Reform ‘nonplussed’ over C of E House of Bishops Working Group on Women Bishops

Reform Media Statement Dec 20, 2012

PRESS STATEMENT FROM REFORM

Following the announcement of the formation of a House of Bishops Working Group on 19th December, Reform chairman Rod Thomas has written to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. The letter reaffirms Reform’s commitment to the process of seeking a new way forward on women bishops legislation, but says that the membership of the working group leaves it feeling ‘apprehensive’.

Prebendary Rod Thomas said he was ‘nonplussed as to why the membership of the working group does not contain anybody who shares our convictions about male headship – despite the fact that this was a key concern underlying the vote on 20th November.

We very much wish to contribute to fresh proposals that will command broader agreement in the General Synod than was achieved last month. Achieving such an outcome depends on hearing clearly the needs of those who were both for and against the draft Measure. Our fear is that the constitution of the working group might make this more difficult. Nevertheless we will seek to contribute positively during the discussions that are planned for next February.’

(via e-mail)

Hiltz calls on ABC-d to say ‘no’ to the ACNA

“The leader of the Anglican Church of Canada has lobbied the Archbishop of Canterbury-designate not to extend formal recognition to the Anglican Church in North America. …”

– George Conger has the story at Anglican Ink.

Australian Church Record, December 2012

The latest issue of The Australian Church Record, and the results of their recent Survey of Sydney Synod members are now available from their website.

Christmas messages from around Oz, 2012

We’ll post Christmas messages from Anglican leaders around the country, as we discover them.

Please pray that all who speak in the name of the Lord Jesus this Christmas will do so with great clarity and faithfulness to his gospel.

Here are the messages so far –

Archbishop of Melbourne, Philip Freier. (video)
Bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower. (video)
Bishop of Canberra-Goulburn, Stuart Robinson. (video)
Dean of Riverina, Robert Harris. (text)
Bishop of Wangaratta, John Parkes. (2.5MB PDF – page 3 of The Advocate.)
Bishop of Gippsland, John McIntyre. (14.5MB PDF – page 3 of The Gippsland Anglican.)
Bishop of Ballarat, Garry Weatherill. (video)
Bishop of Willochra, John Stead. (PDF)
Bishop to the Australian Defence Force, Len Eacott.

And from the leaders of other denominations (via the National Council of Churches in Australia), messages are mixed – but that from David Jones, Moderator General Presbyterian Church of Australia, stands out:

Cry of a Tiny Baby

Bruce Cockburn the Canadian singer and songwriter describes the birth of Jesus beautifully in the chorus of one of his Christmas songs

“Like a stone on the surface of a still river
driving the ripples on forever
Redemption rips through the surface of time
In the cry of a tiny babe”

Something happened at Bethlehem that has sent ripples throughout the history of the human race.

If you have ever been robbed of something precious, you will want the culprit caught and punished and you will want your property returned to you. God has been robbed. He made us in his image and likeness but that has been defaced by sin.

Jesus has come to right the wrong done to God by his creatures, to pay the price of our sin and rebellion. But God wants back what is rightfully His. He wants his picture back. He wants his image and likeness restored. That is why Jesus came among us. That is the meaning of Redemption. That is the message of Christmas.

“Redemption rips through the surface of time”
“And the message is clear if you’ve got ears to hear
That forgiveness is given for your guilt and your fear
It’s a Christmas gift you don’t have to buy
There’s a future shining in a baby’s eyes”

(Second photo: Pilgrim Hill.)

Making the most of Christmas

“Here are a few rough and ready suggestions I jotted up for our church about “making the most of every opportunity” (Col 4:5 NIV) for the gospel from the Christmas season…”

– Sandy Grant shares some good ideas at The Briefing.

Peter Adam on Powerful Preaching

Dr Peter Adam was interviewed at St. Helen’s in London for their video series ‘Preaching Matters’.

Most encouraging. (h/t Paul Levy.)

Don Carson at Geneva Push – talks online

Don Carson’s talks from this week’s Geneva Push conference (Multiply ’12) are now online.

