Church of Scotland General Assembly upholds homosexual minister
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has voted in support of the appointment of a gay priest. Reverend Scott Rennie was appointed to a congregation in Aberdeen despite thousands of church-goers signing a petition opposing the move.
– Story from ABC News. More from Ekklesia.
(Photo: Church of Scotland.) Earlier story here.
Be Faithful! FCA launch in UK
“The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA) is being officially launched in the UK and Ireland in London on Monday, July 6th 2009.
Be Faithful! aims to encourage and envision Anglicans committed to the orthodox teachings of the Anglican Church and passionate about global and local mission.”
– Download the brochure (PDF file – direct link) from the GAFCON website for full details.
Synod of Tasmania — Presidential Address
Bishop John Harrower today gave the Presidential Address at the Synod of the Diocese of Tasmania —
“Dear fellow Anglicans, be encouraged by what you see God doing among us. Be strengthened in your commitment to Christ. Be resolute and enduring in your determination to stay the course, a course which under God will see Tasmanians of all ages come to faith, in a world which never needed the good news of Jesus more than it does today.”
– from the Diocese of Tasmania website (PDF file – direct download link).
Fraud upon the Communion
“The AAC has on file most, but not all, of the incredible number of suits by TEC leadership against parishes, and now against dioceses that are leaving. The rate of litigation is actually increasing, and that was why it was so important for the 4th Moratorium to be included in the Covenant Draft, and why TEC worked so hard to make sure it didn’t get included. ”
– American Anglican Council President, David Anderson, writes in his regular commentary – at Anglican-Mainstream. (Photo: The Common Cause Partnership.)
One day, there’ll be a knock on the door…
“Reading the Religious Intelligence report on the recent conference in the UK, Faith, Homophobia, Transphobia, & Human Rights — building positive alliances for equality and sexual diversity, I have no doubt that if not for me, then for other Christians soon, the knock will come on the door, and I will need to make sure I’ve got my toothbrush and some sugar cubes in my pocket. …”
– John Richardson on what seems to be coming – soon. At the Ugley Vicar.
On Satan’s accusations
“So friend, when Satan attacks you as a great sinner – admit the truth of his charges. But then assert that you have a great Saviour – that Christ is that Saviour – and that He is your hope.”
– Mark Dever in a sermon on Revelation 12–14.
Resources for discipling children
The Praise Factory is a website run by Connie Dever at Capitol Hill Baptist. It’s aim is to provide quality resources for parents and churches – to help teach systematic theology to kids from 2 years old through to 5th class.
She writes (with reference to Psalm 100) –
It is my hope and prayer that this curriculum might help children to be manufacturers of noisy joy (v.1) unto the Lord, to sing (v. 2), to know (v.3), & to worship Him with thanksgiving and praise (v.4), that the witness of His great faithfulness might continue through all generations (v.5).
With some sections still under construction, it appears to be well worth checking out! The price? Free – although you can make a donation to 9Marks. (h/t Tim Challies.)
Canada case concerns us all
“Last week I attended a fascinating talk given at St Andrew’s, Roseville by Mrs Lesley Bentley, a churchwarden at St John’s, Shaughnessy in Vancouver. Sydney Anglicans have a greater interest in St John’s than most Canadian churches because Canon David Short, a Sydney-trained minister, is the rector…”
– Bishop Glenn Davies writes at SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo: Russell Powell.)
Carl Trueman on Luther
Carl R. Trueman of Westminster Seminary gave a series of talks on ‘Luther and the Reformation’ – at the 2007 Reformation Heritage Conference run by Grace Presbyterian Church in Douglasville, Georgia.
Grace Presbyterian has kindly made the audio files available – here. (h/t Faith by Hearing.) Photo: Westminster Seminary.
Australia’s first parish clergyman
Peter Bolt’s second book in the Studies in Australian Colonial History series is now available for pre-order.
“William Cowper arrived in NSW in August 1809 to become the minister at St Phillip’s Sydney. Across 49 years of ministry he must have baptised, married or buried, most of the population! Cowper was instrumental in setting up many of the social institutions that helped to establish a more wholesome society as NSW moved from penal colony to nationhood. His children were also pioneers, each in their own way, in building our nation. It is a gauge of the significance of his influence in the colony that when he died, Sydney closed down and 25,000 people lined the streets for his funeral. His impact had been strongly felt in NSW.”
– William Cowper (1778-1858): The Indispensable Parson. The Life and Influence of Australia’s First Parish Clergyman.
Details on how to pre-order the book here (PDF file).
Garage Hymnal album launch
Garage Hymnal’s new album is being launched at St. Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday.
Details here.
Why Johnny Can’t Preach
In a recent edition of The White Horse Inn broadcast, Michael Horton spoke with T. David Gordon, author of Why Johnny Can’t Preach: The Media Have Shaped The Messengers.
The programme may be heard at OnePlace – and the book is available at Reformers’ Bookshop.
Monday morning encouragement
At Desiring God, Bill Walsh writes briefly on ‘The Main Thing to Rejoice About in Ministry’ –
‘Praise God for the times of effective ministry that he allows us to experience. If you’re like me you get excited when you see the fruitfulness of any ministry that God calls you to do. It is a thrill to see him at work, putting to use the gifts and callings that he has granted to us for the cause of the Kingdom.
But in Luke 10 Christ challenges us to test our own hearts, by examining what we rejoice in most.’
– Food for thought at the Desiring God blog.
Parishes and New Westminster mediation unsuccessful
“After one and a half days of mediation with Chief Justice Donald Brenner acting as the mediator, the Diocese of New Westminster and four Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) parishes – St. John’s (Shaughnessy), St. Matthias and St. Luke, and Church of the Good Shepherd in Vancouver, and St. Matthews in Abbotsford – failed to reach an agreement. The dispute over church properties will now proceed to trial in the BC Supreme Court commencing May 25. …”
More in this PDF file (direct link) released by the Anglican Network in Canada.
(Photo: St. John’s Shaughnessy building.)
ACC 14 Alternative Press Conference
Earlier this week, Anglican TV recorded an alternative press conference at ACC-14.
Hear the frustrations felt by some of the good guys – here.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…