Two huge errors
“One of the reasons that it is hugely important that we let the Pastorals influence our mode of ministry and the shape of our church life is that two huge errors have bedeviled the Western church for closing in on two hundred years now. …”
– Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds draws attention to this exhortation from Ligon Duncan at last week’s The Gospel Coalition conference. Dr. Duncan’s sermon was on 2 Timothy 4.
(Photo: First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi.)
Outgoing Archbishop of Kenya
As he heads towards retirement this month, Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya, said that he hopes he leaves behind “a strengthened, transformed province,” one that is “well-grounded in the word of God” and “well-equipped to meet the challenges of the new millennium.”
… “When we talk about same-sex unions, it is to us a big challenge because missionaries, when they came here, taught us that we can’t change the word of God,” said Archbishop Nzimbi.
– article in the Anglican Church of Canada’s Anglican Journal. (h/t Anglican Mainstream. Photo: Jow Gwaltney at GAFCON.)
ACNA ‘announces 28 dioceses’
25 April 2009
Dallas/Fort Worth – Leaders representing Canadian and US orthodox Anglican jurisdictions approved applications for membership of 28 dioceses and dioceses-in-formation and finalized plans for launching the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Twelve Anglican organizations are uniting to form the ACNA. …
– See the full press release from ACNA (PDF file – direct link) received via e-mail.
Oak Hill 2009 Yearbook online
Oak Hill College in London has made its 2009 Yearbook available online. It’s a good way to get a feel for how this key college is going.
Principal Mike Ovey reflects on the GAFCON Conference and the Jerusalem Declaration –
“the conference was clear-sighted about being Anglican, and what that meant. I cannot resist quoting because the words are so good: ‘The doctrine of the Church is grounded in Holy Scriptures and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the said Scriptures. In particular, such doctrine is to be found in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer and the Ordinal.’
…this roots Anglicanism not in robe-wearing or parish organisation or summer fêtes, but in the great truths of the Reformation and salvation by grace through faith alone…”
– Download the Yearbook – a 4.3MB PDF file (direct link) from the Oak Hill website.
Tasty evangelism resource
Lesley Ramsay’s new book A Taste for Life has just been released.
It’s a terrific evangelistic giveaway book for women and features 10 mouth-watering recipes.
On sale from Evangelism Ministries in Sydney, the books are $9.90 each.
Bulk discounts: 10-29 copies: $7.70 each; 30 + copies: $5.50 each (plus post and packing).
Lambeth / GAFCON forum for Newcastle
On Tuesday May 12th, the Bishop of Newcastle, Brian Farran, will be joined by Robert Forsyth, Bishop of South Sydney to disuss the recent Conferences of Lambeth and GAFCON.
In an open forum to parishioners and clergy they will discuss:
• How and why these conferences came about?
• Why some chose to attend one and not the other?
• Is there any concern as to a fracture within the Anglican Communion in Australia?
• How we can understand the different thoughts of each area and where our points of agreement meet?
Where: All Saints’ Church, New Lambton, (Cnr St James Road and Regent St)
When: Tuesday 12th May. Time: 7pm.
– from the Diocese of Newcastle.
Stephen Hale to move to St Hilary’s Kew
From Anglican Media Melbourne –
“Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Philip Freier, has announced that two Melbourne assistant bishops, Bishop Stephen Hale and Bishop Barbara Darling, are soon to take up new appointments within the Diocese. Read more
April 2009 Australian Church Record online
Latest issue of The Australian Church Record is now online – at the Church Record website. Included in this issue are some interesting nuggets of information recently discovered about the first Chaplain to Botany Bay, the Rev. Richard Johnson.
Issue number 1896 of The Australian Church Record is available as a 700kb PDF download.
Phillip Jensen’s tribute to Sir Marcus Loane
How strange is the death of one of God’s people. The Psalmist says: Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints (Psalm 116:15).
“The clergy of my generation had an unreserved admiration of him. His very distinctive manner of speech was often impersonated. His memory for details was legendary. But it was his willingness to courageously stand for the truth, without fear or favour, which won our deep veneration.”
– Read the Dean of Sydney’s tribute to Sir Marcus Loane at the Cathedral website.
Bp Bob Duncan interview — 16 April 2009
Bishop Bob Duncan was at the meeting in London as the GAFCON Anglican Primates Council moved to recognise the Anglican Church in North America.
Russell Powell recorded a six minute video interview with him last night for Anglican TV.
Watch it here. (h/t/ Anglican Mainstream.)
Update: Russell Powell has now posted a story on the Primates’ meeting – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
The Archbishop who walked Kokoda
Sir Marcus Loane, who was Anglican Archbishop of Sydney for 16 years to 1982, was the first Australian-born Primate of Australia and the first archbishop to walk the Kokoda Trail.
Loane, who died on Tuesday at 97, was a conservative evangelical credited with healing divisions within the Anglican community after a period of instability. His shy manner contrasted with the certainty of his belief. …
– Bishop John Reid, with Alan Gill, in The Sydney Morning Herald.
ACNA recognised by GAFCON Primates
Communiqué from the GAFCON/FCA Primates’ Council –16 April 2009
In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We meet in the week after Easter, rejoicing again in the power of the risen Lord Jesus to transform lives and situations. We continue to experience his active work in our lives and the lives of our churches and we rejoice in the Gospel of hope. Read more
Funeral and Thanksgiving services for Sir Marcus Loane announced
Anglican Media Sydney reports that a funeral service will be held for Sir Marcus Loane on Tuesday April 21 at St James’, Turramurra at 2:00pm.
A Diocesan thanksgiving service will be held next month — on Wednesday May 13 at St Andrew’s Cathedral at 10:00am. (Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net)
GAFCON Primates meet in London with North American Bishops
Representatives of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) led by Pittsburgh Bishop and Archbishop designate Bob Duncan met Wednesday with the Primates.
All Primates were present.
The Primates Council was established after the GAFCON conference in Jerusalem in 2008 and contains leaders representing about 40 million Anglicans worldwide almost 75 percent of the communion. …
– read the report on the GAFCON website.
NSW mourns Sir Marcus Loane
Press Release from the NSW Council of Churches
“He was a wonderful Bible teacher who expounded the Scriptures and made them clear to us.” – Deaconess Margaret Rodgers.
The NSW Council of Churches extends its condolences to the family of the Most Reverend Marcus Lawrence Loane KBE, former Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, who died on Monday in Sydney, aged 97.
Ordained in 1935, Sir Marcus was the first Australian-born Archbishop of Sydney, serving from 1966 to 1982, and was Primate of Australia from 1978 to 1982. He was vice-principal of Moore Theological College from 1939 to 1953, and Principal from 1954 to 1959. He served as Chaplain to the Australian Imperial Forces in New Guinea from 1942 to 1944. Read more
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…