Sunday 30th September 2007
 Response from Reform to New Orleans Statement by TEC Bishops
“The statement from TEC Bishops amounts to no more than cynical window dressing. In an attempt to keep their place at the Anglican table, TEC Bishops have acquiesced only in the most formal way to the requests made by Anglican Primates at Dar es Salaam last February, while at the same time making quite clear they intend to pursue their liberalising agenda. ... ... We are facing an eleventh-hour crisis in the Anglican Communion; any suggestion that further discussion is the way forward is a failure to realise the imminence of the threat we face. What is needed now is firm, decisive leadership which clearly protects and promotes the Biblical Christian faith...” Read the complete Reform statement via Anglican Mainstream.
Friday 28th September 2007| “The innovation will inevitably create ongoing difficulties around the church for decades to come.” |
Archbishop Peter Jensen on Appellate Tribunal’s ruling
“The report from the Appellate Tribunal is contained in 79 pages including attachments. It requires careful study before we issue a considered response. Initially I would point out that while I respect the judicial procedures which have led to this result I am disappointed that the matter has now been resolved in this way. Those who are opposed to this development base their objection on conscientious grounds as a matter of biblical principle. The innovation will inevitably create ongoing difficulties around the church for decades to come. There are many people in all dioceses who, while they welcome women priests, will not agree that a woman should be consecrated as a Bishop. This is because the position of Bishop affects relationships with every parish and with every other Diocese. I am also deeply concerned for those Anglicans in other dioceses who will have similar difficulties. It may be that the Australian church will have to look for some means of taking care of minority groups who are disenfranchised by this development. There is of course a model in the arrangements for disenfranchised minority groups within the Church of England. I am aware that the opinion of the Tribunal will be cause for celebration and thanksgiving amongst many in the Anglican Church of Australia. I trust that in their understandable enthusiasm they will give consideration to the needs of those who find themselves still in opposition.”
Friday 28th September 2007
“Anglicans clear way for women bishops”
“The Anglican Church of Australia has cleared the way for women to become diocesan bishops. The church’s highest legal authority, the Appellate Tribunal, has ruled that there is nothing in the church’s constitution to prevent the consecration of a woman priest as a bishop...” Text of report from ABC Radio’s The World Today. Audio here (this longer version includes an interview with Muriel Porter). Also an audio interview with Bishop Robert Forsyth (mp3). See also the media release from the Appellate Tribunal (pdf) with a Press Statement by Archbishop Phillip Aspinall and the full text of the Appellate Tribunal’s Report to the Primate (pdf).
Thursday 27th September 2007
“NEW ORLEANS, MUNICH, NEHEMIAH and LENCIONI” – by David Holloway”
“The following may be of help as an aide-mémoire by providing the statements relevant to the meeting of the US Bishops in New Orleans and their Response of 25 September 2007 to the Primates’ Communiqué of 19 February 2007...” David Holloway, the Vicar of Jesmond Parish Church, Newcastle in the UK, has written this helpful document. Download it as a PDF file.
Thursday 27th September 2007
 Joint Statement from the American Anglican Council, the Anglican Communion Network, and Forward in Faith North America
“The last seven days have been eventful ones for the worldwide Anglican Communion. The future of our 500–hundred year fellowship has been focused on The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops (HOB). The worldwide Anglican Communion has been looking for clarity, praying for unity, and searching for Christ and His will in our lives. Unfortunately, the HOB has failed the Communion; their continued ambiguity, questioning of basic Christian beliefs, and rejection of obvious Scriptural teaching has widened the gap between them and biblical Christianity...” Read the full statement on the Anglican Communion Network website.
Thursday 27th September 2007
 Statement from Archbishop Peter Akinola
“September 26th, 2007
A STATEMENT ON THE RESPONSE OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO THE DAR ES SALAAM COMMUNIQUÉ
In accordance with our desire to walk “in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called, … eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians (4:1,2) we have looked forward with hope to the response of The Episcopal Church as requested by the Primates when we met earlier in the year in Dar es Salaam. That request was the culmination of many conversations and years of painful negotiations. It was our expressed desire to provide one final opportunity for an unequivocal assurance from The Episcopal Church of their commitment to the mind and teaching of the Communion. We also made clear that it is a time for clarity and a rejection of what hitherto has been endless series of ambiguous and misleading statements. Sadly it seems that our hopes were not well founded and our pleas have once again been ignored.
