Will General Convention be able to approve same-sex blessings?

Posted on February 22, 2012 
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“At its meeting last October, the General Convention’s Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music agreed to present at the 2012 session of General Convention a resolution to authorize the trial use, over a three-year period, of a rite for the blessing in a church ceremony of same-gender relationships…

In contrast to those locally approved rites, what is now being proposed is a church-wide standard rite that would have the imprimatur of General Convention itself.”

– The Anglican Curmudgeon, A S Haley, wonders if the TEC General Convention will ignore its own Constitution – again.

When the Accounts are called: A Christian understanding of gambling

Posted on February 21, 2012 
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“The Bible is clear on this issue. The entire enterprise of gambling is opposed to the moral worldview revealed in God’s Word. The basic impulse behind gambling is greed—a basic sin that is the father of many other evils. Greed, covetousness, and avarice are repeatedly addressed by Scripture—always presented as a sin against God, and often accompanied by a graphic warning of the destruction which is greed’s result. The burning desire for earthly riches leads to frustration and spiritual death…

Why are Christians so silent on this issue?“

– Albert Mohler demonstrates that gambling is an issue not unique to New South Wales. (Idea: try preaching against gambling and see what response you get.)

NSW Council of Churches calls for gambling inquiry

Posted on February 21, 2012 
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Here’s a media release from the NSW Council of Churches –

“Churches call for NSW gambling inquiry – 20 February 2012

The President of the NSW Council of Churches, the Revd Dr Ross Clifford, has called on the O’Farrell Government to hold a wide-ranging inquiry into the gambling industry.  Read more

Position vacant: Lecturer in Biblical Studies

Posted on February 21, 2012 
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You’d have to subscribe to the doctrinal standards of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, but if you do, you might be just the person they are looking for.

When bishops disagree

Posted on February 19, 2012 
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“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 
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Encouragement from Jane Tooher, Director of The Priscilla and Aquila Centre at Moore College.

A significant anniversary

Posted on February 18, 2012 
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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 
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“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 
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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 
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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 
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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 
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“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 
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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

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