Wednesday 31st August 2005
“The High Lives of Bishops”
“As the Episcopal Church slowly crumbles with fleeing orthodox priests and parishes and with churches closing in revisionist dioceses (see today's Diocese of Iowa story), so the temptation to raid the coffers, as the ship slowly sinks, grows greater with each passing day...”
This week’s Viewpoints from VirtueOnline.
Monday 29th August 2005
“Gender-Neutral Hymnal a Concession to the Culture, Says ELCA Pastor”
“A conservative minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America says he and other ELCA pastors are disturbed by the denomination's approval of a new, more gender-neutral hymnal.
At its Churchwide Assembly in early August, the ELCA okayed a plan to update the 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship by eliminating the ‘Father’ terminology and male pronouns used in reference to God...”
Story from Agape Press.
Saturday 27th August 2005
“Connecticut 6 charge Bishop”
“Nineteen Connecticut Episcopal leaders, including the six priests Bishop Andrew D. Smith threatened to suspend, have charged Smith under church law with violating the church’s Constitution, undermining its structure and denying due process to the ‘Connecticut Six.’
The charges are contained in a document sent this week to Frank Griswold, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church USA, according to a statement by the conservative American Anglican Council...”
Report from Bristol Press.
Friday 26th August 2005
“Mass Depositions in Recife”
“Thirty-two priests and deacons of the diocese of Recife were deposed on Aug. 23, charged with abandoning the Communion [por abandono de Comunhão] of the Episcopal-Anglican Church of Brazil [IEAB] for pledging their continued loyalty to the Bishop of Recife, the Rt. Rev. Robinson Cavalcanti.
In announcing the depositions, the Rt. Rev. Filadelfo Oliveira, Bishop suffragan of Recife, said “dialogue had been exhausted” with the “uncompromising and rebellious” Recife clergy. Acting on behalf of the Primate of Brazil, he deposed without trial the clergy, who minister to approximately 90 percent of the diocese’s communicants, under Article 3.5.4 of the IEAB’s canons on the abandonment of Communion.”
...
“A statement released by Bishop Cavalcanti and the President of the Recife Standing Committee, Fr. Mauricio Coelho, noted the alleged deposition of Bishop Cavalcanti was under appeal with the Provincial Ecclesiastical Court and had been forwarded to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference for arbitration.”
Report from The Living Church.
See also this earlier article, “The Crucifixion of Recife”, by Peter Moore.
Friday 26th August 2005
“Defining Moments”
“Six years ago I became Vicar of a Church which, according to the Parish Profile, was Evangelical. I guess you know that it is sometimes said: If any Church really matched up to its Parish Profile, why would you think your predecessor would have left it! But I have to confess that I was quite surprised that the Church seemed to have little evidence of expository preaching – sermons were 10 minute, largely thematic talks. There were far more Holy Communions than I would have expected, the wearing of attire and usage of liturgy which a previous generation of evangelical leaders would baulk at. Moreover, there were unconverted people involved in every area of the life of the Church.”
A helpful article on what it means to be an Evangelical – from Fellowship of Word and Spirit in the UK.
Thursday 25th August 2005
“Survey: Two-Thirds of Evangelicals Doubt Jesus’ Words Regarding Salvation Thru Him Alone”
“There’s a new poll out which points to a growing rejection among Evangelicals that Jesus is the only way of salvation.
For years, most evangelical Christians have been taught and accepted the words of Jesus in John 14:6, where He states, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but my Me.’ But now a new Newsweek/Beliefnet poll is showing a shocking number of people who call themselves evangelical and born-again have come to reject those words...”
Read about it here from Agape Press.
Wednesday 24th August 2005
“Mother of missing missionary hopes her son is alive”
“The mother of an Australian missionary missing in Uganda is clinging to the hope her ‘exceptional son’ is still alive. Twenty-six-year-old James Coulter, a missionary for African Enterprise, was reported missing by a friend after falling from his bike over a steep river bank and into a waterfall on Monday...”
Story from The Sydney Morning Herald.
Monday 22nd August 2005
“Putting the Screws to the Orthodox”
“You won’t hear the words, ‘go in peace to love and serve the Lord’ from the lips of revisionist bishops when it comes to orthodox parishes and their priests who want alternative episcopal oversight.
You see for them to say those words it would mean giving up something very precious to them – power, ecclesiastical power which they believe translates into property ownership and money – something that, in their minds, transcends even the gospel itself....”
David Virtue on the latest developments in the Diocese of Los Angeles.
