Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly 2009
Posted on December 3, 2009
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Last month Hugh Palmer and Voddie Baucham spoke at the Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly – the theme was Christ & Culture: Preaching that connects.
Hugh Palmer is Rector of All Souls’ Langham Place, and Voddie Baucham is Pastor of Preaching at Grace Family Baptist Church, near Houston, Texas. The audio files of their talks have now been made available on the NIMA website. (h/t Unashamed Workman.)
Advent message from the TEC
Posted on December 3, 2009
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TEC Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has recorded an Advent message. So what is Advent really all about?
At Episcopal Cafe.
Leadership in the Home
Posted on December 3, 2009
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“This is a series about leadership in the home. It is geared specifically to men and I hope it will be of some use to guys of any age though perhaps it will be most at home in the hands of young men—those who are newly married or those who are to be married in the near future. I hope it is also the kind of series that a wife can pass to her husband and say, ‘Honey! Read this and tell me what you think of it…’”
– Tim Challies has begun a series on ‘Leadership in the home’. Part 1. Part 2. Plenty of food for thought, with more to come at Challies.com.
Mark Dever interviews Phillip Jensen — full version
Posted on December 2, 2009
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In August, while he was in Sydney, Mark Dever interviewed Phillip Jensen, and the video of a portion of that interview was posted online.
Now, audio of the full 63 minute interview is available at 9Marks. As well, an interview with Iain Murray has also been posted.
A Roman Catholic monarch?
Posted on December 2, 2009
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In the Autumn 2009 issue of Churchman, Gerald Bray has written a fascinating editorial on whether the English monarch should, or could, be Roman Catholic. It’s more complicated than you might have imagined.
Church Society have made the editorial available here (PDF).
ACL message of support for Vancouver churches
Posted on December 1, 2009
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“The Anglican Church League commends the leadership of the Anglican Network in Canada on its godly response to the decision of the B.C. Supreme Court.
We remain committed to supporting the faithful men and women of the four congregations (St John’s Shaughnessy, St Matthew’s Abbotsford, St Matthias & St Luke West 49th Vancouver, and Good Shepherd Church East 19th Vancouver) who have suffered over the past months and now face a measure of uncertainty about the future.
Throughout this ordeal it has been apparent to those who have been watching around the world that these four congregations are facing persecution for their steadfast resolve to remain true to the word of God. In this they have shown themselves to be faithful disciples of Christ and true heirs of the Anglican heritage of Cranmer, Latimer, Ridley and others. We have been encouraged by their graciousness amidst extraordinary provocation and by their refusal to surrender biblical principles for the sake of an illusory peace. With or without their buildings they are the blessed people of God who by their example are blessing others.
The ACL Council encourages all its members to continue in prayer for these four congregations, and in particular those who serve them in leadership, at this difficult time.
Mark D Thompson
ACL President.”
Related: Nov 25, 2009 letter from St. John’s Shaughnessy Leadership.
In such a tongue as the people understandeth
Posted on December 1, 2009
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“One of the great principles of Reformation was the use of vernacular languages. Though faith, as the Reformers described it, was not merely giving assent to propositions, but trust, it was trust in the Word of God. And for that the Word of God was something that needed to be heard and understood by the people.
It is no surprise that so much energy was given to Bible translation – the great William Tyndale’s vision was that the ploughboy could read it and understand it for himself. This was a cause for which he was to give his life. …”
– Michael Jensen has continued his series on The Thirty Nine Articles at Thirty Nine – and is now up to Article XXIV: “Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth”.
Christ the centre
Posted on November 29, 2009
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Michael Horton, Professor of Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California, and host of The White Horse Inn broadcast was interviewed by Christianity Today on the temptation to have something other than Christ as the centre of Christianity.
“There is nothing wrong with law, but law isn’t gospel. The gospel isn’t ‘Follow Jesus’ example’ or ‘Transform your life’ or ‘How to raise good children.’ The gospel is: Jesus Christ came to save sinners—even bad parents, even lousy followers of Jesus, which we all are on our best days. All of the emphasis falls on ‘What would Jesus do?’ rather than ‘What has Jesus done?’
(h/t Between Two Worlds.)
Updated website for Matthias media
Posted on November 29, 2009
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Matthias Media have updated their website — check it out here.
New churches promote old beliefs
Posted on November 28, 2009
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“Local Anglicans could have another choice in what church they attend locally, including what interpretation of scriptures they agree with.
The Anglican Network In Canada (ANiC) is exploring the possibility of establishing new churches in Chatham and Belle River…”
– Just one small peek at what appears to be happening in many places in Canada – from The Chatham Daily News in south-west Ontario.
‘Dissident Anglican parishes have no rights to property’
Posted on November 27, 2009
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“A B.C. court ruling that four dissident Anglican parishes have no legal right to their buildings and land is being viewed as a watershed moment in a decade-long battle within the Church over same-sex blessings.
