‘2067: the end of British Christianity’
“It’s often said that Britain’s church congregations are shrinking, but that doesn’t come close to expressing the scale of the disaster now facing Christianity in this country.
Every ten years the census spells out the situation in detail: between 2001 and 2011 the number of Christians born in Britain fell by 5.3 million — about 10,000 a week. If that rate of decline continues, the mission of St Augustine to the English, together with that of the Irish saints to the Scots, will come to an end in 2067…”
– Damian Thompson writes in The Spectator. A powerful reminder that the gospel is Britain’s only hope.
And Adam Ford has this observation.
Don’t miss the ACL Georges River Region Information Night Monday 15th June
Don’t miss our ACL Georges River Information Night –
• What is the Anglican Church League?
• What do we do? Why is this worth your interest and support?
• Why do many consider consider the League to be vital for the life of the Diocese of Sydney?
Please be encouraged to invite others in your church (clergy or lay) who may be interested in the work of the ACL.
GAFCON: A Moment and a Movement
This event, coming up on Friday June 19th, will be of interest for readers within travelling distance of Belfast.
It’s being organised by the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (UK & Ireland), and is a discussion on the future of global Anglicanism – with:
The Rt Rev Dr Peter Jensen – General Secretary, GAFCON
The Rev Canon Andy Lines – General Secretary, Anglican Mission in England
Mr Philip Robinson – Operations Director, GAFCON and the Global FCA.
Rescuing Christians in danger
“I recently returned from a trip to five countries of the Middle East. I have visited the region countless times over the last two decades and have seen first-hand the tragic deterioration of the situation for Christians, especially in countries like Syria and Iraq where they used to be treated with respect as equal citizens.
The Christians are now in deadly danger…”
– Barnabas Fund’s Dr Patrick Sookhdeo asks for prayer and support in coming to the aid of Christians fleeing persecution.
Bishop Iker and Diocese win All Saints Fort Worth case
“News has just been received that Bishop Iker and his Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth are the victors in the separately-tried lawsuit to determine the ownership of the grounds and property of All Saints, Fort Worth…”
– A S Haley has some good news on the Diocese of Fort Worth. Photo: Bishop Leo Iker.
(This is referring to the real Diocese of Fort Worth, not the new one created by TEC – from the latter comes this news –
Bishop Rayford B. High, Jr. , said, “…I am disappointed in the decision but I know this will be appealed…”)
A day late, a dollar short
“Tony Campolo has become the latest evangelical leader to declare for gay marriage. It is perhaps not a surprise …
What is surprising in the statement is the complete absence of any thoughtful argumentation in his articulation of his position.…”
– Carl Trueman comments on Tony Campolo’s change of mind on ‘gay marriage’.
Photo: TonyCampolo.org
Which way, Evangelicals? There is nowhere to hide
“This is a moment of decision, and every evangelical believer, congregation, denomination, and institution will have to answer. There will be no place to hide. The forces driving this revolution in morality will not allow evasion or equivocation.
Every pastor, every church, and every Christian organization will soon be forced to declare an allegiance to the Scriptures and to the Bible’s teachings on marriage and sexual morality, or to affirm loyalty to the sexual revolution. That revolution did not start with same-sex marriage, and it will not end there.”
– Albert Mohler calls Bible-believing Christians to be ready to give an answer.
The Anglican Future Conference — A Report
A report by Rev Caitlin Hurley, ACL councillor.
In late March, 460 Anglicans gathered in Melbourne for the inaugural Anglican Future Conference.
The conference was a joint initiative of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Australia (FCA-A) and the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion (EFAC). Read more
Anglican Future Conference videos
Videos of talks from the Anglican Future Conference in Melbourne in March 2015 (programme) are now available, thanks to the Peter Corney Training Centre.
They are terrific resources – check them out and consider how you might use.
30 Days of Prayer
Food for Prayer. 18 June – 17 July 2015.
Church and religious leaders send letter on Same-Sex Marriage to Prime Minister Abbott
“Archbishop Glenn Davies has joined other church and religious leaders in signing an open letter to the Prime Minister against same-sex marriage.
Parliament could take steps to redefine marriage as early as August.
The letter, signed by Dr Davies and the Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher as well as 36 other religious leaders including the heads of Pentecostal and orthodox churches as well as senior rabbis from the Jewish community and leaders from both the Sunni and Shia Islamic communities, expresses ‘grave concerns’ regarding ‘Bills that have or will be introduced into the Federal Parliament to change the definition of marriage in Australian law’.…
It ends with a request for a meeting with the Prime Minister and MP’s to further discuss the issue.”
– read the full report at SydneyAnglicans.net – and please be encouraged to pray about this matter.
and a Media Release from Catholic Communications.
Leland Ryken and Sam Storms on J I Packer
Justin Taylor sat down recently with Sam Storms and Leland Ryken – both of whom have written books on J. I. Packer. It’s a 20 minute video.
J. I. Packer is best known for his books Knowing God, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God.
The Huguenot Heart
Bishop Paul Barnett spoke at the Huguenot Heritage Church service for the Huguenot Society at Scots Church in Sydney yesterday and shares his notes from the event –
“I am not of Huguenot descent. But let me speak today about the Huguenot heart…”
$65 million jet for prosperity preacher?
“The Gulfstream G650 isn’t just any private jet. The billionaires lining up these luxury jets, which sell for upwards of $65 million each, are willing to put their names on a waiting list for years just for the pleasure. … And now, televangelist Creflo Dollar’s ministry has announced that it will also buy a G650, a purchase the ministry says is ‘necessary’ to spread God’s word.”
– Story from The Washington Post. Photo: Creflo Dollar Ministries. (h/t Albert Mohler.)
The Dunkirk National Day of Prayer
“When Britain was close to defeat during the Second World War, and the entire British Army was trapped at Dunkirk, in desperation George VI called for a National Day of Prayer.
This was held on 26th May 1940. In a national broadcast he instructed the people of the UK to turn back to God in a spirit of repentance and plead for Divine help. Millions of people across the British Isles flocked into churches praying for deliverance…”
– at Church Society, John Willans remembers an extraordinary time of prayer – and extraordinary answers.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…