Saturday 20th August 2005
“Westminster Abbey was right to reject Hollywood's 30 pieces of silver”
“The Da Vinci Code has sold more than 20 million copies across the world. So now it is to be a film. Sir Ian McKellen is acting the character the novel calls ‘British Royal Historian Sir Leigh Teabing’. Sir Leigh, who has ‘a thick English accent’, manages to evade tight security because he always carries an ‘embossed card identifying him as a Knight of the Realm’...”
Opinion piece in The (UK) Telegraph.
Thursday 18th August 2005
Thanksgiving service for Raema Ballantine-Jones
It’s been announced that the thanksgiving service for Raema Ballantine-Jones will be held at Jannali Anglican Church, in Wattle Road, Jannali, on Tuesday, August 23rd at 1:00pm.
Thursday 18th August 2005
Australian Christian Book of the Year announced
A Spectator’s Guide to World Religions: An Introduction To The Big Five – by John Dickson – has been awarded Australian Christian Book of the Year. Brian Rosner’s Beyond Greed was awarded second place.
Details from SPCKA.
Thursday 18th August 2005
“Florida: Seven Parishes Seek Protection from Panel of Reference” – VirtueOnline
“Dear Bishop Howard,
Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thank you for your timely, thoughtful and thorough response to our initial request in June for adequate alternative episcopal oversight. We also appreciate your request for the prayers of the people of our diocese for all of us as we move forward. With you, we feel heartache for the crisis we face, not only in the diocese but in the larger Anglican Communion.
While disappointed that you did not grant our request, we are grateful for your recognition that we are seeking to act together as two missions and four parishes. We understand that you believe we in "the six congregations have ignored an important avenue for reconciliation," (your letter, p. 17) and we are together in being open to considering other forms of oversight with you.
Because we fear that your letter may imply some risk of action against the mission congregations and their vicars, we have felt it necessary to apply to the Panel of Reference for protection. We would prefer to work out a solution locally, and will rescind our application if that can be accomplished...”
Read the letter from the Vicars and Rectors of the seven Florida parishes, and Bishop Howard’s letter to which they are responding, at VirtueOnline.
Thursday 18th August 2005
“Why I object to Homosexuality and Same-sex unions” – Archbishop Peter Akinola
“The Church of Nigeria is an Evangelical Church. It upholds the authority of scripture and is unreservedly committed to mission and evangelism that results in conversion of people to the Lord, church-planting and the caring ministry.
In this Church, we teach about the total depravity of man and his absolute need for salvation through faith in Jesus the Christ. For us, therefore, adherence to scripture is not only paramount, it is also non-negotiable. In matters of faith and practice, scripture provides sufficient warrant for what is considered right and what is judged to be wrong.
... What we are talking about is an attack on the Church by some whose aim is to discredit the gospel, pollute the Church, neutralise its power and pull it down. Christ has forewarned: ‘He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad’ (Matthew 12.30).”
An excellent article in which Nigerian Primate, Archbishop Peter Akinola argues that there can be no compromise on this issue.
Wednesday 17th August 2005
Raema Ballantine-Jones – with Christ
This morning ACL Chairman Robert Tong sent his condolences, on behalf of all members of the ACL, to former ACL President Bruce Ballantine-Jones, on the death of Bruce’s wife Raema. We are sad to report that Raema died last night after a long illness, yet rejoice that she is now with Christ (Philippians 1:23).
We’ll post a note here when details of a memorial service have been announced.
Wednesday 17th August 2005
Archbishop Peter Jensen on ABC Radio’s Religion Report
This morning ABC Radio National’s Religion Report featured an interview, recorded yesterday, with Archbishop Peter Jensen. His answers are well worth listening to – and will be of help in speaking with our friends on the topics of politics, industrial relations, and what the Bible says.
ABC website: “What authorises religious leaders to comment on political matters? This week we speak with Sydney’s Anglican Archbishop, Dr Peter Jensen, and the Federal Workplace Relations Minister, Kevin Andrews, about industrial relations reform and the role of religious leaders in voicing their concerns”
The transcripts and audio files are available on the ABC website now. (The interview starts at 17 minutes and 30 seconds into the audio file.) The programme is repeated tonight at 8:00pm on Radio National.
Saturday 13th August 2005
“Episcopal leader says church is healing”
“Well, I think I see the healing already taking place. There is the public rhetoric, and then there is the actual reality. ... There are all these webs of relationships across the communion that are strong and doing good work. And certainly none of the provinces of the Anglican Communion are monochromatic. You may have angry words coming from a particular place, and yet on the ground, the relationships between bishops here and bishops there are quite strong and very positive...”
An interview with Frank Griswold – from The Lexington Herald-Leader in Kentucky. (Interesting to compare these words with last week’s statement from Archbishop Akinola.)
