Tuesday 31st July 2007
“An Open Letter to Network Bishops and Common Cause Partners Regarding the Future of Anglicanism in North America”
The Rev. Dr. Stephen Noll, Vice Chancellor of Uganda Christian University, makes public a letter he wrote at Easter: “The time has come for full and final separation between those in The Episcopal Church (TEC) who hold a false gospel and those who hold fast the truth revealed in Holy Scripture and the evangelical and catholic faith of the Church. I find it hard not to conclude that any bishop who still hopes for reform and revival from within the current structure is in a state of denial...”
From Stephen Noll’s blog.
Friday 27th July 2007
“Defining Anglicanism in Today’s World”
This letter was published in today’s edition of the Church of England Newspaper: “Sir, Some recent statements have raised the question of what defines being an Anglican church. It is worth remembering that a number of Anglican churches have already pointed out that Anglican churches have from their beginnings seen themselves as part of the one holy, catholic and apostolic church. That is much more than a matter of formal conformity with a particular see or institution, or attendance at a specific gathering within the Communion, no matter how venerable. It is, rather, founded on a commitment to faithfulness to the scriptures as the supreme authority in matters of faith and conduct and the catholic creeds. That commitment requires agreement in faith, holiness of life, and biblically faithful teaching. Only thus can the leaders of our churches enable the Communion to remain part of the one holy, catholic and apostolic church, positioned for global mission. The Most Rev Peter Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney
The Rt Rev Wallace Benn, Bishop of Lewes and President of the Church of England Evangelical Council
The Rt Rev Colin Bazley, Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Chester and former Primate of the Southern Cone
Canon Ben Enwuchola, Chaplain to the Nigerian Community in Britain.”
Tuesday 24th July 2007
“Ex-clerics condemn Episcopal lawsuits”
“Four retired Episcopal bishops have issued a challenge to their own denomination, asking where church leaders are finding the funds to mount simultaneous lawsuits against fleeing conservative congregations.... ‘We, in the name of the living God, declare that by litigation, you may win possession of some buildings and land, but you will never get the people back by the most potent litigation that money can buy,’ the bishops wrote. ‘The Episcopal Church has the capacity to bankrupt and destroy all of the congregations and dioceses that dare to meet the Episcopal Church in court. But that will not get the people back.’...” From The Washington Times.
Saturday 21st July 2007
“This is a critical time – A Statement from the Global South Steering Committee”
“We in the Global South remain committed to the underlying principles and recommendations of the Windsor Report and the various Communiqués that we have issued, especially the statement that was produced during the most recent Primates’ meeting in Dar es Salaam. It was the result of enormous effort and heart-felt prayer and we remain convinced that it offers the best way forward for our beloved Communion...” From Global South Anglican.
Saturday 21st July 2007
“Fr. Lawrence Remains Only South Carolina Bishop Nominee”
“The Very Rev. Mark Lawrence, rector of St. Paul’s Church, Bakersfield, Calif., remains the only candidate on the ballot for the Aug. 4 election of a bishop in the Diocese of South Carolina after the deadline for nominations by petition passed with no additional names submitted. Fr. Lawrence was the choice of more than three-fourths of voting delegates on the first ballot of an election for Bishop of South Carolina last September. Fr. Lawrence received consent fom a majority of bishops with jurisdiction, but he failed to receive canonically valid consents from a majority of standing committees and his election was ruled null and void....” Story from The Living Church.
Monday 16th July 2007
The Rt Rev Maurice Wood – Obituary
“The Rt Rev Maurice Wood, who has died aged 90, was the flamboyant yet hugely popular bishop of Norwich from 1971 to 1985. He was very good with ordinary people and brought in young clergy to parishes around the city, giving it a great sense of energy. A friend and admirer of Billy Graham, he sponsored the American evangelist’s visits to Cambridge and Norwich in 1955 and spoke on his platforms in Japan and the US. Born into an evangelical and teetotal family, Wood was a classic evangelical of the 1930s mould, nurtured by his time at Monkton Combe school, near Bath, Queens’ College and Ridley Hall, Cambridge, evangelical camps, bible classes, the Crusaders – and the suffering he witnessed as a chaplain with the commandos during the D-day landings, for which he was awarded the DSC...” Read the full obituary at Guardian Unlimited. See also The Times’ obituary.
