Dean of Auckland elected Bishop
“Ross Bay has been elected as the new Anglican Bishop of Auckland.
The Dean of Parnell’s Holy Trinity Cathedral, 44-year-old Bay is being touted as further evidence that the church is placing its trust in a new generation of leaders…”
– TVNZ reports on the election of a bishop to replace Bp John Paterson, who will retire in March. Video report here. Profile here.
Lesbian Episcopal priest elected LA assistant bishop
“The six-county Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has elected the Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool, canon to the bishops of the Baltimore-based Diocese of Maryland, to the office of bishop suffragan, in which she is called to assist Bishop Diocesan J. Jon Bruno in ministry to the region’s 70,000 parishioners. Glasspool, 55, was elected Dec. 5 on the seventh ballot taken by some 800 clergy and lay delegates to the 114th Annual Meeting of Diocesan Convention…
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…”
– Press release from the Diocese of Los Angeles.
See also this story from Associated Press.
A new Minister for Kalbarri?
Bishop of North West Australia, David Mulready, is looking for a Minister for the parish of Kalbarri, at the mouth of the Murchison River, 160km from Geraldton and 600km from Perth.
Might the Lord be calling you?
To learn more, see this PDF file – and for more, please contact Bishop David Mulready – david@anglicandnwa.org, (08) 9921 7277.
Canberra-Goulburn Advent Message
Bishop Stuart Robinson has released his Advent Message to the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
He begins by asking how Christians should live in the light of Jesus’ second advent. Well worth watching.
Advent message from the TEC
TEC Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has recorded an Advent message. So what is Advent really all about?
At Episcopal Cafe.
Mark Dever interviews Phillip Jensen — full version
In August, while he was in Sydney, Mark Dever interviewed Phillip Jensen, and the video of a portion of that interview was posted online.
Now, audio of the full 63 minute interview is available at 9Marks. As well, an interview with Iain Murray has also been posted.
Updated website for Matthias media
Matthias Media have updated their website — check it out here.
New churches promote old beliefs
“Local Anglicans could have another choice in what church they attend locally, including what interpretation of scriptures they agree with.
The Anglican Network In Canada (ANiC) is exploring the possibility of establishing new churches in Chatham and Belle River…”
– Just one small peek at what appears to be happening in many places in Canada – from The Chatham Daily News in south-west Ontario.
‘Dissident Anglican parishes have no rights to property’
“A B.C. court ruling that four dissident Anglican parishes have no legal right to their buildings and land is being viewed as a watershed moment in a decade-long battle within the Church over same-sex blessings.
The case is sure to have ramifications for the other 35 dissident parishes spread across Canada that have chosen to leave the national church over doctrinal issues, raising questions about where they will worship if other courts follow suit and rule in favour of the Anglican Church of Canada on the property issue…”
– Report from The National Post.
(Photo of Bishop Michael Ingham courtesy of the Diocese of New Westminster.)
British Columbia Supreme Court issues mixed decision in church property dispute
Anglican Network in Canada News Release
25 November 2009, 4:30pm PST
Mr. Justice Kelleher found that the Bishop of New Westminster did not have legal or canonical authority for his purported termination and replacement of the Trustees…
Without deciding the issue, Mr. Justice Kelleher also expressed his opinion that “the parish properties are held on trust for Anglican ministry as defined by the [Anglican Church of Canada].”
Mr Justice Stephen Kelleher of the British Columbia Supreme Court issued a mixed decision today in the case involving the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) Diocese of New Westminster and four Greater Vancouver parishes in the Anglican Network in Canada.
The four parishes – St Matthew’s (Abbotsford), St Matthias & St Luke’s (Vancouver), St John’s Shaughnessy (Vancouver) and Church of the Good Shepherd (Vancouver) – had asked the courts in early September 2008 to clarify their Trustees’ responsibilities in light of hostile action taken by the Diocese of New Westminster. Read more
Collision at the Dendy
From the Dendy Cinema’s website –
SPECIAL EVENT SCREENING – COLLISION
Christopher Hitchens vs Douglas Wilson
Dendy Newtown, Monday 30th November, 7pm
Followed by Q&A with:
Dr Greg Clarke (Director of Christian Studies Institute at Macquarie University)
and
Dr Peter Slezak (Senior Lecturer School of History and Philosophy at UNSW)
Details here. Justin Taylor blogged about the film here. (Photo: Greg Clarke.)
Premier’s intervention unwelcome
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney — Media Release
Wednesday November 25, 2009
Premier’s intervention unwelcome
The special intervention of the Premier Nathan Rees in announcing a trial of ethics classes as part of the Special Religious Education system is flawed and the Anglican Church is asking for the decision to be reconsidered.“This proposal at first glance might not seem like a bad idea, but there are several inherent problems with the way this is being proposed,” says Bishop Glenn Davies, Chairman of the Anglican Education Commission.
“For the Premier to waive the regulations to enable a secular organisation to deliver its program at the same time as SRE sets a precedent for other groups to seek special access to school students,” says Bishop Davies.
“Among other things, it appears to be a vote of no-confidence in teachers. The values of truth and honesty are modelled each day in the classroom by teachers as well as in General Religious Education (GRE) that covers moral values across a variety of world views. Is there such an ethical hole in the current system? If so, then teach it as part of the curriculum rather than allowing a non-religious group to enter the realm of SRE.”
Special Religious Education, as it has been practised in our schools for more than 120 years, provides a valuable link with community groups – the local religious institutions. I can’t understand why the Premier doesn’t value that,” says Bishop Davies. “To give this group special treatment is not a way to build confidence in the public system.”
“I could understand parents being concerned if there were vast numbers of students left idle during SRE, but we do not believe that is the case. For students who do not participate, there are many ways that they are managed during SRE. It is a rare school where such students are not meaningfully engaged during this time. Teachers and SRE providers generally work well together. In our case, we will continue to deploy 2500 voluntary teachers (trained, authorised and screened) each week. Churches and faith institutions are long established in the community, if this group wants accreditation as a religious body it should go through the normal processes.”
“I want to assure teachers that we support the job they are doing and the valuable co-operation between principals, school staff and religious groups that goes on every week all over New South Wales,” says Bishop Davies.
(Background: Non-religious ethics classes for NSW schools.)
‘Catholic church reneges on Anglican offer’
No, not that offer.
“The Catholic Church in the central Victorian city of Bendigo has withdrawn an offer to let Anglicans use one of its churches…”
– from ABC News. (Image: Diocese of Bendigo.)
Free Church suspends talks with Kirk
“The Free Church of Scotland has decided to suspend its regular discussions with the Church of Scotland.
The biannual talks involved representatives of both denominations and had been taking place over the past 5 years. They involved a frank but friendly exchange on the theological issues which divided the two denominations, along with an acknowledgement of the good relations which exist in many localities between congregations of both churches.
However, the Free Church has said that, in the light of the uncertainty over the Kirk’s position on homosexuality following the induction of an allegedly gay minister earlier this year, which appeared to be sanctioned by their General Assembly, it cannot for the time being continue ‘as if nothing had happened.’ Read more
Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience
(Originally signed on October 20th, released November 20th.)
“We will be united and untiring in our efforts to roll back the license to kill that began with the abandonment of the unborn to abortion.”
– for the full text, see manhattandeclaration.org
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…