Thursday 30th August 2007
“US Anglicans consecrated in Kenya”
“Kenya’s Anglican Church has consecrated two US bishops in a move likely to deepen a bitter row over homosexuality.. Archbishop Nzimbi said... gay people... did not have a place as leaders in the Anglican communion. ‘We need to love them, we need to preach to them, but not to make them lay readers, pastors, bishops’....” Report from BBC News.
Wednesday 29th August 2007
“Lesbian priest among nominees for Episcopal bishop”
“The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago included an openly lesbian priest among five nominees for bishop Tuesday, as fellow Anglicans demand that the church bar gay bishops. The Rev. Tracey Lind, dean of Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland, who has a female partner, will be on the November 10 ballot...” Report from CNN.
Tuesday 28th August 2007
 Helpful resources: Faith by Hearing
Have an iPod or another mp3 player – or just a computer? Faith by hearing provides links to audio files of all sorts of sermon content – much of it freely downloadable. (Currently there are links to many talks by D. A. Carson, Wayne Grudem, and also the Children Desiring God conferences.) Check it out at faithbyhearing.wordpress.com.
Saturday 25th August 2007
Church of Nigeria responds to Allegations they are Puppets of Western Conservatives
For the background, read this story from The Church Times – “Software suggests Minns rewrote Akinola’s letter” “A bishop in the United States has been revealed as the principal author of a seminal letter to the Church of Nigeria from its Archbishop, the Most Revd Peter Akinola, which was published on Sunday. ... computer tracking software suggests that the letter was extensively edited and revised over a four-day period by the Rt Revd Martyn Minns...”
and this report from Ekklesia, “Nigerian primate accused of being a puppet of Western conservatives.” The Director of Communications of the Church Of Nigeria has now responded – “... Abp. Akinola was in the US and Bahamas between 10th and 22nd August 2007. I sent the draft to him through the Rt. Rev Minns with a request for assistance in getting some online references which I could not easily locate. ...
... The publication doubting authenticity is another attempt to divert attention away from the carefully researched document which shows that the revisionists are directly responsible for problems confronting the Communion...”
Friday 24th August 2007
“Kenya: Anglicans Plan to Send Clergy to America”
“The Anglican Church of Kenya will ordain two bishops to serve in the United States of America. The bishops will be ordained next week to minister to its faithful and clergy in the US in the wake of a split in the global Anglican community pitting anti-gay clergy predominantly in Africa against opponents in America...”. Story from AllAfrica.com.
Thursday 23rd August 2007
Helpful resources – from The Theologian
The Theologian – an ‘internet journal for integrated theology’ – from the UK, has many helpful resources, including audio files of talks and interviews. See The Theologian website for more.
Tuesday 21st August 2007
 “Heresy Precedes Homosexuality”
Another perceptive article from Al Mohler on how the Anglican Communion got into such a mess – “As a young man, Gene Robinson ranted and raved to an assistant chaplain of his Episcopal college about ‘how much of the Nicene Creed I didn’t believe.’ The chaplain’s response is classic liberalism – just say what you believe and stay silent for the rest. ... So, long before we ask the question of why a church would elect an openly homosexual bishop, we must ask why it would ordain a candidate for the ministry who, at the very least, openly doubted the very basis of the church’s faith? The election of an openly homosexual bishop does not emerge out of the blue. It can be traced to a succession of events and decisions made by this church...” from the Blog of Al Mohler.
