

Two Resolutions -

Then, after debate, the Synod made a significant statement by passing this motion by a large majority. It reads -

“Developments in the Anglican Communion

Synod reaffirms its commitment to the authority of Scripture and recognises that the Anglican Communion has traditionally maintained its adherence to that authority and that of the 39 Articles of Religion.

It notes the departure from biblical authority in the actions of –

(a) the Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster by agreeing to bless same-sex unions, and

(b) the Diocese of New Hampshire, endorsed by the Convention of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America, in electing as bishop a person engaged in homosexual activity.

Synod therefore dissociates itself from these actions which are contrary to biblical teaching, and as an expression of Christian fellowship and love calls on those involved to repent, and to reverse their decisions.

Synod also commends our Archbishop for his public comments on these issues and for standing with other leaders of like mind in their desire to maintain the truths of Scripture.”

In a second motion, the Synod also sent Christian greetings to “biblically orthodox Clergy and Laity in the Diocese of New Westminster and in ECUSA” - and in particular to the Rev. David Short and the congregation of St. John’s Shaughnessy in Vancouver - and others who stand with them.

Synod was given to understand that David - a graduate of Moore College - is one of the clergy being charged under the Diocese of New Westminster’s Canon on Discipline with “disobedient and disrespectful conduct” (See earlier report from the New Westminster website.)

The Synod also supported the proposal that “members of the Diocese of New Westminster who cannot in conscience accept the Episcopal leadership of Bishop Ingham should have access to alternative Episcopal ministry”.

In debate, it was noted that disciplinary action is being taken against Bishop Terry Buckle of The Yukon by the Diocese of New Westminster.

Read the full text of both motions at Anglican Media Sydney.

Sunday, 19 October 2003
“One-and-One-Half Cheers for the Anglican Primates’ Statement”

Jim Packer in interviewed by Christianity Today -

“I think that the issue of the authority of Scripture is fudged. They say that the dispute over the gay issue is only a matter of the interpreting of Scripture, not the authority of Scripture.”

(Read the full article here.) Worth reading!

Sunday, 19 October 2003
“ECUSA TO ANGLICAN COMMUNION: DROP DEAD!”

“The statement was signed by all 37 church leaders, but the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, presiding bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church, sounded a defiant note at a news conference just minutes later.

‘While anything can happen, including the Second Coming, I expect to be in New Hampshire on the second of November,’ he said. Nov. 2 is the scheduled date for the consecration of Mr. Robinson...

...the ink was barely dry on this document before the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States publicly and enthusiastically repudiated what he’d just signed.”

(Comment from the Midwest Conservative Journal.)

Saturday, 18 October 2003
Dispatch: Conservatives Just Got Clobbered

“But the accents in the primates’ statement sound rather too clearly American and British. If we do not soon hear the lyrical voices of African primates, some of us believe today’s Episcopal Church will be tomorrow’s Anglican Communion. That is not news of joy and glad tidings.”

(Read the full article by Douglas LeBlanc in Christianity Today.)

Saturday, 18 October 2003
Initial Response from the Church Society

“We are profoundly disappointed that the Primates as a body have not yet taken decisive action.  They have not rebuked false teaching.  In addition, it was in their power to call upon the Archbishop of Canterbury to exclude ECUSA from further gatherings of the Primates and indeed from the Communion. We had looked for a categorical statement from the Primates that ECUSA and New Westminster had separated itself from the Communion by their schismatic action.

However the Primates make plain that if the consecration of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire goes ahead in November it will result in the break up of the Anglican Communion.”

(full text as released from the Church Society here.)

Friday, 17 October 2003
Statement from the “Southern Primates”

“It is with great gratitude to God and appreciation to the people of the Anglican Communion and other churches that we greet you in the name of Jesus Christ.
As we met this week at Lambeth we experienced the power of the Holy Spirit moving among us. We are so grateful to God for hearing the prayers and cries of his praying people to preserve both the truth and the unity of the Anglican Communion. we urge continued prayer that the whole Anglican Communion may continue by God's power to witness to the transforming love of Jesus for all people.

Most Rev Peter Akinola - Archbishop of Nigeria
Most Rev Yong Ping Chung - Archbishop of Southeast Asia
Most Rev Emmanuel Kolini - Archbishop of Rwanda.”

(found at Anglican Mainstream website.)

Friday, 17 October 2003
Anglican-Mainstream Reaction

“We welcome the clear declaration from the Primates’ Meeting re-affirming the resolutions of the 1988 Lambeth conference on issues of human sexuality, the centrality of Holy Scripture and expressing ‘deep regret’ at the actions of the Diocese of New Westminster and ECUSA.
We applaud the considerable generosity shown to those North American churches in giving them time and space to come back within the boundaries of the fellowship of the Anglican Communion.”

A conciliatory statement - read it in full here.

Friday, 17 October 2003
Forward in Faith UK Reaction

“Forward in Faith UK profoundly regrets the corporate failure to address those present dangers at this meeting and has no hope that such a Commission will adequately address them in the future. We note that various bodies in the United States threatened substantive action if no substantial result came from this conference. We await that action with interest.”

