Certainty during WYD
“A city-wide chalking campaign led by a Sydney Anglican minister is being used to reach Roman Catholic pilgrims as they arrive in town for next week’s World Youth Day.
The Rev Mark Gilbert, who is a former Roman Catholic and currently an assistant minister at Holy Trinity, Kingsford is calling on Christians to ‘follow in the footsteps of Arthur Stace’ and boldly proclaim the certainty they have in Christ’s death for their sins as the only means for their salvation. …”
– Article from SydneyAnglicans.net. (And who was Arthur Stace?)
All you need is love – in the Diocese of Niagara, anyway
“Here is the video the Diocese of Niagara is sending to Lambeth. I am trying to think of something nice to say about it.”
– Anglican Essentials Canada’s blog on the video being sent from the Diocese of Niagara to Lambeth. (5 minute, 15.7MB wmv file – direct link.)
Choosing a Bible: free download
If you read Tim Challies’ article Every word of God (yesterday), arguing for an essentially literal translation of the Bible, you may also find this book by Leland Ryken, Professor of English at Wheaton College, helpful –
His 32 page Choosing a Bible: Understanding Bible Translation Differences is available as a free PDF download, through the generosity of Crossway Books.
“The persistent, detonating logic of Lee Ryken’s pen will educate and convince any fair-minded person that the primary Bible for study and preaching must be an essentially literal translation.” – Kent Hughes.
“A masterful and convincing argument for literal, that is to say, transparent translation of the Holy Scriptures.” – J. I. Packer.
You can get it from this page. (Direct link to the 310kb PDF file here.) Printed copies may also be ordered. Dr Ryken is also Editor of the forthcoming ESV Literary Study Bible.
(Crossway, a not-for-profit Christian ministry, publishes the ESV.)
Reform predicts Synod vote will ‘further rouse the sleeping giant’
Reform predicts Synod vote will “further rouse the ‘sleeping giant’ of evangelical Anglicanism”
This initial response from Reform to the C of E General Synod vote has just been issued –
Reform members who took part in the Synod debates are very disappointed that no legal provision has been made for those who cannot in conscience receive oversight from a female bishop. We note that the opinions of four out of the five most senior bishops on both the content and timing of this measure were swept aside in the course of the debate.
We will scrutinise the proposed code of practice in February’s debate carefully, but remain very sceptical as to its usefulness.
By giving no legal provision Synod has effectively said: “We don’t want people like you in our Church of England.” This message will no doubt further rouse the ‘sleeping giant’ of orthodox and evangelical Anglicanism in the UK and around the globe.
– from Reform.
Catholic and Post-modern at Lambeth
“There will be a strong ecumenical presence at the 2008 Lambeth Conference. The Archbishop of Canterbury will welcome more than 75 representatives from a wide variety of churches and Christian communities.
Two of the principal speakers at the conference come from the ecumenical world.
Cardinal Ivan Dias is head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples … [and] Brian McLaren… an American evangelical … and an internationally recognised contributor to post-modern thought and culture. …” (emphasis added)
– From an ACNS press release. See also these earlier posts mentioning Brian McLaren.
(Photo: brianmclaren.net.)
Further reactions to the C of E decision
Both the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican have issued statements about the Church of England General Synod’s decision to allow the consecration of women bishops –
“This decision is of course painful in the inter-Christian dialogue, as it is further alienating the Anglican community from the Apostolic tradition,” Priest Igor Vyzhanov, secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, said in an interview with Interfax-Religion on Tuesday… – via Interfax.
“The decision will be ‘a new obstacle to reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Church of England,’” – Vatican spokeman – via ABC News. Update: see also this.
Forward in Faith UK reacts to C of E vote
Forward in Faith and the Catholic Group in General Synod note with regret that, despite the clear advice of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Durham, the Bishop of Winchester and other Bishops, the Prolocutor of the Province of Canterbury and the Chairman of the House of Laity and the obvious lack of consensus, today resolved to make no meaningful provision for those in conscience unable to receive the ministry of women bishops. There must now be a period of prayerful reflection. However, members of both the General Synod and of the Church of England will understand that actions always have consequences.
