A big moment for the Presbyterian Church in America

Posted on June 16, 2017 
Filed under Culture wars, Other denominations Comments Off on A big moment for the Presbyterian Church in America

“As a denomination we are facing what I believe is a watershed moment.

Overture 2 which was submitted by Calvary Presbytery will grant full constitutional status to Book of Church Order (BCO) 59 which states that ‘Marriage is to be between one man and one woman, in accordance with the Word of God’ (59-3), and that ministers are required to obey the civil laws of the community regarding marriage ‘to the extent that those laws do not transgress the laws of God as interpreted by the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America’. …

by granting BCO 59 constitutional status the PCA would be offering additional protections to pastors and chaplains who are being and will continued to be called upon to perform homosexual weddings.”

– At The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, Todd Pruitt writes about one move to protect biblical teaching on marriage.

Head to Head about 1 Corinthians 11:3-16

Posted on June 16, 2017 
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on Head to Head about 1 Corinthians 11:3-16

“Chapter 11 of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians … deals with what women wear on their heads. And to most of us, the issues he raises seem as foreign to us as hats at royal funerals and the experience of young Muslim women. Culturally, it is a world away.

So what do we make of 1 Corinthians 11 in this day and age? Is there anything in it for us as modern Christian women and men?”

– There’s been some unhelpful fuss lately about 1 Corinthians 11. Confused? To bring clarity, The Gospel Coalition Australia recently published this article by Dr. Claire Smith.

And, back in 2010, Kevin DeYoung wrote Why Complemegalitarian Doesn’t Work – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

My favourite Reformer is John Calvin

Posted on June 16, 2017 
Filed under History, Resources Comments Off on My favourite Reformer is John Calvin

“Having been an active member of the Roman Catholic Church for 28 years, only leaving it 4 years before I started studying at Moore, reading Calvin’s Institutes was for me like discovering the Protestant play book for Catholic Evangelism!

Most of the arguments and answers to the questions and challenges I would put to my Protestant friends as a Catholic, I discovered when I started reading Calvin, actually came from him. …”

– The Rev. Mark Gilbert points out that Calvin’s insights are very useful in sharing the gospel with our Catholic friends.

Craig Roberts to be new Youthworks CEO

Posted on June 15, 2017 
Filed under People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Craig Roberts to be new Youthworks CEO

Here’s an announcement from Youthworks –

“The Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Rev Glenn Davies, and Youthworks Council Chair, the Rev Chris Braga are most pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev Craig Roberts BEc BD(Hons) DipMin MA(Theol) to the position of Chief Executive Officer of Youthworks.  Craig will be joining Youthworks after fourteen years as the Senior Minister at Neutral Bay Anglican Church.  Read more

Diocese of Truro advertises for Mission leader, but “You do not need to be a practising Christian”

Posted on June 15, 2017 
Filed under Church of England Comments Off on Diocese of Truro advertises for Mission leader, but “You do not need to be a practising Christian”

“The Diocese of Truro (strapline: ‘Discovering God’s Kingdom / Growing the Church’) is advertising for a Strategic Programme Manager who will be responsible for ‘the strategic leadership of the Transforming Mission programme’.

This post is not simply managerial, but one of leadership. They specify to potential applicants: ‘You do not need to be a practising Christian’…”

– This story, via “Archbishop Cranmer”, epitomises much of what is wrong with the Church of England today.

See the advertisement here, on the Diocese of Truro website. Full job description (docx file.)

Protection of Religious Freedom through Discrimination Balancing Clauses

Posted on June 14, 2017 
Filed under Australia, Resources Comments Off on Protection of Religious Freedom through Discrimination Balancing Clauses

Associate Professor Neil Foster presented a paper with the above title at today’s Freedom 17 Conference in Canberra.

He has made it available via his blog.

GAFCON Chairman’s June 2017 letter

Posted on June 14, 2017 
Filed under Anglican Communion, Encouragement, GAFCON Comments Off on GAFCON Chairman’s June 2017 letter

“As I write, we are preparing for Trinity Sunday. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is vital. Without it, we cannot speak truly of God in a way that is faithful to the bible. However, in the fourth century the Church was nearly overwhelmed by the Arians. They were the followers of Arius, who claimed that the Son was a created being, not really God.

If the Church had continued to follow Arius, the Christian faith would have been lost. To deny the full divinity of Jesus strikes at the heart of the Christian message that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.  St Athanasius is still remembered as the man who was willing to make a costly stand against this heresy.

I am reminded of Athanasius because we are facing a similar struggle for the integrity of the gospel in our time. …”

– Read the June 2017 letter from GAFCON Chairman Archbishop Nicholas Okoh.