Saturday 13th August 2005
“Ruling for Breakaway Parish”
“An effort by the six-county Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles to claim ownership of buildings and other property of a conservative breakaway congregation in Newport Beach was tentatively rejected Thursday by an Orange County Superior Court judge.
St. James Church was one of three former Episcopal parishes to bolt from the diocese and national Episcopal Church one year ago over differences in church teaching and the national church's controversial decision to ordain an openly gay priest in a committed relationship with another man as bishop of New Hampshire...”
Story from The Los Angeles Times.
Wednesday 10th August 2005
“England – Government to change Canon Law on Civil Partnerships”
“Anglican Mainstream has been given legal advice that the Government proposes to change Church law by statutory order, having obtained consent of the Archbishops’ Council and the House of Bishops, to add the term ‘civil partner’ wherever the term ‘spouse’ occurs. The result is that Church law is about to be changed to embed the notion of civil partner without a single discussion by General Synod, dioceses or parishes of the Church.
This is because the Civil Partnership Act 2004 contains provisions (sections 255 and 259) enabling the Government to amend and even repeal other legislation in order to give full effect to the purposes of the Act. This includes even amending and repealing church law...”
Release from Anglican Mainstream.
Monday 8th August 2005
“Church of England Faces Huge Split as Gay Clergy Defy Bishops”
“It has appeared as though the controversy shrouding the Church of England over homosexuality in the Church deepened even further this weekend, as gay clergy openly announced to the world that they would defy Anglican head Archbishop Rowan Williams, and other leading bishops over civil partnerships.
The latest news further blurs the line over the issue in the Church; one that was already extremely hazy since Dr Rowan Williams and leading Church of England bishops agreed to a publication last month. ...”
Story from Christian Today.
Monday 8th August 2005
Dean of Perth: “Paths to God”
To say Jesus is the only way “would be to endorse a parochial God”.
In the current edition of Perth’s “Anglican Messenger”, the Dean of Perth, Dr John Shepherd, claims that Jesus is just one of many paths to God.
“...we will find ourselves out of step with the essential character of the Christian message if we impose a literal understanding upon the language of Christian discipleship. The impact of the Christ phenomenon was captured in a frail and fallible form—human language—and we need constantly to search beyond this language to what it was intended to signify...”
“... Of course we spend most of our time paddling along our own streams. And that is only natural. Yet it is equally natural that we should regard our fellow-travellers, who are just as surely paddling along other streams, with sympathy and respect, and to acknowledge each other’s journey as a legitimate passage to God.
For ultimately all our streams, about which we can become so obsessive and insular, will empty out into nothing other than the one large sea—the one heart of the one God...”
Read his full article here. See also this earlier story on SydneyAnglicans.net.
Monday 8th August 2005
A Statement from Archbishop Peter Jensen on Industrial Relations reform.
This is the statement released on Friday referred to in Saturday’s Sydney Morning Herald article.
“The matter of proposed changes to workplace relations in our nation can neither be disregarded nor taken lightly. For they affect the lives and income of a major section of the community, both individuals and families.
Good industrial relations rely upon, and certainly create good community relations. These relationships are the primary goal for all. When profit becomes the primary goal, all relationships will suffer.
So while we await the final details of the Federal Government’s proposed workplace relations legislation, there are certain matters and principles that ought to be kept in mind and looked for in the legislation. Many can be found in the teaching in God’s Word.
Vulnerable workers, or those who have less bargaining power, need to be protected from unintended effects of the reforms.
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| “The erosion of Sunday as a day of rest and a day for worship of God is a matter of concern for Christians.” |
It seems at this point that the proposals shift the differential of power in favour of employers, who can have a propensity to mistreat workers in the interests of the business.
Further increased casualisation of the workforce should be avoided. Casual workers are disadvantaged if there is a greater shift towards 24/7 work schedules because while it increases flexibility for employers it decreases future work certainty for casual employees.
This nation and its political leaders must be committed to ensuring optimum working conditions for the nations’ workers; a living wage that will mean everyone has the ability to provide for themselves and their families the necessities of life; strong unions that will represent workers; and the preservation of leisure time for families to be together for rest and recreation and to maintain their relationships.
The erosion of Sunday as a day of rest and a day for worship of God is a matter of concern for Christians. The need for a day of leisure and rest, and for time to spend in family activities must always be a priority for our nation.
Optimal care for families and for the most vulnerable in our society must be absolute priorities for every Government and community. ”
Saturday 6th August 2005
A Statement On The Church Of England’s Response To Civil Partnerships
By The Primate of All Nigeria, Archbishop Peter J. Akinola.
