Global South Statement on the TEC House of Bishops same sex marriage resolution

Posted on July 4, 2015
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Here’s a statement from the Global South Anglican leaders, 4th July 2015 –

“TEC has chosen by its own will and actions in clear knowledge to depart from the Anglican Communion’s standard teaching on human sexuality according to Lambeth Resolution 1:10.”

Full text:

“We are deeply grieved again by the Episcopal Church USA (TEC) Resolution to change the definition of marriage in their church canons in their current ongoing General Convention.

By this action, TEC has chosen by its own will and actions in clear knowledge to depart from the Anglican Communion’s standard teaching on human sexuality according to Lambeth Resolution 1:10. This TEC Resolution is another example of such unilateral decisions that are taken without giving the least consideration to the possible consequences on other provinces and the Anglican Communion as a whole, the ecumenical partnerships, the mission of the church worldwide, and the interfaith relations. This Resolution clearly contradicts the Holy Scriptures and God’s plan for creation as He created humankind as man and woman to complement each other physically and emotionally.

Indeed the church must provide pastoral care for all, whether heterosexuals or homosexuals. However the church should not alter the teachings of the Holy Scriptures, that was interpreted by the majority churches globally, to provide such pastoral care. The aim of pastoral care is to restore people to the bosom of God where they encounter His love and design to live a life according to His plan. We are against any criminalization of homosexuals, they are like all of us, need God’s mercy, grace and salvation. The church is intended by its Lord to be the holy leaven to shape society by its spiritual and moral values in line with God’s design. But sadly, by this action of TEC, the church gives way to the society to alter and shape its values. In other words the church is losing its distinctiveness as salt and light in this world.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2)

This statement is approved by:

The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Anis, Archbishop, Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa and Chairman of the Global South.
The Most Rev. Ian Ernest, Primate of the Indian Ocean and General Secretary of the Global South.
The Most Rev. Bolly Lapok, Primate of South East Asia and treasurer of the Global South.
The Most Rev. Stephen Than Myint Oo, Primate of Myanmar.
The Most Rev. Hector “Tito” Zavala, Primate of the Anglican Church of South America.
The Rt. Rev. John Chew, member of the GS Global South steering committee, former GS chairman.”

– Source, Global South Anglican.
Check their site for extra signatures which may be added.

Call to Prayer from the Church of England Evangelical Council

Posted on July 4, 2015
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From the Church of England Evangelical Council:

“In writing to Timothy, Paul implores Timothy to live and teach in keeping with the gospel he has taught (1 Timothy 4:12-13) and indicates his never failing prayerful support for Timothy (2 Timothy 1:3).

It is our conviction that the Church of England needs evangelicals to pray afresh, and with this Pauline commitment, for her leaders, and in particular for those who are called to ordained leadership and the public ministry of preaching and teaching…

Recently there have been a number of public pronouncements and actions that undermine or are a direct challenge to the authority of Holy Scripture and the faith revealed in it and expressed in the tradition and teaching of the Church of England…

We therefore invite evangelicals in all the English Dioceses to renew a commitment to praying for those who lead God’s church.”

It would be good for Australian evangelical Anglicans to pray similarly.

A collection of resources for Christians to engage in the same-sex marriage debate

Posted on July 2, 2015
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At Communicate Jesus, Steve Kryger has assembled a list of useful links to help Christians think and talk about same-sex marriage.

The success of the Left

Posted on July 2, 2015
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“There are now fewer in our denomination who remember the way the church was pre 1977.

I began to teach Sunday School at Waverley Presbyterian in 1968. The curriculum consisted of situational ethics. There was no gospel being taught, indeed, in the wider church, those who refused to use the imposed Sunday School material were hounded out of the church. Liberalism in the majority is always thoroughly intolerant!

These were the days when our training institutions imposed a deadening liberalism by training clergy with no gospel to preach, no propitiatory sacrifice, no substitutionary atonement, no bodily resurrection, and no new life…”

– In one of his recent opinion pieces, Presbyterian Moderator-General David Cook reminds us of the ever-present danger of theological liberalism.

(Image: St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)

Same-sex marriage: Coalition MPs to co-sponsor private member’s bill

Posted on July 1, 2015
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“Prime Minister Tony Abbott has reminded Coalition MPs it is rare for a private member’s bill to even go to a vote in Parliament, as two of his backbenchers prepare to back a bill to legalise same-sex marriage.

Queensland Liberal National Party (LNP) MPs Warren Entsch and Teresa Gambaro will co-sponsor a private member’s bill, which will be seconded by Labor backbencher Terri Butler…”

– report from ABC News.

