ACL congratulates the Rev Gary Nelson on his election

Posted on February 12, 2012 
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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 
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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 
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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 
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“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 
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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.)

Trinity now and then

Posted on February 10, 2012 
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Mark Thompson makes some interesting observations on the Trinitarian thought of the Church Fathers…

“Patristic trinitarian thinking had a more overtly doxological element than much modern writing in this area. Writers such as Athanasius and Augustine, not to mention the Cappadocians and later Eastern writers, were very aware that they did their theologising in the presence of God and in service of the church. It was not, and could never be, a simply abstract and intellectual endeavour…”

– read it all at Theological Theology.

New album from Mark Peterson

Posted on February 10, 2012 
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Mark Peterson’s fourth solo album, “In the Name of Love”, is due out next week.

Read about it here.

Prayers for North West election Synod

Posted on February 10, 2012 
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The Election Synod of the Diocese of North West Australia begins today (Synod is set to run February 10–12). Please uphold in prayer all the Synod members and also the six brothers who have been nominated (and their families). Voting is expected to begin on Saturday morning.

In his pre-Synod letter, Administrator of the Diocese, Dean Jeremy Rice writes:

“At the Election Synod we will need the wisdom of God, to elect a Bishop with the wisdom of God. It is my prayer that we will elect a faithful shepherd who will have his heart and mind firmly fixed on the author and perfector of our faith, Jesus Christ.”

The story of ‘Amazing Grace’

Posted on February 10, 2012 
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The John Newton Project’s Marylynn Rouse helps tell the story of John Newton’s hymn Amazing Grace in this 15 minute feature on Vimeo. (h/t Gary Ware.)

Idolatry

Posted on February 9, 2012 
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In their latest Chat Room video, Phillip Jensen chats with Kel Richards about idolatry. How might you fall into idolatry? Check out the video here.

Paul and Mission in a Pluralistic World

Posted on February 8, 2012 
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“Religious pluralism, which has become new to us in western culture in recent times, was not new in the broader historical background of the New Testament era. It was, in fact and in particular, a distinguishing mark of the Graeco-Roman culture of the world in which the heralds of Jesus went forth to proclaim him as the unique Lord and Christ…”

– Bishop Paul Barnett looks at the world in which Paul preached the gospel.

Reform urges C of E General Synod to avoid ‘brinkmanship’ on women bishops

Posted on February 6, 2012 
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Here’s a Media Statement from Reform:

“Do Synod members wish to see the ministry of those who are opposed to women bishops on theological grounds progressively removed from the Church of England, or can we, even at this late stage, encourage a more generous and inclusive approach?”

Reform chairman Rev’d Rod Thomas today called on fellow General Synod members to take a “generous approach” to those opposed to women bishops or risk seeing the legislation being voted down.

“When we come to vote on the Manchester Diocese Motion on Wednesday 8th, we will each have to choose. Do Synod members wish to see the ministry of those who are opposed to women bishops on theological grounds progressively removed from the Church of England, or can we, even at this late stage, encourage a more generous and inclusive approach?” he said.

“If the draft legislation comes back to General Synod for final approval next July unchanged, then we will have the unsavoury dilemma of either having to vote for a Measure which will lead to disunity and division, or of voting against it and thus prolonging the debate for another five years. Yet there is still an opportunity, through the amendments previously put forward by the Archbishops, to reach an agreed way forward.”

The Manchester Diocese Motion, which will be debated next Wednesday, recognises that the only body which now has legal authority to amend the draft legislation is the House of Bishops. The motion asks the House of Bishops to use their power to amend the draft legislation in line with the amendment put forward by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in 2010. That amendment provided that where arrangements are made for another bishop to exercise oversight over parishes which cannot accept the ministry of women bishops, such bishops could do so by exercising ‘co-ordinate’ rather than ‘delegated’ jurisdiction.

— Ends. (Also posted here.)

Related: “Anglicans to march in support of women bishops” – BBC News.

New Atheism — Sound and fury, signifying nothing

Posted on February 6, 2012 
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“Over the next several posts I’m going to outline some of my thoughts about the relative strengths and weaknesses of New Atheism, and things I think people should keep in mind as they think about addressing its claims and its criticisms of God’s self-revelation in Jesus Christ. This series is aimed primarily at Christians who have some sort of public evangelistic or teaching role…”

– Over at The Briefing’s website, Mark Baddeley has begun what looks to be a very helpful series.

Stories you may have missed

Posted on February 5, 2012 
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Here are some recent stories / commentary from around the web you may have missed –

Bishop accused of incitement to hatred in homily

“A homily delivered at Knock shrine by the Bishop of Raphoe, Philip Boyce, is being investigated by the Director of Public Prosecutions following a formal complaint by a leading humanist who claims the sermon was an incitement to hatred…”

Bath Christian group’s ‘God can heal’ adverts banned

“A Christian group has been banned from claiming that God can heal illnesses on its website and in leaflets…”

Bishop takes up Catholic Church’s fight with White House over health insurance

“Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse… [Robert] Cunningham said the Syracuse Diocese would defy the federal government — refusing to comply with a mandate that all employers, including church-affiliated organizations, include coverage for birth control in their health insurance plans…”

The President, the Pill, and Religious Liberty in Peril – Albert Mohler

“In actuality, the Obama Administration trampled religious liberty under the feet of the leviathan state, forcing religious employers to do what conscience will not allow. Religious organizations such as schools, colleges, and hospitals will be required to pay for services that they believe to be immoral and disobedient to God…”

The Liberal Enforcers – Mark Steyn

“Modern “liberalism” is strikingly illiberal; the high priests of “tolerance” are increasingly intolerant of even the mildest dissent; and those who profess to “celebrate diversity” coerce ever more ruthlessly a narrow homogeneity. Thus, the Obama administration’s insistence that Catholic institutions must be compelled to provide free contraception, sterilization, and abortifacients…”

Qld Civil partnerships to start next month

“Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser announced yesterday the Governor had approved the state’s Civil Partnership Act to start from February 23. With a 10-day waiting period, the first ceremonies could take place on March 5.”

Ordination reflects “New Sydney”

“In one of the most diverse groups in many years, candidates from IT specialists to a concert pianist, have been ordained for ministry in the Diocese of Sydney. 36 candidates were presented at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday, 4th February, to be ordained as deacons by the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen…”

 

‘More new women priests than men for first time’ in C of E

Posted on February 5, 2012 
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“Official figures show that 290 women were ordained in 2010, the most recent year for which figures are available. By contrast, just 273 men entered the priesthood.

The watershed moment comes less than 20 years since the Church first allowed women to be priests…” – from The Telegraph.

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