The amazing new iBible
Yes, it’s a spoof, but you might enjoy this YouTube video. A bit of light relief. (h/t Michael Kellahan.)
Standing with those who stand in Scotland
The Fellowship of Confessing Churches in Scotland seeks your prayers and invites your support –
“The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland meeting in May 2009 will hear an appeal against the decision of the Presbytery of Aberdeen to induct into a charge a minister who has openly declared himself to be living in a homosexual relationship.
If the Assembly votes to support the Presbytery of Aberdeen, it will publicly declare such behaviour as acceptable and honourable for a leader in Christ’s church. This would mark a historic departure for our church from the teaching of the catholic Christian faith, and a radical deviation from the clear Scriptural pattern that recognises the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman as the only proper place for sexual intimacy—a pattern which our church has hitherto always publicly affirmed.
To now declare explicitly an active homosexual lifestyle as holy, something the Bible unambiguously calls sin … would be immensely damaging for the cause of Christ in Scotland and disastrous for the national church. …”
Dr William Philip (St George’s-Tron in Glasgow) and other members of The Fellowship of Confessing Churches invite Christians worldwide to stand with them in prayer – and to indicate support of their call to the Church of Scotland General Assembly 2009 to uphold biblical orthodoxy on the issue of human sexuality. See the website to signify your support.
The Financial Breakdown: A Spiritual Diagnosis
How to make sense of the Global Financial Crisis? How should Christians think about debt-based financial systems?
Dr Paul Mills is an economist and a Christian. He spoke last week at Capitol Hill Baptist Church’s Henry Forum. What message might this have for Sydney Anglicans?
More importantly how might we turn conversations about the financial meltdown to the Lord Jesus Christ? Hear the talk and question time from the CHBC website.
Carson on David Peterson on Acts
Don Carson writes the Editor’s Preface to David Peterson’s newly-released Pillar Commentary on The Acts of the Apostles –
“His commentary focusses on what the text actually says, and his judgments are invariably sane, even-handed, judicious. While unpacking exegetical details, Peterson is careful to keep scanning the horizon so as to establish the larger vision. Moreover, his own commitments as a churchman, lecturer in New Testament, and long-time Principal of Oak Hill Theological College mean that he knows what kinds of information pastors and students want and need.”
– The book is available now at Moore Books. h/t Andy Naselli.
New Archbishop of Kenya elected
“The Rt. Rev. Dr. Eliud W. Wabukala was elected the 5th Primate and Archbishop of Kenya in a very peaceful, joyous and orderly election process by a 158 member Electoral College of the Anglican Church of Kenya that was gathered at the All Saints Cathedral on 24th April, 2009. Among him were other three contesting bishops namely:- Rt. Rev. Stephen Kewasis, Rt. Rev. Samson Mwaluda and Rt. Rev. Joseph Wasonga.
Bishop Eliud, 58, is married to Karen and blessed with five adult children between thirty and twenty one years old.
Archbishop-Elect Eliud Wabukala will succeed the Most Rev. Dr. Benjamin Nzimbi who retires on 30th June, 2009. Bishop Wabukala was consecrated and enthroned the first Bishop of Bungoma Diocese on 13th October, 1996 where he has served for the last thirteen years.
Bishop Wabukala will be enthroned the Fifth Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya on Sunday 5th July, 2009 at the All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi at 10.00 a.m.”
– Source: Press release from The Anglican Church of Kenya.
(More from Religious Intelligence.)
Harvard Law Professor declines prestigious award
“The speech by pro-choice President Obama at the Catholic Notre Dame has caused all sorts of trouble.
It now turns out that Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, will NOT speak at the Notre Dame Graduation because of the controversy. The pro-life, Harvard professor was set to receive the Laetare Medal which is the annual award given in recognition of outstanding service to the Roman Catholic church and society. …”
– Story from CBN News. (h/t Stand Firm. Photo: Harvard Law School.)
Related: ‘Secretary of state Clinton admits Obama will work to dismantle abortion laws around the world’ – from Lifesite News. (h/t Anglican Mainstream.)
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.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…