Where is the outrage?
“The evil, despicable massacre in Nigeria of some 500 Christian men, women and children has excited remarkably little international comment…”
– Andrew Carey’s article in the Church of England Newspaper has been republished by Anglican Mainstream.
Have an iPhone? Get the ESV
“For the first time, read the ESV Bible on your iPhone or iPod Touch, with or without an internet connection — for free. Record your own notes, highlight verses, save favourites, and share with friends.”
– from the ESV blog. Certainly worth a look.
(h/t Justin Taylor.)
“Another decisive moment”: Archbishop Peter Jensen on TEC Episcopal Election
The American Episcopal Election
Media Statement 18th March 2010
With the election of the Reverend Mary Glasspool, a partnered lesbian, as a Bishop in Los Angeles in The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion reaches another decisive moment. It is now absolutely clear to all that the national Church itself has formally committed itself to a pattern of life which is contrary to Scripture. The election of Bishop Robinson in 2003 was not an aberration to be corrected in due course. It was a true indication of the heart of the Church and the direction of its affairs.
There have been various responses to the actions of TEC over the years. Some have been dramatic and decisive, such as the creation of the Anglican Church of North America, an ecclesiastical body recognized by the GAFCON Primates as genuinely Anglican. For others, however, the counsels of patience have prevailed and they have sought a change of heart and waited patiently for it to occur. Those who have sought a middle course may be found both inside and outside the American Church.
This is a decisive moment for this ‘middle’ group. Their patience has been gentle and praiseworthy. But to wait longer would not be patience – it would be obstinacy or even an unworthy anxiety. Two things need to be made clear. First, that they are unambiguously opposed to a development which sanctifies sin and which is an abrogation of the word of the living God. Second, that they will take sufficient action to distance themselves from those who have chosen to walk in the path of disobedience.
Peter F. Jensen,
Archbishop of Sydney
Archbishop welcomes Papal Visit
The Archbishop of Canterbury today welcomed the official announcement that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is to visit the UK in September at the invitation of Her Majesty The Queen:
“The Pope’s visit will be an opportunity to cement ties not only between the Holy See and the United Kingdom but also the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian churches in Scotland, England and Wales. I look forward particularly to welcoming Pope Benedict to Lambeth Palace on behalf of the Church of England.”
– Source.
Easter Theobabble
“Along with the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Presiding Bishop (in her role as Chief Pastor of the Episcopal Church [USA]) issues an annual “Easter message.” They have been remarkable, to say the least, by way of contrast with those which issue from Rome and Canterbury.
This latest product has to be one of the most alien messages ever imparted at Eastertide — since the very first Easter marked the commencement of the Christian church…”
– Read Alex Haley’s commentary on the TEC Presiding Bishop’s ‘Easter Message’.
Then read 1 Corinthians 15: 1–18.
‘Pope will beatify Cardinal Newman in England’
“Pope Benedict XVI will preside at the beatification ceremony of Cardinal John Henry Newman in Coventry, England, during a four-day visit to the United Kingdom in September, British Catholic leaders have said…
His beatification was announced in July after the Vatican declared that the inexplicable healing of Deacon Jack Sullivan of Marshfield, Mass., from a crippling spinal condition was the result of Cardinal Newman’s intercession.” – Report from NZ Catholic.
Related: The saint(s) go marching in – by Bishop Glenn Davies.
(Photo: University College Dublin.)
San Joaquin ‘diocese’ sues for return of ‘church’ property
The Episcopal News Service provides the TEC version of the latest lawsuit –
“The parish litigation is in addition to pending litigation brought by the diocese and by the Episcopal Church against the former bishop, John-David Schofield, which is now before the Fifth District Court of Appeal for review of the trial court’s determination that: (a) Bishop Lamb is the Bishop of the Diocese and incumbent of the Corporation Sole and other Diocesan entities; and (b) the attempts to modify the diocesan constitution and canons and articles of incorporation of the Corporation Sole to disaffiliate the Episcopal Diocese from the Episcopal Church were null and void.”
(Photo: Bishop Jerry Lamb of the TEC remnant diocese of San Joaquin greets TEC Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori – Episcopal Life Online.)
