Christians have duty to witness
Britain’s destiny depends on Christianity, the Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, said this week, in an article published the day after he responded to questions on a General Synod motion that has called for Christians to evangelise British Muslims.
The private member’s motion, by Paul Eddy, who is training for the priesthood, called on the Church to proclaim Christianity as the only route to ultimate salvation. Mr Eddy said he had been under pressure to withdraw his motion. …
– Report from the Church Times.
See also this piece in The Telegraph. (Photo: Church Times.)
First woman bishop in Victoria to be consecrated tomorrow
From Anglican Media Melbourne –
“The service for the consecration of the first woman bishop in Victoria, Canon Barbara Darling, will be held in St Paul’s Cathedral, corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, on Saturday 31 May, commencing at 11am.
Read more
Judge orders congregation to leave their church building
This press release has just been issued by the Anglican Network in Canada –
29 May 2008
A B.C. Supreme Court judge, Madam Justice Allan, has ordered the congregation of St. Mary of the Incarnation in Metchosin (St. Mary’s), to hand over their church building to the diocese of B.C. in the Anglican Church of Canada, pending the resolution of a trial over who is entitled to ownership of the building. Read more
Archbishop to do the Lambeth Walk
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has today announced plans to mount an unprecedented mass walk of bishops and other faith leaders through central London during the forthcoming Lambeth Conference to demonstrate the Anglican Communion’s determination to help end extreme poverty across the globe.
The Archbishop will be joined by approximately 600 other archbishops and bishops, and their spouses, alongside other UK faith leaders for the high-profile symbol of commitment to the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – eight promises made by world leaders to halve world poverty by 2015. Taking place on Thursday 24th July, the event will culminate in a rally in the grounds of Lambeth Palace, the London home and office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. …
– from a press release from the Anglican Communion Office.
(Photo credit: Jim Rosenthal, Anglican World.)
The Betrayal of Judas
Here’s an interesting article on the behind-the-scenes moves to publish ‘The Gospel of Judas’ –
“The announcement was timed so that the documentary, a book containing the translation and critical essays, an accompanying Web site, and an exhibit at National Geographic’s headquarters would all be unveiled more or less simultaneously. By keeping the translation under wraps, National Geographic had cornered the market on Judas, and now it intended to take full advantage of its position. …”
Read the article at the (US) Chronicle of Higher Education – and Al Mohler has some further thoughts in The Gospel of Judas – The Betrayal of Truth. (Image: National Geographic Society.)
Up, Down and Out in Canada: J I Packer
My wife and I moved from England to Canada in 1979. Principal James Houston has recruited me to teach theology at Regent College, which, though over age, I still do. God’s call was clear, and our only uncertainty was where we might find a spiritual home. New Westminster Diocese, of which Vancouver is the see city, was decidedly liberal, and its few evangelical clergy seemed to be keeping their heads down lest they be noticed.
But in 1978 my oldest friend among Canadian clergy, Harry Robinson, became rector of St. John’s Shaughnessy, only a mile and a half from where God, by a happy providence, gave us a place to live, so that problem was solved. Called as I am to be a pastor, I had found fulfillment before in an honorary parish appointment alongside teaching duties, and I became Harry’s honorary assistant the moment we arrived. …
– Dr Jim Packer tells his story – at VirtueOnline. (Photo: Ed Hird.)
Moment of Decision for Church of England
The Church of England faces yet another theological challenge as it prepares for the meeting of its General Synod in July. This time the issue is the Gospel itself and the specific question concerns the evangelization of Muslims. In the end, the outcome of this debate may, more then anything else, determine the future viability of the Church of England.
Paul Eddy, a lay theology student from Winchester who aspires to the priesthood, has entered a Private Member’s Motion and has secured the signatures necessary to force the General Synod to deal with his motion.
The text of his motion sets the issue clearly:
“That this Synod request the House of Bishops to report to the Synod on their understanding of the uniqueness of Christ in Britain’s multi-faith society, and offer examples and commendations of good practice in sharing the gospel of salvation through Christ alone with people of other faiths and of none.” …
– Al Mohler observes that the vote on this motion is a crucial test for the Church of England.
