New Westminster: ‘Imagining our future’
“New Westminster Anglicans have come up with seven values that parishioners in the diocese hold – and have begun work on a vision for the next decade. … The values and vision for the diocese should be based on what people in the diocese care deeply about. This is what we’ve tried to discern in a series of ten workshops held during October and November. Over 250 people from a large majority of the diocese’s parishes were involved. …”
The list of ‘Values’ and ‘Vision’ words may reflect what is being taught in the churches – see the story (published January 27) from the Diocese of New Westminster – and read more detail in the report (pdf) from the consultants who ran the workshops.
‘Gagging order placed on Christchurch vicar’
A Christchurch vicar has been gagged over debate surrounding the city’s next Anglican bishop. …
– Report from NZ City. (Photo of Rev. Mike Hawke: St. Christopher’s Avonhead.)
Fort Worth releases guidelines for parishes who may wish to leave
What would happen if a diocese voted to leave the Episcopal Church, while some of its parishes preferred to remain? How should those who belong to Jesus act in this matter? The Diocese of Fort Worth has published Guidelines to be followed if a parish wished to initiate a separation –
The leadership of this diocese has watched with sadness as issues and attitudes have caused deepening differences at all levels in the Anglican Communion. Adding to this rupture of the bonds of affection are the growing numbers of lawsuits being filed by those who once were unified in faithful witness and ministry. “Disagreement and division may be inevitable,” commented Dean Ryan Reed, President of the Standing Committee, “but Christian charity must not be sacrified in the process.” The purpose of the Canon and the Guidelines is to provide for a charitable parting, if parting is necessary.
– from a press release from the Diocese of Fort Worth.
What is man that you are mindful of him?
This image, taken by NASA’s unmanned Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter, which is in orbit around Mars, shows the Earth and Moon from a distance of 142 million kilometres.
This image, and others of avalanches on Mars, have today been released by NASA. Read more
Professor J I Packer: Anglican Church League Statement of Support
Anglican Church League President Dr Mark Thompson has released this statement in support of Professor J I Packer:
The ACL notes with alarm the Bishop of New Westminster’s threat to revoke Professor J I Packer’s ‘spiritual authority as a minister of Word and Sacraments’.
Professor Packer, one of the leading Christian voices of the twentieth century, is amongst those who have voted to stand with authentic and orthodox Anglicans rather than those who have undermined biblical truth over many decades and most recently by their innovations regarding homosexual practice. As one of these he has now become a target for revisionist aggression. Once again the intolerance and anti-liberal heart of liberal Christianity has been exposed. Read more
David Short, J I Packer face legal action
Ecclesiastical charges have been filed by a Canadian Bishop against former Sydney Anglican, the Rev David Short and one of the world’s top Anglican theologians, Dr J.I. Packer.
Bishop Michael Ingham has launched legal action over the vote by their congregation in Vancouver to seek alternative oversight from a South American bishop. …
The charges not only involve revocation of licence, but also seek to nullify the ordination of Mr Short and Dr Packer. …
Full story by Russell Powell from SydneyAnglicans.net. (updated)
St. John’s Shaughnessy video on YouTube
An ~80 minute video from St. John’s Shaughnessy, produced in 2007 to help members think through the reasons for and implications of Anglican Realignment, has been placed on YouTube.
It features interviews with St. John’s Rector, David Short, and with theologian Dr J I Packer and is very helpful. Recommended.
Watch the video (in 10 segments) here. (Start at the bottom right video.)
Bishop Iker: TEC HOB is ‘Toxic Environment’
… Bishop Iker described the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church as a “toxic environment,” and said he will not be attending the meeting at Camp Allen March 7-16.
“In recent years I have increasingly dreaded the thought of attending another meeting of the House of Bishops of TEC,” he said. “For me, the small-group table discussions are places of hostile confrontation, not support and affirmation.” …
Report from The Living Church. (Photo: Diocese of Fort Worth.)
Parishes Grateful for Interim Court Order
A judge in the Ontario Superior Court in Hamilton, Mr. Justice James Ramsay, has ruled today that, for the next couple of weeks, the Anglican Network in Canada parishes of St George’s Lowville and St Hilda’s Oakville can retain exclusive use of their church facilities. …
– from a press release from Anglican Essentials Canada.
Diocese of Niagara: ‘Negotiations in vain’
“The Diocese of Niagara and two breakaway parishes represented by The Network entered into good faith negotiations Tuesday to reach an agreement on temporarily sharing two local Churches, St. Hilda’s in Oakville and St. George’s in Lowville, however, no agreement could be reached specifically on the issue of shared services.
The matter will now be resolved in a court hearing tomorrow…”
– Press release from the Diocese of Niagara. (Photo: Bishop Ralph Spence of Niagara.)
Obama: I will work to grant legal benefits of marriage to gay couples
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama sought the support of voters in the homosexual community Feb. 28, telling them in a letter that if elected president he would work to pass laws important to that constituency and would use the “bully pulpit” to urge states to grant same-sex couples the legal benefits of marriage. …
Full story from Baptist Press. (US President Theodore Roosevelt referred to the White House as a ‘bully [i.e. wonderful] pulpit’ meaning a great platform from which to push an agenda.)
Bishop Howe: Briefing for TEC Bishops
The House of Bishops will receive an informal presentation on the “Anglican Bishops in Communion” proposal that was shared with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori during a 50-minute meeting on Feb. 21 at the Episcopal Church Center. The House of Bishops meets March 7-13 at Camp Allen in the Diocese of Texas.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori expressed no objections to the plan during the meeting… The Bishops in Communion plan is a modified version of the “Episcopal Visitor” concept announced by Bishop Jefferts Schori during the fall House of Bishops’ meeting in New Orleans. …
Read about the new proposal, which seems unlikely to be warmly received by many orthodox parishes, in The Living Church. (See also this earlier report.)
(Photo: Bishop John Howe of the Diocese of Central Florida.)
New Colin Buchanan Kids CD
Australian Christian singer Colin Buchanan has announced a new kids Christian album – “Super Saviour” – to be available in March.
Details and an mp3 preview are available on his website.
‘It’s a tragedy for the Church’ – Archbishop Venables
Archbishop of the Southern Cone, Gregory Venables was interviewed on CBC Radio in Canada earlier this week.
It’s very very sad that it should come to this, it’s a tragedy for the church, for the church in Canada and for the church throughout the world – but it shows how serious the division is.
We are grateful for this transcript of the interview (the audio is available here in RealAudio format). Questions are from CBC’s The Current presenter Anna Maria Tremonti – Read more
‘More San Joaquin congregations opt to remain’ says Episcopal Church
A growing number of Episcopalians in the Diocese of San Joaquin are opting to remain within the Episcopal Church (TEC), as the Fresno-based diocese prepares for an anticipated March 29 special convention that would elect a provisional bishop.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, in a letter to be distributed via a new diocesan newspaper, notes the proposed convention date and reassures the people of the diocese that work is ongoing “to ensure that you and your fellow Episcopalians may continue to bless the communities around you well into the future.” …
Story from Episcopal Life.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…