Churches applaud Opposition’s announcement

23 November 2010 – a second press release today from the NSW Council of Churches –

The NSW Council of Churches applauds the decision of the Opposition to not continue Ethics Classes in NSW Schools if it is elected in 2011.

“The voters of NSW can now decide on this important issue,” Rev Richard Quadrio said late today.

“The so-called Ethics Trial taught valueless ethics described by one principal as leaving students without a moral compass.”

“Mr O’Farrell had made some very positive statements regarding this issue and now is to be congratulated for clarifying their position on this issue and giving the people of NSW an alternative,” said Rev Richard Quadrio

The churches never endorse any political party in elections but encourage all its members to vote on the issues.

“The future of scripture teaching in schools is an important issue to many people of faith,” said Rev Richard Quadrio.

‘Churches will fight for SRE in the March election’

Press release from the NSW Council of Churches –

The decision by the government today on Ethics classes is a cynical attempt by a mortally wounded government to try to revive itself before the March election. While some members like Minister Verity Firth will gain a few local votes in inner Sydney by this decision, the widespread Church backlash will cost many more votes across the state.

President of the NSW Council of Churches, Rev Richard Quadrio is calling people of all religious persuasions to see this for what it really is – “an attack on people of faith.”

“The so called Ethics Trial taught valueless ethics described by one principal as leaving students without a moral compass.” Read more

ANiC ordinations

On Sunday (November 21), Anglican Network in Canada Bishops Don Harvey and Trevor Walters ordained four deacons (the Revs Keith Ganzer, Aaron Roberts, Doug Beattie, and David McElrea) to the priesthood. The service was held at the Broadmoor Baptist Church in Richmond, British Columbia.

Ed Hird has posted some brief segments of Dr J I Packer’s ordination sermon on his YouTube channel.

It’s a good reminder to pray for all affected by last week’s court decision.

Festschrift for Bill Dumbrell

Last Friday, Bill Dumbrell was presented with a copy of a Festschrift, An Everlasting Covenant: Biblical and Theological Essays in Honour of William J. Dumbrell, at a dinner at the Presbyterian Theological Centre.

Details at Steven Coxhead’s blog, Berith Road.

‘Dissident Anglican priests have to move — but not before Christmas’

“Neither side in a long, bitter war over Anglican Church property in Vancouver and Abbotsford expects any Christmas services will have to be moved elsewhere this December.

But Vancouver-area Anglican Bishop Michael Ingham began moving Tuesday to replace the dissident priests at four congregations that have failed to obtain legal control of Anglican Church properties valued at more than $20 million…”

– report from The Vancouver Sun on how the court decision will affect ‘dissident priests’ and their congregations. Your prayers would doubtless be appreciated.

(Statement from the Diocese of New Westminster here.)

BC Court of Appeal dismisses appeal

From The Anglican Network in Canada –

“The congregations have always said that if they are forced to choose between their buildings and their faith, they will choose their faith. That position remains unchanged.”

15 November 2010

In a decision released today, the BC Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by four Anglican Network in Canada churches in the Vancouver area.

The four parishes – St John’s (Vancouver), St Matthews (Abbotsford), Good Shepherd (Vancouver), and St Matthias & St Luke’s (Vancouver) – had appealed a November 25, 2009 decision of Mr Justice Stephen Kelleher awarding beneficial ownership of church properties to the Diocese of New Westminster in the case involving the split in the Anglican Church. The Diocese of New Westminster’s counter appeal of Mr Justice Kelleher’s decision granting a sizeable bequest to the ANiC congregation of the Church of the Good Shepherd was also dismissed. Read more

Christians flee Iraq

ABC Television’s Ben Knight reports from Amman, Jordan on “a frightening picture” for Christians in Iraq.

Related story.

New book on The Thirty-Nine Articles

Available now from Moore Books.

A new book: Defining Convictions and Decisive Commitments: The Thirty-Nine Articles in Contemporary Anglicanism – by Michael Jensen of Moore Theological College and Tom Frame St Mark’s National Theological Centre in Canberra, is now available.

They write:

“We firmly believe that the Articles have a continuing place in the life of the Anglican Church of Australia because they deserve such a place. In our view the Articles are a treasury of wholesome doctrine and ought to serve as the basis for assessing new thinking and novel customs. We are convinced that the Articles point to a distinctly Anglican approach to theology and ecclesiology, and are worthy of close attention and sustained study. Rather than have the Articles overlooked in the hope that they might quietly fade from view, we argue that Anglicans ought to pay closer attention to the Articles. Read more

Old is new again

US-based Christian band Page CXVI will be releasing a new album of hymns (Hymns III) at the end of this month.

They’re posting samples on their blog. So far, Be Still My Soul and Be Thou My Vision are online.

New Emu album to be released

Emu Music have announced that their latest album, Undivided, will be available around the end of this month.

“10 excellent new songs for churches from Emu. Produced by Nathan Tasker and featuring songs from Nicky Chiswell, Trevor Hodge, Michael Morrow, Philip Percival, Simone Richardson and Rob Smith, this album reflects Emu’s commitment to putting the Word into song, and reflecting the drive and passion of churches who love contemporary corporate worship.”

Samples and a pre-order form here. Sounds great.

Sanctions against the Southern Cone — 2

“The significance of +Tito Zavala’s election as Primate seems clear – it is a rebuke to Secretary Kearon’s letter and sanctions. It is an affirmation of +Zavala’s role as a leader who is in fact faithfully representing the official teaching of the Anglican Communion on human sexuality and holy orders as stated in Lambeth Resolution 1.10 (1998).

Did Secretary Kearon assume the authority to remove +Zavala as a member of IASCUFO? Or was he directed to, and if so, by whom?…”

– Phil Ashey of the American Anglican Council continues his thinking about the sanctions applied against the Province of the Southern Cone. (part 1 here.)

Next Primate of the Southern Cone

“The tenth Synod of the Province of the Southern Cone of America, meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 1-5 November, 2010, has elected Bishop Hector ‘Tito’ Zavala of Chile as its next Primate replacing Bishop Gregory Venables. Bishop Zavala becomes the province’s first Primate of Chilean extraction.

The role of Primate is a three year renewable term in the Cone. Bishop Venables is not retiring, but will maintain his present position as Bishop of Argentina and Northern Argentina.

In another closely followed vote, the possibility of allowing women’s ordination to the priesthood in those dioceses that so affirmed to move ahead (local option) was turned down by the house of clergy; the other two houses voted in favour.

The Province of the Southern Cone comprises the seven dioceses of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Northern Argentina, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.”

– from the Anglican Communion News Service. (Photo of Bishop Zavala: CMS UK.)

Updated ESV website

Mary Kassian is among those who testify to the usefulness of the ESV on Crossway’s newly updated ESV website.

(If you’re looking for the “search the ESV” page – it’s here.)

FCA (Southern Africa) Conference in Port Elizabeth

“The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Southern Africa) opened its second annual conference at St Saviour’s Church in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday October 27th…

Bishop John Guernsey preached and began by noting that at the urging of the GAFCON movement the new province of the Anglican Church in North America was formed in North America. ‘We have seen a great deal of persecution. Churches have lost their property, clergy have lost their positions, given up medical insurance and pension benefits and been sued by their own bishops,’ he said.

– Chris Sugden writes for Anglican Mainstream.