J I Packer’s preface to Griffith Thomas’ Principles of Theology

Posted on June 25, 2010
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In 1977, Dr J I Packer wrote the Preface to an edition of W.H. Griffith Thomas’ The Principles of Theology.

“As in general terms Calvin’s 1559 Institutes rounded off the forty-year Reformation era in European theology, so in general terms The Principles of Theology may be said to have rounded off a four-hundred year era of Protestant Anglicanism, and in particular to have summed up a century of vigilant scholarship which, in face of what looked like Rome’s Trojan horse in the Church of England, had sought to vindicate historic Protestantism as authentically Anglican and as the only position with more than squatter’s rights within the Establishment.

This was the scholarship of such men as William Goode, George Cornelius Gorham, T. P. Boultbee, T. S. L. Vogan, Nathaniel Dimock, E. A. Litton, Henry Wace, Handley C. G. Moule, J. T. Tomlinson, W. Prescott Upton and Charles Sydney Carter – giants in the land in their own day, however little remembered now.”

– Read the rest on the Church Society website.

Learn more about Griffith Thomas here. (Photo: Theopedia.)

Sinclair Ferguson on Preaching

Posted on June 24, 2010
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In March, Sinclair Ferguson (Minister at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina) gave the 2010 den Dulk Lectures on Pastoral Ministry at Westminster Seminary in California.

In this talk linked below (56MB mp3 file), he speaks on “The Pastor and his preaching”. Very sobering – and encouraging – for preachers.

Link via Unashamed Workman. Other lectures on this page. (h/t Faith by Hearing.)

SMBC Preaching conferences

Posted on June 23, 2010
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Sydney Missionary and Bible College has a couple of interesting preaching conferences coming up in September. Click on the links for PDF brochures: Communicating Isaiah and Preaching the Old Testament with Integrity.

‘Federal leaders court Christian vote’

Posted on June 22, 2010
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A few cliches in this ABC TV Lateline report on the Australian Christian Lobby’s leaders’ debate.

And Russell Powell has this report at SydneyAnglicans.net.

In Memoriam, James Montgomery Boice (1938-2000)

Posted on June 22, 2010
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“June 15 marks the tenth anniversary of the death of James Montgomery Boice, who was for thirty-two years the pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, the dean of Reformed pastor-scholars in his generation…”

– At Reformation21, Rick Phillips gives thanks for James Montgomery Boice, who died ten years ago. (Photo: Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia.)

Bishop of Ballarat resigns

Posted on June 21, 2010
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“Shock and relief have rippled through the south-west Anglican community in the wake of Ballarat bishop Michael Hough’s decision to step down.

His departure follows months of speculation and was announced at a synod in Portland by Melbourne assistant bishop and acting Ballarat vicar-general Philip Huggins.

It will take effect on December 20, with a 12-member committee elected over the weekend to find his replacement…”

– Report from the Warrnambool Standard. (Image: Diocese of Ballarat.)

A Canonical Analysis of ‘Mitregate’

Posted on June 20, 2010
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AS Haley (the Anglican Curmudgeon) looks at the fuss about why Katharine Jefferts Schori had to apply for a license to officiate as a priest (and not a bishop) at Southwark Cathedral last week.

(Photo: ENS.)

Tasmanian Prayer Pilgrimage continues

Posted on June 18, 2010
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Bishop John Harrower would appreciate your prayers as he continues his ‘Prayer Pilgrimage’ around Tasmania.

Jesus says, ‘for apart from me you can do nothing.’ – John 15:5.

All you need is ‘love’

Posted on June 17, 2010
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Bishop Michael Bird, Anglican Diocese of Niagara, in a letter to the National Post , claims –

“… whether a man loves a woman or another man, or a woman loves a man or another woman, to God it is all love …”

– in response to this article about St. Hilda’s Anglican Church Oakville, which left the Anglican Church of Canada.

h/t the Anglican Essential Canada blog. (Photo: Diocese of Niagara.)

New Archbishop of PNG

Posted on June 17, 2010
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“The provincial council of the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea has elected the Rt. Reverend Joseph Kopapa, bishop of Popondota diocese, as its new archbishop and primate…”

– report from the Episcopal News Service.

The best App for your iPad

Posted on June 17, 2010
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Another wonderful free resource from Crossway – the ESV for iPad.

Checked your lectionary lately?

Posted on June 17, 2010
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An Episcopal blogger has noticed that some passages are mysteriously omitted from the Revised Common Lectionary used in the Episcopal Church –

“You see, during the weekdays, the RCL usually reads straight through a book of the Bible so that you can get through the entire Gospel of Luke for example in a series of daily readings. But look at what happens to Paul’s letter to the Romans between Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.”

– Story here.

Burning Down ‘The Shack’

Posted on June 16, 2010
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Tim Challies reviews James De Young’s new book Burning Down The Shack:

“James De Young writes from an interesting perspective—that of a former friend, or acquaintance at least, of Paul Young. He begins his book by providing some important but little-known background to The Shack.

In April of 2004 De Young attended a Christian think tank and there Young presented a 103-page paper which presented a defense of universal reconciliation, a Christian form of universalism—the view that at some point every person will come to a right relationship with God. If they do not do this before they die, God will use the fires of hell to purge away (not punish, mind you) any unbelief. Eventually even Satan and his fallen angels will be purged of sin and all of creation will be fully and finally restored.

This is to say that after death there is a second chance, and more than that, a complete inevitability, that all people will eventually repent and come to full relationship with God…”

– Read it all.

TEC and Friends: Inclusion with Attitude

Posted on June 15, 2010
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“Although TEC’s Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts Schori, avoided an explicit attack on Rowan Williams in her sermon at Southwark Cathedral yesterday, it is clear that TEC and its allies are becoming more militant and that far from suggesting that the Windsor Covenant process has at last found teeth, the Archbishop’s attempt to discipline TEC only underlines its ineffectiveness…”