Anglican Church (of Canada) facing threat of extinction

Posted on February 11, 2010 
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“The Anglican Church in Canada – once as powerful in the nation’s secular life as it was in its soul – may be only a generation away from extinction, says a just-published assessment of the church’s future.”

– The Globe and Mail reports.

C of E General Synod votes on ACNA

Posted on February 11, 2010 
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“The Church of England today offered the slenderest of lifelines to the dissident US conservative Episcopalians who split from their church after it elected a gay bishop.

The general synod – the church’s parliament, meeting in London – passed a motion recognising the breakaway group’s desire to remain Anglicans but declined to promise to ally with them in their ongoing wrangles with the mainstream US church…”

– The Guardian reports on the Church of England General Synod vote on the Anglican Church of North America.

For a much more positive assessment, here’s a media release from ACNA —   Read more

Should South Carolina be nervous?

Posted on February 11, 2010 
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From the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina –

“Recent actions by The Episcopal Church which impact the Diocese of South Carolina have caused the Bishop and Standing Committee to postpone our upcoming Diocesan Convention. Bishop Lawrence has written an important pastoral letter to both the clergy and laity of the Diocese which explain the actions taken.”

– Read Bishop Mark Lawrence’s pastoral letter explaining why he has postponed the diocesan convention. (PDF file.)

Matt Kennedy on ‘Leaving home’ (part 2)

Posted on February 10, 2010 
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A year ago, Matt Kennedy and his congregation at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, New York, lost their property to the Diocese of Central New York. Matt continues the story of what happened next — at Stand Firm. (Missed Part 1?)

Photo: Ten News, Syracuse.

‘Why should I be driven out?’

Posted on February 10, 2010 
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Bishop of Fulham, and Chairman of Forward in Faith UK, John Broadhurst, was interviewed for this week’s HardTalk on BBC TV. There’s a 2’50” clip here.

The English General Synod: The Centre Cannot Hold

Posted on February 10, 2010 
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“If Lorna Ashworth’s Private Member’s Motion ‘That this Synod express the desire that the Church of England be in communion with the Anglican Church in North America’  is passed by the Church of England’s General Synod tomorrow,  she will have done  a great service to English Anglicans as well as the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) because it is as much about the English Church as the Church in North America.

She poses precisely the sort of question that the Church of England’s leadership wants to avoid because the ACNA represents a choice which must be made between two incompatible forms of religion – historic biblical Anglicanism and that pseudo- Anglicanism being promoted by TEC and its allies which derives its energy from the spirit of the age rather than the Spirit of Christ.…”

– Charles Raven writes about the choice facing the Church of England General Synod.

Make the most of Easter 2010

Posted on February 9, 2010 
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It may be 2010, but many Sydney churches are continuing Connect09 as Connect for Life.

Whatever you call it, there are still plenty of resources to help churches share the gospel.

Christine Semple in the Connect for Life office has some suggestions. (Click the image at left to get the new logo.)

The Homegoing of OT Scholar D.J. Wiseman

Posted on February 9, 2010 
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Old Testament scholar D.J. Wiseman has died – and Professor Alan Millard at the University of Liverpool has written this tribute.

via Phillip Marshall at Biblical Languages (h/t Kevin Murray).

Reform highlights ‘huge practical problems’ with women bishops

Posted on February 9, 2010 
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Press release from Reform, 08 February 2010:

The Church of England’s present plans for legislation on women bishops show that “nothing is being done to head off the huge practical problems” that will result said Reform Chairman, the Rev Rod Thomas, today. Speaking on the day that the Bishop of Manchester was reporting on the issue to the General Synod, Mr Thomas said that the biggest problem would be a “drastic cut” in the Church of England’s future intake of young ordinands.  Read more

Dick Lucas on Preaching

Posted on February 8, 2010 
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In November 2006, Dick Lucas gave the third annual Charles Simeon Sermons on preaching at Taylor University in Indiana.

As always, Dick Lucas’ sermons are encouraging and challenging – especially for those with the enormous privilege and weighty responsibility of preaching.

Here are direct links to the mp3 files –

1. The School of Christ
2. Truth Worth Knowing
3. Through a Glass Darkly
4. That People May Know
5. God’s Knowledge of Us!

Video of some of the talks is also available on the Chapel archive page.

ECLA Presiding Bishop and Archbishop of Canterbury discuss common issues

Posted on February 6, 2010 
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“Rev Mark S. Hanson [Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America] met with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams for a private hour-long meeting … at Lambeth Palace in London.

Hanson said the two leaders discussed strengthening Anglican-Lutheran relationships, challenges each leader faces within his own communions…

Hanson told the ELCA News Service … ‘We talked not only about how this time of ‘reception’ can strengthen the ministries and mission we share, but provide new opportunities for us to be engaged in ways we haven’t even imagined…’ ”

– Story and photo from the ELCA News Service.

Related: Lutherans adopt statement on sexuality.
Continue the ‘conversation’ and keep giving your money.
Wearing the disguise of Faithfulness.

Why Theology?

Posted on February 6, 2010 
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Here’s a two minute video that could be used in church. It was created as part of a short film competition related to John Harris’ new book Dug Down Deep.

See the other film entries at JoshHarris.com.

Pastor welcomes Hell Pizza

Posted on February 6, 2010 
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This story from a Rockhampton newspaper last month is a simple example of how to steer people away from controversy and towards the Lord Jesus.

Story via St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Rockhampton.

(Great to see they are also using The Essential Jesus.)

Taking Sovereignty Seriously

Posted on February 5, 2010 
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Mark Thompson recommends John Woodhouse’s article in the issue of Southern Cross to be distributed in churches from this Sunday … He quotes John as writing —

“I am astonished at how glibly we sometimes speak of gospel work — as though leadership skills, ministry strategies or entrepreneurial flair is what is needed to make the gospel effective. Leadership is not what makes the blind see. Strategies do not make the deaf hear. Entrepreneurs do not make the dead walk!

It is God who calls out his elect, chosen by him before the foundation of the world. They could not have saved themselves and nor could we have saved them no matter how clever we are. And he hardens the heart of others in their chosen state of lostness.”

Find the article on pages 18 and 19 (‘Serving a Sovereign God’) of the February 2010 Southern Cross.

Resources from around Australia

Posted on February 5, 2010 
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It’s exciting to see helpful new resources being produced for Anglicans around Australia. Here are some you may wish to check out –

1.) For kids – from the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn

Lessons for Children during Lent by Jane Robinson.

“a series of six very simple lessons for children during Lent…”

2.) For adults – from the Diocese of Tasmania

Lectionary-based study outlines – Growing Disciples of Jesus.

“designed for use in home or church-based study groups, and to be a helpful resource for preachers as well.”

3.) For adults – from the Diocese of North West Australia.

World-Changing Sermons – from the Book of Acts. Lenten studies by Bishop David Mulready, available from Anglican Youthworks Sydney.

“For each of the six weeks leading up to Easter … explores a world-changing sermon from the book of Acts.”

(Check out the song ‘The Mission of God’ at the above link.)

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