In Praise of Singing

“Music is emotional: be it happiness or sorrow it engages us emotionally (e.g. Psalm 137, James 5:13). Singing gives voice to our emotions. Congregational singing unites us in expressing our common belief by articulating how Christians feel.

A fortnight ago, at the thanksgiving for the life of John Chapman, the force and beauty of congregational singing was palpable. Maybe it was because I was standing in the middle of the congregation, between the organ and the brass, that I was overwhelmed by the sheer power of the music, but others have commented to me about the effects of the hymns. …”

– Phillip Jensen, Dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, writes.

The Kirk without the People

“In PR terms it has been a disaster for the Church of Scotland and one entirely of their own making.”

– Peter Robertson at St. Peter’s Free Church in Dundee writes a detailed response, from his outside perspective, to the Church of Scotland’s public statement on the departure of the congregation of St. George’s Tron.

Related: A new home for our church family

“The Tron church family has moved. Sunday morning 9 December 2012 was our last meeting in the St George’s building in Buchanan Street and we are now preparing to formally hand over the building as soon as possible to the Presbytery of Glasgow as requested. We have begun a new stage in our life as a church family, meeting as normal but in our new location: 25 Bath Street. It’s just a block away from the old building and we’ll have all our services there from now.”

(To see something of the building, check this video.
And please pray for the members of The Tron.)

A new old translation

A newly digitised text of The Revised Version of 1885 has been added to the Bible translations available at YouVersion. The RV was a key precursor to the RSV and the ESV.

It might not be for everyone, but Dr. Broughton Knox, who would often be seen carrying his battered copy of the RV, would be pleased.

Luke’s Acts as a Historical Source for Paul

“The Acts of the Apostles is critical to historians for establishing (a) the connection between Jesus and earliest Christianity, and (b) a chronology of the life of Paul and its relationship with his letters. In this brief paper we will direct our attention to (b). …”

– Bishop Paul Barnett explores New Testament historicity – at his blog.

New Centre for Ministry Development

News from Moore College –

Moore College’s campus in Newtown is becoming a “ministry training and theological education precinct”. A growing number of organisations, devoted to serving the churches in these ways – are being located on the campus, enabling closer cooperation and partnership. Part of this development has been the creation by Moore College of the Priscilla and Aquila Centre and the Centre for Christian Living.

The College is pleased to announce plans to establish a new centre: the Centre for Ministry Development (CMD). CMD will partner closely with other best practice ministry training practitioners to help pastors and ministers strengthen their ministries through training and support that is personal, localised and practical.

“Faithful Christian ministers always long to serve Christ and his people with more insight, improved skills and greater effectiveness. We believe that full-time theological education builds a firm foundation, and that ministers then need ongoing development to be the most faithful and effective ministers they can be. CMD will support this development with the best possible coaching and training tools,” said Principal John Woodhouse.

“I am delighted to announce that the experienced pastor and church planter, Archie Poulos, will lead this new initiative,” said Dr Woodhouse. “Archie is currently the head of the Ministry Department at Moore College and is widely known for his pastoral care and wisdom as well as his wealth of perceptiveness and ability in ministry matters.”

The Centre for Ministry Development will be officially launched in the first half of 2013. More details on the centre and it’s activities will be made available in the New Year.

– Source.

Tears as Tron congregation leave church for last time

“The pews of St George’s Tron in Buchanan Street were busy as 500 worshippers came to hear its minister, the Rev Dr Willie Philip, deliver the final sermon. …

Before beginning his sermon yesterday, the minister told members that all further services were being held at a hall in nearby Bath Street.” – Story from The Scotsman.

Meetings now to be held at 25 Bath Street, Glasgow.

Related:

Oak Hill magazine – Winter 2012-13

The latest Commentary magazine from Oak Hill in London is now on their website – it’s downloadable as a 12MB PDF file. Individual articles are also available – from this page.

Well worth a read.

Reform Newsletter December 2012

Reform has posted excerpts from their current newsletter, with a focus on ‘the Women Bishops Measure’.

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