Updated website for Moore College
The Moore College website has a new look, and the beginning of lots of new resources.
It’s clearly the result of much hard work. See it here – and watch a welcome message from the Principal, Dr. John Woodhouse.
“A great turning of hearts must begin”
“In the lead up to the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change 7-18 December, CEO of World Vision Australia the Revd Tim Costello and US author Brian McLaren have co-written the following prayer…”
“This is the moment, God, when a great turning of hearts must begin. So through this prayer, we of many traditions who follow Christ — joined by friends and neighbors of many faiths – unite our hearts in a cry for change.”
No, it’s not a prayer for gospel repentance or the salvation of the nations through Christ.
– It’s available via Anglican Media Melbourne. (Photo: brianmclaren.net.)
Reform regrets a ‘lost opportunity for peace and unity’
Reform regrets a ‘lost opportunity for peace and unity’ over Revision Committee’s decision on Women Bishops.
Media statement issued 16.11.09, following the announcement from the Revision Committee on Saturday November 14.
November 16th, 2009
The decision of the General Synod’s Revision Committee to back away from proposals to give opponents of women bishops a way of staying in the Church of England has “overturned the will of Synod, created the spectre of confrontation, and risks extending the controversy for another five years,” according to the chairman of Reform, the Rev’d Rod Thomas.
Responding to the announcement made on Saturday 14th November that the Revision Committee had failed to approve the transfer of jurisdiction from female to male bishops where parishes could not accept their oversight, Rod Thomas said:
“At last February’s General Synod there was a clear desire to provide legislative safeguards for those who could not, in conscience, accept the oversight of women bishops. This has now been overturned by the Revision Committee. Whereas there was a prospect of agreement, the Revision Committee has now set the General Synod on a course of confrontation. It has served the Church badly.
“There has been much speculation about Anglo-Catholics leaving the Church of England for Rome. What has been overlooked is the number of large evangelical churches which the Church of England now risks losing – not to Rome, but to independence or alternative Anglican affiliations.
“Within the General Synod there will be many who will be deeply unhappy at the bullying tactics being used to dismiss opponents of the proposed new legislation. Some evangelicals who do support the introduction of women bishops will nevertheless vote against proposals which have the effect of excluding other evangelicals. This means that by the time the proposals have finished their tortuous progress through the General Synod, they will be likely to fail, since they will be unable to garner the two thirds majority support needed.
“It may be that in the providence of God, the result of the Revision Committee’s decision may be the reverse of what they intend: that this unbiblical move to put women in positions of headship in the church will fail. Reform will now renew its commitment to work towards this outcome.”
– from Reform.
Retire? Not in Bible, not in plans
“It’s been a good year for J.I. Packer, one of the world’s best-known theologians.
In March, the Anglican pastor and Regent College professor won Bible of the Year and Book of the Year honors for editing the English Standard Version Study Bible.
He also released two of his own books — ‘Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight,’ in June, and a yearlong devotional using his seminal work, ‘Knowing God,’ due out later this month…”
– an interview with J I Packer in The Modesto Bee. (Links added. Image: Anglican TV.)
Greetings to the bishops-elect of the Anglican Network in Canada
To Bishop Donald Harvey, and Bishops-elect Stephen Leung, Charlie Masters and Trevor Walters –
From Archbishop Peter Jensen, Secretary of GAFCON Primates Council:
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the whole armour of God so that you can take your stand. Preach the word, correct, rebuke and encourage. With our love, prayers, support and encouragement for your ministry.
Read the greetings from other Anglican leaders at Anglican Mainstream.
(Photo: Anglican Essentials Canada.)
ANiC Synod reports
The Anglican Network in Canada has been holding its Synod this last week. The Anglican Essentials Canada blog has reports and photos.
(Photo of Bp Don Harvey: ANiC)
Connect09 Youth Event December 4
Read all about the LIVE OUT LOUD youth event planned for December 4 – part of Connect09.
David Short to take a break
Rector of St John’s Shaughnessy (and Honorary Canon of St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney) David Short is taking a break to recover from the stress of recent months. Please pray for our brother, his family and the church at St John’s.
“This is a strange place for me personally (although not uncommon for clergy I am discovering), and for us as a church, yet this too is from the hand of our heavenly Father. As we await the court decision be certain of God’s continued sustaining grace.”
News via Anglican Essentials Canada blog. (Photo: Joy Gwaltney.)
Position vacant at Dongara in DNWA
Bishop David Mulready of North West Australia is still looking for a couple, committed to the Bible, to come to serve in the parish of Dongara (map) and Mingenew (map), south and south-east of Geraldton. Might the Lord be calling you?
See this PDF file for a description of the parish and the ministry there – with contact details for Bishop Mulready.
GAFCON Primates Council statement on Vatican offer
Statement from GAFCON/FCA Primates Council
RESPONSE TO OFFER OF AN APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION TO ANGLICANS
We have received the Archbishop of Canterbury’s letter informing us of the Pope’s offer of an ‘Apostolic Constitution’ for those Anglicans who wish to be received into the Roman Catholic Church. We believe that this offer is a gracious one and reflects the same commitment to the historic apostolic faith, moral teaching and global mission that we proclaimed in the Jerusalem Declaration on the Global Anglican Future and for this we are profoundly grateful.
We are, however, grieved that the current crisis within our beloved Anglican Communion has made necessary such an unprecedented offer. It represents a grave indictment of the Instruments of Communion whose very purpose is to strengthen and protect our unity in obedience to our Lord’s clear command. Their failure to fully address the abandonment of biblical faith and practice by The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada has now brought shame to the name of Christ and seriously impedes the cause of the Gospel. Read more
Response from the Council of Church Society to the plans by the Church of Rome to receive disaffected Anglicans
“…the true doctrine of the Church of England does not embrace any of the teachings or practices which characterise the Church of Rome. For instance, the Church of Rome is fundamentally flawed in its claims about its own nature and authority and in its teaching about the means of salvation.”
– Read the full statement from Church Society.
Create 09 registration closes soon
Registration for next Saturday’s Create Conference (being run by Outreach Media) closes at 17:00 on Wednesday November 11th. Details here.
Mary Shilton 1925-2009
Anglican Media Melbourne has published a tribute to Mary Shilton, remembered by many Sydney Anglicans as a CMS missionary and also the widow of former Dean of Sydney Lance Shilton. She died last month.
(Photo: Anglican Media Melbourne.)
‘A liberal pit that was no earthly use’
“A bestselling author and Anglican priest has launched an outspoken attack on the Church of England and revealed that he is converting to Catholicism.
GP Taylor, whose children’s book Shadowmancer became an international bestseller and is being turned into a film, accused the church of sinking ‘into a liberal pit that was no earthly use and offered no hope, no love and no grace’…”
– Story from The Guardian. See also his article in The Yorkshire Post (h/t Anglican Mainstream). Photo: Tyndale House Publishers.
Get to know the Nigerian Primate-elect
The Vanguard newspaper in Nigeria has run this interesting interview with the Primate-elect of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Nicholas Okoh.
(Photo: Church of Nigeria.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…