‘Sadness and shock’ re Women Bishops vote

Posted on November 30, 2012 
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Statement on the Conclusion of the Meeting of the Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England:

“In its discussions the Council decided that a process to admit women to the episcopate needed to be restarted at the next meeting of the General Synod in July 2013.”

“The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England met on November 27-28th to consider a wide ranging agenda. A substantial amount of time was given over to the discussion of the recent vote by General Synod on Women in the Episcopate.

“As part of their reflections, many council members commented on the deep degree of sadness and shock that they had felt as a result of the vote and also of the need to affirm all women serving the church – both lay and ordained – in their ministries.

“In its discussions the Council decided that a process to admit women to the episcopate needed to be restarted at the next meeting of the General Synod in July 2013. There was agreement that the Church of England had to resolve this matter through its own processes as a matter of urgency. The Council therefore recommended that the House of Bishops, during its meeting in a fortnight’s time, put in place a clear process for discussions in the New Year with a view to bringing legislative proposals before the Synod in July.”

– From the Anglican Communion News Service.

Related: Joint Press Statement from The Chairmen of The Catholic Group And Reform.

“It has never been our intention to prevent the consecration of women as bishops; our concern has always been for legislation which also made clear and fair provision for the substantial minority,” the Chairmen concluded.

Open Letter to the Bishops of TEC

Posted on November 28, 2012 
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“To the Bishops of the Episcopal Church:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This is a painful letter. It is painful because it concerns un-canonical (and perhaps even unlawful) actions on the part of our Presiding Bishop and her associates. These actions, detailed in the attached appendix and summarized in the bullet points below, have already undermined the good order and spiritual health of our church. We write to you our Bishops because of your responsibility for that good order. …”

– An Open Letter from the Anglican Communion Institute. Also in PDF format.

 

Preaching Christmas 2012

Posted on November 28, 2012 
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“Suspend your disbelief, pastor. December is about to arrive on your pastoral doorstep. … Advent sermons will soon need preparing. Ere long we will stand before the old and young, the believer and skeptic, proclaiming the message that Angels once declared!

So how can we make the most of this opportunity?”

– Colin Adams at Unashamed Workman has some great advice, under these headings:

1.  Be sure the incarnation is thrilling your soul.
2.  Do not get original with your content.
3.  Keep “the packaging” of Christmas sermons fresh.
4.  Preach the full range of passages that address the Christmas theme.
5.  Consider consecutive Christmas preaching.
6.  Consider preaching individual texts.
7.  Remember to preach the Christmas narratives as fact not fiction.

Northwest Network December 2012

Posted on November 28, 2012 
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The latest issue of Northwest Network (December 2012 – PDF), the newsletter of the Diocese of North West Australia, is now out. Good to download to help in praying for the people of NWA.

Daily readings for Advent — free eBook from John Piper

Posted on November 27, 2012 
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“Advent is just around the corner. It starts the fourth Sunday before Christmas — this year, that’s December 2 — and is a season of preparation for Christmas Day.

The team here at Desiring God did a deep dive into our thirty-plus-year reservoir of sermons and articles, and selected brief devotional readings for each day of Advent. Our hope is that God would use these readings to deepen and sweeten your adoration of Jesus this Advent.”

– free eBook, Good News of Great Joy, from Desiring God. Worth checking out.

Dysfunction Everywhere

Posted on November 26, 2012 
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“So ECUSA, through its hopelessly conflicted Disciplinary Board for Bishops, blames the Bishop for the actions of the Diocese — even though he had no vote on them to begin with, and no Constitutional power to set aside the acts of the diocesan convention. …”

– AS Haley, The Anglican Curmudgeon, weighs in on the latest from The Episcopal Church of the USA. (Photo: ENS.)

‘Liberals in disguise’

Posted on November 25, 2012 
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“A lot of people seem to be confused after the decision by the Church of England’s General Synod not to approve the consecration of women as bishops. Let us begin by establishing the facts.”

– Gerald Bray gives is take on the background to, and the fallout from, the Women Bishops vote in the Church of England, at Anglican Ink.

Chappo Memorial Service video

Posted on November 24, 2012 
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While the Memorial Service for John Chapman has now concluded, you can see the recorded video stream here.

Thanks to Ken Sandell and Audio Advice for making this available.

Order of Service (PDF).

Update: Russell Powell has a report at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Anti-Santy Ranty — Christmas resource

Posted on November 24, 2012 
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Check out this 3 minute video from Christian book distributors 10ofthose.com in the UK. You can probably think of ways of using it evangelistically this Christmas.
(h/t Gary Ware.)

