FCA launched in South Africa
“Seventy Anglican clergy and laity are today (September 3) attending the launch of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (South Africa) at St John’s Church in Port Elizabeth…
– from David MacGregor in Port Elizabeth.
Australian marriage statistics
On Monday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released a selection of data on marriages and divorces in Australia. While only highlighting a limited range of data, it’s a reminder of some of the ways in which our culture is changing.
See Crikey.com.au. (h/t/ Malcolm Purvis.)
‘God’s Word Heard’ — September free Audiobook
This month’s free audiobook from Christian Audio is the New Testament from ‘God’s Word Heard’ – a translation published by Baker Books.
You can see some PDF samples of the translation here – and download the audio using the code SEP2009 via the link on this page. (Requires free registration.)
Of course, if you prefer the rather more literal English Standard Version, you can hear audio in your browser by going to esv.org – or esvstudybible.org click on ‘Listen’ just next to the book and chapter number.
Related:
Using the Online ESV to Listen.
Choosing a Bible: free download.
Al Mohler: The NIV Announcement — A Statement.
Listening Process a ‘gift’ to church
The Episcopal Church talks up the ‘listening process’.
– Listening Process a ‘gift’ to church.
– Bulletin inserts focus on ‘listening process’. (PDF file)
Related: Listening process or Repentance? and
Money, Sex, Indaba.
Restructuring planned for Sydney Diocese
Archbishop Peter Jensen has announced a number of changes, designed to help keep Sydney Anglicans focussed on sharing the good news of Jesus despite the challenges brought by the global financial crisis –
“As soon as it became apparent that we would have far less money available in the next three years, the Mission Strategy Committee and the Mission Board began to think and pray about our options. They have been working for several months and have now presented their proposals to Standing Committee before advancing them to the Synod. …
Part of the complexity is that it is not only the Synod money which is affected, but also the money from the Endowment of the See. …
Given the magnitude of the change, tinkering is not enough: we have to restructure. The key is to do it in such a way that we are looking to the future and driven by our mission.”
– Read the Archbishop’s message, “Looking Within, Above and Ahead” and related articles in Southern Cross, available at SydneyAnglicans.net.
The Doctrine of the Church
“I suggest what we need is more theology, not less and, in particular, careful thinking about the place preaching has in our doctrine of the church.”
– Mark Thompson blogs about the just-concluded 13th Edinburgh Dogmatics Conference – Part 1, part 2, part 3.
Death or life in Vancouver
The Ecumenical and Multifaith Unit (EMU) of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster, Canada is co-hosting a workshop “Challenges for the church in a post-religious culture”. Bishop Michael Ingham will be one of the panelists.
From the EMU website: “Currently the [EMU] committee is advocating the use of Prayers for Peace from other faith traditions (see Multifaith Prayers for Peace), both in regular services and in personal meditations, as an affirmation of our common spiritual goal for peace on earth.”
By contrast, hear this sermon by Canon (of St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney) David Short at St. John’s Shaughnessy in Vancouver, preached back in June –
“The point of the resurrection is that God has made Jesus LORD over everything.”
– from the St. John’s website.
Please continue in prayer for all who labour in the teaching of God’s word, that they always may be faithful.
(Logo: Ecumenical and Multifaith Unit of the Diocese of New Westminster.)
Australian Christian Books of the Year 2009
SPCK Australia has announced its 2009 Australian Christian Literature Awards. Here’s the list – Read more
UK Christian arts festival draws criticism
“Traditional Anglicans have criticised the UK’s major Christian arts festival for inviting a gay American Bishop to speak. Among those addressing the Greenbelt festival this year is the Bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson…
Changing Attitude, a leading pro-gay Church movement, will be laying out their ideas at the festival. Its director, the Rev Colin Coward, says he is happy to have a debate on homosexuality, but that it is not appropriate to invite the ‘Ex-Gay’ movement.”
– Report from BBC News on a story which has been building for the last month or so. Another controversial speaker, Rob Bell, has been overlooked in much of the discussion. (Related.)
The Greenbelt Festival is held this weekend. (Photo: TEC.)
Friday August 28: Prayer day for Connect09
In a letter to Rectors and Curates-in-Charge, Archbishop Peter Jensen has called for another day of prayer –
“Dear Friends,
We received very positive feed back after the prayer day which was held on Friday May 22, and this has prompted me to hold another. I am pleased to announce a special Day of Prayer will be held on Friday August 28 commencing at 10am in the Chapter House, St Andrew’s Cathedral, concluding at 2.30pm.
The first and most vital aspect of Connect09 is prayer. I invite you to be present on that day. You might like to encourage at least two people to represent your parish. Let’s make this a priority as we pray for our diocese in this year of great opportunity for the gospel.”
Here’s an outline of the day as planned –
1000-1030 Bible Study
1030-1100 Jesus All About Life (JAAL)
1100-1130 Inspiring People (CBD events)
1130-1200 Georges River Region
1200-1230 Northern Region
1230-1300 Western Region
1300-1330 Wollongong Region
1330-1400 South Sydney Region
Graham Wade 1931–2009
SydneyAnglicans.net reports that Graham Wade, pioneering Christian cartoonist, filmmaker and illustrator of the Jungle Doctor books, has died at the age of 78.
“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” (Revelation 14:13).
See also these entries at Christian Cartoonists International and OzComics (which also tells of Graham’s involvement in the founding of Pilgrim International).
(Photo: Christian Cartoonists International.)
Study theology?
Want to be better equipped to live for Christ? Interested in studying theology? Here are some opportunities to investigate further –
The Presbyterian Theological Centre in Burwood has an Open Night this Wednesday 26th August from 7:00pm.
Sydney Missionary and Bible College has an Open Evening on Monday 7 September, 2009, 6:45pm for 7:00pm.
Moore College is holding an Open Day and Spring Carnival on Saturday, 26 September, 9:30am – 2:30pm in the College grounds. Families welcome. (Photo: PTC.)
ACL Centenary Dinner — bookings close Monday 24th
All members and friends of the ACL are invited to celebrate 100 years of the Anglican Church League at the Centenary Dinner on
Thursday 3rd September 2009
7:00pm for 7:30pm
Moore College Dining Room
1 King Street Newtown
Download your Invitation here (230kb PDF file).
The closing date for bookings is Monday August 24.
Mark Driscoll at the Crystal Cathedral
Mark Driscoll is the guest speaker at the Crystal Cathedral on this week’s Hour of Power ‘television church’ and he gently introduces a topic not normally addressed there: sin. The video is available here. h/t Justin Taylor.
Related: So much for Possibility Thinking.
Lutherans adopt statement on sexuality
Updated:
“The Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) by a two-thirds majority August 19 approved a theological statement addressing human sexuality, setting the stage for an anticipated vote Friday on whether to allow pastors in committed same-sex relation ships to serve in local congregations…”
– The Episcopal News Service reports on the ECLA’s moves paralleling those of TEC. (The ECLA and TEC are in ‘full communion’.)
See also the voting results and text of ‘Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust’ from the ELCA website.
As the meeting was taking place, a tornado touched down, knocking the cross from the steeple of Central Lutheran Church across the street. It was, of course, nothing more than a coincidence. Or was it? John Piper has some thoughts about what happened in his own town:
“The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction. Reaffirm the great Lutheran heritage of allegiance to the truth and authority of Scripture. Turn back from distorting the grace of God into sensuality. Rejoice in the pardon of the cross of Christ and its power to transform left and right wing sinners.”
Worth reading it all. (Pictures: top – ELCA, bottom – Joe Bjordal.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…