News Archive, 1–10 October 2005

    
 
      
 Friday 7th October 2005 

                         Sydney Diocesan Synod starts on Monday
The Synod of the Diocese of Sydney starts on Monday – and everyone involved would appreciate your prayers for a Christ-honouring Synod and for godly wisdom in making decisions.
To learn more about what’s coming up at Synod, see the diocesan website here.
Friday 7th October 2005 

                         “Anglicans split over rites review”
“In a historic departure from centuries of Anglican tradition, Sydney Anglicans are considering allowing clergy and senior church leaders to administer the rite of confirmation, the formal way of becoming a full member of the church....”
Story from The Sydney Morning Herald.
Wednesday 5th October 2005 

                         “A Statement by the American Anglican Council Regarding Anglican Communion Website Alterations”
“We note with deep concern that the Anglican Communion website has altered its listing for the Diocese of Recife, Province of Brazil (see http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=58&view=alpha).  Rather than listing the Rt. Rev. Robinson Cavalcanti as Bishop of the Diocese of Recife, the web page currently identifies the Rt. Rev. Filadelfo Oliviera Neto as bishop of that diocese.  We believe this change sends a confusing and disturbing message to the Communion...”
A press release from The American Anglican Council.
Monday 3rd October 2005 

                         “St. Francis would be proud”
“Animals don’t usually go to church, but St. Paul’s Cathedral in London [not England but London, Ontario] was packed with dogs, cats and even a horse yesterday.
The Anglican church held its annual blessing of the animals in honour of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. Inside, the church was anything but a peaceful sanctuary. Barking echoed through the building, while dogs and rabbits shared pews and cats hid in their owners’ arms.
The highlight of the service came when animals – from earthworms to greyhounds – were led down the aisle to be blessed by Rev. Terrance A. Dance...”
If you must, you can read the story at London Free Press, Ontario, Canada.
Monday 3rd October 2005 

                         “Letter From the Rector” – another high profile Rector leaves the Episcopal Church of the USA.
Until yesterday, Eric Dudley was Rector of St. John’s, “the mother church of the Diocese of Florida”.  Founded in 1829, it was reportedly the second largest Episcopal congregation in the Diocese of Florida, with  a membership of around 2,000.
“As you may know by now, I resigned as Rector of St. John’s Church this past Sunday morning. Over the past two years it has become increasingly difficult for my family and me to remain a part of the Episcopal Church. 
After two years of prayerful struggling as well as thousands of conversations with fellow priests and bishops, I have come to realize that the roots of heresy are so deep in the Episcopal Church (in seminaries, among priests and bishops) that there really is no possibility of changing the fabric of this Church. I have arrived at a place where I do not feel comfortable using Episcopal literature, sending youth and college students to Episcopal conferences (even in the Diocese of Florida), or affirming my vows as a priest (to the “Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship of the Episcopal Church”). When, last Spring, I had a lengthy conversation in my office with a young man who is just beginning to believe in Christ, I felt sick that I was leading him to new faith in a church that has turned its back on the very foundations of faith. I cannot do that ever again!
...  I have, therefore, resigned as Rector of St. John’s and have placed myself under the authority of an Archbishop in the Anglican Communion, thereby remaining true to the larger witness and tradition of Anglicanism. Beginning this Sunday, October 9 at 10:00 a.m., I will establish St. Peter’s Anglican Church...”
Read Eric Dudley’s full letter here. See also this report from VirtueOnline.
Saturday 1st October 2005 

                         “Press Briefing from the Primate of Nigeria”
“Gentlemen of the Press, I welcome you all to this special occasion of interaction and briefing on recent events in the Anglican Communion, where by the divine providence, I serve to lead and lead to serve.
I congratulate and thank you for the effective coverage of the just concluded 8th General Synod of our Church, held at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, Onitsha. An informed press which cannot be taken for granted contributes to the building of the person and the nation...”
From The Church of Nigeria. 
Saturday 1st October 2005 

                         “Episcopal Parishes File Suit Against Bishop, Denomination’s Leader”
“Six orthodox Anglican parishes have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that their civil rights were violated by Connecticut’s bishop and the head of the Episcopal Church USA. The conflict stems from the 2003 consecration of openly homosexual Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, which has divided the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The parishes had asked to be supervised by a different bishop because they disagreed with Connecticut Bishop Andrew Smith’s support for Robinson. Smith subsequently seized the property and records of one of the parishes, suspended its minister and installed a pro-homosexual female priest in his place, and threatened to suspend five other orthodox priests...”
Full story from Agape Press. 
Thursday 29th September 2005 