While we await a meeting of all the Primates to receive and determine the adequacy of The Episcopal Church’s response it seems clear from first reading that what is offered is not a whole hearted embrace of traditional Christian teaching and in particular the teaching that is expressed in Lambeth Resolution 1.10. The unequivocal assurances that we sought have not been given; what we have is a carefully calculated attempt to win support to ensure attendance at the Lambeth Conference and continued involvement in the life of the Communion.
Instead of the change of heart (repentance) that we sought what we have been offered is merely a temporary adjustment in an unrelenting determination to “bring the rest of the Communion along” as stated by a bishop at one of the press conferences. We also note that while we have repeatedly asked for a moratorium on same-sex blessings –across the Episcopal Church the clergy have continued with these blessings with the full knowledge and support of the Diocesan bishops even if not technically authorized.
This attitude towards the Word of God and the requests of the Communion is at odds with the Spirit of the One we serve. The Unity that Christ commands can only be found in obedience to the Truth revealed in the Holy Scriptures and mutual submission to one another. The Gospel message of freedom, justice and dignity for all persons can only be found in heartfelt repentance and joyful obedience to the Truth.
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” John 14:21
THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (Anglican Communion)
THE MOST REV. PETER J. AKINOLA, D.D, CON
Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria.” Also available on the Church of Nigeria website.
Thursday 27th September 2007
 “Anglicans divided over gay priests”
“Sydney’s conservative evangelical Archbishop Peter Jensen disagreed. ‘At first reading, the statement from the TEC bishops does not seem to say anything new,’ Archbishop Jensen said. ‘The situation may not then be changed in any way. However, we are continuing to study the document and will respond in due course.’...” From The Australian.
Thursday 27th September 2007
 “Episcopal Bishops Reject Anglican Church’s Orders”
“Bishops of the Episcopal Church on Tuesday rejected demands by leaders of the worldwide Anglican Communion to roll back the church’s liberal stance on homosexuality, increasing the possibility of fracture within the communion and the Episcopal Church itself. After nearly a week of talks at their semiannual meeting in New Orleans, the House of Bishops adopted a resolution that defied a directive by the Anglican Communion’s regional leaders, or primates, to change several church policies regarding the place of gay men and lesbians in their church. But the bishops also expressed a desire to remain part of the communion, and they appeared to be trying to stake out a middle ground that would allow them to do so....” A comprehensive report from The New York Times. (May require registration.)
Wednesday 26th September 2007
| “continuing discernment... careful listening... ongoing process of dialogue... |
“House of Bishops response ‘to questions and concerns raised by our Anglican Communion partners’”
Here is the statement from the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church – “In accordance with Our Lord’s high priestly prayer that we be one, and in the spirit of Resolution A159 of the 75th General Convention, and in obedience to his Great Commission to go into the world and make disciples, and in gratitude for the gift of the Anglican Communion as a sign of the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work of reconciliation throughout the world, we offer the following to The Episcopal Church, the Primates, the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), and the larger Communion, with the hope of ‘mending the tear in the fabric’ of our common life in Christ... ... Summary
• We reconfirm that resolution B033 of General Convention 2006 (The Election Of Bishops) calls upon bishops with jurisdiction and Standing Committees ‘to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.’
• We pledge as a body not to authorize public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions.
• We commend our Presiding Bishop’s plan for episcopal visitors.
• We deplore incursions into our jurisdictions by uninvited bishops and call for them to end.
• We support the Presiding Bishop in seeking communion-wide consultation in a manner that is in accord with our Constitution and Canons.
• We call for increasing implementation of the listening process across the Communion and for a report on its progress to Lambeth 2008.
• We support the Archbishop of Canterbury in his expressed desire to explore ways for the Bishop of New Hampshire to participate in the Lambeth Conference.
• We call for unequivocal and active commitment to the civil rights, safety, and dignity of gay and lesbian persons...” Full text at Episcopal Life Online. (emphasis added)
Wednesday 26th September 2007
“Goodbye Father Jeffrey. Hello, Sister Moon.”