Read the full text here.

And then read a much more positive statement from Canon David H. Roseberry in Plano, Texas which, with the American Anglican Council hosted a major gathering of over 2,700 orthodox members of the Episcopal Church last week.

Friday, 17 October 2003
New Hampshire thinks Primates’ statement is wonderful
Friday, 17 October 2003
New Westminster Diocese moves against ACiNW clergy

Bishop Michael Ingham has appointed a Commission of Enquiry to investigate formal charges under the Canon on Discipline for “disobedient and disrespectful conduct” by several clergy within the diocese - possibly leading a trial in an Ecclesiastical Court.

Although the clergy have not been named, this appears to be directed at the members of the Anglican Communion in New Westminster. Anglican Media Sydney reports that David Short is thought to be among those targetted.

Read the report from the New Westminster website.
Friday, 17 October 2003
Primates’ meeting ends with a disappointing statement
Primates Press Conference

In a press conference at Lambeth Palace, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams released an agreed statement from the Primates
(Photo - ACNS: Left to right - Archbishop of West Indies Drexel Gomez, Presiding Bishop of ECUSA Frank Griswold, Dr Rowan Williams and Archbishop of Armagh, Robin Eames).

Many orthodox Anglicans will be disappointed (though perhaps not surprised) at the statement, which called on the Archbishop of Canterbury to set up another commission to investigate things within twelve months. The statement said a lot more about Anglican structures than it did about the Bible. In part, it says -

“As Primates, it is not for us to pass judgement on the constitutional processes of another province.”

And also -

“Whilst we acknowledge a legitimate diversity of interpretation that arises in the Church, this diversity does not mean that some of us take the authority of Scripture more lightly than others. Nevertheless, each province needs to be aware of the possible effects of its interpretation of Scripture on the life of other provinces in the Communion. We commit ourselves afresh to mutual respect whilst seeking from the Lord a correct discernment of how God's Word speaks to us in our contemporary world.”

Yet, more positively, there was a very strong warning on the consecration of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire - set down for November 2.

“If his consecration proceeds, we recognise that we have reached a crucial and critical point in the life of the Anglican Communion and we have had to conclude that the future of the Communion itself will be put in jeopardy. In this case, the ministry of this one bishop will not be recognised by most of the Anglican world, and many provinces are likely to consider themselves to be out of Communion with the Episcopal Church (USA). This will tear the fabric of our Communion at its deepest level, and may lead to further division on this and further issues as provinces have to decide in consequence whether they can remain in communion with provinces that choose not to break communion with the Episcopal Church (USA).

Similar considerations apply to the situation pertaining in the Diocese of New Westminster.”
(Emphasis added.)

So, while not yet taking action, a very clear warning on the consequences of any further action (including the consecration of Gene Robinson) is now on the table.

“The Church of England and the other Anglican churches around the globe are sometimes unfairly caricatured as vague and unworldly.
This time, though, it really is hard to think they share the same planet as most of humanity.
Whichever side of the debate about homosexuality and the church you find yourself on, this meeting has actually solved nothing.
The threat of a split remains as potent as it ever was, and the crisis will come very soon.”

“Archbishop Drexel Gomez, primate of the Province of the West Indies and a sharp critic of Robinson's election, said the primates had ‘studied, reflected, prayed and worked together, and we have done so in almost brutal honesty.’ ”

Thursday, 16 October 2003
New Bishop warns of problem of evil

Bp Tom WrightRead this report on the enthronement of the Rt Rev Tom Wright, the new (evangelical) Bishop of Durham. Report in The Church of England Newspaper.

 

 

Tuesday, 14 October 2003
Prayers urged for Primates’ meeting

The long awaited meeting of Anglican Primates begins at Lambeth tomorrow. All our readers are urged to pray for those attending, and especially for Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, as he chairs the meeting.

Monday, 13 October 2003
Read Archbishop Peter Jensen’s Presidential Address to Sydney Synod

In a wide ranging address this afternoon Dr. Peter Jensen spoke about marriage, righteousness, and the church. He also spoke at length on the crisis in the Anglican Communion. A very helpful and insightful talk.

Read it on the Anglican Media website.

Note: We hope to have the text of the Synod Dinner talk by Dr. John Woodhouse (on “The Babylonian Unity of the Church”) online late tomorrow night.

And, if you would like some more great reading, see this talk given at the recent National Evangelical Anglican Congress 4 in Blackpool by Peter Jensen -

–“The Atonement – the heart of our message” (pdf)

See the NEAC site for the others talks delivered.

Sunday, 12 October 2003
“Williams reignites row over gay bishop”

“Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is set to reignite the ferocious row surrounding the appointment of an openly gay man as an Anglican bishop in the United States - by arguing that it defies the Church’s established position.”

Read this report from The Observer on this week’s meeting of Primates in London.

Friday, 10 October 2003
“A PLACE TO STAND:  A CALL TO ACTION”

As the “A Place to Stand” conference ended in Dallas, this statement was issued - read these fighting words here.

Friday, 10 October 2003
Read the Church Times’ 12 page “gay summit primer”

Lots of useful background to the Primates’ meeting next week.

Read it here.

