The next big question

“Taking stock after the American Episcopal Church has consecrated its second bishop  in a same sex relationship, and doubtless not the last, certain things seem to be clear; the North American revisionists are striking out regardless of the rest of the Communion, the Anglican Covenant has been effectively abandoned by the Global South as a means of restoring order and the Archbishop of Canterbury is an increasingly peripheral figure, as underlined by his silence on the Glasspool consecration this past weekend and his inaction beforehand.

But these clarifications bring to the foreground a question which many have so far been reluctant to face. According to Archbishop Peter Jensen, reflecting on last month’s Fourth Global South to South Encounter in Singapore, the Communion is now in a ‘post crisis phase’, but where does that leave the Church of England, the mother church of the Communion?…”

– Charles Raven wonders about the future of the Church of England.

“For the sake of God” — Must we surrender sexual morality?

“One problem faced by the communion is the habitual hesitation and tepid leadership of its leaders, starting with the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Archbishop has continually spoken of his concern and fears for the unity of Anglicans worldwide, and he has even spoken of his disappointment and frustration with the American church. What is missing from Canterbury is a clear demand that the Episcopal Church correct its unbiblical practices, repent, and submit to the faithful consensus of the global Anglican family.

But now, a most interesting and provocative argument has come from a very different quarter. Columnist Ruth Gledhill of The Times, one of the most seasoned observers of the Anglican scene, now calls for Christians to just stop arguing over homosexuality and get on with whatever the churches are supposed to be doing. Liberals and conservatives, she argues, must now ‘put their differences behind them, for the sake of God, themselves and the common good.’

That is quite a startling argument, but is also an argument that is certain to gain traction in the liberal landscape of Europe and North America. Ruth Gledhill’s argument bears a closer look.”

– Albert Mohler asks if Ruth Gledhill has a valid argument.

What we need to hear

Michael McKinley at the 9Marks blog has this quotation from J. Gresham Machen –

“What good does it do me to tell me that the type of religion presented in the Bible is a very fine type of religion and that the thing for me to do is just to start practicing that type of religion now? … I will tell you, my friend. It does not one tiniest little bit of good….

What I need first of all is not exhortation but a gospel, not directions for saving myself but knowledge of how God has saved me. Have you any good news for me? That is the question that I ask of you. I know your exhortations will not help me. But if anything has been done to save me, will you not tell me the facts?”

— J. Gresham Machen, Christian Faith in the Modern World. (Image of J. Gresham Machen: The Theologian.)

Why nobody seems to care

“Revisionist bloggers and some in the mainstream press are atwitter over the lack of interest in yesterday’s consecration. They seem to think that this signals some kind of breakthrough–that consecrating a non-celibate lesbian is the new normal…”

– Matt Kennedy writes at Standfirm on why nobody seems to care about the consecration of Mary Glasspool.

Obituary: The Rev Mark Ashton

“The Rev Mark Ashton was one of the most influential evangelical pastor-teachers of his generation. During his time as vicar of the Round Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Cambridge, the congregation grew steadily, and dozens of church ordinands and hundreds of students benefited from his ministry…”

– From Times Online. (h/t/ SydneyAnglicans.net)

Anglican Mainstream on the Glasspool consecration

“In her letter to the Primates, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church (TEC) Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, confirmed that the consecration of the openly gay Mary Glasspool is not a random event but comes from the settled mind of her church.

Sadly, this shows that TEC has now explicitly decided to walk apart from most of the rest of the Communion. Since that decision by TEC has to be respected, it should result in three consequences.

Dr Philip Giddings, Convenor,
Canon Dr Chris Sugden Executive Secretary, Anglican Mainstream.”

– via e-mail. Photo: Diocese of Los Angeles.

Bishop John Harrower calls Tasmanian Christians to prayer

Bishop John Harrower has written to the Anglican churches in Tasmania to call them to focus on prayer from Pentecost Sunday (23rd May).

