Bishop Howe: Briefing for TEC Bishops
The House of Bishops will receive an informal presentation on the “Anglican Bishops in Communion” proposal that was shared with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori during a 50-minute meeting on Feb. 21 at the Episcopal Church Center. The House of Bishops meets March 7-13 at Camp Allen in the Diocese of Texas.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori expressed no objections to the plan during the meeting… The Bishops in Communion plan is a modified version of the “Episcopal Visitor” concept announced by Bishop Jefferts Schori during the fall House of Bishops’ meeting in New Orleans. …
Read about the new proposal, which seems unlikely to be warmly received by many orthodox parishes, in The Living Church. (See also this earlier report.)
(Photo: Bishop John Howe of the Diocese of Central Florida.)
New Colin Buchanan Kids CD
Australian Christian singer Colin Buchanan has announced a new kids Christian album – “Super Saviour” – to be available in March.
Details and an mp3 preview are available on his website.
‘It’s a tragedy for the Church’ – Archbishop Venables
Archbishop of the Southern Cone, Gregory Venables was interviewed on CBC Radio in Canada earlier this week.
It’s very very sad that it should come to this, it’s a tragedy for the church, for the church in Canada and for the church throughout the world – but it shows how serious the division is.
We are grateful for this transcript of the interview (the audio is available here in RealAudio format). Questions are from CBC’s The Current presenter Anna Maria Tremonti – Read more
‘More San Joaquin congregations opt to remain’ says Episcopal Church
A growing number of Episcopalians in the Diocese of San Joaquin are opting to remain within the Episcopal Church (TEC), as the Fresno-based diocese prepares for an anticipated March 29 special convention that would elect a provisional bishop.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, in a letter to be distributed via a new diocesan newspaper, notes the proposed convention date and reassures the people of the diocese that work is ongoing “to ensure that you and your fellow Episcopalians may continue to bless the communities around you well into the future.” …
Story from Episcopal Life.
Two New West parishes ask for same sex blessings
Two parishes in the Diocese of New Westminster have voted to ask to be added to the list of places where same sex blessings may take place.
St. Mary’s Kerrisdale in Vancouver, and the Church of the Holy Spirit in Whonnock, Maple Ridge, by large margins voted to ask Bishop Michael Ingham to grant his permission for the parish to conduct services for persons in committed, monogamous same sex relationships. …
Full press release from the Diocese of New Westminster.
Archbishop Venables to visit Fort Worth
Archbishop Gregory Venables, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, has accepted an invitation from Bishop Iker to make a pastoral visit to the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth during the first weekend of May. He will be accompanied by his wife, Sylvia. Read more
Two new bishops in Tasmania
Former Sydneysider and Moore College graduate Ross Nicholson is one of two new bishops consecrated at St. David’s Cathedral in Hobart this evening. Ross served on the ACL’s Council and was a clerical Vice-President in the early 1990s. Please pray for Ross as he serves the Lord Jesus in this new role.
See the press release from the Diocese of Tasmania.
(Photo: Diocese of Tasmania.)
Photos of the service have been posted here.
Competing services held at Ontario church
More than 100 members of [the Rev. Paul Charbonneau’s] flock turned out for what could be the last service he celebrates at the half-century-old building on Rebecca St. in the town’s west end. …
The Diocese parachuted in a relief reverend yesterday morning, ostensibly to preach to disenfranchised St. Hilda’s parishioners upset by the move. The only problem? There weren’t any. …
Story from The Toronto Star. See also the latest reports from St. Hilda’s Oakville.
Archbishop Gregory Venables interviewed on Canadian radio
“The Current” on CBC Radio in Canada has run a story on the developing Anglican split. Archbishop Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone was interviewed by telephone from Buenos Aires.
Read about the programme on the CBC website – and listen to a RealAudio file of the segment. (It begins about 2 minutes 30 seconds into the file – it runs for 20 minutes.)
Sir Marcus Loane gives thanks
On Sunday, at a special service at St James’ Turramurra, Sir Marcus Loane marked the 50th anniversary of his consecration as bishop in February 1958.
SydneyAnglicans.net has the story.
(Photo: Ramon Williams.)
The Lambeth Decision: Dean calls briefing on 14th March
‘The Lambeth Decision: Refining or Redefining Anglicanism?
Sydney’s Bishops are not attending Lambeth – What do we do?’
It’s been announced that Dean Phillip Jensen is planning an afternoon briefing on the reasons for, and implications of, recent decisions concerning Sydney’s participation in world Anglicanism.
To be held in the Chapter House at the Cathedral on Friday 14th March, 1:30 – 3:30pm. The speakers will be –
Phillip Jensen – Should we break fellowship? Why? When? With whom?
Mark Thompson – What has happened in World Anglicanism to bring us to this point?
Robert Tong – What can Lambeth achieve?
Russell Powell – What is GAFCON all about?
Realignment and Gospel Unity in Canada
Over the weekend, more Canadian churches voted on their relationship with the Anglican Church of Canada –
Islanders split from national church
“Parishioners from a Vancouver Island Anglican church have become the latest Canadian congregation to separate from the national body, primarily over the issue of same-sex marriage. … St. Mary, located in the rural Victoria suburb of Metchosin, will now align with the Anglican Network in Canada…” Read more
Canadian bishop for Christchurch?
A Canadian woman bishop who has signalled support for blessing gay marriages is being confirmed as Christchurch’s new Anglican bishop.
The move is likely to stir controversy among many Anglicans and there is still a chance that Victoria Matthews’ appointment could be vetoed by the general synod, which incudes representatives from Polynesia.
Church sources said yesterday that Dr Matthews, a former bishop of Edmonton, was two-thirds of the way through the ratification process.
Full story from The Press in NZ.
(Victoria Matthews was Bishop of the Diocese of Edmonton 1997–2007.)
Professor David F Wright 1937–2008
Widely respected evangelical church historian and theologian in the Church of Scotland, Professor David F Wright, departed this earthly life on February 19th. The Scotsman has a tribute –
“Wright specialised in patristic and Reformation theology, and he published extensively on the fathers of the early Church, especially Augustine, and on the magisterial figures of the European Reformation – Calvin, John Knox and Peter Martyr, for example. He also wrote on contemporary ethical issues facing the Church, particularly questions of sexuality, where he took up a thoroughly conservative position.”
– as do Reformation21 and Global South Anglican. (Photo: Global South Anglican.)
Building may be on the line – another Canadian church to vote
Same-sex marriage blessings are the “flashpoint” but not the main reason a St. Catharines Anglican church is voting on whether to break from the national body, a spokesperson said.
Members of the Church of the Good Shepherd on Grantham Avenue will make their decision Sunday in a meeting after the morning service. …
– Full report from The St. Catharines Standard. See also the Good Shepherd website.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…