Phillip Jensen on World Youth Day and Secularism
As a Sydney Protestant I consider it an honour that our city is to host World Youth Day. Protestantism is a protest. Our protest is against the enormity of the claims of the Roman Catholic Church. … This protest against Roman Catholicism is no small complaint. It goes to the very heart of God’s central message to mankind – the way of salvation.…
– From an opinion-piece in The Sydney Morning Herald by Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen.
See a version written for the Cathedral newsletter. – “It is an honour for our city to host people from all over the world. It is to the credit of our city that we are willing to be hospitable not only to people with whom we agree but also to those with whom we disagree. ”
Diocese of Huron Synod: Same-sex blessings and native spirituality
The Synod of the Canadian Diocese of Huron “has overwhelmingly voted to grant permission to clergy ‘whose conscience permits, to bless… civil marriages between same-sex couples’.”
Additionally, in his Synod Charge, Bishop Bruce Howe spoke of his vision for the diocese – to “deepen our transition and reformation to be the Church of today and tomorrow”. He said, “As the Church embraces native or First Nations spirituality it strengthens all of us on our journey.” One wonders where the journey will lead.
Read the Bishop’s charge (pdf) at the Diocese of Huron website.
(Photo: Bishop Bruce Howe – Diocese of Huron.)
US Presiding Bishop wants it all
Anglican bishops exercise universal jurisdiction over the geographical territories that lie within their dioceses, US Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, has argued.
This proprietary ecclesial oversight covers all parts of the geographic territory of a diocese, Bishop Schori said, and extends to entities outside of the Episcopal Church …
– Report by George Conger on Religious Intelligence.
(Photo: Mary Cox / Episcopal Life Online.)
Anglican Church of Canada sets stage for same sex marriage
“Anglican Church of Canada Council of General Synod – Highlights from May 24
Revision of the marriage canon
…the following resolution was adopted: the Council of General Synod –
- concurs in the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee’s understanding that it is to address the particular category of “legally qualified persons,” i.e. same-sex couples at least one of whom is baptized Christian;
- agrees that development of a theological rationale for the marriage of such couples should precede the preparation of any draft amendments to or revision of the Marriage Canon;
- requests the committee to report to the COGS no later than November 2009, and
- directs that, if the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee develops such a rationale, it should, in conjunction with the Handbook Concerns Committee, prepare draft amendments to, or a draft revision of, the Marriage Canon for consideration by the COGS in March 2010 for possible submission to the 2010 session of the General Synod.”
from the Anglican Church of Canada’s Council of General Synod meeting in Mississauga, Ontario. Emphasis added.
C of E General Synod to debate evangelism
‘A traditionalist Anglican has said he will continue with a campaign for the Church of England to work explicitly to convert Muslims to Christianity. …’ – BBC News.
See also “Church is not doing enough to convert UK Muslims, says bishop” from Mail Online.
The primate, women’s ordination and homosexuality
In a report on the consecration of Kay Goldsworthy in Perth, Ninemsn has this –
…the Australian Anglican primate, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall … said he believed the homosexual issue would need to be dealt with in “the same kind of way” as the ordination of women.
“It is a set of issues that will need to be dealt with in the same kind of way as the ordination of women questions has,” he said.
– From ninemsn. Emphasis added.
(Photo of Archbishop Phillip Aspinall: Diocese of Brisbane.)
‘Undiluted heresy’
“This book includes undiluted heresy,” is how Al Mohler describes the novel The Shack by William P. Young.
The book has not really hit Australian shores in a big way – and perhaps it will not have a great influence here – but it may. It is a best-seller in the US and is available in some Australian Christian bookshops (but apparently not at others).
There are many glowing reviews of the book. On the cover, Eugene Peterson is quoted as claiming: “This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!”
Tim Challies comes to a very different conclusion. Download Challies’ review as an 830kb PDF file. Al Mohler spoke about the book on his US radio show last month (starting 11 minutes 20 seconds into the programme).
Anglican Church effectively outlawed in Zimbabwe
Reports are coming out of Zimbabwe that the Government has effectively shut down the Anglican Church there.
The move comes following an uprising in the Church against the former Bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga, a close ally of President Robert Mugabe. …
– report from Religious Intelligence.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…