ACNA Archbishop sees ‘no easy answers without repentance and Gospel Truth’
Posted on January 9, 2016
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON Comments Off on ACNA Archbishop sees ‘no easy answers without repentance and Gospel Truth’
Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, Dr. Foley Beach, writes asking for prayers ahead of the crucial Primates’ Meeting in Canterbury next week –
“I see no easy answers without repentance and Gospel Truth. Pray for wisdom. Pray for confidence in the Truth of God. Pray for boldness. Pray for humility. Pray for repentance. Pray for healing.
What is at stake? It is really not about me or about the Anglican Church in North America. It is the reputation of Jesus Christ. It is the souls of millions of people who are being taught a false Gospel and are being led into spiritual and sexual bondage under the pretense of the Christian Faith.”
Seven reasons not to gamble
Posted on January 9, 2016
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Seven reasons not to gamble
“Managers don’t gamble with their Master’s money. All you have belongs to God. All of it. Faithful trustees may not gamble with a trust fund. They have no right.”
– at Desiring God, John Piper gives seven reasons Christians shouldn’t play the lotteries.
His reasons apply just as well to other forms of gambling – and to Australian Christians every bit as much as to our American friends.
See also:
“Buried in last week’s national accounts was the startling statistic that Australian punters bet a record $6.5 billion in the September quarter, equating to $1000 a year for every Australian.”
– Sydney Morning Herald, 07 December 2015.
“Looks like Australia is the gambling capital of the world, again.”
– Business Spectator, 07 February 2014.
Crisis in the Anglican Communion: recent history and potential outcomes
Posted on January 8, 2016
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON Comments Off on Crisis in the Anglican Communion: recent history and potential outcomes
“GAFCON presents itself not as an alternative, breakaway Anglican Communion, but as the majority of the Anglican Communion, committed to renewing worldwide Anglicanism based on united confession of Christ and adherence to the Bible and the historic formularies, and necessarily rejecting revisionist doctrine and practice.
They are calling on Archbishop Justin to exercise leadership, and re-commit the Anglican Communion to a clear orthodox theology and practice as a basis for united mission in the world…”
– Anglican Mainstream’s Andrew Symes pens an overview of where the Anglican Communion stands, how we came to this point, and possible outcomes to next week’s Primates’ Meeting called by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Background reading:
- When to make a stand – Dr Mark Thompson (PDF, 2015)
- The Anglican Debacle: Roots and Patterns – Dr Mark Thompson (2008)
- The Limits of Fellowship – Phillip Jensen (2008)
- A Crisis in Koinonia – David Short, Rector of St. John’s Vancouver (2004)
– all from our Resources section.
We urge all our readers to pray for a Christ-honouring outcome to the Primates’ Meeting.
And from The Anglican Mission in England:
“AMiE would like to welcome the GAFCON Primates to England for the Primates’ meetings in Canterbury, 11-15 January, and assure them (and the other Primates) of our prayers for this significant meeting.
We are grateful to the GAFCON Primates for their support of our work in England as well as recognising the Anglican Mission in England ‘as an authentic expression of authentic Anglicanism both for those within and outside the Church of England‘ (Nairobi Commitment 5).
Along with others we are encouraging all AMiE supporters to pray for Archbishop Justin Welby, the Primates and for a God-glorifying outcome to their meetings.”
Must Canterbury Fall?
Posted on January 8, 2016
Filed under Anglican Communion, Opinion Comments Off on Must Canterbury Fall?
“The current power struggle is about redefining and recasting the faith of the historic Anglican Communion. …
The Episcopal Church has tried to occupy that centre of influence in order to shape the communion according to its vision of the Christian faith, untethered from the authority of scripture. Canterbury under the previous leadership allowed TEC space and even support with its Communion Changing agenda.”
– With the Primates’ meeting just days away, Vinay Samuel and Chris Sugden write this opinion piece (also published at Anglican Mainstream) in The Church of England Newspaper. They appear to take a more optimistic view of Canterbury than many. Time will tell.
Pastoral Message and Call to Prayer from the Primate of Uganda
Posted on January 7, 2016
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON Comments Off on Pastoral Message and Call to Prayer from the Primate of Uganda
The Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, has sent this Pastoral Message and Call to Prayer to all the leaders in his Church.
He addresses the coming Ugandan elections, and also next week’s Primates’ gathering called by the Archbishop of Canterbury –
“The Archbishop of Canterbury understands that the first topic of conversation in the ‘gathering’ of Primates is the restoration of godly order in the Anglican Communion. This is the unfinished business from the non-implemented, but unanimously agreed, Communique from the 2007 Primates Meeting in Dar es Salaam…”
– Read it all at the GAFCON website. (Photo credit: Diocese of Bristol.)
Archbishop Welby requests prayer for Primates’ Meeting
Posted on January 6, 2016
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON Comments Off on Archbishop Welby requests prayer for Primates’ Meeting
“The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is asking people to pray for the Primates of the Anglican Communion who will be meeting in Canterbury on 11-16 January 2016. The leaders of the 38 Anglican provinces will be at the gathering, which was called by Archbishop Justin Welby in September last year. …
The agenda will be set by common agreement with all Primates. It is likely to include the issues of religiously-motivated violence, the protection of children and vulnerable adults, the environment, and human sexuality.”
– Report from the Anglican Communion News Service.
The meeting just might also address faithfulness to Christ and obedience to his word.
