FCA Primates Council media release at start of Leaders Conference

Posted on April 23, 2012 
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April 23, 2012

“With great anticipation we greet the delegates to the first FCA Leaders Conference as they gather in London. Over two hundred leaders from thirty countries will hear God’s word and commit to one another for the preaching and defence of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in and through the Anglican Communion.”

Media Release
Leaders Conference, London
23 to 27 April 2012

The Primates Council of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans met over three days, April 19th- 21st in London.

With great anticipation we greet the delegates to the first FCA Leaders Conference as they gather in London.

Over two hundred leaders from thirty countries will hear God’s word and commit to one another for the preaching and defence of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in and through the Anglican Communion. From this meeting will emerge key networks and commission capable of strengthening the worldwide churches and delivering the Christian message to the world.

We pray for those responsible for the appointment of the next Archbishop of Canterbury that they will look for a godly leader of God’s people. We believe that in the future development of the Anglican Communion the chair of the Primates Meeting should be elected by the Primates themselves. We believe that the future of our Communion relies on adherence to Scriptural authority, faithful and Christ-centred preaching of this word, the blessing of God’s Holy Spirit, godly leadership and the spiritual commitment of God’s people. These spiritual realities and the reality of worldwide Anglicanism should be reflected in the structures of the Anglican Communion.

From the beginning the thrust of our FCA movement has been forward-looking. We have therefore confirmed the decision to call GAFCON II for May next year in a venue shortly to be announced. We believe that the joyful meeting of orthodox Anglicans from all over the world will be a dynamic force for restating the gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of revisionist attempts to change basic doctrines and turn Christianity merely into a movement for social betterment. It is the preaching of the Gospel of Christ crucified which saves men and women and transforms the world.

– available at the GAFCON website.

Converted Anglican church now Taoist temple

Posted on April 23, 2012 
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A new use for a former Diocese of New Westminster church building –

“After renovations by the Chinese Taoism Kuan-Kung Association in Canada, which purchased the property in the fall of 2010, the building has been transformed…”

– story and image from BC Local News. Another story from Burnaby Now.
(h/t Ed Hird.) 

QandA — or Question Un-answered?

Posted on April 22, 2012 
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“Were you disappointed by the Dawkins/Pell debate? You’re not alone – all Christians I know, were unhappy. Not because our ‘gladiator’ lost the contest to the atheist ‘gladiator’, but because he seemed to lose the plot and mangle the gospel…”

– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen comments on the recent episode of ABC TV’s Q&A.

Archbishop Peter Jensen on BBC Radio

Posted on April 22, 2012 
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Archbishop Peter Jensen was interviewed by Edward Stourton on BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme – about the GAFCON / FCA Leadership Conference, which begins tomorrow in London.

Listen via the BBC’s iPlayer. The interview starts 10:10 in.

(h/t Anglican Mainstream. Photo: Joy Gwaltney.)

The deep limitations of digital church

Posted on April 21, 2012 
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“There is something good, healthy, and Great Commission-minded about the eager use of new communication technologies.  …

At the same time, there are dangers. … Christ clearly intends for his people to be gathered together into congregations. The fellowship of the saints is a vital means of grace for the disciple of Christ.”

– Albert Mohler warns against ‘doing church’ on the Internet.

In a similar vein, Carl Trueman has been writing about ‘multi-site’ churches –

Multisite, the Poker Tell and the Importance of Presence
“Presence is important. In a world where it is easy to simulate presence, even visible presence as by television, webcam or skype, it remains the case that actually being in the immediate physical proximity of somebody is important…”

No life in the Moon but is that necessarily a problem?
“Moments after finishing my piece on the importance of presence for Ref21, a reader emailed me a link to a quite bizarre story: Olympic organisers in London had apparently been hoping to have Keith Moon play at this year’s opening ceremony…”

Folk Religion…?

Posted on April 20, 2012 
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“Do we imagine that if we pray longer or with more people that God will be more likely to hear our prayers? Do we imagine that reading the Bible with others will automatically produce Christian maturity? Do we imagine that if we preach a certain way, the church will automatically grow?”

– Greg Anderson, Head of the Missions Department at Moore College, asks if Christians might easily embrace a form of folk religion.

The Post-Christian Condition

Posted on April 19, 2012 
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“The horrifying case of Anders Behring Breivik has opened a window into the reality of Scandinavian justice — and that window also reveals the shape of justice in a post-Christian world.

The Scandinavian nations are, according to many sociologists, the most radically secularized nations on earth. A study undertaken by sociologist Peter Berger years ago rated Sweden as the world’s most secular nation, with neighboring Norway close behind. But the Scandinavian nations are not merely secular; they are specifically post-Christian. The specific religious worldview they have lost or rejected is that of Christianity — the faith that shaped the culture of these nations for many centuries…”

– Dr Albert Mohler looks at what happens to a sense of justice once you choose to be ‘Post-Christian’.

Survey on same-sex marriage bills closes April 20

Posted on April 19, 2012 
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There are just two days remaining for anyone interested to complete the online survey for a House of Representatives Committee inquiry into the two same-sex marriage bills before the House.

The survey closes on Friday, 20th April.

(Image: Australian Marriage Forum.)

Related: Responding to Australian same-sex marriage proposals – from the Social Issues Executive of the Diocese of Sydney, February 2011.

ANZAC Day resources

Posted on April 19, 2012 
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At the Defence Anglicans website, there are some resources you could use or adapt for ANZAC Day.

Charles Colson’s testimony

Posted on April 19, 2012 
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With the news that Charles Colson is gravely ill in hospital, Justin Taylor has linked to video of Colson sharing his testimony – starting with a story about the National Press Club in Canberra.

What’s in a name?

Posted on April 19, 2012 
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“I am often asked why Moore College is called a ‘Theological College’ rather than a ‘Bible College’.

Because the word ‘theological’ sounds rather obscure to many Christians today, some people refer to Moore College as a ‘Bible College’…”

– Moore Theological College Principal John Woodhouse answers a common question – at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Can banning things lead to tolerance?

Posted on April 17, 2012 
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“‘London is intolerant of intolerance.’

So said the Mayor of London as he stepped in to ban adverts which drew attention to the existence of people who identify as ‘post gay’.…”

– Peter Sanlon at Oak Hill College asks what principles are involved really being tolerant.

New Westminster considers plans for three ‘returned’ parishes

Posted on April 16, 2012 
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“Having won the court battle for the buildings of St. John’s Shaughnessy, St. Matthias and St. Luke, and St. Matthew’s Abbotsford, the Diocese of New Westminster must decide what to do with them…”

The Anglican Essentials Canada blog reports on New Westminster’s commitment to ‘Plant three new churches’ –

“It is the desire of DNW to have vital, viable self-sustaining parishes at each of these three locations in three to five years at a cost equivalent of planting one new church. The financial commitment for this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity of DNW will be up to $4.5 million…”

Titanic: A Glasgow church recalls Pastor John Harper

Posted on April 14, 2012 
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In the icy water, Pastor John Harper asks a man if he is saved, and gives him his life jacket.

Video from BBC News.

And more details from Baptist Press.

The Journalist’s Question

Posted on April 14, 2012 
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“Last week a journalist came to church. He was covering the compulsory Easter story. He asked one of our staff – ‘Do you think people have stopped coming to church because they have internalised their faith?’

It was a strange question to ask as a huge number of people crowded into the Cathedral…”

– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen writes in his weekly column.

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