Vancouver-area parishes’ case to be heard on May 25
Posted on January 9, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on Vancouver-area parishes’ case to be heard on May 25
Press release from the Anglican Network in Canada: 7 January 2009
The trial involving four Vancouver-area Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) churches and the Anglican Church of Canada’s (ACoC) Diocese of New Westminster will begin on May 25 in British Columbia Supreme Court. Three weeks have been set aside to hear the case.
The four parishes – St. Matthew’s (Abbotsford), St Matthias and 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 ACoC diocese. Read more
Preach or Perish: a Review
Posted on January 9, 2009
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Preach or Perish: a Review
ACL President Dr Mark Thompson reviews Preach or Perish, edited by Don Howard –
There is a quite vigorous and exciting debate about preaching taking place in Sydney at the moment. All the participants are convinced of the importance of preaching. They know how critical effective preaching is to the life and growth of Christian congregations. Yet there seems to be a widespread sense of a need to lift the standard of preaching across our city in order to honour our Lord and edify his people.
On the one hand, dry and disengaged literary studies are boring the socks off some congregations. It feels as if pages are being read from a commentary with little concern about how this part of the Bible addresses life as a follower of Christ in the twenty-first century. On the other hand, the life-giving word of God can be so easily swamped by the repartee of the Christian entertainer. The skill of the preacher becomes the focus of attention rather than the power, love and holiness of the God whose word he dares to speak.
Every preacher I know wants to preach better and there is no end to the list of people who want to tell us how. Yet few combine a commitment to handling the Bible responsibly with a concern to communicate effectively as consistently as the contributors to this new book edited by Donald Howard. Donald is known as a trainer of preachers, a pastor concerned that God’s people are built up in faith by the effective application of the word of God to the lives of real people. He is just as disturbed by trite story telling and moralising and as by undigested and poorly communicated profundity. And he is a long-standing member of the ACL!
This collection of brief essays by preachers who have given their lives to helping men and women come to faith — and more, to grow in maturity in faith — through hearing and responding to the word of God, is full of wisdom and help for preachers of all ages. It demonstrates yet again that it is not only the latest internet gurus who know what makes good preaching and what hinders it. Theology and practice come together in an extraordinary way which will challenge old preachers and set good patterns for young ones.
With contributions from the editor, John Chapman, Peter Jensen, Marcus Loane, Donald Robinson, Kel Richards, Dudley Foord, David Cook, and many others, readers are treated to insights into preaching from preachers who have honoured Christ and served his people, not just in a short burst of popularity, but consistently over many years.
If you want to improve your preaching or improve your appreciation of preaching and all that it involves, you’ll benefit from reading this book. It is worth learning the lesson that good principles are lasting principles. I warmly commend it.
Mark D Thompson.
(“Preach or perish – Reaching the hearts and minds of the world today”, edited by Donald Howard, is available from MooreBooks for $25.)
Tribute to Derek Kidner
Posted on January 3, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on Tribute to Derek Kidner
In early December, Bishop John B Taylor spoke at a service of celebration for the life of Derek Kidner, who had fallen asleep in Christ a week or so earlier. He gave thanks for his scholarship and ministry – and for “his priceless legacy of book after book on the Bible”.
Oak Hill College has made the text of Bishop Taylor’s tribute available on their website.
(Photo of Derek Kidner: Oak Hill College.)
UK: Draft legislation to consecrate Women Bishops
Posted on January 2, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on UK: Draft legislation to consecrate Women Bishops
“Earlier this week the first draft was published of legislation to permit women to be consecrated as bishops in the Church of England. The draft will be considered by the General Synod in February and it must either be rejected or passed a Revision Committee, the latter being by far the most likely outcome.
… the legislation is not making provision for alternative oversight, but just a form of delegated oversight. Opponents have consistently said that delegated oversight is inadequate.”
– David Phillips, General Secretary of Church Society at Church Society’s EVnews.
Abp of Canterbury’s New Year Message
Posted on January 2, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on Abp of Canterbury’s New Year Message
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s New Year message is now available at the Anglican Communion News Service.
(Photo: Lambeth Conference media.)
FiF Aust responds to Bishop Kay Goldsworthy
Posted on January 1, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on FiF Aust responds to Bishop Kay Goldsworthy
Forward in Faith Australia has released this statement:
“The Council of Forward in Faith Australia Inc takes great exception to Bishop Kay Goldsworthy’s statement reported in the Sydney Morning Herald that those who oppose the ordination of women ‘will never accept that God is calling women to leadership in the church’.
