When bishops disagree

Posted on February 19, 2012 
Filed under Church of England, Local Comments Off on When bishops disagree

“What should bishops do when a bishop breaks ranks and violates the collegiality of the House of Bishops?

That would seem to be the question confronting the Church of England since the Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam apparently stated, in an interview with The Times, that he did not see any need to ‘sublimate’ his support for same-sex marriage to the views of the Church.

Given the inevitable shortcomings of newspaper reporting, that may not be exactly what he said or exactly what he meant, but given also that there has been no refutation from him, for the moment we must assume this is the case…”

– John Richardson at the Ugley Vicar looks at events in the UK.
Related: ACL Statement on developments in the Diocese of Gippsland.

Eight ways to become more humble

Posted on February 19, 2012 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Eight ways to become more humble

Encouragement from Jane Tooher, Director of The Priscilla and Aquila Centre at Moore College.

A significant anniversary

Posted on February 18, 2012 
Filed under History Comments Off on A significant anniversary

February 19th marks the 200th anniversary of the departure from Massachusetts for Burma of Adoniram and Ann Judson. Sandy Grant has the story at The Briefing. (Image via Mission Partners.)

Peter: Rock or Stumbling Block?

Posted on February 18, 2012 
Filed under Opinion Comments Off on Peter: Rock or Stumbling Block?

“Last week when preaching on Matthew 16, I made no mention of the erroneous claims of the Papacy. Several congregation members raised concerns with me about the way this passage is commonly misunderstood. So let me address this misunderstanding and in the process offer some insights into the challenges of preaching…”

– Read the full article by the Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen.

What does it mean to ‘contend for the Faith’?

Posted on February 17, 2012 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on What does it mean to ‘contend for the Faith’?

At a recent PT Cornhill conference, Principal of Oak Hill, Mike Ovey, spoke about what it means to contend for the faith (as in Jude 3). He spoke about past and current issues, and challenges Christians may face in the future. Hear his talk (mp3 audio) Equipping Pastor-Teachers to Contend for the Faith.

Wisdom and its Literature in Biblical-Theological Context

Posted on February 17, 2012 
Filed under Theology Comments Off on Wisdom and its Literature in Biblical-Theological Context

Justin Taylor draws attention to Graeme Goldsworthy’s paper “Wisdom and its Literature in Biblical-Theological Context” in the current online issue of The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology.

Related: The ‘must read’ Christian book of the year?

Two new Apps

Posted on February 17, 2012 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Two new Apps

Two new apps (for those using iPhones and iPads) have been released this last week – the Two Ways to Live app from Matthias Media and the Desiring God app. Might be worth checking out.

Pennsylvania prepares for same-gender blessings

Posted on February 16, 2012 
Filed under News Comments Off on Pennsylvania prepares for same-gender blessings

“The Liturgical Commission of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, in preparation for General Convention 2012, invites you to explore Proposed Rites for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships, on Tuesday, February 21, 2012…”

– Source.

Archbishop Peter Jensen on the DNWA election

Posted on February 14, 2012 
Filed under Australia Comments Off on Archbishop Peter Jensen on the DNWA election

Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, has issued this statement on the election of Gary Nelson to be the new Bishop of North West Australia –

“I’m delighted to welcome the election of Gary Nelson as Bishop of Northwest Australia.

Gary is a Gospel-hearted man, firmly grounded in the Scriptures, with a wide experience of ministry and a deep desire that all God’s people grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

We look forward to continued fellowship with him and the Diocese of Northwest Australia in the years to come.”

(with thanks to Russell Powell / SydneyAnglicans.net.)

ACL Statement on developments in the Diocese of Gippsland

Posted on February 12, 2012 
Filed under Announcement, Australia Comments Off on ACL Statement on developments in the Diocese of Gippsland

“The Anglican Church League expresses its dismay at the appointment of an openly homosexual man as priest in charge of a parish in the Diocese of Gippsland as announced in the December 2011 issue of The Gippsland Anglican.

The teaching of Scripture about appropriate sexual behaviour for disciples of Christ and the appointment of elders who are ‘beyond reproach’, is quite clear. Resolution 1.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference, the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008, the professional standards embodied in the document Faithfulness in Service (a document approved by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia) and the express commitment of the General Synod on a number of occasions to uphold the biblical teaching on marriage and human sexuality leave no room for ambiguity. Appointments like this put unwanted strain and tension upon relationships between the various dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia. It also contributes to the fragmentation of the Anglican Communion.

For the sake of the parish, the diocese and the Anglican Church of Australia we call upon the Bishop of Gippsland to rescind this appointment. We also call on him to make clear his commitment to the teaching of Scripture, to Lambeth 1998 Resolution 1.10, to the standards embodied in Faithfulness in Service and the various resolutions of the General Synod of the Anglican Church on this issue.

Mark Thompson        Robert Tong
President                    Chairman. ”

ACL congratulates the Rev Gary Nelson on his election

Posted on February 12, 2012 
Filed under Announcement, Australia Comments Off on ACL congratulates the Rev Gary Nelson on his election

The Anglican Church League congratulates the Rev Gary Nelson on his election as the seventh bishop of the diocese of North West Australia. Gary has been a godly and effective minister of the gospel in the diocese of Sydney since his ordination in 1983. Having served curacies in Seaforth and Dapto, he was rector of Panania for 17 years before he took on responsibility for the Department of External Studies at Moore College.   Read more

All we need to know

Posted on February 12, 2012 
Filed under Opinion Comments Off on All we need to know

Bishop of Armidale Peter Brain writes:

“How good it is to know that we need never face a day alone or a circumstance with fear.”

“We were walking down the road to the railway bridge, my son and son-in-law with their two little boys and daughter, hand in hand. Then when we heard the sound of a dog barking, I could feel their grip tighten. Neither I nor their fathers pushed them away. Indeed the two youngest moved closer and found reassurance in their father’s presence.   Read more

Gary Nelson new Bishop for North West Australia

Posted on February 12, 2012 
Filed under Australia Comments Off on Gary Nelson new Bishop for North West Australia

The Election Synod of the Diocese of North West Australia has elected Gary Nelson as the seventh Bishop of the Diocese. Gary is the Director of External Studies at Moore College in Sydney. Details here.

2012 Priscilla & Aquila Centre conference

Posted on February 11, 2012 
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on 2012 Priscilla & Aquila Centre conference

“The Priscilla and Aquila Centre is an initiative of Moore College established to encourage and promote further thinking about the practice of Christian ministry by women, in partnership with men. The Centre’s second annual conference held at Moore College on 6 February was well subscribed…” – Read about the conference here.

Dr John Woodhouse’s keynote address, “1 Timothy 2 – What does it teach?” is available here (Part 1 audio | video, Part 2 audio | video). Very much worth hearing or watching.

And there’s other material from the day on this page.

Earliest New Testament fragment discovered?

Posted on February 10, 2012 
Filed under History Comments Off on Earliest New Testament fragment discovered?

Dr Daniel Wallace, at Dallas Theological Seminary, offers a little tantalising information about a recent manuscript discovery –

“It was dated by one of the world’s leading paleographers. He said he was ‘certain’ that it was from the first century. If this is true, it would be the oldest fragment of the New Testament known to exist. …

Not only this, but the first-century fragment is from Mark’s Gospel.”

– Read his post here. (h/t Tim Challies.)

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