Monday 20th August 2007
 “A Most Agonizing Journey towards Lambeth 2008”
This weekend Archbishop Peter Akinola has written to the Nigerian Synods on the Journey towards Lambeth 2008. “... the intransigence of those who reject Biblical authority continues to obstruct our mission and it now seems that the Communion is being forced to choose between following their innovations or continuing on the path that the church has followed since the time of the Apostles. We have made enormous efforts since 1997 in seeking to avoid this crisis, but without success. Now we confront a moment of decision. If we fail to act we risk leading millions of people away from the faith revealed in the Holy Scriptures and also, even more seriously, we face the real possibility of denying our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. The leadership of The Episcopal Church USA (TECUSA) and the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) seem to have concluded that the Bible is no longer authoritative in many areas of human experience especially in salvation and sexuality. They claim to have ‘progressed’ beyond the clear teaching of the Scriptures and they have not hidden their intention to lead others to these same conclusions. They have even boasted that they are years ahead of others in fully understanding the truth of the Holy Scriptures and the nature of God’s love. Both TECUSA and ACoC have been given several opportunities to consult, discuss and prayerfully respond through their recognized structures. While they produced carefully nuanced, deliberately ambiguous statements, their actions have betrayed them. Their intention is clear; they have chosen to walk away from the Biblically based path we once all walked together. The unrelenting persecution of the remaining faithful among them shows how they have used these past few years to isolate and destroy any and all opposition. We now confront the seriousness of their actions as the year for the Lambeth Conference draws near....” from the Church of Nigeria website.
Saturday 18th August 2007
 Two helpful articles on John Spong’s new book ‘Jesus for the Non-Religious’
Readers outside Sydney might not have seen two helpful articles on John Shelby Spong’s new book, “Jesus for the Non-Religious”. Both are published in this month’s Southern Cross Newspaper – and are also available on SydneyAnglicans.net. Click the links to read the full text of each article. Dr. Mark Thompson, ACL President and Academic Dean of Moore Theological College, Sydney – “Of course the questions he asks are legitimate ones — we have nothing to be afraid of in honest questioning — but he does not even acknowledge that his questions have been asked before and have in fact been repeatedly answered over the past one hundred years with solid appeals to archaeological and historical evidence.”
Dr. John Dickson, Author and Honorary Associate of the Department of Ancient History at Macquarie University, Sydney – “In Spong’s long list of things that are historically untrue in the Gospels (p.128) he shows just how far from the scholarly mainstream he has travelled. The names of Jesus’ parents, the existence of his Twelve disciples, his status as a healer, his significant final meal, his betrayal unto death and his disciples’ claim to have seen him alive again after death — things rejected by Spong as late additions to the story — are accepted by the vast majority of mainstream scholars as belonging to the earliest traditions about Jesus. They are regarded as historical, and with good reason. A quick check of the relevant literature in any university library will bear this out.”
Saturday 18th August 2007
 Garage Hymnal set to release second album
Sydney-based band Garage Hymnal are about to release a new album – “Bring on the Day” – which they describe as “songs of faith in a fallen world”. Since their formation in 2004, the musicians and songwriters who make up the band have served the cause of Christ by releasing solid, Biblically-based music. They are well known among youth groups and churches across Sydney and have been keen supporters of the work of CMS. Read about the band and listen to samples of their music at their MySpace page – myspace.com/garagehymnal or see their website at garagehymnal.com. The new album will be available via Emu Music next week.
Friday 17th August 2007
 “The Death of Death in the Death of Christ” – Dr. J.I. Packer’s introduction
“There is no doubt that evangelicalism today is in a state of perplexity and unsettlement. In such matters as the practice of evangelism, the teaching of holiness, the building up of local church life, the pastor’s dealing with souls and the exercise of discipline, there is evidence of widespread dissatisfaction with things as they are and or equally widespread uncertainty as to the road ahead. This is a complex phenomenon, to which many factors have contributed; but, if we go to the root of the matter, we shall find that these perplexities are all ultimately due to our having lost our grip on the biblical gospel. Without realizing it, we have during the past century bartered that gospel for a substitute product which, though it looks similar enough in points of detail, is as a whole a decidedly different thing. Hence our troubles; for the substitute product does not answer the ends for which the authentic gospel has in past days proved itself so mighty. Why? We would suggest that the reason lies in its own character and content. It fails to make men God-centered in their thoughts and God-fearing in their hearts because this is not primarily what it is trying to do. ...” – Written for a 1958 reprint of John Owen’s book, “The Death of Death in the Death of Christ”, J. I. Packer’s introduction will repay careful reading. If it was relevant in 1958, it is even more so today. You can read the essay courtesy of Monergism.
