‘Not an attempt to storm Lambeth Palace’ — Peter Jensen

Posted on May 3, 2017 
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“GAFCON, a worldwide group of conservative Anglicans, has told Premier it’s not looking to break up the Church of England but is instead working to keep Anglican Communion united. …

Addressing the issue on Premier’s News Hour, Most Rev Peter Jensen, GAFCON’s General Secretary and a former Archbishop of Sydney, said: “There are many issues that divide us, where we have diverse opinions, and that’s OK — but some of them are so important that a stand has to be taken. A painful and costly stand.’…”

– Listen to the interview here. (h/t Anglican Mainstream.)

What Justification means

Posted on May 3, 2017 
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“The eleventh Article is so crucial that no apology need be offered for dwelling a little upon it.

Luther has been severely criticised for declaring that Justification by Faith only was ‘Articulus aut stantis aut cadentis ecclesiae,’ ‘The Article of a standing or a falling Church.’ But it may confidently be declared that the whole Reformation movement stands or falls according to the interpretation placed on Justification. …”

– The Australian Church Record has republished T.C. Hammond’s commentary on Article XI, Of the Justification of Man.

The real reasons your people aren’t turning up to church every week

Posted on May 3, 2017 
Filed under Opinion, Resources Comments Off on The real reasons your people aren’t turning up to church every week

“Church just feels like a sanctified busy activity or round of activities. And activity and a perceived requirement to be active is wearing people out.

For the average family juggling mortgage repayments in the commuter belt, working two jobs, with three kids in two different schools ten kilometres from each other, and ageing parents two hours drive away, busy is the enemy, whether that’s secular busy or church busy. Church no longer looks like a safe place, regardless of whether it’s signed up to Safe Churches or not. Church feels like a busy place, and busy is no longer safe. …”

– Stephen McAlpine in Perth responds to a recent article on declining church attendance among evangelical Christians.

Oak Hill Commentary — special tribute to Mike Ovey

Posted on May 2, 2017 
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Recently, Oak Hill College published a special edition of their Commentary magazine, “in thanksgiving for the life and ministry of Mike Ovey”.

It includes contributions from Don Carson, Mark Thompson, David Peterson and William Taylor.

If you haven’t seen it, you can read the issue online, or download the 4MB PDF file (direct link). Most honouring to the Lord Jesus.

Bishop Greg Thompson to be farewelled

Posted on May 2, 2017 
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The Diocese of Newcastle is holding a Farewell Service for Bishop Greg Thompson.

Sunday 21st May, 6:00pm at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle.

Keeping the faith: Andrew Hastie on poetry, political courage, and not banning the burka

Posted on May 2, 2017 
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“Andrew Hastie has been typecast as a Christian politician from day one.

While he says that can be frustrating, it’s meant he’s never felt the need to hide who he is.

The member for Canning has been in the spotlight for his views on same-sex marriage and changes to racial hate laws.

But he says at the heart of his worldview is the belief that everyone is equal and has dignity.

And he says that plays into his views on all policies. …”

– The ABC’s Alexandra Beech has this piece on Andrew Hastie, the member for Canning in Western Australia. (Photo by Alexandra Beech / ABC News.)

Mainstream … or on the margins?

Posted on May 1, 2017 
Filed under Encouragement, Opinion, Other denominations Comments Off on Mainstream … or on the margins?

“If ever we could have considered the church to be a core part of Australian culture (and that’s not at all certain), the Christian church is now being slowly edged to one side. It is increasingly less mainstream.

Have you noticed though that there are key moments in the year’s calendar and certain elements of our culture where we’re let back in? It’s strange, but true. Consider… ”

– John Wilson, Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, offers encouragement to take the opportunities we do have to share the Christian hope.

GAFCON UK response to the Primates’ Communique

Posted on April 30, 2017 
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“We appreciate the way GAFCON has recognised that this intervention is giving global support to one of a number of initiatives being taken by biblically orthodox Anglicans in Britain; others include the work being done to strengthen the Free Church of England. …”

– Read the full statement from GAFCON UK.

GAFCON Primates Communiqué — ‘Missionary Bishop’ for Europe

Posted on April 30, 2017 
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After their meeting in Lagos, last week, the GAFCON Primates issued this Communiqué –

“Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As your Primates, we met in Lagos, Nigeria from 24th -28th April 2017 to pray and work for the continued renewal of the Anglican Communion. We give thanks for the extraordinary hospitality of the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, the Archbishop of Lagos, and the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

We began our time together each day with prayer and the study of God’s Word. Aware that we are approaching the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we gave thanks for the faithful witness of those leaders who challenged the Church to recover the authority of the Scriptures. They were men and women who were willing to take costly action, and sealed that testimony with their own blood. …”

– Read it all here.

