Pushback: Appeal to Bishops of British Columbia and Yukon
“Dear Archbishop Privett, Bishops Andrews, McMenamie, Robertson and Skelton, Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
As the chief Ministers of Reconciliation and Apostles of Grace, I implore you to reverse your decision of objection to the episcopal election of the Rev. Jacob Worley in the Diocese of Caledonia.
The Diocese Of Caledonia prayerfully gathered at their electoral Synod. They elected the Rev. Jacob Worley to be their bishop. Your opposition is ungracious and calls our church’s credibility into question. …”
– “Diocese of the Arctic responds to the barring of bishop-elect Rev Jacob Worley.” from Anglican Samizdat.
Though unsourced, letters from the Bishop of The Arctic, David W Parsons, to the Bishops of British Columbia and Yukon, appear to reveal some of the confusion and unhappiness caused by that Province’s decision to overturn the election of a new Bishop of Caledonia.
Update: Retired Bishop of Caledonia responds to the barring of bishop-elect Rev Jacob Worley. – also via Anglican Samizdat.
“This is a terrible development and should leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that the much lauded promise of a conscience clause in the proposed new marriage canon is completely worthless.”
Photo of Bishop Parsons from the Diocese of The Arctic.
Luther, his Friends and his Legacy
“Luther was a gregarious man. During his regime Wittenberg became thronged with people. Thousands flocked to Wittenberg to hear him preach (he preached 4000 times in thirty years). His home was effectively a combination of an inn and a lodging house. When he travelled from Wittenberg to Worms in 1521 he was greeted like a rock star from town to town. Wherever we see Luther, we see a man surrounded by people. …”
– Dr Paul Barnett shares some reflections on Dr Martin Luther, his friends, and his lasting legacy. (Photo via Aquila Press.)
Isaiah in five minutes
“Oak Hill’s third year students have been busy this term producing short video presentations as part of their work on the book of Isaiah.
One of the videos unpacks the message of Isaiah by using Lego characters, and another uses live sketching, and each of them was produced by a team of four students working in collaboration. …”
– Something different – from Oak Hill College in London.
“As it had been the face of an angel”
“The Christian ministry has never been for the faint of heart. The ministry, biblically defined, is combat duty in spiritual warfare. These graduates have been prepared to be front-line officers in that warfare. …
At every Southern Seminary graduation we remind one another of the great and essential fact that the Christian ministry is not a mere profession — it is a divine calling. The ministry is one of Christ’s gifts to his church. it is the most serious and joyous of all callings.
I think often of the venerable words of the old Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England for the ordering of the ministry. These words are spoken to new ministers of the Word:
‘You have heard, brethren, as well in your private examination, as in the exhortation which was now made to you, and in the holy Lessons taken out of the Gospel and the writings of the Apostles, of what dignity and of how great importance this office is, whereunto ye are called. …’ ”
– Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks at the Commencement of Ministry for this year’s SBTS graduates.
Letter to the Archbishop of York: Please consecrate a second Reformed Anglican Bishop
“Your Grace, It would be quite understandable for you to be less than enthusiastic about receiving a missive from a ‘conservative evangelical’ in the light of the recent consecration of the episcopally licensed Curate of Jesmond Parish Church as a missionary bishop by the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church in South Africa. But I am writing if I may to set forth the case for a second conservative evangelical bishop, in addition to the southern-based Bishop of Maidstone, to serve as senior pastor to churches and ministers in the north of England who desire his episcopal care. …”
– Julian Mann, Vicar of The Parish Church of the Ascension, Oughtibridge, in South Yorkshire, writes an open letter to the Archbishop of York.
He also responds to comments made in the last week by Church Society’s Lee Gatiss and by Gavin Ashenden.
(Photo: Julian Mann with Bishop Dr. Ben Kwashi.)
Encouragement from Edinburgh to support GAFCON
The Rev. David McCarthy, Rector of St. Thomas’ Church, Edinburgh, urges support of GAFCON in the midst of uncertain times – and asks for your prayers.
Broughton Knox: servant of Christ Jesus
“More than a hundred years ago, Broughton Knox, Principal of Moore College from 1959 until 1985 and one of the most influential figures in the history of the Diocese, was born.
He was a man loved by many and yet he deeply irritated others. For forty years he was a dominant force in the Diocese of Sydney, shaping generations of clergy and impacting the core convictions of the diocese.