Far-flung flock
Bishop David Mulready is featured in the February–March 2010 edition of R.M. Williams’ Outback magazine. It’s a refreshingly positive article.
“David Mulready pulls on his purple polo shirt, adjusts his Akubra and sets off to tend to his flock in the heat and red dirt. He’s mustering, but not the Santa Gertudis and the Brahman and Black Angus cattle that abound on the vast stations of Australia’s north and west, which is his beat. It’s the people who live in this remote area that he’s off to care for.
David is an Anglican clergyman and he is the bishop of North West Australia, responsible for the world’s largest landed diocese.…”
You can download it as a 1.1MB PDF file, courtesy of Editor-in-Chief Mark Muller.
(Photo: Maureen and David Mulready and friends at Wyndham.)
Glasspool receives required number of consents
“Diocese of Los Angeles Bishop Suffragan-elect Mary Douglas Glasspool has received the required number of consents from diocesan standing committees to her ordination and consecration, pending verification by the presiding bishop’s office…”
– No surprises in this story from Episcopal Life.
From a December 5 2009 Diocese of Los Angeles press release:
“The second woman to be elected a bishop in the diocese’s 114-year history, Glasspool is also the first openly partnered lesbian to be elected a bishop in the Episcopal Church…”
South Carolina Resolutions to respond to Schori
The Diocese of South Carolina’s annual convention will consider five resolutions on March 26, three of which stress diocesan authority amid conflicts with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.
In proposing one resolution, the diocese’s standing committee calls it a “Response to Ecclesiastical Intrusions by the Presiding Bishop.” That resolution refers to the diocese’s “legal and ecclesiastical authority as a sovereign diocese within the Episcopal Church,” adds that “the Presiding Bishop has no authority to retain attorneys in this Diocese that present themselves as the legal counsel for the Episcopal Church in South Carolina,” and demands that she “drop the retainer of all such legal counsel in South Carolina as has been obtained contrary to the express will of this Diocese.” …
– Full report from The Living Church.
(Photo of Bishop Mark Lawrence: Diocese of South Carolina.)
Archbishop Kwashi on the attacks in Jos
Channel 4 in the UK conducted a telephone interview with Archbishop Ben Kwashi in Jos in central Nigeria, on the violence that has seen hundreds of people killed in the last few days. (h/t Anglican Mainstream.)
Prayer is urged.
Anglican Mainstream on Bishop James Jones’ statements
Anglican Mainstream’s response to the Bishop of Liverpool’s address to his synod last week –
“Anglican Mainstream, whilst acknowledging that Bishop Jones reflects a way of thinking which is gaining ground amongst some English evangelicals, considers it deeply flawed in terms of both teaching and practice.…”
There’s also a selection of comments on Bishop Jones’ Presidential Address. (Related.)
CASE Conference: Christian Perspectives at the End of Life
From the Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education:
“As treatment of disease improves and life expectancy is extended, many of us will face difficult decisions about life and death. Moral dilemmas abound and ethical choices need to be made. Many of these issues are often news items in the media. This second annual conference is based on our conviction that providing a Christian perspective on medical ethics is essential for the public debate and discourse.”
– Read more on the CASE Conference on Medical Ethics – Saturday 27 March 2010. (Registrations close on March 17.)
Time to get Faith Book (re-post)
The Diocese of North West Australia has launched Faith Book, a 36 page book of “Stories of Faith written for the Centenary of the Anglican Church of North West Australia, 1910–2010”.
Very encouraging and a good aid in praying for the people of the North West. Copies are only $5 each, posted, and are available from the Diocesan office.
Graham Miller: A Day’s March Nearer Home
Many in the Presbyterian Church and beyond will know the name of the Rev. Dr. J. Graham Miller — missionary, preacher and pastor. He was minister of St Giles Hurstville from 1974–1980.
The Rev. Iain Murray has recently completed the editing of Dr. Miller’s autobiography, ‘A Day’s March Nearer Home’, to be published by Banner of Truth.
The book will be launched on Tuesday 16th March at 7:30pm at the Hurstville Presbyterian Church — corner Park Road and MacMahon Street, Hurstville. This will include a talk from Rev. Iain Murray – ‘J. Graham Miller: Life and Lessons’. Supper will be provided.
For enquiries please call 9580 1425. Read more
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…