Impact of the Manchester report
For those, such as WATCH, advocating the Manchester Report’s ‘Single Clause, Code of Practice’ option as the way ahead on the consecration of women bishops, there is just one question that should be asked: “Do you accept that men opposed to women’s ordination will continue to be consecrated as bishops in the Church of England?”
The answer must surely be “No.” Indeed, given the tiny handful of such consecrations which have taken place in the last few years, despite the 1993 Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod, any other answer would have to be seen as reflecting either self-delusion or the intention to delude others.
That Act established that “no person or body shall discriminate against candidates … for appointment to senior office in the Church of England on the grounds of their views or positions about the ordination of women to the priesthood.” Yet there is no doubt that it has been consciously and deliberately ignored. The ‘stained glass ceiling’ for ordained women has been as nothing compared with the cast iron version for traditionalists in the last decade.…
– Read John Richardson’s full article at The Ugley Vicar.
‘Pray – Connect – Expect’ video available
As part of this Sunday’s prayer focus (link to 3.8MB pdf) in Sydney Diocese, Archbishop Peter Jensen has released a 4 minute 12 second video to encourage us all. The video has also been posted on DVD to parishes for this weekend for possible use in services.
Download it from the Connect09 website –
Quicktime movie: 640 x 360 pixels. 25 MB.
As always, to save a link, right-click and save (Windows) or control-click and save (Mac).
Colorado Bishop seeks to remove previously transferred priests
The Rt. Rev. Robert O’Neill, Bishop of Colorado, is seeking to remove from the ministry more than a dozen priests that his predecessor lawfully transferred to another Anglican province after they joined the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) more than seven years ago.
The initial list included at least one priest, the Rev. Robert John Bryan, who claims not to have received any communication on the matter. He expressed surprise at the news of his inhibition when contacted by The Living Church, and said he had not received any communication from anyone in the Diocese of Colorado since receiving a copy of his letter of transfer nearly eight years ago. …
– Story from The Living Church. Note that it is Bishop O’Neill whom the TEC Presiding Bishop hopes to be her uninvited “eyes and ears” at GAFCON. (Photo: Episcopal Church.)
Christians have duty to witness
Britain’s destiny depends on Christianity, the Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, said this week, in an article published the day after he responded to questions on a General Synod motion that has called for Christians to evangelise British Muslims.
The private member’s motion, by Paul Eddy, who is training for the priesthood, called on the Church to proclaim Christianity as the only route to ultimate salvation. Mr Eddy said he had been under pressure to withdraw his motion. …
– Report from the Church Times.
See also this piece in The Telegraph. (Photo: Church Times.)
Mark Dever interviewed on ministry
At the risk of posting too many links to video files…
Last week, Mark Dever spoke at Whiteboard, a rather diverse gathering of US church planters.
After the sessions, he was interviewed on topics such as – working with those with whom you disagree theologically, styles of worship, preaching, and priority on evangelism. It’s presented in two parts on YouTube – part 1, part 2 (10 minutes each).
– For ministers in particular, this is well worth watching. (Thanks to Between Two Worlds.) The start of Mark’s talk has also been posted on YouTube.
First woman bishop in Victoria to be consecrated tomorrow
From Anglican Media Melbourne –
“The service for the consecration of the first woman bishop in Victoria, Canon Barbara Darling, will be held in St Paul’s Cathedral, corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, on Saturday 31 May, commencing at 11am.
Read more
Judge orders congregation to leave their church building
This press release has just been issued by the Anglican Network in Canada –
29 May 2008
A B.C. Supreme Court judge, Madam Justice Allan, has ordered the congregation of St. Mary of the Incarnation in Metchosin (St. Mary’s), to hand over their church building to the diocese of B.C. in the Anglican Church of Canada, pending the resolution of a trial over who is entitled to ownership of the building. Read more
David Wells on The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World
Dr. David Wells, Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, spoke at the 2006 Desiring God Conference.
The theme of the conference was a response to his book, “Above All Earthly Powers”.
Audio and video of all the talks (by David Wells, Don Carson, Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll, Voddie Baucham, and John Piper) is available at Desiring God.
The video of Dr Wells’ very helpful address is available via this link and could be used for Bible Study groups or downloaded to a video iPod to watch anywhere. (Note: it’s a 148MB mp4 file.)
On a related note, Dr Wells was interviewed for The A-Team Blog last month – part 1, part 2.
(Photo: Desiring God.)