Note one key section of the communiqué:

“During our meeting, we considered how best to respond to the voice of faithful Anglicans in some parts of the Global North who are in need of biblically faithful episcopal leadership.

Of immediate concern is the reality that on 8th June 2017 the Scottish Episcopal Church is likely to formalize their rejection of Jesus’ teaching on marriage. If this were to happen, faithful Anglicans in Scotland will need appropriate pastoral care. In addition, within England there are churches that have, for reasons of conscience, been planted outside of the Church of England by the Anglican Mission in England (AMiE).

These churches are growing, and are in need of episcopal leadership. Therefore, we have decided to consecrate a missionary bishop who will be tasked with providing episcopal leadership for those who are outside the structures of any Anglican province, especially in Europe.” [Emphasis added.]

Why we don’t pray for the dead

Posted on April 30, 2017 
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“Recently I came across an article written on Anglican Pastor by a fellow Anglican Priest entitled Why We Pray for the Dead.

What surprised me was the not only his endorsement of the practice, but the implication behind the title that it is normal Anglican practice to do pray either for the dead or to the dead. …

Here are 10 reasons why we are not to pray for the dead …”

– Joshua Bovis, Vicar of St. John The Evangelist in Tamworth, writes at Thinking of God.

Marriage booklets out

Posted on April 28, 2017 
Filed under Culture wars, Resources, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Marriage booklets out

“More than 65,000 booklets discussing God’s plan for marriage in light of the current push for its redefinition are being distributed to Sydney churches.

The 20-page booklet opens up the question (which is also its title), What has God joined together? Jesus’ good message about marriage for Australia. The publication outlines the biblical view on marriage and answers some common challenges to that view in the context of the same-sex marriage debate.…”

– Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.

See above for Archbishop Davies’ video introduction to the companion website.

Elevation of the Blessed Asparagus: a Church of England pantomime

Posted on April 28, 2017 
Filed under Church of England, Opinion Comments Off on Elevation of the Blessed Asparagus: a Church of England pantomime

“Did the Dean of Worcester Cathedral not pause to think for just one second how utterly, utterly absurd this would look? Really, words fail (though some must necessarily follow).

A sacred procession down the Cathedral nave becomes an infantile pantomime as a block of asparagus is elevated and adored like the Blessed Host, and two men dressed up like Monty Python pay some sort of vacuous obsequious homage. …”

– Big news from England this week. Adrian Hilton (“Archbishop Cranmer”) comments.

Image via Archbishop Cranmer.

Ideas that Changed the World

Posted on April 28, 2017 
Filed under History, Resources Comments Off on Ideas that Changed the World

Re-post:

Here’s a very helpful resource from Matthias Media:

“Around 500 years ago a momentous change was spreading across Europe—a change that has become known as the Reformation.

At the heart of the Reformation were four ideas and four leaders. The ideas: faith alone, grace alone, Bible alone and Christ alone. The leaders: Luther, Calvin, Tyndale and Cranmer.

In the four sessions of this course, join Dominic Steele as he explores these four simple yet profoundly important ideas, the key role these four men played in rediscovering and spreading them, and the stunning European locations where these historic events took place.

But it’s not just a course to watch. You’ll also open up your Bibles and do some exploring of your own, reading the same parts of Scripture that Luther, Calvin, Tyndale and Cranmer read that radically changed their world.”

Doctrine and Theology of Two Ways to Live

Posted on April 27, 2017 
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on Doctrine and Theology of Two Ways to Live


Phillip Jensen unpacks the doctrine and theology of Two Ways to Live in six lectures – recorded last year, and just posted at phillipjensen.com. A wonderful resource.

Watch it all, but be sure to start with the first lecture.

1 Two Ways To Live: Creation February 2016
2 Two Ways To Live: Sin March 2016
3 Two Ways To Live: Judgement March 2016
4 Two Ways To Live: Atonement March 2016
5 Two Ways To Live: Resurrection March 2016
6 Two Ways To Live: Repentance And Faith March 2016

Why I didn’t sing when I visited your church

Posted on April 27, 2017 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Why I didn’t sing when I visited your church

“It was a joy to finally visit your church a couple of Sundays ago, and to worship with the believers there. You know I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time. Just as you promised, the pastor is an excellent communicator and a man who loves God’s Word. His sermon was deeply challenging and led to some great conversations with my children.

Now, you asked me why it looked like I wasn’t singing. I know that was probably a little awkward, so thought I’d send along a brief explanation. Primarily, it’s because…”

– Posted last month, here are some thoughts from Tim Challies on congregational singing (or the lack of it).

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