“As we report, the Bishop of Rio Grande, Jeffrey Steenson, has today explained to the US bishops why he is to be received into the Roman Catholic Church. He leaves an Episcopal Church in disarray, led no longer by a ‘house’ but by a ‘community’ of bishops, with a songbook of praise to Mother Earth, Sister Moon and Brother Sun...” From Ruth Gledhill’s blog on The Times.
Wednesday 26th September 2007
What the Bishops are singing
“On my way back in to the afternoon session of the House of Bishops, I picked up the ‘Song Book’ for the ‘Community of Bishops Fall 2007.’ That is how 815 is referring to the House of Bishops – in fact, all the signs around the hotel says ‘Community of Bishops’ and it thought it was just a hotel-thing, but no, that’s what 815 is calling the House now – the ‘Community of Bishops’. One of the official hymns of the ‘Community of Bishops’ is this one – Mothering God
Mothering God,
you gave me birth
in the bright morning of this world...” Report from ‘BabyBlueOnline’ – a member of Truro Church reporting from the New Orleans House of Bishops’ meeting .
Tuesday 25th September 2007
“Bishops: New Document Will Preserve Status Quo”
“The new document essentially preserves the current status quo within The Episcopal Church, according to several bishops who were present. In the media briefing Bishop Bruno said the document in no way represented a “turning back of the clock. Gays and lesbians are fully enfranchised in our life.” There will be no going back on that, he stated...” Full story from The Living Church.
Sunday 23rd September 2007
“Women priests debate continues”
“The Sydney Anglican Church will again debate whether women can be ordained as priests at its annual synod, continuing tomorrow. The ordination of women has been consistently voted against by Sydney Anglican church leaders, but in a last-ditch effort, a motion is expected to be debated asking Archbishop Peter Jensen to ‘explore ways in which these different views can be creatively lived out in the life and practice of the diocese’...” Story from The Sydney Morning Herald.
Saturday 22nd September 2007
 Archbishop of Canterbury’s News Conference in New Orleans, September 21
Watch the Archbishop of Canterbury answering a number of difficult questions at Friday’s news conference at the TEC House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans. Video of the press conference is available on the Episcopal Life Online website – as is other coverage of the House of Bishops meeting. (19 minutes – broadband recommended. Updated URL.)
Saturday 22nd September 2007
Speech of Bishop Mouneer Anis of Egypt to The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops
“My friends, you may believe you have discovered a very different truth from that of the majority in the Anglican Communion. It is not just about sexuality, but about your views of Christ, the Gospel and the authority of the Bible. Please forgive me when I relay that some say you are a different church, others even think that you are a different religion. I understand that it is difficult for you in your context to accept the standard teaching of the Anglican Communion. This is why you refused to accept Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10. You also ignored all the warnings of the Primates in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Your response to the Windsor Report is seen by the Primates as not clear. You cannot say you value being member of the Anglican Communion while you ignore the interdependence of the member churches...” – Plain words from Presiding Bishop Mouneer Anis of Egypt to the Episcopal House of Bishops. Read the full text via Anglican Mainstream. Also watch the latest video of the Episcopal House of Bishops meeting at Anglican TV.
Saturday 22nd September 2007
“Archbishop accused of ‘dehumanising gays’”
“The Archbishop of Canterbury’s hopes of averting schism in the worldwide Anglican Church are foundering after he was accused of dehumanising gays by the openly homosexual bishop Gene Robinson.
Dr Rowan Williams is holding two days of crisis talks in New Orleans in an eleventh-hour effort to persuade the bishops of the American branch of Anglicanism to reverse their pro-gay agenda. But insiders said that a number of the liberal bishops were in no mood to capitulate, and any compromise that they might eventually accept was unlikely to placate conservatives who want them ousted...” Read the full report from The Times.
Friday 21st September 2007
 Details of the 2007 Smith Lecture announced
The seventh annual Smith Lecture 2007 is set for Friday 26th October at 6:30pm at the Museum for Contemporary Art, Sydney. Dr. Greg Clarke, Founding Director of the Centre for Public Christianity in Sydney, is speaking on “Outgrowing Religion: Is Christianity an asset or a danger to Australia’s future?’ Details from www.smithlecture.org. The Lord is honoured for Bruce Smith, teacher, theology lecturer and poet in Sydney and elsewhere from 1955 to 2001, in the series of lectures bearing Bruce’s name. (Photo courtesy of Ramon Williams – Worldwide Photos.)
