Letter of support for St John’s Shaughnessy
Posted on May 25, 2009
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To Canon David Short, Rev Dr Jim Packer, the wardens and the Church Council of St John’s Church Shaughnessy and other churches in the Anglican Network in Canada in Vancouver, Canada.
May 24 2009
Dear friends in Christ,
We greet you warmly as members of the Church of Christ and of the Church of England. Our Anglican Mainstream steering committee, which includes church leaders from all parts of the British Isles as well as a number of members of the Church of England’s general synod, met together on 21st May and resolved unanimously to assure you that we stand together in fellowship with you as brothers and sisters in the Christian faith and we recognize in you the marks of authentic Anglican identity, faith and practice.
We therefore send you this message of solidarity, encouragement and support in prayer as you enter a judicial process on Monday 25th June to enable you to continue to use the property and resources that God has entrusted to you in the service of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the good of all the people of Vancouver.
Yours in Christ
Dr Philip Giddings, Convenor of Anglican Mainstream
Canon Dr Chris Sugden, Executive Secretary
Bishop Wallace Benn, Trustee
on behalf of Anglican Mainstream’s Steering Committee.
– from Anglican Mainstream. See also this related letter.
Christ’s Victory over Evil — coming soon!
Posted on May 25, 2009
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“Forgive me for shamelessly plugging a book to which I have contributed, but Peter Bolt has edited the papers delivered at the 2008 Moore College School of Theology on the theme of Christ’s victory over the powers and the book is now available.
Contributions from Tony Payne, Peter Bolt, Bill Salier, Matthew Jensen, Con Campbell, Greg Anderson, Jonathan Lilley and Don West make this a very worthwhile volume indeed. An official launch of the book is scheduled for Thursday 28 May at Moore College.…”
– ACL President Mark Thompson writes on his blog about Christ’s Victory over Evil.
(Oh yes, you can order the book now – from Moore Books.)
Church of Scotland General Assembly upholds homosexual minister
Posted on May 24, 2009
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The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has voted in support of the appointment of a gay priest. Reverend Scott Rennie was appointed to a congregation in Aberdeen despite thousands of church-goers signing a petition opposing the move.
– Story from ABC News. More from Ekklesia.
(Photo: Church of Scotland.) Earlier story here.
Be Faithful! FCA launch in UK
Posted on May 24, 2009
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“The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA) is being officially launched in the UK and Ireland in London on Monday, July 6th 2009.
Be Faithful! aims to encourage and envision Anglicans committed to the orthodox teachings of the Anglican Church and passionate about global and local mission.”
– Download the brochure (PDF file – direct link) from the GAFCON website for full details.
Synod of Tasmania — Presidential Address
Posted on May 23, 2009
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Bishop John Harrower today gave the Presidential Address at the Synod of the Diocese of Tasmania —
“Dear fellow Anglicans, be encouraged by what you see God doing among us. Be strengthened in your commitment to Christ. Be resolute and enduring in your determination to stay the course, a course which under God will see Tasmanians of all ages come to faith, in a world which never needed the good news of Jesus more than it does today.”
– from the Diocese of Tasmania website (PDF file – direct download link).
Fraud upon the Communion
Posted on May 23, 2009
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“The AAC has on file most, but not all, of the incredible number of suits by TEC leadership against parishes, and now against dioceses that are leaving. The rate of litigation is actually increasing, and that was why it was so important for the 4th Moratorium to be included in the Covenant Draft, and why TEC worked so hard to make sure it didn’t get included. ”
– American Anglican Council President, David Anderson, writes in his regular commentary – at Anglican-Mainstream. (Photo: The Common Cause Partnership.)
One day, there’ll be a knock on the door…
Posted on May 22, 2009
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“Reading the Religious Intelligence report on the recent conference in the UK, Faith, Homophobia, Transphobia, & Human Rights — building positive alliances for equality and sexual diversity, I have no doubt that if not for me, then for other Christians soon, the knock will come on the door, and I will need to make sure I’ve got my toothbrush and some sugar cubes in my pocket. …”
– John Richardson on what seems to be coming – soon. At the Ugley Vicar.
