Podcast: The Doctrine of the Church of England
Posted on October 25, 2023
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The latest from Church Society:
“The podcast miniseries on the Church of England continues with an exploration of the Church of England’s doctrine. Ros Clarke, Kirsten Birkett and Lee Gatiss explain what doctrine is, how Anglican doctrine was established, what constitutes heresy, and how false teaching is supposed to be dealt with in the church.
Previous episodes in this series examine what the Church of England is, what the current crisis entails, and how the church can change.”
– Listen here.
Freedom23 — Freedom for Faith National Conference
Posted on October 25, 2023
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The 2023 Freedom for Faith National Conference is coming up at Village Church Annandale on Monday 6th November.
Details and booking from their website.
Rolling out the Global Anglican rescue – with Archbishop Justin Badi Arama
Posted on October 24, 2023
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“Slowly, carefully, but quite deliberately, a new locus of leadership is emerging within the global Anglican Communion, a locus that significantly is intentionally focussed on Christ and biblical authority and not focussed on London, England or the Archbishop of Canterbury.
An important meeting of the Primates of the Global South and other leader of the Anglican Community has just wrapped up in Cairo.
Significantly and surprisingly the 13 orthodox Primates were joined at their meeting by Nicky Gumbel, the pioneer of the Alpha Course and London’s Holy Trinity Brompton’s massive UK church planting network.”
Are You Listening to Yourself?
Posted on October 24, 2023
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“A verse that encourages me greatly, in preaching, is Jesus’ words in John 10:27:
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
When we communicate God’s word, it gathers the sheep, the sheep come to listen, they recognise Jesus voice.
Its encouraging, because God’s truth attracts God’s people, so when I am discouraged by small numbers, this verse reminds me – God’s people listen to God’s voice, and want to hear Him speak to them through His word, and faithful preaching. …”
– At The Expository Preaching Trust, Jim Mobbs encourages preachers to listen to their own sermons.
Picture: Detail from “The Evangelist”, a painting of Arthur Stace preaching in the open air, by artist David Lever.
Communique from GSFA leaders meeting in Cairo
Posted on October 23, 2023
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Leaders of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches have just released this Communique after their meeting in Cairo last week –
“Anglican orthodox leaders met at All Saints’ Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt from 17th – 19th October 2023. The theme for the meeting was ‘I will make you as a light to the nations’ (Isaiah49: 6b). This resonates deeply with the essence of our faith and the mission of the Church.
In his opening address, the chairman of GSFA, Archbishop Justin Badi encouraged us as followers of Jesus to be bearers of God’s light by living and proclaiming His Truth in a sin-ruined and broken world. …”
Also see this summary of the meeting:
GSFA brings hope and builds orthodox unity in the Anglican Communion
Update:
Historic meeting backs world mission and a ‘firewall’ against false teaching – Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net
David Short shares his Journey of Faith; Leadership and Surviving a Split in the Anglican Church of Canada
Posted on October 22, 2023
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“The tectonic plates of global Anglicanism have shifted and are realigning around the theology of Scripture and the gospel.
The shifting surfaced first in our diocese which was strongly theologically liberal. When the bishop announced he would proceed with the blessing of same sex unions, we walked out of Synod and appealed for alternative episcopal oversight from the Canadian house of bishops. The bishop brought charges against us and we then entered years of processes from the national and international church – all under the hostility and threats of the diocese.
It was our view that we had not left anything, but it was in fact the diocese which had abandoned biblical historical orthodoxy. …”
– David Virtue speaks with David Short, Moore College graduate who continues to serve Christ in Vancouver.
Related:
The Good Fight of Faith – Links to a 2022 interview with David and Bronwyn Short by Simon Manchester for Southern Cross magazine – and other relevant pages.
Many other posts on this website.
Image: David during a GAFCON online tribute to J I Packer in 2020.
Young clergy and ordinands push back against gay blessings proposals
Posted on October 21, 2023
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“Over one hundred men and women training for ordination in the Church of England have written a public letter warning the church was set to ‘fracture’ should the House of Bishops’ Living in Love and Faith (LLF) proposals on same-sex blessings be adopted.…”
– George Conger writes at Anglican.ink.
The letter begins:
“Dear Bishops and Archbishops,
We write to you from a broad coalition of those who share a call to ordained ministry in the Church of England. We include people within the discernment process, in training, and those in their diaconate year. At the time of writing we span ten training institutions and twenty-six dioceses. This group draws men and women from varied backgrounds including the HTB and New Wine networks, conservative evangelicals and traditional Anglicans, all of whom care deeply for and are heavily invested in the Church of England.
