Speaking of liberalism…

“Washington Episcopal Bishop John B. Chane’s announcement that he expects to retire in the fall of 2011 wraps up nine years at the helm of a diocese he acknowledged had not grown or prospered during his tenure. …

Bishop Chane took the helm of the diocese in 2002 with a series of confrontational moves. …

Once installed, the new bishop imported a number of liberal clergy onto his staff, including retired Massachusetts Suffragan Bishop Barbara Harris. He quickly commissioned a diocesan same-sex marriage rite and performed it himself in June 2004.”

– report by Julia Duin in The Washington Times.

Related: Diocese of Washington announcement.

Pray for Moore College

Vicki King in the Development Office at Moore College writes –

“Please pray for our new 1st Year students beginning at College on Monday. We have approximately 100 full time students who would value your prayers:

In addition, we have almost 50 part-time students who have registered. This is the first time part-time study has been available at Moore and so it’s very encouraging that so many have taken advantage of this excellent opportunity to grow in knowledge of the Bible while being able to continue on with work and other responsibilities.

It’s not too late for people to register for the part-time courses so if you know of people who would benefit from this type of study, please direct them to the website or have them call Alex Cowling on 9577 9928.”

Archbishop Kwashi on the violence in Jos

“Brethren: be fully assured that our faith in Christ is intact, and shall remain so in life and in death. We have a gospel to proclaim, a gospel that brings light in darkness, hope in despair, courage in danger, and joy in sorrow.”

– At Christianity Today, Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi talks about the violence in Jos, reminds us who is really behind it, requests your prayers, and re-states his trust in Christ. (Photo: Church of Nigeria.)

Closing churches on Vancouver Island in ‘transformation’

From the Report (PDF) of the Diocesan Transformation Team of the Diocese of British Columbia –

“Our Bishop’s creation of the Diocesan Ministry Resources Team (DMRT) in 2004 was his response to the fact that the Anglican Church is failing to reach the majority of people on these islands in life-changing ways; that we are failing to fulfill Christ’s ‘Great Commission’ to all his disciples. The reasons for this failure are many and complex.”

The Anglican Essentials Canada blog has news reports on the Diocese’s plans for Vancouver Island.

See also this News Release (PDF) from the Diocese.

UK Government loses its Equality Bill faith proposals

“The House of Lords has blocked elements of the government’s Equality Bill which church groups said could have exposed them to legal challenges if they refused to hire homosexuals or transsexuals…”

– Report from Reuters.

Australia Day Honours 2010 (updated)

Among those awarded Member (AM) of the Order of Australia in the 2010 Australia Day Honours are –

Robert Tong, ACL Chairman, “For service to the Anglican Church of Australia through a range of diocesan and national executive and administrative roles, and to the law as a practitioner and as an academic.”

Dr Bill Andersen, “For service to religious education through a range of academic and professional roles, and to the Scripture Union movement.” and

Bruce Baird, “For service to the Parliament of Australia, and to the community of New South Wales through a range of business, tourism and welfare organisations.”

Susan Scarcella, long involved with Italian ministry and also service to the church in Bali, was awarded Medal (OAM) of The Order of Australia, “For service to overseas humanitarian aid projects, particularly through the Protestant Christian Church, Bali.”

(See also this story by Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net with a list of others who also received awards.)

Mobile edition available

If you have access to the ACL website on a mobile device, we’ve now enabled a lightweight mobile version for your convenience.

To continue to see the website in the standard format, there should be a link at the bottom of each page.

Mother of three seeks backing of C of E General Synod for North American Anglicans

“A mother-of-three children from Eastbourne is officially to ask the Church of England’s Parliament (General Synod) to support Anglicans in the USA and Canada who are unwilling to conform to what they perceive to be their churches’ reaction of historic Anglican teaching and practice. …

She said: ‘It is my desire to give Synod an opportunity to hear about the unfair treatment of people who have continued to maintain the Anglican faith in doctrine, practice and worship, and to express their continuing fellowship with them as loyal Anglicans.’…”

– Report via Anglican Mainstream. (Photo: Church of England website.)

More Catechesis, Please

“Packer’s last crusade in this world,” the Rev. Dr. J.I. Packer affirms, is recovering catechesis — systematic instruction in the Christian fundamentals — to meet the challenges of an increasingly pagan age.

– Amen to Dr Packer as reported by The Living Church. (Image: Oak Hill College.)

New Westminster files cross-appeal

“The diocese of New Westminster has filed a cross-appeal of a November decision in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

The cross-appeal was filed in response to an appeal filed by the trustees of four Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) congregations in late December. …”

— report from The Anglican Journal of the Anglican Church of Canada.

Related: New Westminster news page.

Shepherd to the great outdoors

“What does a 62-year-old former Sydney schoolboy do when put in charge of the world’s largest, by area, Anglican diocese – stretching from Dongara to the top of Western Australia, taking in the Kimberley and the Pilbara, the miners, the fishermen, the public servants, the Aborigines, the flotsam of Australia’s remaining great frontier?

David Mulready is aware of the perils of such a life  … There is not much money and few clergy are ready to take on the frontier life. For the 155,000 people in the diocese, there are 23 Anglican clergy…”

– This piece on Bishop David Mulready, by Malcolm Brown in The Sydney Morning Herald, is a timely reminder to keep the people of the North West in your prayers. (Photo: DNWA.)

Related: Ministry Opportunities in the Diocese of North West Australia.

Hearing God’s Voice, Speaking God’s Words

Of interest to readers within striking distance of Ireland — Dr Peter O’Brien is speaking on Ephesians at The Castle on March 6th. Details here.

(Photo: Ramon Williams.)

Australia Day Convention III

At the third Australia Day Convention at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney, Phillip Jensen is speaking on Emotions in the Christian Life –

Emotions are a powerful force in life.
Anger. Love. Sadness. Joy. Fear. Surprise.
And emotions can be a confusing part of the Christian life. What is their place? How should we treat them? Why do they seem to have so much power over us?

10:00am – 5:00pm Tuesday 26th January. Details here.

Petition on the UK Equality Bill

UK readers will want to take note of the Petition regarding amendments to the Equality Bill to be voted on in the House of Lords this month. (You must be a British citizen or resident to sign the petition.)

Details at Anglican Mainstream.

Church Society response to “Being Faithful”

The following letter was sent by Church Society Council to all the members of the Theological Resource Group in late November 2009.

“We are grateful to you for your work, as part of the GAFCON Theological Resource Group on ‘Being Faithful’, the Commentary on the Jerusalem Declaration.  We note that it is commended to the wider church for further discernment. The Council of Church Society has therefore considered and discussed the report and wishes to draw a number of matters to your attention…”

– Chirch Society published this letter in late December.

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