This denigrates the great women in the past as well as the present who are leaders in the Church. …”
– Full statement available at the FIF website. (Photo: Diocese of Perth.)
ESV Bible Reading plans
Posted on January 1, 2009
Filed under Resources Comments Off on ESV Bible Reading plans
If there’s one thing most of us need to work on in 2009, it’s reading the Bible more regularly and systematically.
The people at ESV.org have assembled a helpful range of Bible Reading plans and made them available in a range of formats.
Want to be reminded each day of the passages to read? Want to receive it by e-mail? Read it on your iPhone? Even the Book of Common Prayer’s lectionary (in ESV) is available.
See ESV.org for details. (Hat tip to Justin Taylor, who has links to even more plans.)
Women bishops want male authority
Posted on December 31, 2008
Filed under News Comments Off on Women bishops want male authority
Women bishops must enjoy the same authority as their male counterparts if they are placed in charge of an Anglican diocese, say two pioneering Australian churchwomen.
Barbara Darling, who was consecrated Assistant Bishop of Melbourne this year, said she opposed any plan that would diminish traditional authority of bishops over their dioceses. …
– Report from The Sydney Morning Herald. (Photo: Australian women bishops Barbara Darling and Kay Goldsworthy – by Janine Eastlake / Anglican Media Melbourne.).
Latest Australian Church Record out now
Posted on December 30, 2008
Filed under News Comments Off on Latest Australian Church Record out now
Released just in time for Christmas, the latest issue of the web-only newspaper, The Australian Church Record, is now online.
The 700kb December 2008 issue is available in PDF form at australianchurchrecord.net.
The Advent of Humility
Posted on December 30, 2008
Filed under Resources Comments Off on The Advent of Humility
Innumerable Christmas devotionals point out the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth—among shepherds, in a crude stable, with a feed trough for a bassinet. When Jesus himself tried to summarise why people should take up the yoke of following him, he said it was because he was meek and humble (Matt. 11:29).
Seldom, however, do we explore the full implications of how Jesus’ radical humility shapes the way we live our lives every day. …
– Tim Keller on humility – at Christianity Today (just before Christmas). (h/t Between TwoWorlds)
C of E drafts women bishops legislation
Posted on December 30, 2008
Filed under News Comments Off on C of E drafts women bishops legislation
The Church of England published draft legislation Monday that could allow the ordination of women bishops – an issue that has provoked deep splits among Anglicans.
The proposed measures will go up for debate by the church’s General Synod governing body at a meeting in February. …
As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God
Posted on December 28, 2008
Filed under Opinion Comments Off on As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God
“Before Christmas I returned, after 45 years, to the country that as a boy I knew as Nyasaland. Today it’s Malawi, and The Times Christmas Appeal includes a small British charity working there. Pump Aid helps rural communities to install a simple pump, letting people keep their village wells sealed and clean. I went to see this work.
It inspired me, renewing my flagging faith in development charities. But travelling in Malawi refreshed another belief, too: one I’ve been trying to banish all my life, but an observation I’ve been unable to avoid since my African childhood.…”
– The Times columnist Matthew Parris makes some interesting observations.
(Photo: Times Online.)
Communicate Jesus
Posted on December 25, 2008
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Communicate Jesus
Helpful new Sydney-based website from Steve Kryger. Ideas and resources “to help churches and Christian ministries as they seek to communicate Jesus”.
Worth seeing – at communicatejesus.com
Priest ‘ruins Christmas’ for kids
Posted on December 24, 2008
Filed under News Comments Off on Priest ‘ruins Christmas’ for kids
A Catholic priest has been criticised by parents in a city in northern Italy for telling their children that Father Christmas does not really exist. …
– ‘Shocking’ story from BBC News about telling the truth.
Can a Christian deny the Virgin Birth?
Posted on December 24, 2008
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Can a Christian deny the Virgin Birth?
Can a true Christian deny the virgin birth? This question would perplex the vast majority of Christians throughout the centuries, but modern denials of biblical truth make the question tragically significant. …
The great quest of liberal theology has been to invent a Jesus who is stripped of all supernatural power, deity, and authority.
– Al Mohler provides an overview of modern attacks on the virgin birth.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…