Thursday 20th September 2007
“Canada: Ottawa synod to consider blessing same-gender couples”
“The Diocese of Ottawa’s regularly scheduled synod will decide October 12-13 whether to request its bishop to grant permission for clergy to bless same-gender relationships. It is the first diocese to consider the matter since the triennial General Synod, the Anglican Church of Canada’s national governing body, agreed in June that same-gender blessings are ‘not in conflict’ with core church doctrine, but declined by a slim margin to affirm the authority of dioceses to offer them...” Story from ‘Episcopal Life’.
Wednesday 19th September 2007
 “The cost of connecting”
“Sydney Anglican parishes are set to pay ‘the price of a movie and a Big Mac’ every week for the next three years to fund the resources for Connect 09, Synod has been told. Parishes of all sizes will contribute around $20 per week, or approximately $1,050 per year over three years to make up the estimated $841,000 to be paid over if the project is approved. This contribution will be used to purchase and develop the ‘gospel resources’ distributed throughout the campaign, which Evangelism Ministries CEO, the Rev Jim Ramsay describes as ‘a daring, audacious approach to evangelism’ and ‘one of the most significant bills to come before this house (Synod)’... ... As he presented the project, Mr Ramsay called on the Synod to have faith in the power of the Scriptures to change lives...” Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Wednesday 19th September 2007
 “Archbishop to lead secretive communion for homosexuals”
“Information has come to light that the Archbishop of Canterbury will be leading a service of Holy Communion for a secretive group of what appear to be homosexual clergy. The secretive nature and circumstances of the meeting suggest that they have something to hide. Moreover as is well known there are clergy in the Church of England who have refused to give assurances that they are celibate and Bishops who, contrary to their own agreed policy, apparently refuse to ask for such assurances...” This was posted yesterday on The Church Society’s evangelicals.org website. See also David Virtue’s Digest on current events in the Anglican Communion.
Wednesday 19th September 2007
 “Anglicans on the Brink”
“The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, is set to meet with the bishops of the Episcopal Church USA in a last-ditch effort to avoid a head-on collision between the American church and the worldwide Anglican Communion. Neither side in the Anglican controversy seems to think that the Archbishop will succeed in his effort to persuade the ECUSA bishops to make the assurances necessary to prevent a schism... ... At stake are basic conceptions of biblical authority, church doctrine, and the Gospel. In that sense, homosexuality is understood by both sides to be a Gospel issue. The liberals believe that homosexuality must be normalized in the name of a gospel of liberation. Conservatives insist that homosexuality must be understood as inherently sinful, and that the only rescue from sin is salvation through Christ. These are not merely two rival conceptions of Christianity – these are two different religions...” Read Al Mohler’s background commentary on the events expected to unfold this week.
Tuesday 18th September 2007
 “Archbishop sees vibrant future for Anglican Church”
Archbishop Peter Jensen was interviewed on ABC Radio’s PM last night. The interview is now online – and can be read here – or heard here (mp3 file).
Monday 17th September 2007
Archbishop Jensen’s 2007 Presidential Address from Sydney Synod
This afternoon, Archbishop Peter Jensen challenged Sydney Anglicans to a special focus on evangelism in 2009 – including a plan to distribute copies of the Bible, in various forms (physical and digital) to the people of Sydney – “We have had simple Bible distribution programs before. But this is not enough. Such is the strength of our churches, much more is possible. The aim is to create relationships, that we aim not only to hand out Bibles, useful though that would be, but to connect. Indeed the word of God may come in different forms, aural, visual, personal, written. The purpose is ‘to connect with people and connect them to Jesus Christ,’ and each local church can make up its own mind as to how to do this in its own area. It is usually through people that the Lord brings his word and it is through the word that people become Christians. Why 2009? Apart from the sense of urgency, God has given us in ’09 an excellent year to do this. In 2008, World Roman Catholic Youth Day will raise the level of awareness of Jesus in the community and increase a sense of interest in him. We must be prepared to build on that. There is a plan to run the ‘Jesus All About Life’ television campaign in 2009, which would magnificently complement our efforts. Those of who came to know Christ in 1959 were also moved by the 50th anniversary of the first Graham Crusade, as a point of great thanksgiving towards God. I cannot think of a better way of thanking him than once again seeking to bring the knowledge of Christ to the whole region. I will aim to gather the support of the Billy Graham converts in our Diocese towards this program as a way of expressing their gratitude to God...”.