ACL Annual General Meeting 2017 Report

Posted on June 14, 2017 
Filed under Sydney Diocese Comments Off on ACL Annual General Meeting 2017 Report

ACL Council member Caitlin Hurley reports on this year’s Annual General Meeting, held in the Chapter House of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, on Thursday 8th June 2017.   Read more

Justin Welby and ‘Agreeing to Disagree’

Posted on June 13, 2017 
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON, Opinion Comments Off on Justin Welby and ‘Agreeing to Disagree’

“Last week, the Scottish Episcopal Church voted to alter that church’s Canon on Marriage, to remove the definition that marriage is between a man and a woman. …

In the light of this long-anticipated rejection of Jesus’s word, the Bible, as the supreme authority over the church, GAFCON have announced that they will be consecrating Canon Andy Lines as a missionary bishop for Europe, including Scotland. Andy is a man of unimpeachable integrity, godliness, and clarity of teaching whose episcopal leadership will be welcomed by all those Scots who have been marginalised by their leaders, and by those outside the Church of England who wish still to remain Anglican in their doctrine and polity. …

In response to this, Archbishop Justin Welby wrote to the Primates of the Anglican Communion …

In his letter, Archbishop Welby sadly seems far more concerned about “cross-border interventions” than with the schismatic and heretical teaching which has infiltrated the Episcopal Church in Scotland (and elsewhere) and emptied churches in the process…”

– Read the full article by Church Society Director, Dr. Lee Gatiss.

Be sure to also read the linked article from Crossway, “Can we agree to disagree?”, by Dr Martin Davie (PDF file) –

“There has been much talk lately of ‘agreeing to disagree’ on the issues of human sexuality in the church. In this article, I shall introduce three categories into which we can place matters on which there is disagreement within the church:

  • matters which are adiaphora
  • matters which are not adiaphora and on which the church cannot simply live with disagreement, and
  • matters which are not adiaphora and on which the church can live with disagreement.

Having introduced these categories, I shall conclude by asking which category the issue of human sexuality fits into.”

Photo: Archbishop of Canterbury’s website.

New Dean of Newcastle

Posted on June 13, 2017 
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on New Dean of Newcastle

“The Acting-Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Peter Stuart, is delighted to advise that the Reverend Canon Katherine Bowyer has been elected to be the next Dean of Newcastle.”

– News from the Diocese of Newcastle.

‘Bishop of South Sydney says yoga and meditation classes could be banned from church facilities’

Posted on June 13, 2017 
Filed under Sydney Diocese Comments Off on ‘Bishop of South Sydney says yoga and meditation classes could be banned from church facilities’

“Yoga and meditation classes held in some Sydney Anglican churches could be banned after concerns have been raised that the spiritual aspects of the practices aren’t compatible with church teachings.”

– Bishop Michael Stead was interviewed on ABC 702 by Robbie Buck.

More reasons to tell your Jewish friends about Jesus

Posted on June 12, 2017 
Filed under Encouragement, Resources Comments Off on More reasons to tell your Jewish friends about Jesus

“I’m a Jewish follower of Jesus, and I came to faith one day when my uncle plainly set forth the gospel (using Two Ways To Live) as we sat at the table in his kitchen.

My testimony may give people encouragement to proclaim the good news to their Jewish friends and neighbours, but the Scriptures give far more …”

– At The Australian Church Record, Ben Pakula shares encouragement.

Queen’s Birthday Afternoon Conference 2017, Monday 12th June

Posted on June 11, 2017 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Queen’s Birthday Afternoon Conference 2017, Monday 12th June

Phillip Jensen and Al Stewart are speaking at the Two Ways Ministries’ Queen’s Birthday Conference on Monday. Read more

Canon Andy Lines interviewed on Premier Radio UK

Posted on June 10, 2017 
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON Comments Off on Canon Andy Lines interviewed on Premier Radio UK

Canon Andy Lines has been interviewed in Edinburgh for Premier Radio UK about his upcoming role as a Missionary Bishop.

Archbishop Foley Beach and The Rev. David McCarthy were also interviewed.

Audio files near the bottom of the page. (Photo: Premier.)

Bishop of Maidstone calls Scottish Episcopal Church to turn back to God

Posted on June 10, 2017 
Filed under Anglican Communion Comments Off on Bishop of Maidstone calls Scottish Episcopal Church to turn back to God

The Bishop of Maidstone, the Rt Rev’d Rod Thomas, today responded to the decision by the Scottish Episcopal Church to change its canons of marriage. He said:

“The decision by the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) to change its canons of marriage in order to allow same-sex marriages in church is very serious. By its actions it is denying the goodness and authority of God’s Word to us in the Scriptures.

As a result it is breaking communion with the majority of Anglicans worldwide. This leaves me with no choice but to recognise that the SEC has walked away from our communion, so I will no longer be able to accept invitations to Christian meetings where bishops of the SEC are actively participating, unless their broken communion is recognised in the arrangements.

I pray that this declining church will understand that their position is not blessed by God, will repent of their action and turn back to Him.”

He also wrote,

“I … welcome the steps that GAFCON … is taking to support those who are seeking to stand firm by the Bible’s teaching on marriage and sexual relationships, and wish to assure Canon Andy Lines of my prayers as he becomes a missionary bishop.”

– Read this, and another interesting development, at The Bishop of Maidstone’s website.

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