Friday 17th August 2007
 “No life, here – no joy, terror or tears” – Rowan Williams on the theology of J S Spong
“... I cannot in any way see Bishop Spong’s theses as representing a defensible or even an interesting Christian future. And I want to know whether the Christian past scripture and tradition, really appears to him as empty and sterile as this text suggests. It seems he has not found life here, and that is painful to acknowledge and to hear. Yet I see no life in what the theses suggest; nothing to educate us into talking about the Christian God in a way I can recognise: no incarnation; no adoption into intimate relation with the Source of all; no Holy Spirit. No terror. No tears. ...” – In 1998, Rowan Williams, then Bishop of Monmouth (and now Archbishop of Canterbury) wrote this appraisal of the ‘12 Theses’ of John Spong for the Church Times. – via the Anglican Church of Tasmania website.
Friday 17th August 2007
“Heresy in the Cathedral”
“The Rt. Rev. Peter Jensen, Australia’s Archbishop of Sydney, is making headlines for denying a heretic access to the pulpits of the churches under his care. The heretic is the retired bishop of Newark, New Jersey, The Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong – a man who has denied virtually every major Christian doctrine. Heretics are rarely excommunicated these days. Instead, they go on book tours. Bishop Spong is visiting Australia at the invitation of Australia’s Anglican Primate Phillip Aspinall of Brisbane. ...” From the Blog of Al Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. See also Between Two Worlds.
Thursday 16th August 2007
“An iconoclast gathers his heretical flock”
“Here are some heretical thoughts to alarm Sydney’s Anglican Archbishop, Peter Jensen:
• Jesus was not born of a virgin;
• His father Joseph was a literary construct, as was Judas;
• His family thought he was out of his mind;
• There were probably not 12 disciples;
• There were no miraculous healings, no crown of thorns, no tomb, no angel; and
• Jesus did not rise from the dead... ... Bishop Spong has his detractors, including Mark Thompson, the president of the evangelical lobby group, the Anglican Church League, who has accused the visiting Harvard lecturer of ‘defacing the only portrait of Jesus that makes any real sense’...” – an article on the visit of J S Spong to Sydney – from The Sydney Morning Herald.
Wednesday 15th August 2007
Bishopdale Theological College, Nelson, NZ looks for a Dean
A new evangelical theological college has been established in the Diocese of Nelson, New Zealand, and the position of Dean is being advertised. Do you know someone who might be the right person? “In July 2006 the Synod of the Diocese of Nelson approved the establishment of Bishopdale Theological College, to be based in Nelson, Aotearoa New Zealand. A Board of Trustees under the chairmanship of Rev Dr Andrew Burgess is working on the implementation of a vision for a small theological college in which students can study towards a BCNZ B. Min. degree utilizing teachers and tutors from within the Diocese, and the distance learning resources of the Bible College of NZ. In 2007 a few papers are being offered with a view to a full beginning to the College in early 2008. Bishopdale Theological College will be open to students from all churches while offering Anglican students intending to enter ordained ministry a learning environment which is distinctively evangelical. Currently such an environment for Anglican ordinands is not available in Aotearoa NZ.”
For details, see the Bishopdale Theological College section on the Diocese of Nelson website.
Wednesday 15th August 2007
 “Pastor’s Toolbox” – Resource
“Ever wish you could call a seasoned pastor for some quick practical advice? Here’s an assortment of 5 minute audio clips of Mark Dever answering everyday pastoral questions, from studying for sermons to conducting weddings. They’re organised topically, so think of them like tools in a toolbox.” While not new, these audio clips contain many helpful nuggets of advice – from Mark Dever of Capitol Hill Baptist Church – on the 9 Marks website.