Read all of the address here (PDF file, courtesy of SydneyAnglicans.net). Further Synod updates will be posted at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Monday 17th September 2007
Sydney Synod begins
As the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney begins its 2007 meeting from this afternoon, members would be thankful for your prayers. Please pray that in all its dealings – and in all the media reporting of the Synod – that the Lord Jesus might be honoured and glorified.
Saturday 15th September 2007
An open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury from the House of Bishops of the Church of Nigeria
The Nigerian House of Bishops has written to Archbishop Rowan Williams asking him to postpone the Lambeth Conference and to expect all invited to have “already endorsed the Anglican Covenant”. “Therefore we propose the following action plan:
As a matter of utmost urgency, call a special session of the Primates Meeting to:
a) Receive the responses made by The Episcopal Church to the Dromantine and Dar es Salaam Communiqués and determine their adequacy.
b) Arrive at a consensus for the application of the Windsor Process especially in Provinces whose self-understanding is at odds with the predominant mind of the Communion.
c) Set in motion an agreed process to finalize the Anglican Covenant Proposal and set a timetable for its ratification by individual provinces. This cannot be done at the Lambeth Conference because it is simply too large and, we all know, the Anglican Covenant requires individual provincial endorsement and signature.
Postpone current plans for the Lambeth Conference (as has been done before). This will:
a) Allow the current tensions to subside and leave room for the hard work of reconciliation that is a prerequisite for the fellowship we all desire.
b) Confirm that those invited to the Lambeth Conference have already endorsed the Anglican Covenant and so are able to come together as witnesses to our common faith...”
Read the full Open Letter on the Church of Nigeria website.
Saturday 15th September 2007
“Landmark study: Change for homosexuals is possible”
“In what some are calling groundbreaking research, a new four-year study concludes it is possible for homosexuals to change their physical attractions and become heterosexual through the help of Christian ministries....” Report from Baptist Press.
Saturday 15th September 2007
 “Growing Together in Unity and Mission: Building on 40 years of Anglican–Roman Catholic Dialogue”
According to a press release from the Anglican Communion News Service – “the Anglican Communion Office and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity’s Information Service” released yesterday “the definitive text of the report of the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission. The report, entitled Growing Together in the Unity and Mission, offers to the Anglican Communion and to the Roman Catholic Church a concise summary of 40 years of Anglican-Roman Catholic theological dialogue. It sets out both areas of convergence and agreement, as well as outstanding areas of difficulty and continuing dialogue. It then proceeds to explore how Anglicans and Roman Catholics can work ecumenically towards a shared vision of Christian unity and in service of the Gospel in practical and straightforward initiatives...”
The text of the new document may be found here. For a rather different perspective, it’s worth reading Ray Galea’s helpful new book, ‘Nothing in My Hand I Bring’.
Friday 14th September 2007
“Rebuilt church will go upmarket”
“St. Barnabas, the Broadway church famous for the signboard battles between priest and publican, is to rise from the ashes a vastly different church from that which was destroyed more than a year ago. The unadorned and plain mission hall church, built as a Christian sanctuary for Sydney's poor living in the then rough and tumble suburbs of Ultimo and Chippendale, is likely to be replaced by a multi-level structure with underground parking for up to 80 cars, community halls, breast feeding room, a cafe, a rehearsal and sound recording room, and creche....” From The Sydney Morning Herald.
Thursday 13th September 2007
 New issue of The Australian Church Record
The publishers of The Australian Church Record have released their latest edition – just in time for Sydney Synod next week. Worth downloading and passing on. Issue 1893 of the ACR is available now from their website – as a 430kb PDF file.
