J.I. Packer still running the race — please keep him in your prayers
Posted on January 15, 2016
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“We at Crossway learned this week that J. I. Packer (who will, Lord willing, turn 90 years old in July 2016) has developed macular degeneration in his right eye. His left eye has had macular degeneration for over a decade. He consented to let this information be shared publicly.”
– Justin Taylor shares some news for your prayers.
Update: Ivan Mesa at The Gospel Coalition shares the text of a phone interview he conducted with Jim Packer.
Archbishop Stanley Ntagali’s update for the Church of Uganda
Posted on January 15, 2016
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Primate of Uganda, Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, posted this statement on the Church of Uganda’s website –
“I have left the meeting in Canterbury, but I want to make it clear that we are not leaving the Anglican Communion.”
Full text below:
13th January 2016
Dear Bishops, Clergy, and Lay Leaders in the Church of Uganda,
Praise the Lord! Thank you so much for your prayers for me as I traveled to Canterbury, England, for the gathering of Primates called by the Archbishop of Canterbury to address the events that caused the fabric of the Anglican Communion to be torn at its deepest level. We traveled well, and I’m writing to give you a brief update. Read more
Statement from Primates 2016 — 14 January 2016
Posted on January 15, 2016
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This statement has been released via the Primates 2016 website.
“we formally acknowledge this distance by requiring that for a period of three years The Episcopal Church no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity.”
Full text below. Emphasis added.
________________
14 Jan 2016
Today the Primates agreed how they would walk together in the grace and love of Christ. This agreement acknowledges the significant distance that remains but confirms their unanimous commitment to walk together.
The Primates regret that it appears that this document has been leaked in advance of their communiqué tomorrow. In order to avoid speculation the document is being released in full. This agreement demonstrates the commitment of all the Primates to continue the life of the Communion with neither victor nor vanquished.
Questions and further comments will be responded to at a press conference tomorrow at 1500. Full details are available here.
The full text is as follows: Read more
GAFCON Media Release — 14 January 2016
Posted on January 15, 2016
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Statement by the GAFCON Chairman, The Most Rev. Dr. Eliud Wabukala and The GAFCON General Secretary, The Most Rev. Dr. Peter Jensen
Read more
Michael Nazir-Ali on the real issue at the Primates’ Gathering in Canterbury
Posted on January 14, 2016
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Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali was interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight on Monday evening, UK time.
He speaks clearly about the issue being Biblical authority – on which the Anglican Communion has already agreed.
Listen via the GAFCON website. Runs for 4 minutes 15 seconds.
Getting to know the new Dean of Sydney
Posted on January 14, 2016
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Kanishka Raffel has now begun as the Dean of Sydney – he will be installed as Dean on Thursday 4th February, at 7:00pm.
David Ould took the opportunity to speak with Kanishka at last week’s CMS Summer School at Katoomba (at which Kanishka spoke).
Topics in the conversation include:
- Leading mission and church growth in Perth
- Thoughts about leading mission as Dean of Sydney
- Preaching Acts
- Welcoming immigrants
- Challenges for Western Christianity
- His background in Buddhism, Sri Lankan family, and his conversion to Christ.
Please be encouraged to pray for Kanishka in his new role.
Also, Kanishka will be speaking at Nexus 16 on Monday 23rd May at Village Church Annandale.
Continued prayer requested for Primates’ meeting
Posted on January 14, 2016
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Please continue to pray for the Primates’ gathering in Canterbury.
Peter Ould, who was present in Canterbury Cathedral for Wednesday evening’s Evensong, writes,
“With barely a minute to go there were the same number of Primates as yesterday and then suddenly Foley Beach joined them and sat down. The number of Primates in the Quire then doubled as in the remaining leaders processed in full choir robes, liberals and conservatives alike.”
Here’s a prayer you could use.
George Conger, at Anglican Ink, gives his commentary:
“Gathered inside the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral the archbishops and moderators of the Anglican Communion, accompanied by translators, and a few aides, have weathered three days of intense conversation about the shape and future of the church. As of the lunch break on the third day, no one has left and no one has been ejected…”
And John Bingham at The Telegraph writes:
“The Archbishop of Canterbury was last night accused [of] treating African archbishops ‘like children’ in an attempt to avoid a full public walkout during make-or-break talks on the future of the worldwide Anglican church…”
– however, bear in mind that he quotes unnamed ‘sources’.
‘Most dangerous’ places to be a Christian in 2016
Posted on January 14, 2016
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“There has never been a worse time to be a Christian, according to persecution charity Open Doors who will launch their annual report this afternoon.