Sunday 12th August 2007
“[Church of England] Women priests to match males by 2025”
“When Geraldine Granger became the female vicar of television’s fictional Dibley, her congregation greeted her arrival with a combination of surprise and fury. Within 20 years, however, most villagers in England will be more surprised if their new vicar is not a woman. According to a report due for release this autumn, there will be as many female priests as male by 2025...” – Report by Jonathan Wynne-Jones in the UK Sunday Telegraph.
Friday 10th August 2007
“Delegation lobbies against Nigerian venue for games”
“A Nigerian bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Abuja should be rejected on the grounds of the country’s homophobic oppression of lesbian and gay Nigerians, a delegation told the chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), Mike Hooper, on Friday. ... The delegation was led by Davis MacIyalla, founder and leader of Changing Attitude in Nigeria, who has been on a tour of the United States and the UK as part of the listening process recommended by the Windsor report. “Nigeria’s homophobic oppression is a violation of the Commonwealth Games ethos of equality, humanity, peace, unity, co-operation, and understanding,” Mr MacIyalla said. ... ... The Revd Richard Kirker, chief executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM), commented: ‘It would be perfectly consistent for Archbishop Akinola to start an English version of his Church, and, while I am saddened by his divisive intentions, there are some few who will find comfort under his brazenly homophobic creed. It has been clear for some time that under the guidance of Peter Jensen, the Archbishop of Sydney, the Nigerian Church has been distancing itself from the Church of England, and particularly the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury.’ ” This report from The Church Times repeats the allegation to which Margaret Rodgers, Archbishop of Sydney’s Media Officer, responds in this statement released today – Statement concerning comments by the Rev Richard Kirker
“This statement is patently untrue
and it has no basis in fact.” |
“Archbishop Akinola, Primate of Nigeria is a Christian leader greatly admired in the Diocese of Sydney. His commitment to the authority of the Holy Scripture in the life and understanding of the individual Christian, and in the communal structure and mission of his own province and of the Anglican Communion worldwide, is a shining example to Anglican Church leaders both nationally and internationally.
“The Rev Richard Kirker from the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement recently said that “under the guidance of Peter Jensen (Archbishop of Sydney) the Nigerian Church has been distancing itself from the Church of England and particularly of the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury”.
“This statement is patently untrue and it has no basis in fact. It is deeply shameful for it has at its base an inherent racism that fails to acknowledge the Biblical commitment and insights of this particular African Primate. No one guides and advises Archbishop Akinola what to do except the Lord of the Bible.
“Kirker’s statement appears to be akin to the ‘chicken dinner’ slurs that were used by some liberal churchmen in their attempt to offset the biblical understandings of African bishops at the time of the 1998 Lambeth Conference.” – Margaret Rodgers, Archbishop of Sydney’s Media Officer
Friday 10th August 2007
 Sydney Bishops write to the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, and his five Assistant Bishops, have written to the Archbishop of Canterbury to explain why they cannot yet give an answer to his invitation to the 2008 Lambeth Conference. A reply had been requested by the end of July. The Sydney bishops will wait to hear the response of The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops to the Primates’ Communiqué. The Sydney letter, which has just been released, is as follows – “ July 30, 2007 The Most Rev & Right Hon. Dr Rowan Williams
Archbishop of Canterbury
Lambeth Palace
London SE1 7JU
UNITED KINGDOM
Dear Archbishop Rowan,
As Archbishop and Assistant Bishops of the Diocese of Sydney, we send our thanks for your kind invitation to attend next year’s Lambeth Conference. Your invitation has been received with pleasure and it would give us a great deal of joy to be able to join you.