Thursday 13th September 2007
“Quincy diocese may leave Episcopal Church”
“The Episcopal Diocese of Quincy said Tuesday it will consider proposals in October that would allow it to break away from The Episcopal Church in order to, diocesan leaders say, stay with the worldwide Anglican Communion. Bishop Keith Ackerman and other leaders of the west-central Illinois diocese discussed the resolutions with clergy members Tuesday at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The proposals had to be filed one month in advance of the annual synod in October...” Report from the Peoria Journal Star, Illinois.
Wednesday 12th September 2007
“[Pittsburgh] Diocese to Vote on Future Relationship to The Episcopal Church”
“Today, the Diocesan Council of The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh began a formal process that could lead to changes in its diocesan constitution by forwarding resolutions to Pittsburgh’s Diocesan Convention Nov. 2-3. If ultimately passed by Diocesan Convention, those changes will open the door for the diocese to remain within mainstream Anglicanism even as the wider Episcopal Church continues to cut those ties.
‘We are praying that the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops makes these votes unnecessary by unequivocally accepting all the requests of the worldwide Anglican Communion when they meet in New Orleans Sept. 20-25,’ said the Rev. David Rucker, president of Diocesan Council. ‘While we continue to pray for the House we must also prepare for the very real possibility they will not respond favorably. Thus, we are beginning the process that will allow our convention to consider this action in the event the Episcopal Church does not turn back,’ he added. The release of convention resolutions conforms to Pittsburgh’s internal rules of order that require any proposed resolutions to be made public well in advance of the meeting itself...” Read the full news release from the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Tuesday 11th September 2007
 ACL Synod Dinner booking reminder
The ACL Synod Dinner will be held at Chapter House, St Andrew’s Cathedral, next Monday, 17 September at 5.30 pm (or whenever Synod rises). The cost is $15 and you can pay at the door. Thank you to those who have already indicated that they are coming. If you have not yet replied and you intend coming it would be helpful if you could do so as soon as possible – please see the invitation above.
Tuesday 11th September 2007
“Crossing Jurisdictions: Two Can Play That Game”
“For several years now the Episcopal Church (TEC) has bewailed and bemoaned interventions by foreign Primates and bishops of the Anglican Communion into their dioceses. It has become the standard mantra of liberals and revisionist leaders as they watch parishes rush helter skelter in all directions away from TEC because of its theological and moral innovations...” Commnetary from David Virtue.
Monday 10th September 2007
 “A Statement from Bishop Iker Concerning the Visit of Bonnie Anderson to The Episcopal Diocese Of Fort Worth”
“Bonnie Anderson, the President of the House of Deputies of The Episcopal Church, has made a visit to the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, where she was the featured speaker at a forum held on the campus of Texas Christian University on Saturday, September 8th. The program was sponsored by Brite Divinity School and Fort Worth Via Media. The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, has issued the following statement: ‘This visit by Mrs. Anderson was arranged without any prior consultation with me or any of the other elected leaders of this diocese. I consider it a breach of protocol and a violation of the basic polity of The Episcopal Church. It is a clear effort on her part to recognize and empower a small group of people who dissent from the stated theological positions of this diocese and who claim that they alone are the true “loyal Episcopalians” here in Fort Worth... I regard her visit as part of a concerted effort to undermine the existing diocesan leadership in favor of those who support the liberal agenda of the General Convention Church....”
Read the full statement from Bishop Iker on the Fort Worth website (pdf).
Saturday 8th September 2007
 “Truth and Honesty in Evaluating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”
In the US, there is a desire among many to see the Mormons as both ‘Christian’ and even ‘evangelical’. This article by James White clarifies the issues – “Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, is a member in good standing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In fact, the Romney name is well known in the leadership of the Church at its highest levels. Romney’s run for the White House has inevitably raised the issue of Mormonism, its teachings, and its relationship to Christianity. The resultant discussions have only shown that even when it comes to groups that have historically been identified as ‘cults,’ far outside even the most pliable definitions of orthodoxy, almost anything is fair game today. The discernment level in the media is not surprising. ‘Well, they say they believe in Jesus, and that is all that matters’ makes sense coming from people who have never read more than two paragraphs of the Scriptures...” From Reformation 21 – the online magazine of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.
Friday 7th September 2007
Praying about the APEC meetings?
