Melbourne: Pastoral statement on GAFCON
Pastoral statement from Bishop Paul White, Vicar General
“Following the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), many of you are no doubt aware of media reports, suggesting that the Anglican Communion is facing serious division.
It’s premature to comment at this point. There will be opportunities, after our return from Lambeth, for reflection on GAFCON and the Lambeth Conference and to discuss various statements and resolutions resulting from both.
Meanwhile, together with my fellow Melbourne bishops, I wish to assure the clergy and laity of the Melbourne Diocese that relationships in the Anglican Communion will be properly and prayerfully considered at the forthcoming Lambeth Conference, the ten-yearly meeting of world Anglican leaders, held from 16 July to 4 August in Canterbury, England.
Please uphold with us, affirmation of Archbishop Freier’s hope for Lambeth: that it will provide an opportunity to ‘live the unity that we share in Christ.’
The need is for the Church to engage in mission in a world facing suffering as varied as climate change, poverty, aggression and corruption, to name but a few. Therefore, we ask that all Melbourne Anglicans heed the Archbishop’s call to prayer, and display grace and generosity of heart to which a life centred in the Gospel calls us.”
– From the Diocese of Melbourne.
Tom Wright: there’ll always be an England
Bishop Tom Wright has expanded his earlier statements on why he is unhappy with GAFCON and last week’s meeting in London.
The Anglican Essentials Canada blog has a link to his comments – as well as some comments on his comments.
C of E General Synod to debate women bishops tonight
Tonight (Australian time) the Church of England’s General Synod, meeting in York, will spend more than four hours debating a motion on women bishops. David Phillips, General Secretary of Church Society, reports that there are 14 amendments proposed.
– See David’s summaries of General Synod for Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
(Photo: Australian women bishops Barbara Darling and Kay Goldsworthy – by Janine Eastlake / Anglican Media Melbourne.).
Dr Phillip Aspinall on ABC Radio
An interview with Archbishop of Brisbane and Primate Dr Phillip Aspinall was broadcast on ABC Radio on Sunday night. The transcript is now available from the ABC.
If we didn’t leave, what did we accomplish at GAFCON?
It is important, when considering what was accomplished at GAFCON, to keep in mind its singular focus. That focus was to identify the Anglican grasp of the apostolic faith, to claim that identity for the whole Anglican Communion and to provide a firm oversight and standing from which to confess the apostolic faith as we Anglicans have received it. …
– Bishop John H. Rodgers Jr., one of the founders of the Anglican Mission in America, at Virtue Online.
See also this interview he gave in February. (Photo: Trinity School for Ministry.)
Archbishop of York defends Williams
The Archbishop of York has told the Church of England’s governing body that a new Anglican traditionalist movement had been “ungracious” in its actions. Dr John Sentamu said he was “deeply grieved” at criticism of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, by the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans. …
– from BBC News. Includes a 3 minute video clip. (Photo: Abp of Canterbury’s website.)
C of E General Synod report 4 July 2008
The Church of England’s General Synod has begin its meeting at York University.
David Phillips, General Secretary of Church Society, is posting a daily summary of business. Read the summary for Friday 4th July on the Church Society website.
‘Treat GAFCON with respect’ – Church Times
GAFCON was a good thing. Other complexions have, of course, been put on it, but the conference in Jerusalem transformed disaffection from the Anglican Communion into a renewed commitment to its core, which is the love of Christ. Against the expectations of many, the week was not spent fulminating against gays. Bishop Robinson’s name was not heard. …
… the breach in communion, which is no wider than it was before GAFCON, will not widen further if only other Anglicans engage with the Jerusalem Declaration, demonstrate the legitimate, biblical grounds for their differing views and actions, refuse to allow their brothers and sisters to walk apart …
– Comment from Church Times. There is other GAFCON coverage in this edition.
