Great Encouragement — yet much Grief that this is needed
Dominic Steele and the team in Kigali have posted a number reactions to the Kigali Commitment.
Do watch them here to understand something of the sadness and pain in this moment, as well as the encouragement to stand firm in Christ.
Interviewees include (not in order) –
* Michael Stead, Statement Committee Chair
* Richard Coekin, Co-Mission Network, London
* Jay Behan, New Zealand Bishop
* Lee Gatiss, UK Church Society Director
* Andy Lines, Bishop for Anglican Network in Europe
* Julian Dodds, USA Bishop
* Vaughan Roberts, Minister of St Ebbes Oxford
* William Taylor, Minister of St Helens London
* Matt and Anne Kennedy, Binghamton New York
* Pete Smith & Jennifer Hercott, Gafcon Australia
* Bill Atwood, Regional Secretary for the Americas
* Rico Tice, Christianity Explored
* Jonathan Pryke, Jesmond Parish Church, Newcastle upon Tyne
* Trevor Johnson, Tim Anderson, Ireland
Photo: William Taylor and Vaughan Roberts speak of their great encouragement at the release of the Kigali Commitment – as well as their sadness and grief that this is needed.
An Interview with Matt and Anne Kennedy
“In 2009 Bishop Skip Adams and the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York took the Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, New York, expelled the congregation and sold the building to become an Islamic Awareness Center.
Listen to the Kennedys share their experience of God’s providence for their faithful congregation in the midst of these challenges.”
– as interviewed by Russell Powell at GAFCON 2018. Be sure to watch.
And some background to jog your memory.
How God sustained two faithful churches through tough times
From GAFCON:
“This article looks back 10 years and examines two churches in the USA which faced ruin because they took a courageous stand for biblical truth. We consider the severe trials they faced, how they responded, how God acted and where they stand today.
The first story concerns the Anglican Church of The Good Shepherd, Binghamton, New York.…”
– Two stories of encouragement from the USA.
From our archives: Earlier posts mentioning The Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton. (Not all of the older links are still active.)
TEC reaps the whirlwind
“Well it is now official: The Episcopal Church (TEC), a province of Anglican dioceses in the USA (and some neighbouring countries) has declared that it doesn’t care what the vast majority of the Anglican Communion believes to be the teaching of the Bible concerning sexuality. It simply does not care…”
– Bishop Glenn Davies writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Related: The TEC Diocese of Central New York, which evicted the Church of the Good Shepherd at 74 Conklin Avenue in Binghamton, appears to have found a new use for (at least some of) the empty building. (Earlier posts.)
Matt Kennedy on ‘Leaving home’ (part 2)
A year ago, Matt Kennedy and his congregation at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, New York, lost their property to the Diocese of Central New York. Matt continues the story of what happened next — at Stand Firm. (Missed Part 1?)
Photo: Ten News, Syracuse.
Matt Kennedy on ‘Leaving home’ (part 1)
This time last year, Matt Kennedy and his congregation at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, New York, lost their property to the Diocese of Central New York. Matt tells the story of what happened next — at Stand Firm.
(Screenshot from WBNG News, NY.)
Church loses to Diocese of Central New York
“Dear Good Shepherd,
As you may or may not have heard, the judge has ruled and we have lost our building and all of our assets. …
This little white church on the corner of Livingston and Conklin has been a part of all our lives and the lives of those in our neighborhood for many years. Some of us have spent our whole lives here. This is painful news.”
– Matt Kennedy and the Vestry and Wardens of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, New York, break the news to their congregation. (h/t Stand Firm.)
(Screenshot from WBNG News, NY – see this earlier report.)
Battle within the Diocese
“A congregation on Binghamton’s southside will remain in its church, for now.
The Church of the Good Shepherd broke free when the Diocese of Central New York decided to embrace homosexuality.
Action News reporter Erik Burling was in court as both sides made their case to claim the church…”
– from WBNG News, New York. See also this earlier post.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…