The case is sure to have ramifications for the other 35 dissident parishes spread across Canada that have chosen to leave the national church over doctrinal issues, raising questions about where they will worship if other courts follow suit and rule in favour of the Anglican Church of Canada on the property issue…”
– Report from The National Post.
(Photo of Bishop Michael Ingham courtesy of the Diocese of New Westminster.)
British Columbia Supreme Court issues mixed decision in church property dispute
Posted on November 26, 2009
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Anglican Network in Canada News Release
25 November 2009, 4:30pm PST
Mr. Justice Kelleher found that the Bishop of New Westminster did not have legal or canonical authority for his purported termination and replacement of the Trustees…
Without deciding the issue, Mr. Justice Kelleher also expressed his opinion that “the parish properties are held on trust for Anglican ministry as defined by the [Anglican Church of Canada].”
Mr Justice Stephen Kelleher of the British Columbia Supreme Court issued a mixed decision today in the case involving the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) Diocese of New Westminster and four Greater Vancouver parishes in the Anglican Network in Canada.
The four parishes – St Matthew’s (Abbotsford), St Matthias & St Luke’s (Vancouver), St John’s Shaughnessy (Vancouver) and Church of the Good Shepherd (Vancouver) – had asked the courts in early September 2008 to clarify their Trustees’ responsibilities in light of hostile action taken by the Diocese of New Westminster. Read more
Collision at the Dendy
Posted on November 26, 2009
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From the Dendy Cinema’s website –
SPECIAL EVENT SCREENING – COLLISION
Christopher Hitchens vs Douglas Wilson
Dendy Newtown, Monday 30th November, 7pm
Followed by Q&A with:
Dr Greg Clarke (Director of Christian Studies Institute at Macquarie University)
and
Dr Peter Slezak (Senior Lecturer School of History and Philosophy at UNSW)
Details here. Justin Taylor blogged about the film here. (Photo: Greg Clarke.)
The Gospel Old and New
Posted on November 26, 2009
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“Have you heard the New Gospel? It’s not been codified. It’s not owned by any one person or movement. But it is increasingly common.
The New Gospel generally has four parts to it.
It usually starts with an apology: ‘I’m sorry for my fellow Christians. I understand why you hate Christianity. It’s like that thing Ghandi said, ‘why can’t the Christians be more like their Christ?’ Christians are hypocritical, judgmental, and self-righteous. I know we screwed up with the Crusades, slavery, and the Witch Trials. All I can say is: I apologize. We’ve not give you a reason to believe…’
Then there is an appeal to God as love …
The third part of the New Gospel is an invitation to join God on his mission in the world…
And finally, there is a studied ambivalence about eternity…”
– Kevin DeYoung at the Gospel Coalition on why the ‘new gospel’ is so wrong.
Premier’s intervention unwelcome
Posted on November 25, 2009
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Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney — Media Release
Wednesday November 25, 2009
Premier’s intervention unwelcome
The special intervention of the Premier Nathan Rees in announcing a trial of ethics classes as part of the Special Religious Education system is flawed and the Anglican Church is asking for the decision to be reconsidered.“This proposal at first glance might not seem like a bad idea, but there are several inherent problems with the way this is being proposed,” says Bishop Glenn Davies, Chairman of the Anglican Education Commission.
“For the Premier to waive the regulations to enable a secular organisation to deliver its program at the same time as SRE sets a precedent for other groups to seek special access to school students,” says Bishop Davies.
“Among other things, it appears to be a vote of no-confidence in teachers. The values of truth and honesty are modelled each day in the classroom by teachers as well as in General Religious Education (GRE) that covers moral values across a variety of world views. Is there such an ethical hole in the current system? If so, then teach it as part of the curriculum rather than allowing a non-religious group to enter the realm of SRE.”
Special Religious Education, as it has been practised in our schools for more than 120 years, provides a valuable link with community groups – the local religious institutions. I can’t understand why the Premier doesn’t value that,” says Bishop Davies. “To give this group special treatment is not a way to build confidence in the public system.”
“I could understand parents being concerned if there were vast numbers of students left idle during SRE, but we do not believe that is the case. For students who do not participate, there are many ways that they are managed during SRE. It is a rare school where such students are not meaningfully engaged during this time. Teachers and SRE providers generally work well together. In our case, we will continue to deploy 2500 voluntary teachers (trained, authorised and screened) each week. Churches and faith institutions are long established in the community, if this group wants accreditation as a religious body it should go through the normal processes.”
“I want to assure teachers that we support the job they are doing and the valuable co-operation between principals, school staff and religious groups that goes on every week all over New South Wales,” says Bishop Davies.
(Background: Non-religious ethics classes for NSW schools.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…