Communiqué of the Global South Primates, Bangkok, 20 July 2012

Posted on July 21, 2012 
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“We, the Primates and representatives of 17 Global South Provinces, met in Bangkok, Thailand, from 18-20 July 2012, in conjunction with the Global South Conference on the Decade of Mission and Networking. …

6.  We note with great sadness the passing of Resolution A049 at the 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church which authorized a liturgy for blessing same-sex unions. This action confirms our disappointment that The Episcopal Church has no regard for the concerns and convictions of the vast majority of Anglicans worldwide.

7.  We stand in solidarity with our brethren in the Communion Partners who have dissented from this action. …”

– from the Communiqué from the meeting.

The Dark Night in Denver — groping for answers

Posted on July 21, 2012 
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Albert Mohler reflects on the tragic events in Colorado –

“The Fall released human moral evil into the cosmos, and every single human being is a sinner, tempted by a full range of sinfulness. When someone does something as seemingly unthinkable as this, we often question how anyone could do such a thing. …” – Read it all here.

Related, an opinion-piece on movie violence written in 2008 – ‘Our attitude to violence is beyond a joke as new Batman film, The Dark Knight, shows’.

The Gospel and its Proclamation

Posted on July 21, 2012 
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Dr Barry Newman has been blogging on the meaning of the word gospel.

“The gospel is so extraordinary and proclaiming it so much an imperative that I thought it would be a good idea to produce a blog series reminding ourselves of what the New Testament says about the gospel and its proclamation. Furthermore it may prove to be informative to see how these two Greek words are used outside of the New Testament, say, up until the end of the 1st century A.D. There are indeed some interesting differences between New Testament usages and the way the words are used in the Greek literature external to the New Testament.”

He’s just completed the series, and all of the posts can be downloaded as a single PDF file. Well worth downloading and reading.

Three lessons from crisis and decline in the mainline denominations

Posted on July 19, 2012 
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Timothy George, Dean of Beeson Divinity School in Alabama, draws three lessons from the crisis in TEC and other denominations –

“1. There is an intrinsic connection between spiritual vitality and theological integrity.
2. The continuing saga and approaching collapse of mainline denominations should prompt us to pray.
3. Evangelicals have no room to boast or gloat over the ‘sickness unto death’ in the mainlines.”

– full article at The Gospel Coalition.

Understanding Islam

Posted on July 19, 2012 
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The White Hose Inn broadcast recently featured a two-part interview on ‘understanding Islam’. Michael Horton interviewed Islamic specialist Adam Francisco. Worth hearing. Part 1. Part 2.

Sydney Anglicans V: A commitment to world mission

Posted on July 19, 2012 
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Mark Thompson turns to the gospel’s global concern in part five of his series on Sydney Anglicans –

“A concern to reach the lost with the good news of Jesus, whether they be down the road or across the globe, will transform how we live as Christians in a myriad of ways. Not least it will keep us from elevating to prime importance things of little consequence.”

Read it all here –

“Sydney Anglicanism is a product of the evangelical missionary movement. The same people who were vitally involved in the early days of the Church Missionary Society were involved in ensuring evangelical chaplains were sent to the young colony to preach the gospel to the convicts, settlers and indigenous people of the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit. Mission and ministry were intertwined from these early days and have remained so ever since. To this day one of the most significant annual events in the Diocese of Sydney is the week-long CMS Summer School, held in the Blue Mountains at Katoomba.  Read more

Free eBook on Sanctification

Posted on July 18, 2012 
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Desiring God has made available a free eBook on Sanctification – including three sermons on the topic from John Piper.

A measure of security in an insecure world

Posted on July 18, 2012 
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“Australians, Field Marshall Thomas Blamey commented about the time of the outbreak of WW2, were like gazelles playing on the edge of a jungle, completely oblivious to the dangers all around. He spoke those words in the shadow of the greatest threat Australia had ever faced.

Things are not that critical as I write but I think we Australians still take for granted something that it has cost generations of Australian Servicemen and Women in peace and war a great deal to protect. That is the security that we are so inclined to take for granted. …”

– Geoff Webb, Principal Chaplain Army, writes about security – both temporal and eternal – at Defence Anglicans.

Pokies: Who cares?

Posted on July 17, 2012 
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“I remain sickened by the tragedy upon tragedy caused by poker machine gambling. What needs to happen for our political leaders to act in compassion on this matter? State Governments gamble life and lives away through their support of poker machine gambling – often deceptively referred to as ‘gaming’ [Oh, Please!].…”

– Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower pleads with political leaders to act.

South Carolina speaks out on TEC General Convention

Posted on July 15, 2012 
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The Bishop of South Carolina, Mark Lawrence, has requested that a letter be read aloud to all congregations in his diocese today, following landmark votes at the TEC General Convention during the week –

“Given these changes in the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church the question that is before us is: ‘What does being faithful to Jesus Christ look like for this diocese at this time? How are we called to live and be and act?  In this present context, how do we make Biblical Anglicans for a Global Age?’”

Read the text of his letter below – Read more

What Ails the Episcopalians

Posted on July 14, 2012 
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“During the day, legislators … discussed such weighty topics as whether to develop funeral rites for dogs and cats, and whether to ratify resolutions condemning genetically modified foods. Both were approved by a vote, along with a resolution to ‘dismantle the effects of the doctrine of discovery,’ in effect an apology to Native Americans for exposing them to Christianity. …”

– The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the Episcopal Church and its General Convention.
(Photo: Episcopal News Service.)

Where ‘mercy ministry’ fits into the church

Posted on July 14, 2012 
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The latest 9Marks Journal – on Where Mercy Ministry fits into the Church – is now available for download.

The Perfect Saviour: Key themes in Hebrews

Posted on July 13, 2012 
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Dr. David Peterson draws our attention to an important new book.

(Get a copy.)

Lightning strikes

Posted on July 13, 2012 
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“Apparently York University was hit by lightning last week. In and of itself, that fact may be of minor meteorological interest; but given that the General Synod of the Church of England was meeting there to discuss the possibility of ordaining female bishops, some have turned it into a matter of major theological interest. …”

– Iain Campbell at Reformation21 writes about the nature of God, the status of the Bible, and the willingness of the church to hear.

South Carolina delegates leave TEC General Convention early

Posted on July 12, 2012 
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“The bulk of the deputation to the House of Deputies from the Diocese of South Carolina has left General Convention one day early, following the actions of the Convention thus far to (a) add transsexual persons to the list of people who cannot be denied work at any level in the Episcopal Church (USA); (b) adopt a rite for the blessing of same-sex unions, in violation of both the Book of Common Prayer and the ECUSA Constitution; and (c) refuse to act at this time on the proposed Anglican Covenant. …”

– Story from The Anglican Curmudgeon.

South Carolina statements here –

“It is with heavy hearts that Bishop Mark Lawrence and the South Carolina deputation to General Convention must report the final passage and adoption of Resolution A049, the Resolution to Authorize Liturgical Resources for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships. The Bishop and our deputation, in both speaking and voting against its passage, remain united and unanimous in our support of the historic understanding of ‘the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ as this Church has received them.’…”

Related: Why is the Episcopal Church near collapse? – Beliefnet. (h/t SydneyAnglicans.net)

“This is no longer George Washington’s Episcopal Church – in 1776 the largest denomination in the rebellious British colonies. Membership has dropped so dramatically that today there are 20 times more Baptists than Episcopalians.”

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