Friday, 10 October 2003
Greetings from the Pope read at Dallas conference

In an unprecedented step, bypassing normal protocols, Pope John Paul II has sent greetings to the “A Place to Stand” conference in Dallas.

The letter, from Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, must be seen as a strong rebuff to the liberal hierarchy of ECUSA. It also subtly reasserts Rome’s claim of primacy. You might not have expected to read such a letter on the ACL’s website - but here it is... (Emphasis added.)

“From Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Prefect of the congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Vatican, on behalf of Pope John Paul II

I hasten to assure you of my heartfelt prayers for all those taking
part in this convocation. The significance of your meeting is sensed
far beyond Plano, and even in this city from which Saint Augustine of Canterbury was sent to confirm and strengthen the preaching of Christ’s Gospel in England. Nor can I fail to recall that barely 120 years later, Saint Boniface brought that same Christian faith from England to my own forebears in Germany.

The lives of these saints show us how in the Church of Christ there is a unity in truth and a communion of grace which transcend the borders of any nation. With this in mind, I pray in particular that God’s will may be done by all those who seek that unity in the truth, the gift of Christ himself.

With fraternal regards, I remain
Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Joseph cardinal Ratzinger.”

Friday, 10 October 2003
Bishop Terry Buckle sends message to supporters

As he faces “disciplinary proceedings” for offering episcopal care to the Vancouver parishes which have rejected the leadership of Bishop Michael Ingham, the Bishop of the Yukon has sent this message to his supporters.

Thursday, 9 October 2003
“What Would Intervention Look Like?”

Read the presentation delivered by the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, the Bishop of Pittsburgh, for the American Anglican Council’s Plano (Dallas) Conference: “A Place to Stand: Declaring, Preparing” on Wedensday 8th October.

More than 2,500 people have been attending this important
“A Place to Stand” conference to respond to the actions of the Episcopal Church’s General Convention. Speakers from around the world have addressed the conference including, we understand, Archbishop Peter Jensen - by video link.

See also this “Timeline on Homosexuality Debate in the Episcopal Church: 1976-2003” on the AAC website.

Tuesday, 7 October 2003
“Archbishop living in the past: Spong”

Read this article in today’s Sydney Morning Herald on John Spong’s current visit to Oz. Then read 2 Timothy 4:1-4.

Sunday, 5 October 2003
“Gay issue on Anglican front burner”

“The world’s Anglicans will be watching Dallas next week as angry conservative U.S. Episcopalians meet to hash over the national church’s approval of an openly gay bishop.”

Read this report in full from the Houston Chronicle.

Sunday, 5 October 2003
Dallas meeting - “A Place to Stand” - this week

The “A Place to Stand” conference in Dallas this week, sponsored by the American Anglican Council, is a response to the actions of the ECUSA General Convention. It has four main objectives -

“1. To declare our faith and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Anglican Communion.
 
2. To declare our support in calling on the Primates of the Anglican Communion to intervene in this pastoral emergency.
 
3. To prepare and strengthen ourselves and those whom we serve to become a missionary church dedicated to the Great Commission.
 
4. To prepare our congregations and ministries for possible realignment to insure an orthodox and vital Anglican/Episcopal presence in the United States.”

The conference runs October 7-9 and at least 2,500 orthodox Anglicans - including 40 bishops - are expected to attend.

Keep an eye on the American Anglican Council website for developments. Anglicans everywhere are being urged to pray for this meeting.

Friday, 3 October 2003
“Plot to silence the Primates’ gay debate”

“Anglican bureaucrats have launched an attempt to manipulate the agenda and format of the forthcoming emergency Primates’ Meeting this month, according to a leading American theologian.”

Read this disturbing report from the Church of England Newspaper.

Thursday, 2 October 2003
11th Vancouver Anglican church accepts alternative bishop

“An eleventh Anglican church in the Greater Vancouver Diocese of New Westminster has voted to accept the leadership of Bishop Terry Buckle of the Diocese of Yukon. On September 21, the congregation of Church of the Holy Cross in Abbotsford, a community east of Vancouver, voted 97 per cent in favour of a motion accepting Buckle’s supervision and to join the Anglican Communion in New Westminster...”

Read the full story here - and learn of other fast breaking stories from Vancouver from the Anglican Communion in New Westminster.

Thursday, 2 October 2003
“Anglican church may have to expel Canadian, U.S. wings: Australian archbishop”

Read this report from Canada.com (Vancouver Sun Newspaper)

Archbishop Peter Jensen“Accountability and Unity”
- Archbishop Peter Jensen responds to the Archbishop of Canterbury in an article written for New Directions.

“But the blessing of structural communion becomes a curse when it involves us in partnering those who endorse major doctrinal or moral deviance from the scriptural norms. As the parishes in New Westminster testify, there is a limit to communion.”


Extracts of this article were published in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age on Thursday October 2nd. This is the full text. (Link to Anglican Media Sydney.) Worth printing out and reading carefully.

 


Need the Acrobat Reader? Get a free copy here -

See also archived Earlier News here.

See also
www.SydneyAnglican.org
for quick links to select sites that are “Sydney” and Anglican