The Global Challenge
Posted on October 23, 2013
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Archbishop Dr Eliud Wabukala, Primate of Kenya and Chairman of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans –
“The challenge we face is that the nations which were once the spiritual powerhouses of world wide mission have now become deeply secularised and even hostile to the Christian faith and the Churches of those lands have more often than not been strongly influenced by the societies in which they are set.
I am aware that for some of you, the threat of violence from Islamic extremism may be uppermost your minds, and we have had a painful reminder of that reality recently here in Kenya, but that which really rots the fabric of the Communion is the much more insidious process by which weak churches are gradually taken captive by the surrounding culture.”
– from The Chairman’s Address at GAFCON on Tuesday 22nd October. Read it all.
The official photo of Bishops and Archbishops attending gives some indication of the shift in global Christianity. See who you can spot in the full size version. (Photo: GAFCON.)
The Archbishop’s earlier greetings can be seen here from Anglican TV.
NSW Council of Churches supports High Court challenge
Posted on October 22, 2013
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Here’s a Media Release from the NSW Council of Churches, 22 October 2013 –
Prime Minister Tony Abbott is to be commended for his Government’s support of uniform national marriage laws and the decision to vigorously challenge the ACT Government’s new same sex marriage laws in the High Court. Read more
GAFCON not ‘a breakaway movement’
Posted on October 22, 2013
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“Leaders of the Global Anglican Future Conference … refuted characterizations in the western press of the gathering as a breakaway movement, with recently retired Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney responding that ‘nothing could be further from the truth.’…”
– Report from GAFCON.
Edited highlights from the press conference may be seen here on Vimeo.
Nairobi conference confirms major realignment in Anglican Communion
Posted on October 22, 2013
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“Although initially expecting 1100, the final total is 1,352 Archbishops, Bishops, clergy and lay people, men and women, from almost 40 countries. The number of bishops attending is 331, of whom 30 are Archbishops.. …” – from GAFCON.
Integrity ejournal – A journal of Australian church history from Moore College
Posted on October 22, 2013
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“Students in their fourth year of the Bachelor of Divinity degree at Moore Theological College have the opportunity to research and write a 6,000 word essay in Church History on some aspect of evangelicalism in Australia or Britain (post-1600).
The excellent quality of some of these essays has encouraged the Church History Department to seek a way to share the fruits of the research and writing of these students with a broader audience. This is the reason for the launch of this new journal Integrity.”
– Download the first issue here.
St. Helen’s Training: Bible Overview
Posted on October 22, 2013
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The next two videos (3 & 4 of a total of 6) in the St. Helen’s Training series on getting a Bible Overview are now online.
Archbishop Welby addresses GAFCON
Posted on October 21, 2013
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Kevin Kallsen of Anglican TV has posted video of Archbishop Welby’s sermon at All Saints’ Cathedral in Nairobi yesterday.
‘Welby backs GAFCON vision for a renewed Church’
Posted on October 21, 2013
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“The Archbishop of Canterbury offered his qualified personal endorsement to Gafcon today, telling the congregation of All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi his vision for the future of the Anglican Communion was of a Bible-based church dedicated to mission and evangelism – goals shared by the Gafcon movement of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA).
… he conceded the existing instruments of communion were no longer fit for purpose in ordering the life of the Anglican world. …”
– From George Conger at Anglican Ink.
Nairobi Cathedral welcomes Primates for GAFCON 2013
Posted on October 21, 2013
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Thousands packed multiple services at Nairobi’s All Saints Cathedral on the eve of the Global Anglican Future Conference (Sunday 20th October).
Leading the joyous congregants was the Primate of Kenya and chairman of GAFCON, Eliud Wabukala, along with members of the GAFCON Primates Council and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Archbishop Justin Welby joined Archbishop Robert Duncan, Primate of the Anglican Church in North America, Presiding Bishop Tito Zavala of the Southern Cone, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul of Sudan, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh of Nigeria and Archbishop Henri Isingoma of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Archbishops Duncan and Bishop Zavala joined in celebrating communion while Archbishop Welby preached, in a truly international event.
The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke of a ‘new Anglican Communion’ saying new structures were needed for the 21st Century.
Later the Primates and Archbishop Welby attended a luncheon reception.
“It is a great privilege to have shared this lunch with you and to be here as you set off on this extraordinary week which I hope and pray will move the whole Anglican Communion forward.”
The General Secretary of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Dr Peter Jensen said “I believe that the new Anglican Communion could be seen at the first GAFCON in 2008.”
“This great gathering in Nairobi is a model for our partnership with each other within the Anglican Communion, based on the truth of the Bible.” Dr Jensen said.
Source: GAFCON. Photo: Russell Powell.
Welcome to Nairobi
Posted on October 20, 2013
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Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, Archbishop of Kenya and Chairman of GAFCON, welcomes GAFCON attendees – and also the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is present for the earlier two-day GAFCON Primates’ meeting.
“I am very happy to welcome you to All Saints Cathedral this morning and I especially want to recognise His Grace, the Archbishop of Canterbury who will be our preacher this morning. This is the second visit to Kenya he has made this year so we are very privileged! It is a great joy that we are together in this service as we enjoy fellowship in Christ with our brother Primates.
But the word on everybody’s lips today is GAFCON. … We are welcoming over 1,300 delegates from around the world, some of whom are already with us to share in our worship this morning. We are so happy you are here and we welcome you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. …”
– Read it all at the GAFCON website. Photo: Russell Powell.
Archbishop calls for prayer on bushfire crisis
Posted on October 20, 2013
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“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has called on Sydney Anglicans to pray for Rural Fire Service members, emergency service workers and for people and families still in the path of bushfires in Sydney and its surrounds.
‘Our hearts go out to those who have already lost homes and for those weary firefighters who have already been stretched to the limit’ Dr Davies said. …”
– Read the full Media release from Anglican Media Sydney.
Related: Anglican Aid launches Bushfire appeal.
GAFCON 2013 and Authority in the Church
Posted on October 20, 2013
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GAFCON 2013 begins in Nairobi tomorrow, so now would be a good time to uphold in prayer this significant gathering.
This 2008 theological resource paper by Dr Mark Thompson is a good reminder as to why GAFCON is committed to the authority of the Bible.
We’ll be posting news from GAFCON as it comes through.
Ballarat Synod votes for Women Priests
Posted on October 19, 2013
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“The Anglican Diocese of Ballarat has approved the ordination of women priests during its synod held today.
At least two thirds of the approximately 100 people in the synod voted in favour of allowing women to become priests. …”
– from The Ballarat Courier.
‘Swedish Archbishop prefers Allah’
Posted on October 19, 2013
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“…the Church of Sweden’s new archbishop is Antje Jackelén. … Like kings, all bishops have their own motto and Jackelén chose ”God is greater” … ”Allahu akbar”. …
Many have been taken aback by the theological opinions Jackelén revealed during a questioning in Uppsala on October 1. The candidates for the highest position in the Swedish church were asked if they thought Jesus presented a truer picture of God than Muhammed. …”
– News from a little earlier in the week, from Dispatch International.
Related: Belief in the Virgin Birth an optional extra, new Swedish archbishop declares (Anglican Ink)
Photo: Jan Nordén/Church of Sweden.
Catching Eggs
Posted on October 18, 2013
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“When my father-in-law fell on an escalator in a shopping mall, he was proud of his ability to catch his carton of eggs. “Not one of them broke”, he told me from his hospital bed. A true son of the Depression, breaking eggs was more significant than a damaged back.
But as he stayed in hospital, two competing attitudes were expressed by staff and visitors. …”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen, writes in his weekly column.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…