Obituary: The Rev Mark Ashton

“The Rev Mark Ashton was one of the most influential evangelical pastor-teachers of his generation. During his time as vicar of the Round Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Cambridge, the congregation grew steadily, and dozens of church ordinands and hundreds of students benefited from his ministry…”

– From Times Online. (h/t/ SydneyAnglicans.net)

Anglican Mainstream on the Glasspool consecration

“In her letter to the Primates, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church (TEC) Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, confirmed that the consecration of the openly gay Mary Glasspool is not a random event but comes from the settled mind of her church.

Sadly, this shows that TEC has now explicitly decided to walk apart from most of the rest of the Communion. Since that decision by TEC has to be respected, it should result in three consequences.

Dr Philip Giddings, Convenor,
Canon Dr Chris Sugden Executive Secretary, Anglican Mainstream.”

– via e-mail. Photo: Diocese of Los Angeles.

Bishop John Harrower calls Tasmanian Christians to prayer

Bishop John Harrower has written to the Anglican churches in Tasmania to call them to focus on prayer from Pentecost Sunday (23rd May).

“Pentecost, people and prayer: what a powerful combination! Pentecost Sunday 2010 launches us into prayer;  a time of intentional, focussed prayer.   Read more

ACNA reports growth

“Predictions of the death of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) appear to have been premature, as the leaders of the third Anglican province-in-waiting in North America report that in its first year of operations it has added 106 congregations.

Archbishop Robert Duncan, the Bishop of Pittsburgh and leader of ACNA, last week reported that since the Church’s founding convocation in June 2009, 106 new churches have either been planted or joined the ACNA, bringing its total number of congregations to 809 comprising an estimated 100,000 Anglicans in the United States and Canada…”

– George Conger wrote this piece for The Church of England Newspaper.

Bishop Bruno invites all to consecration of Mary Glasspool

“Bishop J. Jon Bruno invites the diocesan community to the May 15 service of ordination and consecration of Diane Jardine Bruce and Mary Douglas Glasspool as bishops suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles” – at 6:30am AEST on Sunday. Katherine Jefferts Schori will be the chief consecrator.

On Mary Glasspool, Bishop Bruno says, “We elected her, not only a woman, but a woman who is who she is fully as a lesbian person.”

– see his video message on the Diocese of Los Angeles website.

Related: Archbishop Peter Jensen on the Glasspool election (March 18 2010).

Starting something you cannot finish

“…those who graduate from this school today, though rightly congratulated, are being sent out to put everything they have, everything they are, everything they have learned, and everything they hope for, on the line for mission and ministry in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

They are not starting careers. Indeed, this may end their careers. They are not newly-minted professionals. In fact, they may be largely useless in the eyes of the secular world. They are now deployed for a life of ministry that runs counter to the wisdom of the world…

Serve, preach, teach, and tell the world about Jesus until they put you in a box or until Jesus comes. And all will be well.”

– Albert Mohler’s address from today’s Commencement of Ministry ceremony at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.

Introducing the new ESV Online

From a press release from Crossway:

“Crossway is pleased to announce the new ESV Online. A key part of Crossway’s ESV Digital initiative, the ESV Online is a powerful and convenient tool giving access to the ESV Bible and other resources for understanding and applying God’s Word.

Free access to the ESV Online is now available by signing up at www.esvonline.org. Users are able to customize their own interface, highlight and mark verse numbers, add bookmark ribbons, search the ESV text, and manage personal notes. The free version also includes a variety of daily reading plans and devotional calendars.”

Anglican Church of Canada’s synod guide for talking about sex

“According to the Windsor Report 2004, scripture is the channel through which the supreme authority of the triune God is exercised (WR section B paragraphs 53–54). However…”

– The Anglican Essentials Canada blog has posted some excerpts.

Missional Church

“‘Missional Church’ is a hot topic at present, and almost everyone in church leadership says that they are committed to church being ‘missional’. But what does the term mean? And what implications does it actually have for how we understand church and, more importantly, how we live as a church?…”

– John McClean at the Presbyterian Theological Centre in Sydney plugs an upcoming lecture by Mike Goheen.

New Archbishop of Polynesia

“The Anglican Church in these islands has a new Archbishop: Dr Winston Halapua, the new Bishop of Polynesia.

Dr Halapua, who is 64 and a Tongan-born, Fijian citizen living in New Zealand, was announced this morning as the new Bishop of Polynesia. As such, he automatically becomes one of the three Archbishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia…”

– Report from Voxy News NZ. (Photo: Anglican Taonga.)

Reform initial response to Revision Committee Report

Reform Press Release 11th May 2010

“The Revision Committee’s report on Women in the Episcopate published on 8th May “provides no adequate framework for recognition of our future ministry in the Church of England and so could lead to a serious squeezing of the pipeline for future ordinands” said Revd Rod Thomas, Reform chairman today.  Read more

‘The bishops with the minds of gnats’

The Herald-Sun’s Andrew Bolt is one of many to comment negatively on today’s story that “The Anglican Church wants Australians to have fewer children and has urged the federal government to scrap the baby bonus and cut immigration levels.” (AAP report via The Sydney Morning Herald.)

While the report may give the impression it is official Anglican policy, after enquiries, the ACL website has not yet found any source for such a statement.

Update: Thanks to Kevin Goddard for tracking down a related document.
And Andrew Bolt interviewed Professor John Langmore, Anglican Public Affairs Commission Chairman, on Melbourne radio 3MTR, starting at the 18’36” point of this mp3 file.

Call to prayer for next UK government

From Anglican Mainstream:

“O Lord, you give the rulers of your people wisdom, discernment and insight in order that they might govern with justice, compassion and righteousness. As the leaders of our political parties negotiate the formation of the next government, we ask you so to move the hearts and wills of our leaders and people that in righteousness we may be led, and in righteousness may gladly follow; the the honour of your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord,  Amen.”

Dr Philip Giddings (Convenor)
Canon Dr Chris Sugden (Secretary)

(A good idea in the light of 1 Timothy 2:1-6.)

‘Scripture classes lose half of students to ethics, say Anglicans’

“The controversial trial of secular ethics classes has ‘decimated’ Protestant scripture classes in the 10 NSW schools where it has been introduced as an alternative for non-religious children, with the classes losing about 47 per cent of enrolled students…”

– report from The Sydney Morning Herald.

Paul White Dinner Lecture

SMBC’s annual Paul White Memorial Dinner / Lecture is set for Wednesday 26th May, with Archbishop Peter Jensen speaking on the place of mission in the local church.

See the SMBC website to book.

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