He shaped its theological college, Moore College, into a modern institution capable of making a significant contribution on the world stage. Then, after retiring from a record principalship of the College in 1985, he accepted an invitation to found another college in South Africa, George Whitefield College, which today is playing a strategic role in equipping the burgeoning churches on that vast continent.
What was it that animated Broughton Knox throughout his ministry and his life as a disciple of Christ? …”
– Moore College Principal, Dr Mark Thompson, writes about his renowned predecessor – at the Moore College website.
Why so many churches hear so little of the Bible
“In many churches, there is almost no public reading of the Word of God. Worship is filled with music, but congregations seem disinterested in listening to the reading of the Bible.”
– Albert Mohler writes at the Southern Seminary blog. We would hope things are better in Sydney.
Evangelism in the Latter Days – Sharing the gospel with ageing parents
“Ever since I became a Christian at the ripe old age of 18 I’ve been trying to share the gospel with my parents.
Not surprisingly, they weren’t receptive to my early methods, driven as they were by excessively youthful enthusiasm. My decision to give up all for gospel preaching in my late twenties only increased their hardness towards that message. …”
– Here’s some encouragement from The Australian Church Record.
Related: Keith Green – Song to my Parents.
Duty to Die? — ‘Australian Presbyterian’ on Euthanasia
In the light of today’s news of a proposed “Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill” to come before NSW Parliament (ABC News story here), the current issue (Winter 2017) of Australian Presbyterian magazine is particularly timely as it addresses the issue of euthanasia.
Article 1: Opening Pandora’s Box. Why Christians must stand firm against euthanasia. An interview with Dr. Scott Rae.
Article 2: A bad move. By Moore College graduate Dr Neil Chambers.
(In addition, Marylynn Rouse from the John Newton Project reflects on John Newton’s experience of God’s amazing grace.)
The issue is available as a PDF file at this link.
Objections to the election of the Rev. Jacob Worley as Bishop of Caledonia
“Rev. Jacob Worley has been elected bishop of the Diocese of Caledonia. He was to replace Bishop William Anderson, one of the few remaining conservative bishops in the Anglican Church of Canada and is probably a good fit for the position.
Provided the wolves don’t eat him first. …”
– Canadian blogger Anglican Samizdat comments on the overturning, by the Provincial House of Bishops of BC & Yukon, of the election of a new Bishop of Caledonia. (Photo via Anglican Journal.)
Gospel Presentation and Eulogies: Part 1
“One reality of ministry is that funerals come along and impose themselves on our carefully planned out diaries. Sometimes you go for a while without many and then five or six come in quick succession. Other times they come in a steady stream.
No matter when they come along they are a wonderful opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel and the love of Christ to those who are grieving. It is easy to overlook how significant these opportunities are to pastor and reach out to those who rarely, if ever, come to church.…”
– At Church Society’s blog, Adam Young discusses the opportunities for ministering good news at a funeral.
Camino Faith and Christian Faith
“With some friends I recently traversed the beautiful and famous Camino Trail in Spain. Some of our group walked the shorter stretches of the trail but we mostly travelled in the comfort of our coach.
The journey provided opportunity to visit some amazing Cathedrals. The standout was the Cathedral in Leon whose colour-glazed windows were breathtaking.
Some of the pilgrims were walking to meet the athletic challenge of the Camino. For others it was a spiritual exercise, a time of reflection based on the journey of St James Zebedee all those years ago. …”
– In his latest post, Bishop Paul Barnett compares the stories concerning St. James with the historical evidence for Jesus.
Why bother with women’s conferences?
“In the run-up to women’s conferences, I often hear the ‘why bother?’ question. I think the underlying thoughts are that Christian conferences generally are useful – but why do we need to have a conference just for women? And why do we need to have only female preachers at a women’s conference? Don’t we just want the best preacher for the job, regardless of whether they are male or female? …”
– At GoTherFor.com, Kirsten McKinlay suggests there is real value in creating a context for women to preach to women.
Why do good works?
“The first question that arises when the Doctrine of Justification by faith only is clearly set forth is: What then is the place of good works in the Christian economy?”
– The Australian Church Record continues to republish Archdeacon T.C. Hammond’s thoughts on The Thirty Nine Articles.
Related: A city’s care, two ways – SydneyAnglicans.net.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…