                         SOUTHERN CONE PRIMATE ACCEPTS REJECTED BISHOP AND CLERGY
“The ongoing conflict between the conservative evangelical Diocese of Recife and the liberal Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil took a significant turn today when The Most Revd Gregory Venables, Primate of the Southern Cone of America extended recognition and protection in the unprecedented action of the Brazilian province to defrock and excommunicate the Bishop of Recife and 40 clergy earlier this year.  
Click the image to read Archbishop Venables’ letter (110kb PDF.)
Personal letters of recognition were delivered Tuesday evening at the Cathedral Church of the Good Samaritan at an extraordinary diocesan meeting.  Canon Bill Atwood, spokesman for Archbishop Venables said,
“Although there is a Panel of Reference that has been created to deal with exactly this sort of theological disagreement, the slow pace at which the Panel has been moving has left Bishop Cavalcanti and his clergy vulnerable.  All the institutional power has been in the hands of the Province.   These letters and licenses from the Primate of the Southern Cone are intended to bring some stability to the situation and to make it clear that many leaders around the world do not accept the actions of the Brazilian Province in attempting to eject the Bishop and clergy from the Anglican Communion.”
Earlier this year, Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti was deposed by the Province.  Although the action was rejected as illegitimate by a number of Archbishops, the Brazilian province went on to “excommunicate” forty members of the clergy who agree theologically with Bishop Cavalcanti.  The forty clergy represent about 90% of the clergy in the diocese and lead about 90% of the church members.  
The action to recognize the bishop and clergy in the neighbouring province is unusual in the Anglican world, because the norm has been for authority to be centralized geographically.  The decision of the Episcopal Church in the USA (ECUSA) to install an openly active homosexual candidate as a bishop and the same-sex blessings in the Anglican Church of Canada have resulted in similar actions from many of the Archbishops of the Anglican Communion.  Today, scores of churches in the USA look overseas for recognition and spiritual counsel.  The action in Recife is the first time that the bishop and clergy of a diocese in conflict with their Province have received recognition from another part of the Anglican Communion.  In the US, however, the Diocese of Fort Worth and other traditionalist dioceses have appealed to the Panel of Reference because their conservative stance has been rejected by the American Church leadership and made it impossible for a like-minded successor bishop to be approved by the current national structure.  
Following the clergy meeting, Canon Atwood toured projects of the Diocese of Recife where the church is working in the slums and even in the garbage dump. “It is amazing,” said Canon Atwood, “The bishop and clergy of Recife have been tremendously effective in bringing practical care and the Good News of Jesus Christ to people who live with little hope.  Today as we toured the slums it was obvious which of the children in House of Hope were newcomers.  The ones who have been there for a while are robustly more healthy, smiling, laughing, and outgoing.  This is the ministry of the Gospel that must go on.  It is and should remain Anglican even if the Province of Brazil no longer recognizes it..”
Press release from Recife. 
Wednesday 28th September 2005 

                         “Anglican leadership in Iraq feared dead”
“The entire lay leadership team of the main Anglican church in Iraq is presumed to have been killed after they failed to return from a church conference in Jordan, according to sources in Iraq.
A team of five Iraqi-born Anglicans including the lay pastor and his deputy, should have returned two weeks ago from the conference...”
Read the full story from Times Online.
Wednesday 28th September 2005 

                         “Face to Face” returns to Network Ten
“Face to Face, TEN’s late night Christian talk show returns to the Network  next Wednesday night after midnight. (Airing at 1:30am, Thursdays from  October 6th)
Now in its third series, Face to Face is hosted by Rev Karl Faase, Senior  Minister at Gymea Baptist Church, Sydney and produced by Martin Johnson for  Christian Television, Australia.
‘It’s a bit like a Christian version of the “Parkinson Show”,’ said Karl. ‘Each show features two guests whom I interview separately and then we’re joined by Richard Quadrio who attempts to link the various subjects we’ve  spoken about back to the Bible. Usually that’s not too difficult because all  of our guests have great stories of coming to faith,’ said Karl.”
From a CTA press release. See the programme’s website here.
Tuesday 27th September 2005 

                         “Recife row”
“‘We all are waiting on the Panel of Reference’. There ‘does not seem to be any hope for us or for any church or diocese in the Communion’ unless they act, he said.”
“Evangelical Anglicans in a Brazilian diocese continued to appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury in a bitter dispute with their provincial authorities after contradictory rulings by civil courts. The diocese of Recife is putting its hopes into the hands of Dr Williams’ Panel of Reference which was recently established to mediate in such divisive situations...”
From The Church of England Newspaper.
Monday 26th September 2005 

                         “The Calling of the Church” – Jim Packer
“What I have for you this time around, brothers and sisters, is a simple Bible study. Woe betide the theologian who gets beyond simple Bible study!  
Though the first letter of Peter doesn’t contain the word ‘church’ – not, at least in the Greek – (it got into the NRSV right at the end but it’s not there in the Greek), it does contain a lot of phrases which point to the Church and the whole letter is an admonition, or an encouragement rather, to the Church to brace the Lord’s people in all the various churches to which Peter was writing, to stand strong, to stand straight and to stand together in the hard times that were just beginning to break...”
Not news – but a Bible study from Dr. J.I. Packer – delivered at Oak Hill College in London in 1999.
Saturday 24th September 2005 

                         “Gay Men Ponder Impact of Proposal by Vatican”
“Word that the Vatican is likely to issue instructions soon that could bar most gay men from joining the priesthood has set off a wave of anger and sadness among some gay priests and seminarians who say they may soon have to decide whether to stay or leave, to remain silent or to speak out...”
Story from The New York Times.
Sunday 18th September 2005 

                         Pray for the Diocese of North West Australia 
We’re a little late in linking to the DNWA website – their “North West Network” for August and their Prayer Notes for August–September have been online for a little while – but it’s not too late to pray (or give!).
Bishop David Mulready writes, 
“What a great ministry Christian retirees can have, in their local Church as well as in the North West. Periodically, we have some travelling through our Diocese, known as ‘Nomads’. They serve the Lord in so many different ways: some preach and lead services, some paint and do carpentry, some help out for a while with financial and other administrative matters. Some stay for just a couple of weeks, some for some months. We have a great need for these kind of partners! Let me encourage retirees who think they could serve the Lord in this way, to contact The Bush Church Aid Society (02 9262 5017) or our own Diocesan office for further information....
We’d ... love to employ a full time Minister in the twin towns of Paraburdoo/Tom Price but need another $20,000 p.a. to do so. I have young Ministers eager to serve, but I don’t have the funds to employ them.” (Emphasis added.)
The DNWA website is here. And Bishop Mulready’s column in Perth’s Anglican Messenger may be found here.
 

  

See also archived Earlier News here.

See also

for quick links to select sites that are “Sydney” and Anglican