I cannot wait for heaven — and that’s the problem
Posted on November 28, 2016
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“Here’s the thing. I cannot wait for the New Creation. But not in a good way. Not like a patient child waiting for Christmas morning to come. I’m more like the child who sneaks into mum and dad’s room to open the presents early. In my sin and impatience, I want it now. I literally cannot wait!…”
– Mike Leite shares the remedy for impatience for heaven. At The Australian Church Record.
Moore Matters — Spring 2016
Posted on November 27, 2016
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If you haven’t yet opened your copy of Moore Matters from Moore College for Spring 2016, be encouraged to do so. Plenty of worthwhile reading.
Among the articles is a feature on Moore graduate John G. Mason, well-known to ACL members, and currently serving with Anglican Connection in the US. It’s on page 11 of the PDF file available here.
“In 1976, I was given the option to either be the senior associate at a Canberra city church or, alternatively, to plant a new church in the fledgling Tuggeranong Valley in Canberra south. Reckoning that under God starting a new church would enable Judith and me to reach more people with the gospel, I chose the second option. …”
Related: John has just completed a mini-series of posts on the five Solas – in his Word on Wednesday blog at Anglican Connection.
Diocesan BBQ at Gilbulla
Posted on November 26, 2016
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A blast from the past – from Southern Cross magazine, September 1966.
(We don’t do Barbecues like that any more!)
Letter from Secretary-General of the CofE Archbishops’ Council shows why GAFCON UK is needed
Posted on November 26, 2016
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“The open letter to Canon Andy Lines of GAFCON UK from the Secretary-General of the Archbishops’ Council is very significant. It can be taken as the official position of the C of E leadership. Helpfully, the letter moves away from matters of tone and motive which tend to dominate discussion and gets to the real issue, namely, what is, or should be, the teaching of the worldwide Church on sexual ethics, and how do we apply this in the Church of England?
Underlying the letter is an institutional mentality which does not locate ecclesial authority with the unchanging Scriptural principles of apostolic Christianity, as affirmed by the global Church. Rather it puts confidence in legal process, with the effect that what is not ‘legally binding’ can be disregarded or relegated to the respected status of a historical curiosity. More than ever, GAFCON UK with its clear confessional grounding in the Jerusalem Statement and Declaration has a vital role to play in our current context. …”
– Read it all at the GAFCON UK website.
The perversion of Lambeth 1.10
Posted on November 25, 2016
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“The Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt. Rev. Rachel Treweek, will preside at an ‘LGBTI Eucharist’ on 15 Jan 2017, the diocesan chapter of Inclusive Church reports. …
Will this be a violation of Lambeth 1.10? A plain reading of the document coupled with the original intention of the authors would say ‘yes’.
The presence of the Bishop of Chichester at a Brighton Gay Pride march and the Bishop of Salisbury at a similar affair, was raised in GAFCON-UK’s paper, ‘The Church of England and Lambeth 1.10’, released last week. They were cited as examples of the problematic stance of the church hierarchy on issues surrounding human sexuality — and as a violation of Lambeth 1.10.
The Bishop of Salisbury denounced GAFCON-UK’s criticism as “outrageous” and a perversion of the spirit of Lambeth 1.10. In a letter to the Church Times the Rt. Rev. Nicholas Holtam said he too had offered prayers at a Gay Pride parade, explaining: ‘The blessing of Gay Pride in Salisbury was a joyful celebration of a people who are part of our community and among the rich diversity of all God’s children. This is in keeping with Lambeth I.10, which calls us ‘to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn irrational fear of homosexuals’…”
– At Anglican Ink, George Conger provides some personal perspective on Lambeth 1.10. It’s clear that Lambeth 1.10 can’t mean whatever you want it to mean.
Photo: Bishop Rachel Treweek, Diocese of Gloucester.
New ‘progressive’ Assistant Bishop for Brisbane
Posted on November 25, 2016
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The Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr Phillip Aspinall, today announced that Archdeacon Jeremy Greaves will be the new Bishop of the Northern Region of the diocese of Brisbane.
Read his full announcement here (PDF file).
David Ould has some background:
“Greaves’ appointment will be viewed by many as controversial, and even provocative.
He gained notoriety for himself when Dean of Darwin Cathedral, as a proponent of ‘progressive Christianity’, most recently being lead organiser of the 2016 ‘Common Dreams’ conference in Brisbane.