Did no-one ask or care?

Posted on November 23, 2012 
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After one Sydney diocese ordination candidate met with the Archbishop’s Examining Chaplains, John Chapman asked him, “Brother, did they ask you if you put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? Did they ask you if you are a Christian?”

This video, from the UK’s Channel 4 demonstrates why that is an important question to ask.

More thanks from South Africa for Chappo

Posted on November 23, 2012 
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Frank Retief, past Presiding Bishop of the Church of England in South Africa, gives thanks for John Chapman –

“But above all his love for Christ and the saving Gospel was always paramount. His wisdom in sharing the Gospel was a gift. We in South Africa will miss him very much.”

These words of thanks were sent to Archbishop Peter Jensen –

“Dear Peter

I am sure you have received many tributes in regard to John Chapman. I know that Des Inglesby has written to you on behalf of CESA. But I felt that I would like to add mine anyway because of the impact Chappo had on us in South Africa.

I first met him with your brother Phillip at Amsterdam in 1983. I was very naïve at that time and knew no one from Australia. I got the impression that if I hung around with them long enough I would get into trouble sooner or later. They were mischievous and insightful and to me very bold. But that connection has been one of the great blessings of my life because amongst other things they were both indeed bold for the Gospel and their humour was real, pertinent and made them both very accessible.

Chappo visited us several times. He taught our men how to preach the Gospel positively, from the text; boldly and wisely. I personally, as have others, seen him weep in the pulpit unashamed of his emotions which I thought was a great model for all preachers.

He was humble, unassuming and generous to a fault. His eccentricities only made him more loved. Our eldest granddaughter, now nine, had her very first pair of baby bootees knitted for her by Chappo. He was a remarkable conversationalist and enjoyed human company. But above all his love for Christ and the saving Gospel was always paramount. His wisdom in sharing the Gospel was a gift. We in South Africa will miss him very much.

I don’t know what you will do with this letter. I simply wanted to express to someone how much he was appreciated from my personal point of view.

Warm Christian greetings

Frank.”

See also: Dick Lucas gives thanks for Chappo.

CESA gives thanks for Chappo

Posted on November 23, 2012 
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Thanks from CESA –

“He was a true brother and friend in Christ, yet at the same time a ‘father-like’ figure”

From Desmond Inglesby, Presiding Bishop of the Church of England in South Africa.

“The Church of England in South Africa pays tribute to John Chapman, affectionately known to us as “Chappo”. We considered him as a ‘great one’ and we are indebted to him for his numerous visits to South Africa.

He was a remarkable man with unique ministry gifts. As a Christian leader, a committed Bible teacher and a passionate evangelist, his ministry influenced us in many different ways. His books are very popular and widely used in our churches.

He was a true brother and friend in Christ, yet at the same time a ‘father-like’ figure, who faithfully taught us God’s word and inspired us to know, and to make Jesus Christ known. We give thanks to God for his life, influence and service to our denomination.

We echo the words of King David “a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel this day”. (2 Samuel 3:38 NIV84)”

‘A speech that sealed the vote’ in C of E General Synod

Posted on November 23, 2012 
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“It became clear… that many were not interested in such a fundamental debate but wished to initiate a process for the appointment of women bishops in the church as soon as possible. This process takes for granted secular assumptions about justice and equality rather than asking what the Bible means by such terms.”

– described by Anglican Mainstream as “A speech that sealed the vote”, Vicar of St Nicholas’ Sevenoaks, Angus Macleay sought to bring the issue back to the text of the Bible. Read his speech here.

Now keep calm and carry on

Posted on November 22, 2012 
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“The reaction of the British media to the result in the ‘women bishops vote’ (I hesitate to call it ‘bishopsgate’ for fear of offending William Taylor) is as predictable as the vote itself was surprising. The essence of most of the commentary I have read is: the church has voted for oppression of women and has made itself irrelevant…”

– Insightful comment from Carl Trueman at Reformation21.

The women bishops vote in the Church of England

Posted on November 21, 2012 
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Dr Mark Thompson writes on last night’s defeat of the Consecration and Ordination of Women Measure in the Church of England’s General Synod:

“If it had been passed, the dissenters would be excluded even further from the life of the Church of England over the next ten years and before long, as in many parts of The Episcopal Church, acceptance of women in the episcopate would be the litmus test for ordination.”

Full text below. Read more

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