‘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.)

The unhappy fate of Optional Evangelicalism – how Fulcrum strengthens the case for the AMIE

“In 1997, Roman Catholic theologian Richard Neuhaus wrote a celebrated essay entitled ‘The Unhappy Fate of Optional Orthodoxy’ in which he set out ‘Neuhaus’ law’, namely ‘Where orthodoxy is optional, orthodoxy will sooner or later be proscribed’.

His logic is arresting and really quite simple. In a denomination where orthodoxy is tolerated as an option rather than being normative, the orthodox are accepted only as long as they behave as if their convictions were matters of personal preference and interpretation. If they do not keep this rule, they will be ejected.…”

– Charles Raven takes a careful look at the direction of the ‘open evangelical’ group Fulcrum in his latest post at SPREAD.

ACC report on Canadian Lutherans

“More than 500 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) gathered in Saskatoon, Sask., July 14 to 17, for its 13th biennial National Convention. Meeting under the theme ‘Covenant People: In Mission for Others,’ delegates passed a variety of motions, including several relating to human sexuality and structural renewal.

The Anglican Church of Canada, full communion partner of the ELCIC, supported the meeting. The Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, addressed convention and presided at closing worship. …

Delegates … passed three motions … an Affirmation Concerning the Unity of the Church; a policy statement allowing ministers to preside at or bless legal marriages, including those between same-sex couples, according to the laws of the province; and a policy paving the way for the ordination and installation of gay and lesbian pastors.”

–  The Anglican Church in Canada reports on the National Convention of partner denomination, ELCIC. (Photo: Trina Gallop / ELCIC Communications.)

We rejoice in the emergence of the AMIE — Richard Coekin

“England is increasingly secularised and hostile to Christian faith and ethics and is consequently suffering immense social damage. It needs to be re-evangelised with the spectacular saving grace and transforming hope of the gospel of Christ crucified, risen and returning in glory. This is the cause to which the Anglican Mission in England (A.M.I.E.) is clearly committed…”

– Richard Coekin, Director of Co-Mission, explains why the emergence of the Anglican Mission in England is a cause for rejoicing.
(h/t Anglican Mainstream.)

‘Could the Church of England be dead in 20 years?’

“Historic reformers, whether Martin Luther, Calvin, or even Wesley, were seldom successful in their attempts to reform the church from within. If the experiences of past reformations have taught us anything, it is that reformers will only succeed by creating an alternative structure. Luther’s deep desire to remain in the Medieval Church and reform it from within failed miserably—a valuable lesson here. …”

– Dr. Michael Youssef argues for an alternative to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

No change to American ban, ACC says

“The Archbishop of Canterbury’s ban on American participation in the Anglican Communion’s international ecumenical dialogues remains in place, a spokesman for the Anglican Consultative Council reports. …

Since Dr. Rowan Williams issued his May 28, 2010 Pentecost letter to the Anglican Communion, there has been controversy over how faithfully its terms have been implemented by the London-based staff of the ACC. …

The reappointment of one of the dismissed Americans to the ALIC, with the same role in the dialogue as before but with the new title of “consultant” further diminished the credibility and integrity of the ACC staff, one Global South leader told CEN.”

– Report from George Conger for the Church of England Newspaper. (Photo taken at the November 2008 JSC meeting: ACNS Rosenthal.)

Vancouver church says farewell to old site

“The crowd of about 500 walked silently through the streets of an Abbotsford neighbourhood Sunday afternoon, following religious leaders in flowing robes. A cross and the Holy Bible were carried at the front of the line.

Most of the neighbours glanced at the solemn crowd and then returned to their lawn-mowing and garden-tending, likely not realizing the significance of the procession…”

– BC Local News reports on St. Matthew’s Abbotsford – one of ‘the Vancouver four’.

Pastoral Letter issued as the Republic of South Sudan becomes independent

Archbishop Daniel Deng and the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, have issued a Pastoral Letter as North and South Sudan become independent republics today.

From their website –

“At midnight of 8th July, the huge country of Sudan is divided, north and south. This momentous change will cause all manner of upheaval for many people, particularly for those who had fled to the north to escape fighting and for those who live in the border areas and on disputed land.”

Read the Pastoral Letter here (PDF).

New website for AMIE

The Anglican Mission in England now has its own website. The ‘About AMIE’ page will answer some questions.

“For four and a half years representations have been made to the senior leadership of the Church of England and discussions have been held with bishops appointed for the purpose by the Evangelical Bishops Meeting and by the Archbishop of Canterbury to find a way of providing alternative oversight for those who are in ‘temporarily impaired communion’ with their diocesan bishop. Most recently a strong representation was made by a range of concerned people for there to be a conservative evangelical ‘PEV’. No proposal or response has been received.

Taking the serious step of setting up AMIE is needed now in order to provide some way for people with such a calling for ministry to remain with the Anglican Communion and Church of England.”

– Read it all here.

Church, Women Bishops and Provision

The Latimer Trust has released a draft version of a forthcoming book, “Church, Women Bishops and Provision” – for the information of members of the Church of England General Synod.

Roger Beckwith, Sarah Finch, Michael Ovey, Charles Raven, Vinay Samuel, Chris Sugden and Anthony Thiselton are the contributors.

The draft book is available here – but please note: “This Draft is being released for the information of members of General Synod and will be removed from circulation as soon as the final printed version is available, which will also be made available for download. Any persons downloading this draft are kindly requested to refrain from circulating it and to delete it once the final version is available, as in all respects the latter will be the approved version.”

Lambeth Palace on the formation of The Anglican Mission in England

Yesterday, Lambeth Palace issued a statement on the formation of The Anglican Mission in England and AMiE has now responded.

Lambeth: “There needs to be some further discussion of this development between those involved and the diocesan bishops of the Church of England.”

AMIE: “AMIE … is grateful for the statement … Discussions on these issues have taken place with Lambeth Palace and its representatives over a period of four and half years. … We warmly welcome the invitation to meet to clarify the goals of AMIE which are to preach and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Both statements in full below:  Read more

When the bishops don’t want you to ask

What questions should parish representatives in the Church of England ask of prospective clergy?

“parish reps are being discouraged or prevented from asking questions about sexuality… This is a clear instance where parish reps must obey the Lord whatever an Archdeacon or Bishop may say to them.”

David Phillips, General Secretary of Church Society, writes about the Church of England’s ‘Common Application Form’ and the situation in England. –

“Clergy applying for posts or laity acting as Parish Reps may well have encountered the Church of England’s Common Application Form. A revised version has been issued and there are a couple of notable omissions.

The first is that in early drafts a question was proposed for candidates to state that they comply with the Bishops guidelines “Issues in Human Sexuality”. What they were trying to avoid was some clergy being asked about their sexuality whilst others are not. This question has not been included but more importantly we know that parish reps are being discouraged or prevented from asking questions about sexuality. Given that clergy can now be in Civil Partnerships and some Bishops seem unwilling to ask clergy if they abide by the guidelines this is a serious problem. It is essential to be sure that clergy are modelling Biblical standards in their own lives, that is a requirement not only of Scripture but also of our Canons and Ordination services. This is a clear instance where parish reps must obey the Lord whatever an Archdeacon or Bishop may say to them.   Read more

Joint statement from St. John’s and the Diocese of New Westminster

“During the transition ministry and services will continue to be administered by St John’s Vancouver clergy and staff. While there are still some legal matters to resolve all parties present expressed the wish to avoid further litigation and find a mutually acceptable way forward which will glorify God and care for his people.”

– from a brief statement posted on the St. John’s website.

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