On Satan’s accusations
Posted on May 22, 2009
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“So friend, when Satan attacks you as a great sinner – admit the truth of his charges. But then assert that you have a great Saviour – that Christ is that Saviour – and that He is your hope.”
– Mark Dever in a sermon on Revelation 12–14.
Resources for discipling children
Posted on May 21, 2009
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The Praise Factory is a website run by Connie Dever at Capitol Hill Baptist. It’s aim is to provide quality resources for parents and churches – to help teach systematic theology to kids from 2 years old through to 5th class.
She writes (with reference to Psalm 100) –
It is my hope and prayer that this curriculum might help children to be manufacturers of noisy joy (v.1) unto the Lord, to sing (v. 2), to know (v.3), & to worship Him with thanksgiving and praise (v.4), that the witness of His great faithfulness might continue through all generations (v.5).
With some sections still under construction, it appears to be well worth checking out! The price? Free – although you can make a donation to 9Marks. (h/t Tim Challies.)
Canada case concerns us all
Posted on May 20, 2009
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“Last week I attended a fascinating talk given at St Andrew’s, Roseville by Mrs Lesley Bentley, a churchwarden at St John’s, Shaughnessy in Vancouver. Sydney Anglicans have a greater interest in St John’s than most Canadian churches because Canon David Short, a Sydney-trained minister, is the rector…”
– Bishop Glenn Davies writes at SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo: Russell Powell.)
Carl Trueman on Luther
Posted on May 20, 2009
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Carl R. Trueman of Westminster Seminary gave a series of talks on ‘Luther and the Reformation’ – at the 2007 Reformation Heritage Conference run by Grace Presbyterian Church in Douglasville, Georgia.
Grace Presbyterian has kindly made the audio files available – here. (h/t Faith by Hearing.) Photo: Westminster Seminary.
Australia’s first parish clergyman
Posted on May 19, 2009
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Peter Bolt’s second book in the Studies in Australian Colonial History series is now available for pre-order.
“William Cowper arrived in NSW in August 1809 to become the minister at St Phillip’s Sydney. Across 49 years of ministry he must have baptised, married or buried, most of the population! Cowper was instrumental in setting up many of the social institutions that helped to establish a more wholesome society as NSW moved from penal colony to nationhood. His children were also pioneers, each in their own way, in building our nation. It is a gauge of the significance of his influence in the colony that when he died, Sydney closed down and 25,000 people lined the streets for his funeral. His impact had been strongly felt in NSW.”
– William Cowper (1778-1858): The Indispensable Parson. The Life and Influence of Australia’s First Parish Clergyman.
Details on how to pre-order the book here (PDF file).
Garage Hymnal album launch
Posted on May 19, 2009
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Garage Hymnal’s new album is being launched at St. Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday.
Details here.
Why Johnny Can’t Preach
Posted on May 19, 2009
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In a recent edition of The White Horse Inn broadcast, Michael Horton spoke with T. David Gordon, author of Why Johnny Can’t Preach: The Media Have Shaped The Messengers.
The programme may be heard at OnePlace – and the book is available at Reformers’ Bookshop.
Monday morning encouragement
Posted on May 18, 2009
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At Desiring God, Bill Walsh writes briefly on ‘The Main Thing to Rejoice About in Ministry’ –
‘Praise God for the times of effective ministry that he allows us to experience. If you’re like me you get excited when you see the fruitfulness of any ministry that God calls you to do. It is a thrill to see him at work, putting to use the gifts and callings that he has granted to us for the cause of the Kingdom.
But in Luke 10 Christ challenges us to test our own hearts, by examining what we rejoice in most.’
– Food for thought at the Desiring God blog.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…