‘A sleeping giant awakes’ says Peter Jensen
Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen – chair of the GAFCON programme committee – speaking to a news briefing in Jerusalem – saying a sleeping giant has awoken in the church because of the actions of revisionist [i.e. liberal] leaders in North America. …
– from the GAFCON website.
930kb Mp3 audio clip here – courtesy GAFCON media team.
(Photo: Joy Gwaltney.)
Gafcon: a longer look
“Our story today follows up the press conference yesterday with Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya. He confirmed that Gafcon will today and on Sunday firm up plans for the new ‘church within a church’ …”
– by Ruth Gledhill in Times Online.
(Photo: Russell Powell.)
Court backs Virginia churches
A Virginia circuit judge has handed a crucial victory to a group of 11 former Episcopal churches that left the Diocese of Virginia 18 months ago over issues of theology and the 2003 consecration of the denomination’s first openly gay bishop. …
– Story from The Washington Times. (Truro Church is the largest of the churches involved.)
Draft communique on the table
GAFCON delegates have been giving their reaction to a draft conference communique released at midday on Friday in Jerusalem.
The draft, which is confidential and won’t be finalised for another 24 hours, was greeted enthusiastically by participants, who gave it a standing ovation. …
– Report from Russell Powell for SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo: Russell Powell.)
‘Church within a Church’
A communiqué being prepared by pilgrims to the Global Anglican Future Conference will call for new structures to support conservatives and likely formalize a break with the Episcopal Church.
The changes Gafcon sees are new structural relations between Anglican churches including a break with the progressive wing of The Episcopal Church, a common approach to reading the Bible, a new catechism and a new Book of Common Prayer shared by conservatives across the Communion, Nigerian Bishop John Akao said.
The “centre of Anglicanism has shifted from Europe to Africa,” Sydney lay leader and member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference, Robert Tong said. Past pan-Anglican gatherings had been jamborees where we “were all scouts together,” Mr Tong said, but the rise in influence of African Anglicanism meant a change was in the works for what it meant to be Anglican. …
On the opening night of the conference, Archbishop Akinola stated Gafcon had “no intention” of starting a new church … However, the archbishop’s colleagues explained that being an Anglican did not mean loyalty to a church system centring round the Archbishop of Canterbury, but to a set of theological principles. …
– Read the full report by George Conger for Religious Intelligence.
(Photo of Robert Tong by Joy Gwaltney.)
Women support Akinola
Mrs Oluranti Ademowo said that the women who form the majority of worshippers in the Anglican Church in Nigeria are solidly in support of the Primate of Nigeria Archbishop Peter Akinola in the campaign to uphold Biblical authority. …
– From the Church of Nigeria website. (Photo: Peter Frank.)
GAFCON moves towards agreement
The chair of the Statement Committee at the Global Anglican Future Conference has told a media briefing that there is already general agreement on a number of points as the meeting is just two days away from issuing its final communique. …
– Report from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
American conservatives ‘not bank-rolling GAFCON’
Claims the Global Anglican Future Conference is being underwritten by American conservative money is false …
Bishop-elect AkinTunde Popoola, the Church of Nigeria’s press spokesman said two donors gave the bulk of the funds. … The suggestion that shadowy Western financiers were behind Gafcon was “nonsense” he said.
– Report from George Conger at Religious Intelligence. Apparently a response to this. (Photo: Joy Gwaltney)
GAFCON Slideshow Day 4
Here’s a slideshow of photos taken at GAFCON on Day 4 – Wednesday. Includes photos of Australians at GAFCON.
You can also see our slideshow of Day 3.
– and Monday’s photos from the Mount of Olives.
Video of the GAFCON service at Ophel Gardens
See Anglican Media Sydney’s video clip here.
‘Why I will not be attending Lambeth’ – Wallace Benn
The Rt. Rev Wallace Benn, Bishop of Lewes, says he will not be attending the upcoming Lambeth Conference because he can’t have fellowship with those who have “broken fellowship”, and because revisionist American and Canadian bishops are persecuting his friends, including one of the world’s foremost Anglican theologians, Dr. J. I. Packer. …
– Story from VirtueOnline. (Photo: Peter Frank.)
The Australian team at GAFCON
The Australian contingent – at the Ophel Gardens service.
At left: The Western Australian contingent – including the small team from the largest (by area) Anglican diocese in the world, North West Australla.
Martin Foord, Bishop David and Maureen Mulready (NWA), Lachlan and Bec Edwards, Kanishka Raffel
Photos: Russell Powell.
Short on the Word of God
David Short, Rector of St John’s Shaughnessy, gave the GAFCON Bible exposition from the book of Exodus on Wednesday. He reaffirmed the centrality of the Word of God for the people of God – from the time of Exodus to now.
Listen to an excerpt (90 sec / 750kb mp3 direct link) courtesy GAFCON. (Photo: Joy Gwaltney)
Update: Cheryl M. Wetzel, Editor of The Anglican Voice, has posted her notes from David’s talk.
Pittsburgh creates new legal corporation
Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh has successfully filed for incorporation with the state of Pennsylvania to create a new corporation titled the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. A long-time critic of Bishop Robert Duncan claims the action is intended to make legal challenges to diocesan ownership of property more difficult in the event that delegates to the annual convention vote to disaffiliate from The Episcopal Church in October. …
– Report from The Living Church.
Chancellor Peter Grogan resigns
Statement from the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen
June 16, 2008.
“The Chancellor of the Diocese of Sydney, His Honour Acting Judge Peter Grogan has presented his resignation to me due to health problems, and on the advice of his doctor, I have accepted his resignation with regret.
Judge Grogan was appointed Chancellor at a difficult time, following the death of the former Chancellor. He has filled the office with distinction, and has worked tirelessly. He has always provided advice which is wise, considered and godly. I know you will join with me in assuring Judge Grogan and his wife Val of our sincere appreciation and our prayers.
With my imminent departure overseas for GAFCON, I considered it important to ensure that the office of Chancellor was filled. I have therefore asked Mr Robert Tong to take on the role of Acting Chancellor. Mr Tong has long and extensive experience of the Diocese and of church law. I am grateful that he has agreed to act in this way, while I give consideration to the future.”
– Media release from Sydney Diocese. (Photo: Judge Grogan. Sorry for the late posting.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…