Unfortunately the timing of the invitation has proved difficult. We have been looking for the response of the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church to the Primates’ Communiqué from Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. We understand that this response is due by 30th of September. In view of the real hesitations that we experience in joining with those who have consecrated Bishop Gene Robinson, and with others who have allowed for the blessing of same-sex unions, and given the significance of these events, we feel that we cannot give an answer to your kind invitation until later in the year. We hope that you understand this delay and we look forward to communicating with you further on this matter at the earliest opportunity. With our best wishes, Yours sincerely,
The Most Rev Dr Peter F Jensen – Archbishop of Sydney
The Rt Rev Robert C Forsyth – Bishop of South Sydney
The Rt Rev Dr Glenn N Davies – Bishop of North Sydney
The Rt Rev Peter J Tasker – Bishop of Liverpool
The Rt Rev Ivan Y Lee – Bishop of Western Sydney
The Rt Rev Alan J Stewart – Bishop of Wollongong.”
Thursday 9th August 2007
“LA Parishes Appeal to State Supreme Court”
Three former congregations of the Diocese of Los Angeles that left The Episcopal Church for the Church of Uganda have asked the California Supreme Court to decide whether they or the diocese own their properties...” Full story from The Living Church.
Monday 6th August 2007
“Prayer urged for 21 Christian aid workers held hostage”
“With two South Korean men having been executed, 21 young Koreans remained hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan at the two-week point Aug. 2 following the Christian aid workers’ kidnapping July 19. Two women hostages are critically ill and most of the others are sick, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported Aug. 3, but it did not provide details. In Washington, an official with the Institute on Religion and Democracy sounded a call Aug. 3 for the media and for Christians to speak up for the Korean captives...” – from Baptist Press.
Friday 3rd August 2007
“Treat Paris Hilton with respect, losers” – editorial
“This morning I was thinking about Paris Hilton when a topless lady stood next to me. Thinking about Paris Hilton is easy, when you’re in a job like mine. She’s done time and in the middle of it, professed a religious conversion. Religion is what I do, so when somebody has something to say about it, I want to know what gives...” – an Editorial by Gordon Cheng in today’s Sydney Daily Telegraph.
Friday 3rd August 2007
“Putting My Daughter to Bed Two Hours After the Bridge Collapsed” – John Piper
“At about 6pm tonight the bridge of Interstate 35W over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed. I am writing this about three hours after the bridge fell. The bridge is located within sight of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Most of us who minister at the church cross this bridge several times a week...” – helpful pastoral thoughts from John Piper in Minneapolis. See also this video of the scene with an excerpt from one of John’s talks.
Friday 3rd August 2007
“ ‘Lest You Be Consumed’ – The Tragedy in Minneapolis”
“The scenes from Minneapolis are frightening, tragic, and sobering. In this age of technological marvels and engineering achievements we expect buildings to stay on the ground, airplanes to stay in the air, and bridges to stay in place. The sudden and catastrophic collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis – just as rush hour was coming to a close – challenges some of our most comforting assumptions... ... This is a metaphor for our lives and spiritual peril, as Jonathan Edwards so clearly understood. In his famous sermon, ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,’ Edwards made this point with clarity and power: It is no security to a natural man, that he is now in health, and that he does not see which way he should now immediately go out of the world by any accident, and that there is no visible danger in any respect in his circumstances. The manifold and continual experience of the world in all ages, shows this is no evidence, that a man is not on the very brink of eternity, and that the next step will not be into another world...
Read the full article from Al Mohler’s blog.
Wednesday 1st August 2007
 New DVD resource: Ideas that changed the world
Building God’s People Resources (the people behind Introducing God) have produced a new four week course entitled, “Ideas that changed the world”. It’s on the four key Reformation doctrines of Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Bible Alone and Christ Alone. “The differences between Protestants and Catholics are enormously significant” says course presenter Dominic Steele. In the light of the coming Roman Catholic World Youth Day, this is a great time to re-examine these key topics. Read about the DVDs and watch a sample at www.introducinggod.org.
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