Archbishop to do the Lambeth Walk
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has today announced plans to mount an unprecedented mass walk of bishops and other faith leaders through central London during the forthcoming Lambeth Conference to demonstrate the Anglican Communion’s determination to help end extreme poverty across the globe.
The Archbishop will be joined by approximately 600 other archbishops and bishops, and their spouses, alongside other UK faith leaders for the high-profile symbol of commitment to the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – eight promises made by world leaders to halve world poverty by 2015. Taking place on Thursday 24th July, the event will culminate in a rally in the grounds of Lambeth Palace, the London home and office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. …
– from a press release from the Anglican Communion Office.
(Photo credit: Jim Rosenthal, Anglican World.)
Who needs a Creed?
‘Who needs a creed?’
The answer to that question from many in the broad sweep of Christendom, would probably be, ‘Not us!’ Such ancient documents are seen at best as outdated and at worst an irrelevance in an age that is more interested in the present than the past …
– Mark Johnson calls for a return to confessional Christianity – at Reformation21.
The Betrayal of Judas
Here’s an interesting article on the behind-the-scenes moves to publish ‘The Gospel of Judas’ –
“The announcement was timed so that the documentary, a book containing the translation and critical essays, an accompanying Web site, and an exhibit at National Geographic’s headquarters would all be unveiled more or less simultaneously. By keeping the translation under wraps, National Geographic had cornered the market on Judas, and now it intended to take full advantage of its position. …”
Read the article at the (US) Chronicle of Higher Education – and Al Mohler has some further thoughts in The Gospel of Judas – The Betrayal of Truth. (Image: National Geographic Society.)
‘A woman bishop’ – Compass
Kay Goldsworthy, consecrated in Perth last week as an assistant bishop in that diocese, was interviewed on ABC TV’s Compass on Sunday night. The transcript of the programme is now available.
Geraldine Doogue: Why do you think really at base there is still so much ambivalence among some people about the notion of a woman playing a headship role in the church?
Kay Goldsworthy: Well that’s a mystery to me. Just is a mystery to me. And I couldn’t really say why.
David Ould has some comments over at Stand Firm. (Photo: Diocese of Perth.)
Up, Down and Out in Canada: J I Packer
My wife and I moved from England to Canada in 1979. Principal James Houston has recruited me to teach theology at Regent College, which, though over age, I still do. God’s call was clear, and our only uncertainty was where we might find a spiritual home. New Westminster Diocese, of which Vancouver is the see city, was decidedly liberal, and its few evangelical clergy seemed to be keeping their heads down lest they be noticed.
But in 1978 my oldest friend among Canadian clergy, Harry Robinson, became rector of St. John’s Shaughnessy, only a mile and a half from where God, by a happy providence, gave us a place to live, so that problem was solved. Called as I am to be a pastor, I had found fulfillment before in an honorary parish appointment alongside teaching duties, and I became Harry’s honorary assistant the moment we arrived. …
– Dr Jim Packer tells his story – at VirtueOnline. (Photo: Ed Hird.)
Moment of Decision for Church of England
The Church of England faces yet another theological challenge as it prepares for the meeting of its General Synod in July. This time the issue is the Gospel itself and the specific question concerns the evangelization of Muslims. In the end, the outcome of this debate may, more then anything else, determine the future viability of the Church of England.
Paul Eddy, a lay theology student from Winchester who aspires to the priesthood, has entered a Private Member’s Motion and has secured the signatures necessary to force the General Synod to deal with his motion.
The text of his motion sets the issue clearly:
“That this Synod request the House of Bishops to report to the Synod on their understanding of the uniqueness of Christ in Britain’s multi-faith society, and offer examples and commendations of good practice in sharing the gospel of salvation through Christ alone with people of other faiths and of none.” …
– Al Mohler observes that the vote on this motion is a crucial test for the Church of England.
Phillip Jensen on World Youth Day and Secularism
As a Sydney Protestant I consider it an honour that our city is to host World Youth Day. Protestantism is a protest. Our protest is against the enormity of the claims of the Roman Catholic Church. … This protest against Roman Catholicism is no small complaint. It goes to the very heart of God’s central message to mankind – the way of salvation.…
– From an opinion-piece in The Sydney Morning Herald by Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen.
See a version written for the Cathedral newsletter. – “It is an honour for our city to host people from all over the world. It is to the credit of our city that we are willing to be hospitable not only to people with whom we agree but also to those with whom we disagree. ”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…