– An initial reaction to the Church of England General Synod vote from the large Anglo-Catholic group Forward in Faith.
C of E vote backs women bishops
The Church of England’s ruling General Synod has voted to ordain women as bishops and approved a code of practice aimed at reassuring opponents. However the code falls short of safeguards demanded by traditionalists, such as allowing male “super-bishops” to cater for those against the reforms. … – from BBC News.
From the Church Society’s summary of the day’s business –
In the afternoon the Synod began the debate on Women Bishops. Due to the large number of amendments a total of six hours of debate was allowed going up to 10pm. After the first four hours Synod had covered seven of the fourteen amendments. However, this represented the bulk of the difficult decisions.
The initial motion had been put by the House of Bishops which is sadly unrepresentative of the wider Church. Read more
Sydney makes it clear: no split
The Bishop of South Sydney, Robert Forsyth, has welcomed statements by the Primate, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, that the GAFCON movement is not aimed at breaking away from Anglicanism.
Numerous press reports have described GAFCON as a ‘split’ and have questioned its effects on Australia.
Archbishop Peter Jensen last week made it clear he didn’t expect the Australian church to change as a result of GAFCON as events were being played out ‘on the world stage’. …
– Read the full story from SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo: Russell Powell.)
Melbourne: Pastoral statement on GAFCON
Pastoral statement from Bishop Paul White, Vicar General
“Following the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), many of you are no doubt aware of media reports, suggesting that the Anglican Communion is facing serious division.
It’s premature to comment at this point. There will be opportunities, after our return from Lambeth, for reflection on GAFCON and the Lambeth Conference and to discuss various statements and resolutions resulting from both.
Meanwhile, together with my fellow Melbourne bishops, I wish to assure the clergy and laity of the Melbourne Diocese that relationships in the Anglican Communion will be properly and prayerfully considered at the forthcoming Lambeth Conference, the ten-yearly meeting of world Anglican leaders, held from 16 July to 4 August in Canterbury, England.
Please uphold with us, affirmation of Archbishop Freier’s hope for Lambeth: that it will provide an opportunity to ‘live the unity that we share in Christ.’
The need is for the Church to engage in mission in a world facing suffering as varied as climate change, poverty, aggression and corruption, to name but a few. Therefore, we ask that all Melbourne Anglicans heed the Archbishop’s call to prayer, and display grace and generosity of heart to which a life centred in the Gospel calls us.”
– From the Diocese of Melbourne.
Tom Wright: there’ll always be an England
Bishop Tom Wright has expanded his earlier statements on why he is unhappy with GAFCON and last week’s meeting in London.
The Anglican Essentials Canada blog has a link to his comments – as well as some comments on his comments.
C of E General Synod to debate women bishops tonight
Tonight (Australian time) the Church of England’s General Synod, meeting in York, will spend more than four hours debating a motion on women bishops. David Phillips, General Secretary of Church Society, reports that there are 14 amendments proposed.
– See David’s summaries of General Synod for Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
(Photo: Australian women bishops Barbara Darling and Kay Goldsworthy – by Janine Eastlake / Anglican Media Melbourne.).
Dr Phillip Aspinall on ABC Radio
An interview with Archbishop of Brisbane and Primate Dr Phillip Aspinall was broadcast on ABC Radio on Sunday night. The transcript is now available from the ABC.
If we didn’t leave, what did we accomplish at GAFCON?
It is important, when considering what was accomplished at GAFCON, to keep in mind its singular focus. That focus was to identify the Anglican grasp of the apostolic faith, to claim that identity for the whole Anglican Communion and to provide a firm oversight and standing from which to confess the apostolic faith as we Anglicans have received it. …
– Bishop John H. Rodgers Jr., one of the founders of the Anglican Mission in America, at Virtue Online.
See also this interview he gave in February. (Photo: Trinity School for Ministry.)
Archbishop of York defends Williams
The Archbishop of York has told the Church of England’s governing body that a new Anglican traditionalist movement had been “ungracious” in its actions. Dr John Sentamu said he was “deeply grieved” at criticism of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, by the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans. …
– from BBC News. Includes a 3 minute video clip. (Photo: Abp of Canterbury’s website.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…