(Archbishops Henry Orombi, Uganda and Peter Akinola, Nigeria, at the GAFCON closing session. Photo: Joy Gwaltney.)
Florida ‘outpouring’ heads for Britain
Todd Bentley, the revivalist behind the Florida Outpouring, is to send some of his Fresh Fire Ministries team over to the UK for a London Outpouring from 10 to 12 July. It will take place at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster, in association with Premier Christian Radio. …
St Andrew’s, Chorleywood, the Charismatic Anglican church from which New Wine and Soul Survivor emerged, has wholeheartedly embraced the Outpourings after its Vicar, the Revd Dr Mark Stibbe, and others visited the Lakeland Outpouring in May.
– Report from Church Times.
See also our earlier story on the ‘outpouring’ for a link to very helpful comments by Justin Peters. And also see this disturbing video clip. (Photo: Fresh Fire.)
The battle for hearts and souls
Peter Jensen describes the past two weeks as among the most spiritually invigorating of his life. The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney is the talk of Anglicans worldwide… Not everyone is a fan. …
– Story from The Sydney Morning Herald.
See also “Archbishop ‘deluded’, says local bishop” in Melbourne’s The Age –
“[Philip Huggins, Assistant Bishop in Melbourne] told The Age that Dr Jensen had breached protocol by publishing an opinion piece in another diocese without talking to his colleagues there…”.
(Note: That opinion piece was published in The Sydney Morning Herald. As commonly happens, it was also picked up by The Age.) GAFCON photo: Joy Gwaltney.
William Tyndale: A life transformed by God’s Word
At the recent New Attitude Conference, John Piper gave an overview of the life and impact of Bible translator William Tyndale.
Learn why we can thank God for Tyndale and his legacy.
The 62 minute / 14.5MB mp3 file of John’s talk is available here (direct link), courtesy of Sovereign Grace Ministries.
Bishop Don Harvey reflects on GAFCON
“By standing apart from the Anglican Church of Canada, we have endeared ourselves a ‘great cloud of witnesses’ who are with us step by step along the way. It is wonderful to be part of the worldwide Anglican Communion and know that we are doing our part to keep it faithful to the Rock from which it was hewn. …”
– from Anglican Essential Canada.
(Photo: Bishop Don Harvey of the Anglican Network in Canada at St Mary of the Incarnation, Metchosin.)
CofE campaigns to recruit ministers
At this weekend’s Church of England General Synod, a campaign is being launched to encourage young people to consider training for Christian ministry —
“The Call Waiting magazine contains a selection of all of this information and will be handed out via stalls, seminars and workshops at events such as the Greenbelt Christian Festival this summer in Cheltenham. …”
– from a Church of England press release.
Tom Wright attacks GAFCON
“The Bishop of Durham has attacked the Anglican traditionalists behind a new movement against what they consider liberal views on homosexuality.
Dr Tom Wright, a traditionalist himself, said Gafcon’s plans to let parishes break from liberal bishops were ridiculous and ‘deeply offensive’. …”
– From BBC News. However, see the final GAFCON press conference – and Matt Kennedy has some comments at Stand Firm.
See also this report on the All Souls meeting from Religious Intelligence –
Archbishop Venables: “Just to make it absolutely clear: Gafcon is not a breaking-away from the Anglican Communion. It is not the formation of an alternative group.”
He continued: “It is not a seizing of power, it is the exercise of legitimate authority for the sake of the Anglican Communion. We are not taking power over anybody, we are just bringing things together.”
(Photo: Diocese of London.)
All Souls Rector complains about press coverage
From the Rector of All Souls, Langham Place, to the Editor of The Independent newspaper –
Dear Sir
You published an article today under the headline “Anglican rebels punched gay rights activists”.
As the alleged incident took place at the church of which I am Rector I have spent some time today trying to track down details concerning the alleged incident. The following seem to me to be relevant…
– Full letter at Anglican Mainstream. (Photo: All Souls.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…