See also: The Anglican Communion is at a Crossroads – from Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, Primate of Kenya and Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council,
“The Archbishop of Canterbury has called together all the Primates of the Anglican Communion for a meeting in Canterbury 11th – 16th January 2016 which we believe will be decisive for the future of the Communion. …
Will Christ rule our life and witness through His word, or will our life and witness be conformed to the global ambitions of a secular culture?
This was the reason GAFCON was formed in 2008: to renew a Communion in crisis, drifting from biblical truth. While the presenting issue was human sexuality, this was really just one symptom of a deeper challenge, the emergence of a false gospel which rejects the core Anglican commitment to the truth and authority of the Bible.
GAFCON works to make this fundamental issue of biblical truth clear to Anglicans everywhere so that, equipped by God’s word and empowered by His Spirit, we can live under the lordship of Christ and make him known as Lord and Saviour to a world in desperate need of Him.
The GAFCON Primates will attend the Canterbury meeting, but they are clear that their continued presence will depend upon action by the Archbishop of Canterbury and a majority of the Primates to ensure that participation in the Anglican Communion is governed by robust commitments to biblical teaching and morality.” (emphasis added)
Nungalinya College vacancies
Posted on January 6, 2016
Filed under Australia, Australian dioceses Comments Off on Nungalinya College vacancies
Nungalinya College in Darwin is seeking to fill three vacancies. Perhaps you know (or are) the right person for one of them.
Either way, we are sure the College would be glad of your prayers. Details here.
Funeral of Bishop John Reid — 14th January
Posted on January 6, 2016
Filed under Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Funeral of Bishop John Reid — 14th January
The funeral of Bishop John Reid, who died on Saturday, will be held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney, at 10:00am on Thursday 14th January 2016. Burial at St. Jude’s Randwick, at 2:00pm.
Details at The Sydney Morning Herald.
1977 photo of Bishop Reid courtesy Ramon Williams, Worldwide Photos.
Why GAFCON truly matters
Posted on January 4, 2016
Filed under GAFCON, Opinion Comments Off on Why GAFCON truly matters
“We are now walking in a new spiritual darkness. The churches are ill-prepared. But God is thoroughly prepared; he is not at a loss. There is nothing to fear; but we need to work out what new tactics are required for this new context. Without doubt, we will walk by faith; but what does this mean?”
– GAFCON General Secretary Peter Jensen writes an encouraging reminder of why we need GAFCON.
With thanksgiving for Bishop John Reid
Posted on January 3, 2016
Filed under Sydney Diocese Comments Off on With thanksgiving for Bishop John Reid
It has been announced that Bishop John Reid, Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Sydney, 1972–1993, has fallen asleep in Christ at the age of 87.
In a tribute posted at SydneyAnglicans.net, Archbishop Glenn Davies said that Bishop Reid,
“will be remembered for being an accomplished Bible teacher, an able administrator and a passionate evangelist. His abilities were internationally recognised through his involvement with the Lausanne Movement as chairman, as well as the missionary organisation Interserve.”
John Reid was ordained in Sydney in 1955, served as Curate at St. Matthew’s Manly (1955-56) and as Rector of Christ Church Gladesville (1956–1969). He was collated as Archdeacon of Cumberland in 1969, and in 1972 was consecrated as Assistant Bishop of Sydney. He was responsible for the South Sydney area of the diocese until his retirement in 1993.
Bishop Reid was passionately concerned to see men and women come to faith in Christ. Many will be unaware, for example, of his behind-the-scenes work to support pastors in Communist Eastern Europe, before the fall of the Iron Curtain.
Bishop Reid is survived by his wife Alison. We will post funeral details here when they become available.
(Top photo: Bishop John Reid visiting St. George’s Hurstville in 1986.
Second photo: Bishop Reid in 1981, courtesy Ramon Williams, Worldwide Photos.)
Ministry on the Air on Norfolk Island
Posted on January 1, 2016
Filed under Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Ministry on the Air on Norfolk Island
“Ministry on Norfolk Island is forging ahead with its eye on the long term, according to the island’s current Anglican chaplain…”
– SydneyAnglicans.net has this story on ministry on Norfolk Island. (And a good reminder to pray for David Fell and the congregation there.)
From the Vault: Are we stronger then He?
Posted on January 1, 2016
Filed under Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican Communion, TEC, Theology Comments Off on From the Vault: Are we stronger then He?
Bible Reading Plans for 2016
Posted on December 30, 2015
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Bible Reading Plans for 2016
The start of a new year is always a good time to recommit to reading and treasuring God’s Word.
The team at Ligonier Ministries have compiled a very useful list of plans you can use.
Related:
The One Must-Read this Year – John Piper.
Reading the whole Bible in 2016 – more plans and encouragement via Justin Taylor.
Guard what you love
Posted on December 29, 2015
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON Comments Off on Guard what you love
Here’s a short introduction to GAFCON.
Bishop of Bathurst ‘reflects on a year of challenges and opportunities’
Posted on December 29, 2015
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on Bishop of Bathurst ‘reflects on a year of challenges and opportunities’
“By any measure we might regard 2015 as a challenging year for our Diocese.
It began with terminating the employment of four people in order that we might meet our budget. I then moved to Dubbo becoming a part-time Bishop and part-time Rector, as the Endowment of the See could no longer afford to pay me.
In April the matters relating to the Diocesan loans and the CBA began to be heard in the Supreme Court, a hearing that lasted 36 days! Then the Judgement was handed down early in December.
Pour into the mix my heart attack and significant dental surgery later in the year, and we might be forgiven for wanting the year to close!…”
– Bishop of Bathurst Ian Palmer reflects on a difficult year. It’s a good reminder to pray for Christian witness in the Central West.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…