Friday 13th July 2007
“Anglican Leader Says Episcopal Church Terrorizing Tactics Will Fail”
“A leader for 19 churches that have left The Episcopal Church (TEC) in the Diocese of Virginia and affiliated with two orthodox African Anglican provinces, says that the Episcopal Church’s ‘terrorizing tactics’ will fail and the volunteer laity of those churches being sued by the diocese are immune from civil liability. Jim Oakes, vice-chairman of the Anglican District of Virginia for 15 Convocation of Anglican Nigerians in Americas (CANA) affiliated churches plus four with the Province of Uganda, told VirtueOnline, ‘We are supremely confident with what we have done and with the right motives. We have already won. The legal fights are merely distracting and unfortunate.’ Oakes said he could find no motive for the Episcopal Church’s suing lay individuals except with the motive ‘to terrorize us.’...” Full report from VirtueOnline.
Wednesday 11th July 2007
“If it isn’t Roman Catholic then it’s not a proper Church, Pope tells Christians”
“The Vatican has described the Protestant and Orthodox faiths as ‘not proper Churches’ in a document issued with the full authority of the Pope. ... The Rev David Phillips, General Secretary of the Church Society, said: ... ‘We are grateful that the Vatican has once again been honest in declaring their view that the Church of England is not a proper Church. Too much dialogue proceeds without such honesty. Therefore, we would wish to be equally open; unity will only be possible when the papacy renounces its errors and pretensions.’...” Story from TimesOnline.
Tuesday 10th July 2007
“Nervous support for Church rules”
“The Church of England’s ruling body, the general synod, is backing a set of rules – or covenant – aimed at resolving disagreements in the Anglican Communion, such as that over the ordination of gay bishops. While some see the move as a necessity, others believe it goes against the traditions of the Church...” Report from BBC News.
Thursday 5th July 2007
“Peter Akinola: ‘Unity will never be at the expense of truth’ ”
“I was privileged to be given the opportunity the other day to go and meet the Primate of Nigeria, Peter Akinola for an unprecedentedly frank interview. We spoke in his office in Abuja. One focus was the kind of man he is, his upbringing, relations with Islam. But inevitably we discussed the problems in the Anglican Communion as well. I wanted to know whether he and his 122 bishops – another five have been elected since we spoke – would be coming to Lambeth...” From Ruth Gledhill’s Times blog.
Tuesday 3rd July 2007
“The Episcopal Church and Diocese of Virginia Seek to Sue More Unpaid Volunteers of Virginia Churches”
“Counsel for the eleven churches, including their rectors, vestries and, in some instances, their trustees, which have been sued by The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia, filed a memo opposing the denomination’s motion to add more volunteer trustees and lay leaders... as defendants in the lawsuit... If granted, The Episcopal Church’s and the Diocese’s motion would automatically add 76 additional unpaid church volunteers to the lawsuit and anyone else who might volunteer to serve as a Vestry member or Trustee of any of the local churches in the future...” From the Anglican District of Virginia.
 Monday 2nd July 2007
The Gospel Coalition
“We are a fellowship of evangelical churches deeply committed to renewing our faith in the gospel of Christ and to reforming our ministry practices to conform fully to the Scriptures. We have become deeply concerned about some movements within traditional evangelicalism that seem to be diminishing the church’s life and leading us away from our historic beliefs and practices. On the one hand, we are troubled by the idolatry of personal consumerism and the politicization of faith; on the other hand, we are distressed by the unchallenged acceptance of theological and moral relativism. These movements have led to the easy abandonment of both biblical truth and the transformed living mandated by our historic faith. We not only hear of these influences, we see their effects. We have committed ourselves to invigorating churches with new hope and compelling joy based on the promises received by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone...” Check out The Gospel Coalition website – with helpful and encouraging resources from Tim Keller, John Piper, Don Carson and others.
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