As those in whom you have invested, who you are preparing for decades of ministry, we need to convey our grief in seeing the current direction of travel concerning the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF). …”
– Read it all here. (PDF file)
Also in the Church of England:
Racial justice pilgrims [from London] visit Anglican Communion Office during tour of London – Anglican Communion News Service.
The promise of life — some thoughts on 2 Timothy
Posted on October 21, 2023
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“What is the primary role of the Christian pastor?
The question might yield a variety of different responses today. For the definitive answer, however, we need look no further than 2 Timothy.
As Paul sends final instructions to his ‘child’, his own execution imminent, priorities are set forth with unequivocal lucidity.”
– St. Helen’s Bishopsgate has published the latest audio reflection on 2 Timothy by Dick Lucas. An encouragement for pastors as well as members of churches. 14 minutes.
(Dick turned 98 last month. Do give thanks for him and pray for him in his continuing ministry of gospel encouragement.)
Related – from ten years ago:
Judgement, Salvation & the Living and the Dead – Dick Lucas Sermon Jam
Halloween Interview – Ian Carmichael
Posted on October 20, 2023
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“Ian Carmichael is a publishing consultant for Matthias Media and author of the publishing company’s first Halloween-themed tract.
The ACR caught up with Ian to hear about some of the opportunities we can take advantage of at this time of year. …”
– Read the interview at The Australian Church Record.
Canberra & Goulburn Diocese gives thanks for Professor John White
Posted on October 20, 2023
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“John White was a longtime parishioner of St John’s, Reid, and former Professor of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry at ANU. He is widely known in the scientific community for his work on neutron scattering, was a Fellow of the Royal Society of London and a Fellow and Honorary Fellow of St John’s College, Oxford.
John was Chairman of the Oxford-Australia Scholarships Committee and held a number of other significant roles during his long and accomplished life.
John was passionately interested in the relationship between Christianity and Science. He was a founder and former President of ISCAST (Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology), and a member of the Council Wycliffe Hall (Oxford) and St Mark’s National Theological College (Canberra). …”
– The latest issue of Anglican News from the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn includes a tribute to Professor John White. See pages 12-14 of the Sept / Oct 2023 edition (PDF file).
D. A. Carson’s Theological Method
Posted on October 19, 2023
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“In 2011, the Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology published my article ‘D. A. Carson’s Theological Method.’
In 2023, Crossway has published a book of essays by D. A. Carson in which I update my 2011 article, and Crossway has graciously granted me permission to upload a PDF of my updated essay on my website…”
– See Andy Naselli’s updated article at his website.
George Whitefield College newsletter October 2023
Posted on October 18, 2023
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The October 2023 newsletter from George Whitefield College in Cape Town has been released.
For your encouragement and your prayers, download the PDF file here – or see select articles on their website.
Who is Noticing?
Posted on October 18, 2023
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Posted last week at the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches website, Bishop Keith Sinclair reflects on Ephesians 6 and asks who is noticing what is happening in the churches –
“It turns out that the ones who are noticing what is happening in the church are not disinterested observers, but those opposed to all that God has established in the gospel and made manifest in the life of the church.
What happens in the church matters not only to those in the church, but also in the cosmic struggle with the rulers of darkness and the powers of evil.”
Photo: Bishop Keith Sinclair at GAFCON IV in Kigali in April 2023.
(See his remarks here.)
Interrogating identity: From philosophical theories to Biblical wisdom – with Chris Watkin
Posted on October 17, 2023
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From The Pastor’s Heart –
“We traverse the historical landscape of identity, starting from Descartes’ cogito ergo sum or ‘I think, therefore I am,’ to the current age where identity has become a commodity.
Chris Watkin, the award-winning author of Biblical Critical Theory, helps us understand possessive individualism, starting with John Locke, expressive individualism, and how both terms help us grapple with modern identity formation.
Plus, we probe into the delicate balance between dignity and humility in the context of human identity.”
Related:
Andrew Moody reviewers Biblical Critical Theory at The Gospel Coalition Australia.
The book is available from Christian booksellers, including The Wandering Bookseller.
My Greatest Recommendation for Kids – Best News Ever
Posted on October 17, 2023
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“Recently, a friend was telling me about a poll they conducted among the parents at their church. One question asked about whether the parents read the Bible regularly with their kids at home. They were surprised to find that only about ten percent of families did. Anecdotally, I’d say that seems a pretty fair representation of churches more widely. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Jocelyn Loane has some practical help.
(Available from The Wandering Bookseller.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…