He is an outspoken supporter of same-sex marriage but, perhaps even more troubling, he rejects key understandings of Christianity that he will be required to reaffirm at his consecration (having already promised at his ordination to teach them). One particular example will suffice. …”
(Photo credit: St. Mark’s Buderim.)
Four Life Lessons from the Funeral of Cliff Barrows
Posted on November 24, 2016
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“This morning, I was at Cliff Barrows’ funeral.
In ways I did not expect, the service moved me. Surprisingly, it was not because of the music (although it was amazing), but because of the life that was celebrated. …”
– Ed Stetzer shares examples of godliness, at Christianity Today.
What God is Like — Articulate #1 from the ACR
Posted on November 23, 2016
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“Welcome to the first in our Articulate series where we open the vault on an extraordinary series of articles from The ACR.
From 1955 until his death in 1961, T. C. Hammond wrote for The ACR on each of the 39 Articles (well, Articles 1-28 to be precise, sadly he died before the series was completed).
Over the coming months we’ll be releasing these articles – T.C. Hammond’s thoughts and reflections – without further comment, for your encouragement. And, as we’ll see, he is a most insightful tour guide for these rich Christian truths. …”
– Read it all – and Archdeacon Hammond’s article – at The Australian Church Record.
The Lambeth I:10 Briefing: Process and Motive, Truth and Love
Posted on November 23, 2016
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“We have received inquiries about the way the Lambeth I.10 briefing was developed, the reasons behind why it was created, and its accuracy. Below is some more information about each topic …”
– Earlier this month, GAFCON UK released a briefing paper for GAFCON Primates. Its release has been criticised in some quarters. Here’s the GAFCON UK response.
Theology does matter
Posted on November 22, 2016
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“Although recent attendance figures from the Church of England seem to indicate relentless decline, new research from a team of Canadian secular social scientists could offer hope if we recognise a truth that is all-too-often avoided. As George Orwell once observed, to see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.
Respected new research published this week from Wilfrid Laurier University claims to have discovered that the ‘secret ingredient’ for church growth is clergy and congregations committed to the historic truths of the Christian faith as a revealed religion, while a liberal approach to belief is consistently a predictor of decline. …”
– Rod Thomas, Bishop of Maidstone (and former Chairman of Reform) responds to some recent research. Via GAFCON (Originally here – PDF file.)
John Chapman, Mark Twain and the Twenty Minute Sermon
Posted on November 22, 2016
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“John Chapman and Mark Twain both had much and little in common.
Both were great communicators and raconteurs with a razor-sharp wit. But Chappo loved his golf while Twain is thought to have said that golf was a good walk ruined. Chappo’s spirituality was biblical and evangelical. Twain’s was anything but.
However, when it came to preaching, they had something very much in common. They had little patience for preaching that was unnecessarily long – or even longer than twenty minutes. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, David Mansfield would love to hear better preaching.
Legal problems with Victoria’s new birth certificate gender laws
Posted on November 21, 2016
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“The Victorian Government has introduced a Bill, the Births Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Bill 2016, to amend its law on birth certificates to allow changing the gender on the certificate to be made easier. (The Bill was approved by the Lower House on 15 Sept 2016 and is awaiting consideration by the Legislative Council.)
There are many problems with the policy represented by this legislation … But what I want to focus on here is the interaction of the new law with the law on marriage. In my view the law will create a host of legal uncertainties at best …”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster shares some ideas on complications which could arise from the proposed legislation.
Priscilla & Aquila Centre Annual Conference 2017
Posted on November 21, 2016
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William Taylor, Rector of St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, is the main speaker at the Priscilla & Aquila Centre Annual Conference on Monday 30th January.
The theme: “Luke’s women, and a ministry that builds the church.”
Some excellent ideas for Christmas
Posted on November 19, 2016
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Ian Carmichael has some good ideas for connecting with visitors to your church this Christmas.
Salvation Army ‘supports Safe Schools Initiative’
Posted on November 19, 2016
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“The Salvation Army supports the Safe Schools Coalition Victoria in its initiative designed to reduce homophobic and transphobic behaviour and create safe learning environments for all students. …”
– A somewhat surprising press release from The Salvation Army (15 November 2016).
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…