“Pentecost, people and prayer: what a powerful combination! Pentecost Sunday 2010 launches us into prayer;  a time of intentional, focussed prayer.   Read more

ACNA reports growth

“Predictions of the death of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) appear to have been premature, as the leaders of the third Anglican province-in-waiting in North America report that in its first year of operations it has added 106 congregations.

Archbishop Robert Duncan, the Bishop of Pittsburgh and leader of ACNA, last week reported that since the Church’s founding convocation in June 2009, 106 new churches have either been planted or joined the ACNA, bringing its total number of congregations to 809 comprising an estimated 100,000 Anglicans in the United States and Canada…”

– George Conger wrote this piece for The Church of England Newspaper.

Bishop Bruno invites all to consecration of Mary Glasspool

“Bishop J. Jon Bruno invites the diocesan community to the May 15 service of ordination and consecration of Diane Jardine Bruce and Mary Douglas Glasspool as bishops suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles” – at 6:30am AEST on Sunday. Katherine Jefferts Schori will be the chief consecrator.

On Mary Glasspool, Bishop Bruno says, “We elected her, not only a woman, but a woman who is who she is fully as a lesbian person.”

– see his video message on the Diocese of Los Angeles website.

Related: Archbishop Peter Jensen on the Glasspool election (March 18 2010).

Starting something you cannot finish

“…those who graduate from this school today, though rightly congratulated, are being sent out to put everything they have, everything they are, everything they have learned, and everything they hope for, on the line for mission and ministry in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

They are not starting careers. Indeed, this may end their careers. They are not newly-minted professionals. In fact, they may be largely useless in the eyes of the secular world. They are now deployed for a life of ministry that runs counter to the wisdom of the world…

Serve, preach, teach, and tell the world about Jesus until they put you in a box or until Jesus comes. And all will be well.”

– Albert Mohler’s address from today’s Commencement of Ministry ceremony at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.

Introducing the new ESV Online

From a press release from Crossway:

“Crossway is pleased to announce the new ESV Online. A key part of Crossway’s ESV Digital initiative, the ESV Online is a powerful and convenient tool giving access to the ESV Bible and other resources for understanding and applying God’s Word.

Free access to the ESV Online is now available by signing up at www.esvonline.org. Users are able to customize their own interface, highlight and mark verse numbers, add bookmark ribbons, search the ESV text, and manage personal notes. The free version also includes a variety of daily reading plans and devotional calendars.”

John Newton to Richard Johnson

John Newton to Richard Johnson (first Chaplain to New South Wales):

“I have not been disheartened by your apparent want of success. I have been told that skillful gardeners will undertake to sow and raise a salad for dinner in the short time while the meat is roasting. But no gardener can raise oaks with such expedition.

You are sent to New Holland, not to sow salad seeds, but to plant acorns; and your labour will not be lost, though the first appearances may be very small, and the progress very slow. You are, I trust, planting for the next Century.

I have a good hope that your oaks will one day spring up and flourish, and produce other acorns, which, in due time, will take root, and spread among the islands and nations in the Southern Ocean.”

– Craig Schwarze, who is researching Richard Johnson, posted this on his website. There’s another great quote from John Newton here.

(Photo © Marylynn Rouse / The John Newton Project, used with permission.)

Anglican Church of Canada’s synod guide for talking about sex

“According to the Windsor Report 2004, scripture is the channel through which the supreme authority of the triune God is exercised (WR section B paragraphs 53–54). However…”

– The Anglican Essentials Canada blog has posted some excerpts.

Missional Church

“‘Missional Church’ is a hot topic at present, and almost everyone in church leadership says that they are committed to church being ‘missional’. But what does the term mean? And what implications does it actually have for how we understand church and, more importantly, how we live as a church?…”

– John McClean at the Presbyterian Theological Centre in Sydney plugs an upcoming lecture by Mike Goheen.

Budget: A restraint too far

“The Treasurer’s zeal for a ‘fiscally responsible’ budget has seen Australians living at the margins largely forgotten yet again”, says Anglicare Sydney CEO Peter Kell.

– See the Anglicare website.

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