“I read with utter dismay the pastoral statement recently issued by the Church of England House of Bishops with regard to the Civil Partnership Act scheduled to come into force on 5 December 2005.
While I was pleased to note the reaffirmation of the Church’s historic teaching on both marriage and sexual intercourse, I was sorely distressed that these words are not matched by corresponding actions.
The language of the Civil Partnerships Act makes it plain that what is being proposed is same-sex marriage in everything but name. This is even acknowledged in the statement. I find it incomprehensible therefore that the House of Bishops would not find open participation in such ‘marriages’ to be repugnant to Holy Scriptures and incompatible with Holy Orders....”
Archbishop Akinola’s statement is worth reading in full here.
Saturday 6th August 2005
“Pell and Jensen raise IR protest to critical mass”
“Australia’s two most influential religious conservatives, Cardinal George Pell and Dr Peter Jensen, are worried the Federal Government’s industrial relations changes may hurt family life and the working poor.
Joining a growing chorus of concern from church leaders, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney and the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney said they wanted to guard against the erosion of minimum wages, restrictions to collective bargaining and incursions into weekend family time...”
Story in The Sydney Morning Herald.
Friday 5th August 2005
“Eastern Michigan Bishop Deposes Orthodox Priest”
“The invitation of ‘sentence’ arrived in the mail. Fr. Gene Geromel, 57, a priest in the Episcopal Church for 31 years, was told he was being deposed by the bishop of Eastern Michigan, Edwin Leidel at precisely 10.00am.
At 8.45am Fr. Geromel drove up to his parish, St. Bartholomew’s in Swartz Creek where he met with 30 parishioners. With him was Fr. Bill Ilgenfritz, V-P of Forward in Faith, NA (who is based in the Diocese of Pittsburgh) and together they drove to diocesan headquarters in downtown Saginaw...”
Full story from VirtueOnline.
Thursday 4th August 2005
“Bishops’ Proposals On Civil Partnership Act ‘Flawed And Unworkable’ Says Reform”
This Press Release from Reform in the UK has just been published –
‘The Pastoral Statement issued by the House of Bishops on the implications for the church of the Civil Partnership Act (25th July) is ‘flawed and unworkable’, according to Reform, the network of Anglican evangelicals in the Church of England.
Commenting on the Bishops’ Statement, Reform said that its members – and many others who seek to be faithful to the Bible’s teaching within the Church of England – are glad to read the Bishops’ firm endorsement of traditional Christian teaching on marriage and sexual relations. There is also be some sympathy for them in seeking to resolve the difficulties caused by this new piece of legislation. However, compromising in the face of this legislation is not the way forward. The Bishops should have said that registration under the Act is incompatible with Holy Orders.
The Church of England’s Prayer Book tells clergy that actions which cause “grave and immediate scandal to the congregation” should lead to the withdrawal of communion. The Bible says close friendships are a cause of joy and there is therefore nothing necessarily ‘scandalous’ about two people of the same sex sharing the same accommodation. However, when two people of the same sex engage in a civil partnership as defined by the Act, then there is a presumption – at least in the public mind – of sexual intimacy. This will apply whether or not Bishops ask for reassurances from affected clergy about their celibacy. For the vast majority applying for a Civil Partnership it will only confirm the desire for recognition and affirmation of a lifestyle that is incompatible with Scripture, and therefore the Bishops should have stated that engaging in a Civil Partnership for that vast majority will be incompatible with Scripture. Further, they should have made clear that for those for whom it may not be incompatible it will be unnecessary.
The fact that Bishops are prepared to accept that licensed ministry is compatible with registration under the Act is a mistake because it opens the church to the accusation of permitting something the Bible sees as scandalous; it may encourage couples to be deceitful about their relationships; and it will be widely seen as collusion with a fiction that couples registered under the Act are not engaging in sexual relations. Many in the church will be ashamed at this pastoral statement; it will certainly make collaborative ministry less possible and it will cause suspicion about the Bishop’s own attachment to traditional teaching.’
See the Reform website here.
Tuesday 2nd August 2005
“Akinola: Suspend Church of England from Anglican Communion for Gay Law Support”
“The Archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, one of the most powerful leaders in the Anglican Communion worldwide, has called upon the Church of England to be suspended from the Communion for backing civil partnerships, say the Sunday Times.
The comments come after a pastoral statement was released last week from English bishops saying that they would allow gay clergy to register their civil partnership as long as they agreed to abstain from sex....”
Read the report here. (It’s worth noting that the comments attributed to Arbishop Akinola have not been independently confirmed.)
