‘Change and repent’, says bishop
“The Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, has defended traditional biblical teachings on homosexuality and said the Church should not be ‘rolled over by culture’. …
‘We welcome homosexuals, we don’t want to exclude people, but we want them to repent and be changed.’ The bishop added that it is not just homosexuals who need to repent, but all who have strayed from the Bible’s teaching. …”
– The thought of repentance is foreign to many today. See this story from The (London) Telegraph.
Related: Damian Thompson comments – “My colleague Jonathan Wynne-Jones does a grand job of explaining what’s going on, but my basic reaction is: this is so over. The Anglican Communion does not have the structures, the consensus, the money or the guts to police the boundaries of doctrinal diversity. Soon, it will become – at best- a federation of independent Churches. …”
Gay minister inducted at service
“The gay minister whose appointment sparked a furious debate in the Church of Scotland has been formally inducted in Aberdeen.
The Reverend Scott Rennie was introduced to his congregation at a service at Queen’s Cross Church. …”
– BBC report.
9Marks eJournal on missions
The latest 9Marks eJournal has been released – the theme for this issue is Missions.
Grab your PDF copy (direct link) from 9Marks.
Video: UK couple quizzed by police
“The 2005 story of Joe and Helen Roberts – an elderly Christian couple from Lancashire who were interrogated by police because they criticised a ‘gay rights’ project being run by their local council.
In this new video, Helen speaks about how intimidating it was to be questioned by police officers for over an hour. The officers told them they were near to committing a hate crime which carries a seven year prison sentence. …”
– Video from The Christian Institute – report from Anglican Mainstream.)
Al Stewart to head Evangelism Ministries
A media release from the Diocese of Sydney –
Archbishop Dr Peter Jensen has announced the appointment of Bishop Alan Stewart to spearhead a major diocesan church planting initiative.
Dr Jensen says “Connect09 has challenged us to move from maintenance to mission. The fact that I have released Bishop Stewart from his valuable ministry in Wollongong is an indication of how high church planting is on our mission agenda.” Read more
ACNA Assembly latest
The inaugural Assembly of the Anglican Church of North America continues. You can read the latest from the ACNA website.
See also George Conger’s report at Religious Intelligence.
Archbishop of Canterbury to speak at TEC GC forum
“Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams will make a presentation addressing the world’s economic crisis during a panel discussion webcast live July 8 from the Episcopal Church’s 76th General Convention, scheduled to take place July 8-17 in Anaheim, California.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson will host the event, to be called ‘Christian Faithfulness in the Global Economic Crisis’ at the Anaheim Hilton …”
– From the Episcopal News Service. (Photo: Lambeth Palace.)
Diocese of Brisbane 2009 Synod
The Diocese of Brisbane held its Synod last Saturday –
“The Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr Phillip Aspinall, has used his Presidential Address at Synod to speak of his hope for the future after a successful Connect to Church Sunday and a growing commitment to continue the effort. Dr Aspinall described as wonderful and fantastic a move by Bishops from 21 Dioceses from around the country to support a Back to Church Sunday event in September, mirroring a similar event in the Brisbane Diocese in February.…”
See the Brisbane Diocese website for a report
Archbishop-elect Duncan to the ACNA Provincial Assembly
“There is no one here who would go back. I hear it over and over. ‘There has been suffering and loss, some of it very wounding indeed, but we are so much better off than we were before!’
I hear it over and over. ‘God has been so good. God has been so faithful. So many miracles of provision! So many kindnesses and graces!’ …”
– Archbishop-elect Bob Duncan gives the opening address to the Provincial Assembly of the Anglican Church of North America.
UK: Police examine church’s Easter invitation
“A five-strong team of police officers investigated a church’s literature because someone said a leaflet inviting the public to an Easter service was ‘offensive’.
Two mounted policemen were later joined by three armour-clad officers who jumped out of a police van to examine the Easter invitation leaflet. …”
– Story from The Christian Institute. (h/t Anglican Mainstream.)
ACNA Provincial Assembly preview
Ahead of this week’s first Provincial Assembly of the Anglican Church in North America, this 3 minute video has been released to highlight the significance of the gathering.
With thanks to Kevin Kallsen of Anglican TV. Please pray for all involved in this assembly.
Saving the Church
Read about the upcoming conference ‘Confess or Die’ – in Sydney, 7 & 8 August 2009.
“The contemporary church seems to have amnesia about what it really believes. This two day conference is here to jolt the church’s memory, and give it new life for mission. …”
Speakers include Carl Trueman, John McClean and Mark Thompson.
See all the details at confessordie.com – and then book in!
ACNA Provincial Assembly starts Monday
The Provincial Assembly of the Anglican Church in North America will be held in Bedford, Texas from June 22-25 2009.
It will be a crucial event for this new Province because it will formally unite more than 700 Anglican congregations in 28 dioceses and ‘dioceses-in-formation’ in North America into a single body.
A dedicated website has been set up to allow those farther afield to follow proceedings – it’s at www.acnaassembly.org.
Related item: Sydney Standing Committee ‘warmly welcomes’ new Province. (8 Dec 2008)
New Anglican Church poses dilemma
“The Anglican Church in North America will be formally founded next week, challenging the legitimacy of the U.S. Episcopal Church and posing a dilemma for the worldwide Anglican Communion over who represents Anglicanism in the United States and Canada. …”
– Julia Duin writes in the Washington Times.
Anger over Rwandan plan to regulate religions
“Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda is spearheading a drive by the country’s Christian and Muslim leaders to defeat a bill introduced by the government that regulates the formation and finances of the country’s churches and mosques. …”
– George Conger reports for CEN. (Photo: Joy Gwaltney)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…