Bishop Schofield Formally Resigns from Episcopal Church House of Bishops
Bishop John-David Schofield of San Joaquin formally resigned from the House of Bishops in a letter sent to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on March 1.
Bishop Schofield said it was the only way for the diocese to preserve biblical truth and the historic Anglican faith and order.
“It is important to note that this is separation and not schism,” he said. “Separation, by definition, is the biblical answer to unrepentant and public false teaching and immorality.” …
Full report from The Living Church.
Five Books to Read Before Easter
Tim Challies, widely respected Christian blogger from Toronto, is suggesting five books to read before Easter. That doesn’t leave much time! Perhaps starting one book would be more realistic.
One of Challies’ recommendations, Pierced for Our Transgressions by Steve Jeffery, Mike Ovey and Andrew Sach, has been described by J. I. Packer as ‘an epoch-making tour de force’.
Dr. Peter O’Brien writes – ‘This is a very significant book… Every major objection to penal substitution has been considered, and courteously but firmly answered.’
Dr. Mark Thompson writes – ‘Pierced for our Transgressions is carefully argued and richly edifying.’
What better time than Easter to turn your thoughts to the saving work of Christ on the Cross. (For Challies’ five suggested books, see Challies.com.)
The World in which we now live – Dick Lucas
An address by Dick Lucas, Rector Emeritus at St Helen’s Bishopsgate, from Psalm 14.
He was speaking to the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship 2007 Annual Conference in London.
A great many in Sydney have benefitted from the ministry of Dick Lucas over the years. Hear his address (17MB mp3 file) from the LCF website.
Ecclesiastical Fascism Rearing its Head
“The fictional ‘abandonment of communion’ used by revisionist Episcopal bishops to deny and dump orthodox priests has now become a standard mantra by those who want to retain power and repress those who would uphold the faith, demanding that they accept the church’s new fangled theology, and bless same-sex marriages…”
This week’s commentary by US-based Kiwi David Virtue.
Statement on the Presiding Bishop’s visit to South Carolina
Statement from Bishop Mark Lawrence in response to the recent ENS article on the Presiding Bishop’s visit to South Carolina
I have read the recent article from the ENS regarding the Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Katherine Jefferts Schori’s visit to the Diocese of South Carolina. …
What the article failed to convey, however, is the depth of the theological chasm that lies between many of us in South Carolina (and others within the church for that matter) and the trajectory of so much of the leadership of The Episcopal Church. …
Read the full statement from Bishop Mark Lawrence of South Carolina.
(Photo: Bill Murton, Diocese of South Carolina.)
‘Anglicans padlock rebel church’
St. Chad’s Anglican Church sits empty after the Toronto diocese changed the locks and told all parishioners to go elsewhere, in response to the congregation voting recently to split from the Anglican Church of Canada.
“They’ve locked us out of the building,” said Cheryl Chang, a lawyer for the breakaway parishioners. “They’ve closed the building to worshippers.” …
Report from The Toronto Star. See also this statement from the Diocese of Toronto.
(Photo: Anglican Network in Canada.)
New Westminster: ‘Imagining our future’
“New Westminster Anglicans have come up with seven values that parishioners in the diocese hold – and have begun work on a vision for the next decade. … The values and vision for the diocese should be based on what people in the diocese care deeply about. This is what we’ve tried to discern in a series of ten workshops held during October and November. Over 250 people from a large majority of the diocese’s parishes were involved. …”
The list of ‘Values’ and ‘Vision’ words may reflect what is being taught in the churches – see the story (published January 27) from the Diocese of New Westminster – and read more detail in the report (pdf) from the consultants who ran the workshops.
‘Gagging order placed on Christchurch vicar’
A Christchurch vicar has been gagged over debate surrounding the city’s next Anglican bishop. …
– Report from NZ City. (Photo of Rev. Mike Hawke: St. Christopher’s Avonhead.)
Fort Worth releases guidelines for parishes who may wish to leave
What would happen if a diocese voted to leave the Episcopal Church, while some of its parishes preferred to remain? How should those who belong to Jesus act in this matter? The Diocese of Fort Worth has published Guidelines to be followed if a parish wished to initiate a separation –
The leadership of this diocese has watched with sadness as issues and attitudes have caused deepening differences at all levels in the Anglican Communion. Adding to this rupture of the bonds of affection are the growing numbers of lawsuits being filed by those who once were unified in faithful witness and ministry. “Disagreement and division may be inevitable,” commented Dean Ryan Reed, President of the Standing Committee, “but Christian charity must not be sacrified in the process.” The purpose of the Canon and the Guidelines is to provide for a charitable parting, if parting is necessary.
– from a press release from the Diocese of Fort Worth.
What is man that you are mindful of him?
This image, taken by NASA’s unmanned Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter, which is in orbit around Mars, shows the Earth and Moon from a distance of 142 million kilometres.
This image, and others of avalanches on Mars, have today been released by NASA. Read more
On Life and Ministry with J.I. Packer
In October 1999, Mark Dever spoke with Dr James Packer about life and ministry.
Well known to many as the author of Fundamentalism and the Word of God, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God and Knowing God, Dr. Packer is a member of St. John’s Shaughnessy which has recently voted to break ties with the Anglican Church of Canada.
This fascinating and informative interview sheds light on the recent history of evangelical Christianity and its continuing battle with liberalism.
The 64 minute audio (mp3) file is available here as a 29MB download.
(Photo: Martin Dee / Regent College, Vancouver.)
Professor J I Packer: Anglican Church League Statement of Support
Anglican Church League President Dr Mark Thompson has released this statement in support of Professor J I Packer:
The ACL notes with alarm the Bishop of New Westminster’s threat to revoke Professor J I Packer’s ‘spiritual authority as a minister of Word and Sacraments’.
Professor Packer, one of the leading Christian voices of the twentieth century, is amongst those who have voted to stand with authentic and orthodox Anglicans rather than those who have undermined biblical truth over many decades and most recently by their innovations regarding homosexual practice. As one of these he has now become a target for revisionist aggression. Once again the intolerance and anti-liberal heart of liberal Christianity has been exposed. Read more
David Short, J I Packer face legal action
Ecclesiastical charges have been filed by a Canadian Bishop against former Sydney Anglican, the Rev David Short and one of the world’s top Anglican theologians, Dr J.I. Packer.
Bishop Michael Ingham has launched legal action over the vote by their congregation in Vancouver to seek alternative oversight from a South American bishop. …
The charges not only involve revocation of licence, but also seek to nullify the ordination of Mr Short and Dr Packer. …
Full story by Russell Powell from SydneyAnglicans.net. (updated)
Paul, Peter and moderate Baptists
Former president Jimmy Carter convened a large assembly of moderate and liberal Baptists in Atlanta a few weeks ago, meeting under the banner of a “Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant”…
Tragically, however, these Baptists do not even agree on the Gospel. … while there was a call for unity around the Gospel and even appeals to spread the Good News, a breakout session demonstrated the lack of clarity, to be as charitable as possible, concerning the nature of Gospel.
– Opinion piece by James A. Smith on Baptist Press. (Any lessons for Anglicans here?)
(Photo of former President Clinton, who was also present, from the New Baptist Covenant.)
St. John’s Shaughnessy video on YouTube
An ~80 minute video from St. John’s Shaughnessy, produced in 2007 to help members think through the reasons for and implications of Anglican Realignment, has been placed on YouTube.
It features interviews with St. John’s Rector, David Short, and with theologian Dr J I Packer and is very helpful. Recommended.
Watch the video (in 10 segments) here. (Start at the bottom right video.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…