Another church votes to join ANiC
St. Aidan’s Anglican Church in Windsor, Ontario, Joins the Anglican Network in Canada.
“At a special vestry meeting held earlier today, St Aidan’s became the 19th ANiC parish and the 11th former Anglican Church of Canada parish to vote to join ANiC this year. The vote was:
- 109 In Favour
- 0 Against
- 0 Abstained. The vote was unanimous.”
– from the St. Aidan’s website. The ANiC has issued this press release.
Pittsburgh bishop will not appeal deposition
The Bishop of Pittsburgh, the Rt Rev Robert Duncan has said he will not appeal against the ruling, as bishops worldwide condemned the Episcopal Church of the manner of his deposition.
He said: “I’m very sad, sad for the Episcopal Church. In 15 days the diocese will determine whether it too wants to be part of the Southern Cone and figure out whether it wants me back as bishop. That is up to the diocese, although I have a sneaking suspicion they will want me back.” …
– Report from Religious Intelligence. (As of today, the vote is seven days away – starting on Saturday 4th October.)
Archbishop Orombi pledges support for Bishop Bob Duncan
Dear Bishop Duncan,
I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the name above all names, and the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I have very intentionally addressed this letter to you as Bishop Duncan, for, indeed, you are a Bishop. …
– Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, Primate of Uganda, writes to support Bishop Bob Duncan. Full text at the American Anglican Council.
(Photo: Joy Gwaltney.)
Synod Survival Guide now online
Many members of Sydney Synod have expressed their appreciation for the previous editions of Robert Tong’s The Synod Survival Guide.
Published by the ACL as a service to members of Synod, the Guide is a clear and helpful introduction to what goes on at Synod and is highly recommended for new members of Synod.
Now in its 4th edition, it is available now as a free PDF download.
As well, Synod members can request a free printed copy – and we’ll mail it as soon as we get it back from the printers. And copies will also be available at the ACL Synod Dinner (PDF invitation).
Go to our Synod Survival Guide section for details.
ACL Synod Dinner bookings now open
The 2008 ACL Synod Dinner is set for Monday 13th October – in the Chapter House of St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
The dinner is open to all Synod members, all ACL members, and others who would like to hear about ‘GAFCON – the inside story’. Allison Street and Bishop Glenn Davies – members of the Sydney team at GAFCON – will be sharing on what really happened at this crucial Anglican meeting.
Tickets only $15 each. Pay at the door, but bookings essential.
Download your invitation for details on how to reply – a 265kb PDF file.
Another church departs TEC
More than 300 members, 90% of the congregation of St. John’s Episcopal Church in New Braunfels, have left The Episcopal Church citing the church’s failure to uphold the authority of Holy Scripture – and recent sexual innovations including the consecration of an openly homosexual priest to the episcopacy.…
– Full report from VirtueOnline. (Photo: St. John’s church.)
Bishop Nazir-Ali on Duncan and TEC
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali on Bishop Bob Duncan and TEC –
“The first thing is to express huge admiration for Bishop Bob, because for so many years he has borne the brunt of the anger of those who want to make changes in The Episcopal Church. He has stayed loyally within that Church.
I have quite often watched him in the American house of bishops or general convention, taking flak. So given all of that, I am very sad and very shocked that he’s been treated in this way.
Quite a few American bishops had come to Lambeth, knowing that nothing would change afterwards. I do not think we can take seriously what they agreed at Lambeth. This is of a piece with other meetings where they have been present, have agreed things and where nothing has happened afterwards.
This does show that a structural solution is needed for the orthodox in the American church. There must be immediate relief. No talk about panels doing things in the future. We need, they need more importantly, immediate relief from this kind of action taken against them.”
– from an article by Ruth Gledhill at TimesOnline. (Photo: Joy Gwaltney)
UN Media Advisory
From the Anglican Communion Office, London
“Date of Event: September 25, 2008
St John the Divine Cathedral, Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street, New York USA
Anglican Act of Witness in support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals
Senior Anglican Officials to be present in New York
Archbishop of York, John Sentamu to preach in Cathedral service
Presiding Bishop and Primate Katharine Jefferts Schori to officiate at the service
This act of witness follows on the successful show of witness in London in July during the Anglican Communion Lambeth Conference when some 700 marched in witness from Parliament to Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury…”
– Media release from the Anglican Communion Office. (But, for perspective, see this.) Photo: Tumilty/ACNS.
Attacks on Christians and Churches in Orissa and Karnataka
“Christians are also accused of creating fear among non-Christians to convert them to Christianity i.e. with threats such as you will not go to heaven if you do not follow Christ. It is a big theological challenge how to be Christians without such theological claims. When one of the churches was attacked during the worship services, some of the attackers specifically told the priest not to preach Christ as the only way; he should preach about other ways too. It is clear that underlying many of these criticisms of Christians is the desire to unite Hindus emotionally and turn their anger into votes.…”
– Some background on recent attacks in India – via the Anglican Communion News Service. (Photo: ACNS.)
Sydney supports Bishop Duncan
The standing committee of the Diocese of Sydney has expressed its strong support for Bishop Robert Duncan of the American diocese of Pittsburgh, saying it is ‘deeply distressed’ that he has been deposed by the Episcopal Church.
Bishop Duncan, who has been negotiating to withdraw his diocese from the Episcopal Church because of revisionist teaching, was the subject of a deposition vote by the US House of Bishops and with 15 bishops missing, including Texans because of Hurricane Ike, the vote passed 88 to 35. Read more
British Columbia parishes to be merged
Shrinking attendance at Island churches is forcing the Anglican Church of Canada to close one Victoria parish and merge eight others in an effort to shore up the diocese’s finances.
St. Alban’s Church will be shuttered in the next one to three years as part of an Island-wide restructuring confirmed at the Diocese of B.C. leaders’ conference in Metchosin at the weekend.…
– Report from The Province. (Crest: Diocese of British Columbia.)
Jim Packer on the ESV Study Bible
Dr Jim Packer, Theological Editor of the forthcoming ESV Study Bible, speaks about the project in this 5 minute 38 second promotional video – at YouTube.
(hat tip: Justin Taylor.)
Rowan Williams to visit Lourdes
“Archbishop of Canterbury to preach in Lourdes for 150th anniversary of the visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will participate in anniversary celebrations at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, at the invitation of the Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, Monsignor Jacques Perrier.
He will preach at the International Mass on 24th September 2008 which is being celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity. The Archbishop will also participate in a Pilgrimage of bishops, clergy and laity of the Church of England, which is organised by the Society of Mary and the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.…”
– from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s website.
Letter to Williams: Suspend TEC and recognise Common Cause
“I write, therefore, to ask that you take immediate action in suspending the Episcopal Church from any further participation in activities of the Anglican Communion and in calling a meeting of the Primates to give formal recognition to a new Province in North America…”
– Bishop Colin Bazley, former Primate of the Southern Cone, writes to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Read his open letter at Anglican Mainstream. (Photo: Lambeth Conference media.)
New website in support of Bishop Duncan
“The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh’s communications team has created this website for the purpose of posting and sharing comments in support of Bishop Robert Duncan and The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh in light of his purported deposition by The Episcopal Church on September 18.
Posted below are several public announcements of support from leaders throughout global Anglicanism.”
– See the latest statements of support at support-duncan.blogspot.com.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…