Statement from Archbishop Peter Jensen on church music
In response to this ABC Radio PM item (“Archbishop of Sydney ‘vandalising’ Anglican culture”, Wednesday, 30 January 2008) and an article in The Spectator, Archbishop Peter Jensen has released this statement:
“I am disturbed by an attack on the musical tradition of St. Andrew’s Cathedral featured in the Spectator and aired on ABC Radio recently.
No opportunity was given to respond to these remarks before they aired.
There are inaccuracies in the reports about which I will say nothing, but I am compelled to speak to correct the record and to protect the real victims of such an attack, the musicians who do a splendid job, week in and week out, in congregations across Sydney, and not least at our Cathedral, St. Andrew’s.
Christ Church Plano – The Anglican Initiative for Mission
David Roseberry, Rector of Christ Church Plano, reports from the first meeting of The Anglican Initiative for Mission: an annual workshop to inspire, train and support the planting of new churches in America.
The workshop was held as a prelude to the AMiA Winter Conference last week in Dallas.
Watch David’s report via Youtube. See also the The Anglican Initiative for Mission website.
Archbishop Akinola thanks GAFCON Theology Resource Team
Members of the Theology Resource Team for GAFCON met in Lagos, Nigeria from January 28-30. They came from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Australia, Ghana, India, and England.
(They are pictured here with Primate of Nigeria Archbishop Peter Akinola, centre. ACL President Rev. Dr. Mark Thompson is second from the left in the second row.)
At at the conclusion of their meeting, Archbishop Peter Akinola spoke at a press conference. Archbishop Akinola said: Read more
Day of Thanksgiving for Rain – Armidale
The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Armidale, Dr. Peter Brain, has asked each of the churches in his region to take time on Sunday February 10th, to offer special prayers of Thanksgiving for the recent rains.
“Since we have set aside some special days of prayer for rain during the past 5 years of drought and God has been pleased to answer these prayers by graciously sending widespread rains, we want to give Him special thanks,” said Bishop Brain.
Kenyan pastors tell of surviving the violence
“At one stop, an entire village lay in shambles. Pastor Samuel, who had led the local Baptist church, quickly picks his way through piles of burned corrugated tin, keeping a watchful eye on the forest and hills nearby for signs of danger.
For weeks, this area was cut off from the rest of the country. Even the media and Red Cross didn’t venture into this dangerous territory. Gangs of youth blocked the roads, keeping anyone from coming or going. Samuel stops in front of a piece of charred, ashen ground. ‘Here,’ he says quietly. ‘Here is our Baptist church.’…”
This story from Baptist Press gives some idea of the effects of the violence in Kenya.
Bishop of Central Florida: Church Litigation a Travesty
Bishop John W. Howe of the Diocese of Central Florida:
“There are those who simply have to leave The Episcopal Church for conscience sake… I understand that. I don’t agree, but I don’t believe we should punish them. We shouldn’t sue them. We shouldn’t depose the clergy. Our brokenness is a tragedy. The litigation that is going on in so many places is a travesty. And although some seem to be trying to do so, I don’t think you can hold a church together by taking everybody you disagree with to court.” …
Full report by George Conger for The Living Church.
(See also the Diocese of Central Florida.)
Agreement to be signed by local Anglican and Roman Catholic heads
In a sign of warming relationship between the Anglicans and the Catholics in NSW, a formal covenant will be signed between them with the Anglican Archbishop of Newcastle, Dr Brian Farran, saying it was an indication of the common value they shared together and a step towards ‘healing’ the differences. …
Story from Christian Today.
South Carolina Episcopalians get bishop
Just call him Bishop Lawrence, finally.
Mark Joseph Lawrence endured two elections in a year’s span and waited patiently for confirmation that he would be the 14th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. His election was approved in October, and on Saturday, he was consecrated in a liturgical ceremony at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul in downtown Charleston. …
Story from the Charleston Post and Courier.
See also this interview on Stand Firm, in March 2007, after the first election had been declared ‘null and void’ by the Presiding Bishop.
Who is running the Anglican Communion?
“Readers of the Anglican Communion Office’s website might begin to wonder who is running the Anglican Communion. …
Curious… that the ACO website lists the Diocese of San Joaquin as ‘vacant’ – curious, because it isn’t. …”
John Richardson is perplexed – at Anglican Mainstream.
San Joaquin Standing Committee not recognised
Presiding Bishop on January 25 wrote to inform each member of the standing committee elected at the last convention of the Fresno-based Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin that she does not recognize them as the standing committee of that diocese. She also assured continuing Episcopalians of financial and legal support in reconstituting the diocese. …
Report from Episcopal Life Online. The letter may be seen here (pdf).
Lambeth Conference to go ahead ‘with most of the bishops present’
“Seventy per cent of bishops have said yes to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s invitation to attend this year’s Lambeth Conference. …”
Full report from The Church Times
GAFCON Travel Plans?
“We have heard that GAFCON has aroused considerable interest and enthusiasm. We would encourage those who are planning visits to the Holy Land to coincide with GAFCON to await the announcement of the venue and the exact start and finish dates before making final plans.
The GAFCON Leadership Team.”
Latest news from the Global Anglican Future Conference website.
J I Packer on the state of the Anglican Communion
Widely respected theologian J I Packer has spoken about the current state of the Anglican Communion in an interview with VirtueOnline.
“I expect congregations in TEC and the ACIC being fed on liberal theology will continue to wither on the vine as they have done for the last half century. Liberal theology, without the gospel, proves to be the smell of death rather than of life.”
A Case Study in American Religion
Dr. Michael Horton and friends at The White Horse Inn broadcast are asking, ‘Why is Joel Osteen [Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston] so popular?’
In their online series on ‘Christless Christianity’, this week they examine the teaching given at one of America’s largest churches. Listen online at ‘The White Horse Inn’.
John Piper on A Common Word
John Piper from Desiring God discusses a loving Christian response to the “A Common Word Between Us and You” letter written by Muslim scholars in October 2007.
You can read the ‘Common Word’ letter here, and watch John Piper’s response here (9 minutes).
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…