Family Bible Reading – Interview with the Windsors

The Australian Church Record asks Bronwyn and Lionel Windsor about their family, prayer, and reading the Bible.

“To begin with, we read a children’s Bible with our baby daughter before bedtime, even though ‘reading’ meant she only wanted to find all the pages with pictures of camels.”

– Encouragement for families in all stages of life.

GAFCON Primates Council Communiqué: Welby’s Language “Disingenuous, if not Duplicitous”

From David Ould:

The GAFCON Primates Council have issued a communiqué with very strong language challenging Welby’s statement over the appointment of the new Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, a man living in a same-sex relationship. They write,

The announcement from the Archbishop of Canterbury distanced himself from this appointment, as it was the recommendation of a Selection Panel, requiring the Queen’s approval. Yet it is difficult to see how a Diocesan Bishop, let alone the Archbishop of Canterbury, could not influence the appointment of the Dean of his own Cathedral, especially given the published process for the Appointment of Deans.

Moreover, filling this position was the responsibility of Mr Stephen Knott, the Archbishop’s Secretary for Appointments, who is himself in a same-sex marriage. It is disingenuous, if not duplicitous, for the Archbishop to claim that the Church of England has not changed its doctrine of marriage, when he has engaged an Appointments Secretary, whose own union is a living contradiction of marriage as God has ordained it, and which the Church of England claims to uphold. …

– Read the full communiqué.

New 9Marks Journal – The Pastor and Church Administration

Here’s the latest issue of 9Marks Journal with a topic that’s close to most pastors!

Don’t Quiet Quit your Faith

“Quiet quitting is a phrase that rose in popularity at the beginning of this year, mainly through a viral video on TikTok.

Quiet quitting is the idea that you do the bare minimum that your job requires. You don’t go above and beyond. You don’t complete any unpaid tasks and you draw strict boundaries around your work and personal life. …”

– Jocelyn Loane writes at The Australian Church Record.

Global South Bishops ‘aggrieved’ by appointment of new Dean of Canterbury

“The Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GFSA) has expressed disappointment that the new Dean of Canterbury, the Very Rev Dr David Monteith, is in a same-sex civil partnership.

Rev David was appointed on 10th October. He currently chairs the College of Deans for the Church of England and is the former Dean of Leicester.

In a statement, the Archbishop of Canterbury praised Rev David’s service in the Church of England thus far.  ‘We will benefit greatly from David’s experience and perspective, not least from his work in helping diverse faiths and cultural communities to live well together,’ he said.”

– Report from Premier Christian News.

See also:

Statement from Global South Anglicans – via Anglican.Ink.

“We are deeply saddened, but not totally surprised.

The present ABC’s action is part of the direction he had set in the recently concluded Lambeth Conference. There, he indicated that he is not willing for the office of ABC to be used to discipline member provinces in keeping to the Church’s teaching.

He also indicated that he felt that the Communion should allow for ‘a plurality of views’ on what the Holy Scriptures teach.

Archbishop Welby’s first position is lamentable; his second is repugnant to our understanding of the authority and clarity of Holy Scripture. The notion of ‘pluriform’ truth is contrary to the Anglican Ordinal which binds duly consecrated bishops to be responsible for the guarding, teaching and imparting of divine truth in Holy Scripture.”

Photo: Canterbury Cathedral.

The Plateau Problem and a deeper issue

“It’s a moment of honesty for Sydney Christians as we face up to an ‘elephant in the room.’  Despite rises in giving, clergy numbers and population the number of Christians in Sydney Anglican Churches is in plateau or decline. …”

Dominic Steele speaks with Dr Raj Gupta. Plenty to think about and to pray about.

– Watch or listen at The Pastor’s Heart.

Are There Many Ways to God? Most “Evangelicals” Say Yes.

This 3 and a half minute video from Ligonier Ministries in the US shares one key finding from the latest ‘State of Theology’ survey. (Link via Tim Challies.)

Gafcon Primates’ Council meets in Kigali

Prayer point from GAFCON:

“The Gafcon Primates’ Council meets in Kigali Rwanda today for three days.

Pray for warm fellowship, encouragement in gospel partnership, and for the Lord’s help as they work through a busy agenda.”

Communique from the Australian Bishops after meeting Archbishop Justin Welby

The Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, Archbishop Geoffrey Smith, has released this communiqué after the Australian bishops met with the Archbishop of Canterbury this week.

(This copy via the Diocese of Bathurst.)

Re-Imagining Success in Ministry

“We need a new model for the church. Actually, the model we need is an old one. We need churches in which the key indicator of success is not evident results but persevering biblical faithfulness. …”

– This week 9Marks is highlighting this 2010 article by Mark Dever – excerpted from Nine Marks of a Healthy Church – for your encouragement and edification.

Learning from Elsewhere — voices from around the Anglican Communion

The Church of England Evangelical Council asked Anglicans around the world share what happened when Scripture’s teaching on sexuality was compromised.

See the latest film (Film 5) and the previously-released resources here.

Reports from Melbourne Synod 2022

From The Melbourne Anglican:

“14 October 2022

Hello! Welcome to Friday. Tonight will be the final evening session of the 2022 Melbourne Synod, before delegates meet at St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday. Melbourne Anglican editor Elspeth Kernebone here with a summary of proceedings so far. …”

– Summary and links to updates here.

Chronics and the cross

“An older Christian once told me, ‘if you live long enough, you will suffer’. Over the years, I have seen how true this statement is and for our young family, it has been around the area of health.

As I look back, I have vivid memories of two occasions where my wife and I sat anxiously while the doctors were trying their best to deliver to us sad and life-changing news.

Having walked through such dark moments, I am now even more convinced that we need a good theology of suffering. This is especially so, given the rise of the wealth-and-health gospel, which though appealing, does not prepare Christians for the grim reality of the brokenness of life this side of heaven. …”

– At The Australian Church Record, Moore College graduate Tawanda Masango writes from Zimbabwe.

Also hear his podcast from June 2020 – COVID-19, God’s Megaphone.

Photo: Gospel Coalition, Africa edition.

Perth Synod: Archbishop’s “breach of trust and failure of integrity” disappoint conservatives

“This past Saturday and Sunday has seen the annual synod of the Diocese of Perth on Australia’s west coast.

Over that weekend and since then many delegates who were present have contacted me to let me know of what happened. …”

– David Ould shares reports from last weekend’s Perth Synod.

Photo: Diocese of Perth.

Persistent Prayer

“Prayer is a very special privilege for the people of God. Why don’t we pray more consistently than we do?

Come with me to the parable in Luke chapter 18, verses 1 through 9. It is about a powerful judge and a powerless widow. …”

– In his Word on Wednesday at Anglican Connection, John Mason writes to encourage us to pray.

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