GAFCON Primates Council Communiqué, Entebbe, April 2018

“We gathered on 16-19 April 2018 in Entebbe, Uganda to share in Bible study, prayer, worship and fellowship.  We give thanks for the gracious hospitality of Archbishop Stanley Ntagali and the Anglican Church of Uganda.

We began our day with Bible study led by Bishop Andy Lines, Archbishop-elect Laurent Mbanda and Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje. As we met, we finalised our plans for our upcoming conference in Jerusalem, discussed matters affecting our common life, and received updates from our Gafcon provinces and branches. …”

– GAFCON General Secretary Bishop Peter Jensen and Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies were among the participants at the GAFCON Primates Council meeting in Entebbe, Uganda, last week. Read the full Communiqué at the GAFCON website.

(Click the group photo for a larger version.)

GAFCON Ireland to be launched on 21st April

“We are delighted to announce the creation of a new Gafcon branch – Gafcon Ireland.

The launch will take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, this Saturday (21st April).

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be streamed live on Gafcon’s Facebook page. Simply ‘like’ the page and you’ll be able to watch from anywhere in the world.

Proceedings will begin at 10am BST (GMT+1) and will feature contributions from Rev. Vaughan Roberts (Rector of St Ebbe’s, Oxford), Archbishop Peter Jensen (General Secretary of Gafcon), Archbishop Greg Venables (Primate of South America) and Archbishop Buba Lamido (Archbishop of Kaduna Province, Church of Nigeria).

We do hope that as many as possible will be able to enjoy this great occasion.”

– from David Binder, GAFCON Comms Team, by e-mail.

High Court upholds rejection of inter-state vilification orders

“In a Federation like Australia, different jurisdictions (States and Territories) may have different rules on what amounts to ‘discrimination’ or ‘vilification’, and how those things interact with religious freedom. One of the pressing issues here in recent years has been whether there will be a ‘race to the bottom’ in freedom of speech on religious issues, with one jurisdiction in particular, Tasmania, raising deep concerns with a very broad prohibition on causing ‘offence’ related to matters such as sexual orientation.

Today the High Court of Australia, on appeal from NSW, has affirmed the decision of the NSW Court of Appeal that State and Territory ‘tribunals’ (non-judicial panels usually used in discrimination issues) have no jurisdiction to impose penalties on residents of other Australian jurisdictions under their own local laws. …”

– At Law and Religion Australia, Assoc. Professor Neil Foster looks at today’s decision.

A tribute to David Wheaton — former Principal of Oak Hill

At Church Society’s website, Gerald Bray pays tribute to David Wheaton, former principal of Oak Hill College and sometime vice-president of Church Society.

Lee Gatiss on Church Society and Anglican evangelicals in the UK

Over at The Australian Church Record, Steve Tong interviews Lee Gatiss, Director of Church Society in the UK.

Read Part 1 here.

Wait not for the bishops!

“It’s remarkably easy to criticize the bishops for their inertia and timidity when you’re in the parish, but if you become a bishop the shoe is suddenly on the other foot! Ryle saw at first hand the heavy constraints upon evangelical episcopacy in the Church of England.. …”

– At Church Society’s blog, Andrew Atherstone, editor of J. C. Ryle’s autobiography, shares some of the fruits of his research. Ryle himself learned that evangelical laity and clergy should not sit back and wait for others to fight for the truth.

Archbishop Davies interviewed on 2GB about Israel Folau and freedom of speech

Archbishop Glenn Davies spoke with Ben Fordham on 2GB about Israel Folau and freedom of speech today.

Worth hearing – Listen at the link.

GAFCON Chairman’s Letter for April 2018

“My dear people of God,

Around the world we have just celebrated the mighty resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The tomb is empty and Christ is Risen! Christ’s sacrifice of himself upon the cross really has broken the power of sin and death, the tomb could not hold him and it is only a matter of time before the Risen Christ will be revealed to all at his second coming as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He will indeed make all things new.

It is in the light of these great truths that the Apostle Paul gives us words of command and of encouragement at the end of 1 Corinthians 15 …”

– Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council, has released his April letter to GAFCON supporters. Read it all here.

Pastoral Anglican euthanising

“I remember a time when for a church to be ‘prophetic’ it had to stand against the tide of the culture, against the immorality of the state, against the prevailing delusions that beguile our impressionable egos.

Not so today. Because same-sex marriage is legal, the church has embraced it and has assigned committees loaded with waffling liberal clergy to contort Scripture to their collective will. It is much the same for abortion. And now euthanasia.…”

– from Anglican Samizdat.

Heatbreaking background from The Globe and Mail includes:

“The Brickendens are at the vanguard of patients and families who are creating new rituals around dying in Canada – the kind of rituals that are only possible when death comes at a previously appointed hour. …

Dean [of St. James’ Anglican Cathedral, Toronto, Andrew] Asbil prayed, while Mozart, Bach and Scottish folk songs wafted through the room.”

Related:

A message from Archbishop Colin Johnson [of Toronto] on medically assisted death.

Cricket scandal a lesson in forgiveness — Archbishop Glenn Davies

On Easter Sunday morning at the Cathedral, Archbishop Glenn Davies spoke of forgiveness in the context of the Cricket scandal.

Nine News had this report. Reuters had another.

Food, perhaps, for conversation at work today?

The Heart at Peace — Lent Reflections from Dr Peter Jensen – Part 7

GAFCON General Secretary, Dr. Peter Jensen, speaks about how our hearts are now at peace with God.

Citing Romans 5, he reflects that while many of us doubt this, ‘the work of the Holy Spirit is to assure us of the love of God for us.’

The Illuminated Heart — Lent Reflections from Dr Peter Jensen – Part 6

“In the penultimate video in the series, Dr Jensen explains how God illuminates our dark hearts through the proclamation of the gospel.” – From GAFCON.

Update on Tathra bushfire disaster from Bp Stuart Robinson – updated

As he prepares to conclude his time as Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Stuart Robinson has posted the latest on the Tathra bushfire disaster –

“Archdeacon Carol believes around 100 homes are now being listed as having being destroyed. This means many hundreds of people are homeless. …”

Update:

The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid has opened an emergency appeal to respond to the fires in the Southern New South Wales beach town of Tathra. – Details.

Help a delegate attend GAFCON 2018 in Jerusalem!

Thinking of making a donation to help someone attend GAFCON 2018?

This is the page you want.

For encouragement, see this earlier video from GAFCON General Secretary Dr. Peter Jensen.

Call for a new newspaper for the British Church

“It is now time for a new newspaper for the British Church, employing professional journalists whose news coverage will investigate the truth without fear or favour, preventing the new publication from being a mere echo-chamber.

Its comment columns should be robustly and persuasively orthodox, putting the revisionist agenda under rigorous intellectual scrutiny. …”

– Julian Mann, who recently explained why he can no longer write for the Church of England Newspaper, calls for a new newspaper.

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