“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” The Apostle Paul — in 1 Timothy 2:1-4. (ESV)
Thursday 6th September 2007
“Jensen’s plan to drive home Bible message”
“Every family in Sydney would be given a free Bible under an ambitious plan by the Anglican Church to revive a 19th-century tradition of door-to-door distribution of the word of God. In an increasingly secular society, it could no longer be assumed that most people had read the Bible, or had one in their home, the Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, said.” – from The Sydney Morning Herald.
Thursday 6th September 2007
 “Excellence in All Things and All Things to God’s Glory” – The Legacy of Dr. D. James Kennedy
“The death of Dr. D. James Kennedy is yet another reminder of what the hymn writer Isaac Watts saw when he wrote that ‘time, like an ever rolling stream, bears all its sons away.’ Dr. Kennedy died this morning at his home in Ft. Lauderdale. He had been out of the public eye since suffering a significant cardiac arrest in January. James Kennedy founded the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in 1959, the year I was born. Within just a few short years the church became one of the nation’s largest Presbyterian congregations. Along the way he established a host of affiliated ministries. He taught thousands of Christians how to share their faith, one on one, through Evangelism Explosion. ” – Commentary from Al Mohler. See also this tribute from Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Dr. Kennedy was born Nov. 3, 1930, but his Christian life did not begin until 1953. Sleeping late on a Sunday morning, his radio alarm went off and a preacher’s booming voice invaded his slumber. “Suppose you were to die today and stand before God and He were to ask you, ‘What right do you have to enter into My heaven?’—what would you say?”.
Thursday 6th September 2007
“Biblical Preaching”
“This is a simple concept – a blog for discussing anything related to preaching. We hope to generate discussion of how to preach specific Biblical passages, aspects of delivery, preaching theory and also book reviews. The goal is to stimulate better Biblical preaching.” Another helpful website – this one designed to help preachers be better preachers. A growing collection of stimulating notes – at Biblical Preaching.
Tuesday 4th September 2007
“Of First Importance – Living Each Day in the Good of the Gospel”
“The gospel of Jesus Christ is ‘of first importance’ (1 Cor 15:3), but we easily forget. Each day this blog will provide one quote to help you live in the good of the gospel.” A helpful website with timely quotes from people worth reading – people like John Calvin, J C Ryle, Martin Luther, John Stott. Not only edifying, but a source of great ideas! Of First Importance.
Monday 3rd September 2007 |  | Kenya | Uganda |
John Guernsey consecrated in Uganda as missionary bishop to the US
Reuters reports: “Uganda’s Anglican Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi consecrated an American bishop opposed to gay marriage on Sunday, the latest in a spate of conservative clerics to leave the U.S. Episcopal Church. The consecration of the Virginia-based conservative, John Guernsey, came just three days after Kenya’s Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi named two American priests as bishops. ... Orombi’s service in western Uganda included primates from the ‘Global South’ churches of Latin America, Africa and Asia who support traditional Anglicanism’s tough stance against gay marriage.” Despite media reports, the real issue is much deeper – it is the authority of Scripture. See also this report on yesterday’s consecration from The Daily Monitor in Uganda. Anglican TV’s Kevin Kallsen has posted photos from last week’s consecrations of William Murdoch and Bill Atwood in Nairobi and from yesterday’s consecration of John Guernsey at St James’ Cathedral, Ruharo, in Mbarara, Uganda. Click the images at right to get an idea of the wide range of support from representatives from other dioceses of varying churchmanship. Kevin has also posted some (unedited) video of the Nairobi consecrations at Anglican TV.
Sunday 2nd September 2007
 Cathedral Bible Study
Bible Talks from St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney are now available – in both audio and video formats at sydneyanglicancathedral.tv. See the website to subscribe to the latest talks – or use the link to the (free) iTunes feed. (You will need an RSS reader or iTunes.) The video files would be ideal for using in a Bible study group – but note that they are >200MB in size. At the moment, the first three talks by the Dean, Phillip Jensen, on Ephesians are available.
Saturday 1st September 2007
“Music in the Smaller Church”
“When we experience the vibrant music of a larger church it’s easy to get disheartened about our own small music team. This article will show you how God has already given your church every gift it needs to joyfully worship Him in song together. It’s all about faithfulness and doing the fundamental things well!...” Some practical and encouraging ideas from Reason Music in Sydney.
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Details of the 2007 Smith Lecture announced