Deciding… Yet Undecided

“The strategy behind Williams’ address was not to promote his views on homosexuality directly, but to reflect on the process by which moral decisions in general should be made – not so much to play the game, so to speak, as the more ambitious task of actually trying to define what the playing field should look like.

And this is the enduring significance of his address thirteen years later as he continues to promote ‘indaba’ and ‘listening process’ strategies which focus on the process of decision making…”

– Charles Raven, author of Shadow Gospel, reviews a book on Archbishop Rowan Williams’ theology of moral decision-making – at SPREAD.

ECUSA Bishop Walter Righter dies

From the Episcopal News Service:

“Retired Diocese of Iowa Bishop Walter C. Righter, 87, died Sept. 11. …

In the mid-1990s, Righter became a flashpoint for tensions over the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in the life of the Episcopal Church. The bishops of Dallas, Florida, San Joaquin, Central Florida, Texas, Eau Claire, Fort Worth, Quincy, Rio Grande and West Tennessee filed a presentment against Righter in February 1995 because he had ordained an openly gay man to the diaconate in the Diocese of Newark in September 1990. …

In May 1996, an ecclesiastical court ruled 7-1 that Righter’s action did not violate church law or “core doctrine.” Thus, the charges were dismissed…”

– This 1996 edition of New Directions gives some of the background to the heresy trial. (Photo: ENS.)

Diocese of Auckland Synod debate: love ethic and listening vs biblical authority

“The Auckland Diocesan Synod has decided that people in same-sex relationships should not be excluded from ordination. …

Bishop Ross Bay deliberately allowed time and opportunity for a variety of views. These included a plea… that the motion was about justice and a love ethic; those opposing the motion cited biblical authority.”

The full text of the motion is:

“That this Synod

[1] Holds that sexual orientation should not be an impediment to the discernment, ordination, and licensing of gay and lesbian members to any lay and ordained offices of the Church; and further

[2] persons in committed same-sex relationships likewise should not be excluded from being considered for discernment, ordination, and licensing to any lay and ordained offices of the Church.

[3] commits to an intentional process of listening to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, organized by the Archdeacons in consultation with the gay and lesbian community.

[4] commits to an ongoing discussion with the ministry units, asks the Archdeacons to facilitate this, and invites responses to those discussions to be submitted to Diocesan Council by 31st March 2012; and

[5] commits to support the process and work of the Commission to be appointed by General Synod Standing Committee, as resolved at its meeting in July 2011.

– This story from Anglican Taonga. (h/t American Anglican Council. Photo: Dio. Auckland.)

Largest Anglican Church congregation in Canada leaves historic church home

Sunday 18th September will be the last Sunday for St. John’s Vancouver (formerly St. John’s Shaughnessy) at the place where they have been meeting for 100 years.

This would be an especially good time to continue in prayer for the congregation, the ministry team led by David Short, and for their expanded, gracious, proclamation of the Lord Jesus in the city of Vancouver.

They’ve just published this news release:  Read more

Anglican Communion Office seeks Communications Officer in Africa

The Anglican Communion Office is advertising for a Communications Officer, to be based in Nairobi, but responsible to Secretary General of the Anglican Communion in London.

Interestingly, the pilot project is funded by a grant from The Episcopal Church’s Trinity Wall Street in New York.

Will somebody stand up?

Fr Dave Doveton, Vice Provost at St. Mary’s Cathedral in the Diocese of Port Elizabeth, Anglican Church of Southern Africa, warns of an impending visit to his country –

“There can be no compromise with clear manifestations of heresy. The scripture commands us not to invite false teachers into our home. …”

– Take the time to read his full letter at Anglican Mainstream South Africa.
(Photo: Jim DeLa, ENS.)

Thanks and prayer requests from North West Australia

In the latest issue of Northwest Network, Bishop David Mulready begins to say farewell to the diocese where he and Maureen have served for the last eight years –

“This is in some sense a ‘farewell letter’. As Maureen and I prepare to leave the Diocese next month and move to Gerringong, near Wollongong, I write to thank you all for your encouragement and support over nearly eight years.

We regard our time here as a huge privilege, working with a terrific team of Ministry couples and some very fine Church members in this extraordinary patch of Australia.

We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of many of you who have prayed, given and come as partners in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people who live in our region and others who holiday here, often for months at a time.

The challenges facing the Anglican Church in the North West are immense. To mention a few:   Read more

Canberra-Goulburn agrees to structural partnership with Bathurst and Riverina

From the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn:

“The Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn has agreed to be part of a structural “partnership” with three Anglican Dioceses – covering the ACT and most of NSW – in response to a plea for financial assistance from the Diocese of Bathurst.

The agreement will be between the Dioceses of Canberra-Goulburn, Bathurst and Riverina. It covers Anglicare, Diocesan schools, administration and finances but it stops short of a full merger. Parishes from Broken Hill to Bourke to Bega will be covered by the arrangement.  Read more

Ontario congregation loses property

News Release from the ANiC –

Ontario Superior Court Deprives Congregation of Church Property

The Ontario Superior Court has decided that the property and assets of St Aidan’s in Windsor, Ontario, are held in trust for a St Aidan’s “parish” within the Diocese of Huron of the Anglican Church of Canada.