‘Global persecution of Christians is more extreme than ever before,’ the charity said in a statement ahead of publishing its 2016 World Watch List. The list highlights the 50 countries with the worst persecution record and will be discussed at a launch event at the House of Commons later today…”
– Report from Christian Today.
Do we need to Contextualise our Preaching?
Posted on January 14, 2016
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Do we need to Contextualise our Preaching?
In the latest Preaching Matters video from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, William Taylor addresses that question.
He argues that we need better communication, rather than contextualisation, because the gospel is relevant in every culture and context. Very helpful, as always.
There’s a great quote from Broughton Knox’s book “Everlasting God”.
‘Second day report — deadlock in Canterbury’
Posted on January 13, 2016
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“The Archbishop of Canterbury could face a walk out Wednesday of conservative archbishops, whose call for him to honor past agreements of the primates meetings and to restore “godly order” to the Anglican Communion, appears not to have been met.
Though no walk out has happened so far, and ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach has been a full participant from the start, the tone of the meeting has changed, and the pace has quickened…”
– George Conger reports at Anglican Ink. (Image: from the primates2016.org website.)
J. I. Packer’s rare Puritan library digitised and available online
Posted on January 13, 2016
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In one of the sad attempts to deal with faithful, Bible-believing clergy, in 2008, the then Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster issued a ‘notice of presumption of abandonment of the exercise of ministry’ to Dr J.I. Packer, and others.
As well as being a much-loved and respected theologian and preacher, Dr. Packer is a foremost Puritan historian.
“The John Richard Allison Library in Vancouver—which hosts the joint collections of Regent College and Carey Theological College—has now made available their entire rare Puritan collection to be read online for free. What a gift of modern technology to help us recover these gifts from the church of the past.
There are currently 80 Puritan authors in their collection, many of whose works were digitized from J. I. Packer’s private library.”
– Justin Taylor at the Gospel Coalition has a list of the titles and links to the digitised versions.
‘Day 2 – The facade begins to crumble’
Posted on January 13, 2016
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“As we reported yesterday, all the GAFCON and some Global South (GS) Primates declined to attend Communion in the morning.
We have little details of discussions during the day but the most dramatic moment was evensong at 5.30pm when it very quickly became apparent that a large number of Primates were missing, not even attending as they had done on Monday…”
– At StandFirm, David Ould has some reports on the Primates’ meeting, Day 2. Please be very much in prayer for all involved.
“Dear Prayer Supporters,
The discussions at Canterbury are at a crucial stage and we know that God is sovereign, hence we ask you to pray with us:
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
We turn once more to you in faith,
Interceding for the Primates of the Anglican Communion as they meet in Canterbury.
Please use their endeavors to hallow your great name;
May your kingdom come;
May your will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
Uphold your word in the church we pray, so guiding us to live godly and obedient lives, not compromising with this world, but holding forth the gospel of salvation without fear,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenYours in Christ Service
Peter Jensen
GAFCON General Secretary.”
Update: Evening of Day 3 (Wednesday), UK time.
(Photo: Canterbury Cathedral via Primates2016.)
Message from Peter Jensen to GAFCON supporters after Day 1 of the Primates’ Gathering
Posted on January 12, 2016
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from GAFCON.
Related:
- Primates Meeting – Little Progress and a Very Little Procession – David Ould.
- “Fears the first day would see a walkout did not come to pass — to the chagrin of the crew of a BBC video truck parked outside the cathedral in the rain awaiting the capture on film of the departure of the conservatives.” – George Conger.
Schism would be a failure, but not disaster – Welby
Posted on January 12, 2016
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“The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said this morning that a formal schism in the Anglican Communion would be a failure; but he told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme that such a scenario “would not be a disaster” because “God is bigger than our failures.”
Archbishop Welby made his comments during a live interview on the UK’s national flagship radio news programme ahead of the meeting of Anglican Primates which gets underway today at Canterbury Cathedral…”
– from the Anglican Communion News Service. Includes a transcript of the interview.
See also: Wet, cold start to primates gathering in Canterbury – Anglican Ink. (Image: ABC Radio.)
Prohibiting offensive Sermons
Posted on January 12, 2016
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“A recent decision in Northern Ireland, where an evangelical preacher was acquitted after being criminally charged in relation to a sermon attacking Islam, raises a number of important issues about free speech in a religious setting…”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster takes a close look at what the UK case was – and wasn’t – about, as well as asking how free speech and freedom of religion might be protected here in Australia.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…