Complicating factors for the TEC Diocese of Los Angeles

Posted on July 1, 2015
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The Diocese of Los Angeles’ proposed sale of St. James’ Episcopal Church property in Newport Beach, California is proving more complicated thna expected…

“It turns out that the original developer of the area, Griffith Company, donated in 1945 the land on which the beautiful St. James building was erected, to the Protestant Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, upon ‘the condition, covenant and restriction’ that –

The property conveyed shall be used for church purposes exclusively and no building other than a church and appurtenances shall be erected, placed or maintained thereon. The foregoing restriction shall be binding upon the [Bishop], his successors…

– story from the Anglican Curmudgeon, A.S. Haley.

(Photo: J. J. Bruno, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.)

Archbishop of Canterbury response to TEC Resolution on Marriage

Posted on July 1, 2015
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“The Archbishop of Canterbury today expressed deep concern about the stress for the Anglican Communion following the US Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops’ resolution to change the definition of marriage in the canons so that any reference to marriage as between a man and a woman is removed…”

– from the Anglican Communion News Service.

And the changes agreed to at TEC General Convention:

Dearly beloved: We have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of N. and N. in Holy Matrimony. The joining of two people in a life of mutual fidelity signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and so it is worthy of being honored among all people. (Emphasis added. Page 98 of this PDF file, h/t AS Haley.)

Bring lasting hope

Posted on June 29, 2015
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Through their Lasting Hope Appeal, CMS Australia is seeking the help of its supporters to bring lasting hope to Buddhist Asia.

To sustain their work, they are praying to reach their $1.5 million goal by the June 30th deadline!

Trouble ahead for U.S. Churches?

Posted on June 28, 2015
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“The problem is that with this decision, the not-Supreme-and-not-a-court has set the stage for a monumental conflict between two constitutional rights: the right to exercise one’s religion under the First Amendment, and the right to marry (which soon will have to be extended to polygamy and polyandry, since there are no limiting principles to the new “right” just discovered).

And the worst part is that the only umpires for this impending conflict will be: you guessed it — unelected lawyers in black robes.

What may come as news to some is that the United States has been there before — and the results were not pretty…”

– Christian lawyer A S Haley comments.

“… this will turn out to be the greatest American tragedy for the civil liberties of persons of faith, for the cause of sexual purity… and for the lives of persons struggling with same-sex attraction…”

New TEC Presiding Bishop elected

Posted on June 28, 2015
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“The Episcopal Church’s General Convention made history June 27 when it chose Diocese of North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry to be its 27th presiding bishop.

He will serve a nine-year term that officially begins Nov. 1. On that date, Curry will succeed current Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and he will become the first person of color to hold that position.”

– Report and photo from The Episcopal News Service.

Some background:

“Throughout his ministry, Bishop Curry has also been active in issues of social justice, speaking out on immigration policy and marriage equality.”

D A Carson on the US Supreme Court decision

Posted on June 27, 2015
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On Desiring God’s Ask Pastor John podcast, Tony Reinke asked Prof. D. A. Carson for his response to the US Supreme Court same-sex marriage decision.

Runs for 18 minutes. Worth listening.

Responses to US Supreme Court same-sex marriage decision

Posted on June 27, 2015
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“The threat to religious liberty represented by this decision is clear, present, and inevitable.

Assurances to the contrary, the majority in this decision has placed every religious institution in legal jeopardy if that institution intends to uphold its theological convictions limiting marriage to the union of a man and a woman. This threat is extended to every religious citizen or congregation that would uphold the convictions held by believers for millennia.”

– Read it all – at the SBTS website.

Russell Moore also has wise words in this video. via Justin Taylor.

“This is not the time for Christians to panic. We have a God who is sovereign. The Supreme Court can do many things, but the Supreme Court cannot get Jesus Christ back into the grave.”

David Robertson at the Spring Senior Ministers Conference

Posted on June 27, 2015
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David Robertson (Minister at St Peter’s Free Church in Dundee) spoke at the recent Spring Senior Ministers Conference in the UK.

His talk, and a following Q&A, (each >60 mins) have been posted on the Proclamation Trust website. Most encouraging, especially for those involved in full time ministry.

Falls Church Anglican seeks new home

Posted on June 26, 2015
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“The Falls Church Anglican, the large congregation of defectors from the Episcopal Church denomination who occupied but was eventually forced by the courts to vacate the historic Falls Church site on S. Washington St., has bought a new five-acre location… within a mile of its former site in Fairfax County…”