In his decision released 15 August 2011, Mr Justice Little leaned heavily on the court decisions in the BC case involving four Vancouver-area parishes which also had left the Anglican Church of Canada and joined the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) in 2008. Mr Justice Little concluded that “Parish” and “congregation” were interchangeable words which referred to a “distinct separate unit, rather than a compilation of its congregants at any one time”, and that the separate entity in this case was the “St Aidan’s Parish of the Diocese of Huron”.  Read more

Jamie Taylor interview

Jamie Taylor, great-great grandson of pioneer missionary to China, James Hudson Taylor, was in town last weekend. He was a speaker at Reachout at Katoomba, where he was interviewed for Mission Partners new website. Listen to the 12 minute interview here.

‘Remember your leaders’ — J I Packer on John Stott

Dr Packer preached from Hebrews 13 at the memorial service for John Stott in Vancouver on Friday evening.

The video is in three parts: part 1, part 2, part 3. (Total, 33 minutes.) Very encouraging.

Promo video for George Whitefield College

In 1989, retired Principal of Moore College, Dr. Broughton Knox, became the founding Principal of George Whitefield College in Cape Town. In 1993, he was succeeded by Dr. David Seccombe.

There is a great deal to give thanks for, as may be seen from this new 3 minute video.

The video is also a terrific reminder to pray for GWC and the ministry of the gospel in the vast continent of Africa. (The College also has a new website, still under development.)

‘America dons the victim’s mantle’

“The murders, beatings and state-sanctioned violence suffered by Anglicans in Harare under the Mugabe regime are akin to the discomforts faced by Episcopalians loyal to the national Church who reside in dioceses that have departed for the Anglican Church in North America.

This summary of the situation in Harare from Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori came in an August 2 report released by the Episcopal News Service…”

– George Conger writes for The Church of England Newspaper.
(h/t Anglican Mainstream. Photo: Episcopal News Service. ENS story is here.)

Archbishop Peter Jensen and All Souls’ Rectors give thanks for John Stott

In Sydney, Archbishop Peter Jensen has reflected on John Stott’s contribution both worldwide and in Australia.

“There are a few, a very few, who deserve to be called a Prince amongst the people of God. John Stott was one such …”

Read the Archbishop’s full tribute at SydneyAnglicans.net.

And the three most recent Rectors of All Soul’s Langham Place – Michael Baughen, Richard Bewes and Hugh Palmer – have also given thanks – at the All Souls website. Well worth reading. (Photo: All Soul’s.)

ACL tribute to John Stott

The President of the Anglican Church League, Dr. Mark Thompson, has paid this tribute to John R. W. Stott, who was called home to the Lord this morning:

“John Stott was well known and well loved in Sydney. He visited Sydney many times. Some attribute very largely to his influence a transformation of preaching in Sydney churches in the 1960s and 1970s.”

Mark writes:

“Christian men and women all over the world will be sad to hear of the death of John Stott, one of the leading evangelical voices of the twentieth century. A man of first class intellect, of personal integrity of the highest order, and of passionate commitment to Christ and so to the Scriptures, John Stott enthused and equipped generations of preachers to present the word of God clearly, insightfully, and memorably. His ministry at All Souls, Langham Place in London made it a beacon for evangelical Anglicanism throughout the world. His powerful written legacy of commentaries, expositions of biblical doctrines and perhaps especially his The Cross of Christ, will continue to bless Christian men and women for years to come. Basic Christianity and Your Confirmation were profoundly influential in the lives of countless new Christians. John Stott’s strategy in providing the means for training future evangelical leaders in the two thirds world has borne rich fruit.

Those who knew John Stott well speak of his warmth and generosity, his wit and his unswerving commitment to gospel priorities. He never failed to encourage young men and women to give their lives to the spread of the gospel and the edification of Christ’s people. Even in disagreement, he was never defensive, always courteous and unfailingly humble and gentle.

John Stott was well known and well loved in Sydney. He visited Sydney many times. Some attribute very largely to his influence a transformation of preaching in Sydney churches in the 1960s and 1970s. He was always an advocate and one of the world’s best exponents of expository preaching. He encouraged young men to preach the Bible and understand the world into which they were preaching the Bible. The Bible Speaks Today commentaries, which he edited for a period and to which he contributed quite a number of memorable volumes, continues to be a valuable resource for preachers.

I last spoke to John Stott a year ago. He was being cared for in a home for retired clergy south of London. He was lucid, gracious and as insightful as ever. His smile was disarming. He was aware of what was happening in the evangelical world and in the Anglican Communion. On that occasion he spoke warmly of the diocese and its current archbishop. In particular, he was encouraged by the leadership role Sydney was beginning to take in the international Anglican arena. Though his body was failing, his mind was active and his concern for biblical truth and the spread of the gospel of Christ undiminished.

We have great cause to thank God for this giant disciple of Christ who served his Lord and us for so long and so well. He has now been called home and we rejoice that he now rests from his labour in the presence of the Lord he loved. Sad though we are, at being parted from him, we look forward to the day when we will be united again with him in the presence of the Lord and have opportunity to testify to the way God used him to nourish the faith of so many by his own example as well as by his teaching. Few men have had the worldwide impact for the gospel that John Stott had during his lifetime. May God continue to use his legacy to advance the cause of Christ until He returns.”

(Photo: Langham Partnership International.)

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