ANiC Parishes v New Westminster – Day 5
Bishop Ingham began giving his evidence in the afternoon…
When asked to define “orthodoxy”, he said “I am greatly persuaded by Archbishop Rowan Williams” saying “he describes (it) as the conversation of the Church… broad and not narrow… and includes many streams of thought.”
– from the ANiC’s report on Monday’s day in court.
Ridley and Yale form strategic partnership
“Ridley Melbourne announced establishment of a Jonathan Edwards Centre for the Asia-Pacific region, affiliated with the Jonathan Edwards Centre at Yale University . This partnership is part of the vision of Ridley Melbourne to be an internationally renowned theological and training school.
The Jonathan Edwards Center–Australia will serve as a research, education and publications hub for study of Edwards and evangelical history and develop links with the international academic community.…”
– from Anglican Media Melbourne. (Related: Ridley College.)
New assistant bishop for Bathurst
“Archdeacon John Stead, Archdeacon for Ministry Development and Rector of St John’s Wagga Wagga, has been appointed the new Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst, by Bishop Richard Hurford. …”
– News from the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
ANiC Parishes v New Westminster – Day 4
“Today was a short day in court, ending just after noon, which although surprising, was a great relief. The Rev David Short, rector of St John’s Shaughnessy since 1993, was on the stand for only a couple of hours when many of us were expecting more than a full day. …”
Full report here – (not yet on the ANiC website) – and please continue to pray. (GAFCON photo: Joy Gwaltney) Read more
San Joaquin Bishop John-David Schofield and TEC ‘depositions’
“It is with a mixture of sadness and joy that we received today a letter from Bishop Lamb wherein he purports to depose 36 priests and 16 deacons as of May 22, 2009. It is heartbreaking that The Episcopal Church chooses to take such a punitive action and condemn 52 active clergy with ‘Abandonment of the Communion’ when all of these men and women are recognized around the world as priests and deacons in good standing within the Anglican Communion. Read more
ANiC Parishes v New Westminster – Day 3
Gail Stevenson became a member of St John’s Shaughnessy 68 years ago when she was baptized in a “small brown wooden building” at age 5. …
She recalled Rev Harry Robinson’s world renowned ministry which she described as “very powerful, very transforming and very Biblical”. Visitors to Vancouver – especially from Toronto and England –would come to St John’s because of his preaching. She said the ministry carried on under Rev David Short, describing it as “a seamless transition… very evangelical, very Biblically based”.
She was “disturbed” by Bishop Ingham’s preaching on Easter Sunday in 1994. She read his book, Mansions of the Spirit and found his teaching “foreign to what I had learned”. …
– from the ANiC report on Day 3 of the court proceedings in Vancouver.
ANiC Parishes v Diocese of New Westminster trial updates
If you have read the Diocese of New Westminster account of the opening day of the court proceedings, you’ll certainly want to read the ANiC report.
Mr. Cowper stated, “The question before the Court is whether the division created by the Defendants’ doctrinal and liturgical innovations justifies the expulsion of the plaintiff congregations from the church properties they funded, maintained and have long considered their church homes”.
It’s on The Anglican Network in Canada website.
Update: This account of yesterday’s proceedings has just been received, but is not yet on the ANiC website –
Day 2 – Trial of ANiC Parishes v Diocese of New Westminster — May 26, 2009
Read more
Kirk orders ban on gay minister debate
“The Church of Scotland last night effectively gagged its members from public discussion of gay ministers and postponed a potentially divisive vote on the issue for two years in a desperate bid to avoid a schism. …”
– Report from The Scotsman.
New Westminster court case begins
“The trial before BC Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kelleher over the lawsuit brought by members of four dissident congregations against the Diocese of New Westminster began today (May 25) in Vancouver.
Those bringing the suit, 22 leaders in the four congregations, including three former diocesan priests, have left the Anglican Church of Canada, but want to keep their parish buildings, which the Diocese of New Westminster says it owns. …”
– A report from the Diocese of New Westminster. (Photo: St. John’s Shaughnessy building.)
William Philip on the Scottish vote: we shall not be moved
On Sunday, Dr William Philip at St. George’s – Tron in Glasgow, spoke pastorally to his congregation about the ruling in the Church of Scotland General Assembly on Saturday.
Hear his clear message at the St. George’s – Tron website. 18 minutes / 2.1MB. (h/t Stand Firm.) See also this written statement.
Related link: Fellowship of Confessing Churches.
Financial probe baffles rector
The rector of an Anglican church is “surprised and baffled” by a judge’s decision that a regional diocese investigate whether a local parish mishandled money after it withdrew from the Episcopal denomination. …
– From PressConnects.com. Matt Kennedy is a regular contributor at Stand Firm. (See this earlier report.)
Letter of support for St John’s Shaughnessy
To Canon David Short, Rev Dr Jim Packer, the wardens and the Church Council of St John’s Church Shaughnessy and other churches in the Anglican Network in Canada in Vancouver, Canada.
May 24 2009
Dear friends in Christ,
We greet you warmly as members of the Church of Christ and of the Church of England. Our Anglican Mainstream steering committee, which includes church leaders from all parts of the British Isles as well as a number of members of the Church of England’s general synod, met together on 21st May and resolved unanimously to assure you that we stand together in fellowship with you as brothers and sisters in the Christian faith and we recognize in you the marks of authentic Anglican identity, faith and practice.
We therefore send you this message of solidarity, encouragement and support in prayer as you enter a judicial process on Monday 25th June to enable you to continue to use the property and resources that God has entrusted to you in the service of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the good of all the people of Vancouver.
Yours in Christ
Dr Philip Giddings, Convenor of Anglican Mainstream
Canon Dr Chris Sugden, Executive Secretary
Bishop Wallace Benn, Trustee
on behalf of Anglican Mainstream’s Steering Committee.
– from Anglican Mainstream. See also this related letter.
Church of Scotland General Assembly upholds homosexual minister
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has voted in support of the appointment of a gay priest. Reverend Scott Rennie was appointed to a congregation in Aberdeen despite thousands of church-goers signing a petition opposing the move.
– Story from ABC News. More from Ekklesia.
(Photo: Church of Scotland.) Earlier story here.
Be Faithful! FCA launch in UK
“The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA) is being officially launched in the UK and Ireland in London on Monday, July 6th 2009.
Be Faithful! aims to encourage and envision Anglicans committed to the orthodox teachings of the Anglican Church and passionate about global and local mission.”
– Download the brochure (PDF file – direct link) from the GAFCON website for full details.
Synod of Tasmania — Presidential Address
Bishop John Harrower today gave the Presidential Address at the Synod of the Diocese of Tasmania —
“Dear fellow Anglicans, be encouraged by what you see God doing among us. Be strengthened in your commitment to Christ. Be resolute and enduring in your determination to stay the course, a course which under God will see Tasmanians of all ages come to faith, in a world which never needed the good news of Jesus more than it does today.”
– from the Diocese of Tasmania website (PDF file – direct download link).
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…