The primate, women’s ordination and homosexuality
In a report on the consecration of Kay Goldsworthy in Perth, Ninemsn has this –
…the Australian Anglican primate, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall … said he believed the homosexual issue would need to be dealt with in “the same kind of way” as the ordination of women.
“It is a set of issues that will need to be dealt with in the same kind of way as the ordination of women questions has,” he said.
– From ninemsn. Emphasis added.
(Photo of Archbishop Phillip Aspinall: Diocese of Brisbane.)
‘Undiluted heresy’
“This book includes undiluted heresy,” is how Al Mohler describes the novel The Shack by William P. Young.
The book has not really hit Australian shores in a big way – and perhaps it will not have a great influence here – but it may. It is a best-seller in the US and is available in some Australian Christian bookshops (but apparently not at others).
There are many glowing reviews of the book. On the cover, Eugene Peterson is quoted as claiming: “This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!”
Tim Challies comes to a very different conclusion. Download Challies’ review as an 830kb PDF file. Al Mohler spoke about the book on his US radio show last month (starting 11 minutes 20 seconds into the programme).
Anglican Church effectively outlawed in Zimbabwe
Reports are coming out of Zimbabwe that the Government has effectively shut down the Anglican Church there.
The move comes following an uprising in the Church against the former Bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga, a close ally of President Robert Mugabe. …
– report from Religious Intelligence.
GAFCON explains their new logo
Ahead of the Global Anglican Future Pilgrimage and Conference next month, the organisers have adopted a new logo – Read more
Denominations back Virginia Diocese
A half-dozen national Protestant denominations are supporting the Episcopal Church in a multimillion-dollar Virginia property dispute, saying a state law at the heart of the case could threaten them, too. …
– See the full story from The Washington Post.
(Truro Church is the largest of the churches involved.)
Adrian Warnock interviews John Piper
If you enjoyed watching Adrian Warnock’s interview with Don Carson at the New Word Alive conference in Wales, take the time to watch his interview with John Piper.
Among other things, Piper speaks on passion in preaching, humility – and whose sermons he listens to on his iPod.
The interview is presented in four parts (on YouTube) –
1.) John Piper on New Word Alive and Spring Harvest
2.) John Piper on Passionate Preaching
3.) John Piper and Prayer and Bible Study
4.) John Piper on the Preachers he listens to – and how he became a Pastor.
Each segment runs for 7 – 10 minutes. Worth watching.
Mike Ovey to deliver 2008 MTC Lectures
Annual Moore College Lectures 2008
5 –14 August 2008
The Rev Dr Michael Ovey, Principal, Oak Hill College London, will be speaking on the topic of Repentance.
To learn more, see the Moore College website. PDF brochure here.
First Australian woman bishop consecrated
Australia’s first woman bishop was consecrated in Perth tonight amid lingering controversy over her appointment.
Archdeacon Kay Goldsworthy, 51, became Bishop Kaye Goldsworthy at a ceremony conducted by the Australian Anglican primate, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, in Perth’s St George’s Cathedral. …
– report from The West Australian. (Photo: Diocese of Perth.)
When the appointment was first announced, ACL President Dr. Mark Thompson released this statement.
Archbishop Mouneer Anis to go to Lambeth
Dr. Mouneer Anis, Bishop of Egypt with North Africa, has written to explain why he is going to Lambeth –
“I count it a great honour to have been invited to GAFCON.
I appreciate the fact that GAFCON provides an important meeting place for leaders from the South and from the North. I very much understand the frustrations as well as the hopes that led to the organisation of this conference. … I am sorry that I will not be able to be with you at your Conference but I assure you that you will be in my prayers. …
God has spoken to me through the Book of Jonah. So I decided not to withdraw but to go [to Lambeth] and speak the truth, and leave the rest to God. …”
Read the letter at VirtueOnline. (Photo: Episcopal News Service.)
Presiding Bishop’s ‘eyes and ears’ to be at GAFCON?
“Bishop Robert O’Neill of Colorado has agreed to serve as the eyes and ears of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori during the upcoming Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON) next month in Jerusalem.
Bishop Jefferts Schori announced during an internet press conference May 20 that Bishop O’Neill would be receiving hospitality during the invitation-only conference of traditionalist Anglican leaders from Bishop Suheil Dawani of Jerusalem. Invitations to the conference for bishops of The Episcopal Church were issued through Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh. Bishop Duncan is moderator of the Anglican Communion Network.
Although the conference is being held in his diocese, Bishop Dawani is not a member of the GAFCON organizing committee.”
– from The Living Church. The press conference may be seen here.
(Washington-based Anglican blogger BabyBlue has posted her take on the press conference here.)
Post-GAFCON briefing in London
In the wake of GAFCON, a ‘briefing for Incumbents and local Church Leaders’ is being held on July 1st at All Souls, Langham Place in London.
Special guest speakers will be Archbishop Henry Orombi, Archbishop Greg Venables, Archbishop Peter Jensen and Dr Jim Packer.
Details from Anglican Mainstream.
Book Review – In the Eye of the Storm
“Once the Bible’s authority has been discarded, we can redraw the faith as we see fit. And this, unfortunately, is precisely what Robinson does. For example, he appears to draw much of his justification for homosexuality from extra-biblical revelation, including a vision experienced by John Fortunato. Never minding what Scripture says, Fortunato and Robinson claim that visions from God trump the revelation of Scripture. …”
– Tim Challies helpfully reviews Gene Robinson’s much-hyped book “In the Eye of the Storm”.
GAFCON programme announced
An outline of the programme for the Jerusalem component of GAFCON has been released.
It includes expositions on Genesis 12 (The Promise of God), Exodus 24 (The Presence of God), 2 Samuel 1–17 (The King of God), Luke 24 (The Son of God) and Revelation 21 (The Throne of God).
Further details of the programme are expected soon – on the GAFCON website.
Mugabe police target Anglican churches
Armed riot police prevented Harare’s beleagured Anglican congregations from worshipping in their churches on Sunday in defiance of a supreme court order.
Police moved into the gardens of Anglican churches around the city from early morning and senior officers telephoned priests and warned them not to try and hold services yesterday. …
– Report from the UK Telegraph. (Graphic: Anglican Communion Office.)
New Dean for Trinity School for Ministry
The Trinity School for Ministry Board of Trustees announced today that the Rev. Dr. Justyn Terry has accepted an enthusiastic call by the board to become the new Dean and President, succeeding the Rt. Rev. Dr. John H. Rodgers, Trinity’s second Dean and President, who left retirement to serve as Interim Dean/President beginning in August 2007.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees the Rev. Canon David Roseberry said, “The Lord has blessed us indeed, as Justyn will assume the awesome responsibility of Trinity’s vital role as a bearer of an orthodox evangelical witness in North America.” …
– from Trinity School for Ministry in Pennsylvania – one of the very few conservative Anglican seminaries in North America.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…