We are contending for the Faith: Fort Worth
Posted on November 13, 2008
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“Contending for the Faith” is the theme of this year’s Diocesan Convention, and it aptly describes what lies at the heart of the controversy that surrounds us.
Others have argued that it is a matter of contending for property, or contending for the authority of The Episcopal Church over us, or contending for homosexual rights in the church. But these are simply some of the side issues confronting us.
The real issue is the faith. We are taking a stand for the historic faith and practice of the Bible, as we have received them, and against the continuing erosion of that faith by TEC. This Diocese stands for orthodox Christianity. TEC stands for a revisionist and compromised version of what the Church has always taught..…
– Bishop Jack Iker writes as the Fort Worth Convention on November 14 and 15 draws closer.
Lambeth 2008 – a retrospect
Posted on November 12, 2008
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“… The most blatant example of TEC’s attempt to influence the conference occurred in the Lambeth Witness, published by Integrity USA, which as the only daily publication on campus, was often mistaken to be the official Lambeth Daily, which had no paper edition in 2008. In the Lambeth Witness, Bishop Catherine Roskam from TEC suggested that statistically at least some of the bishops at the conference were wife-beaters, and that there were incidences of wife-beating in some African nations. This was widely seen as an attempt to undermine the Sudanese and other Africans who had been outspoken on issues of sexuality…”
– Chris Sugden offers some insightful reflections on Lambeth 2008 – at Anglican Mainstream. Worth reading.
Gospel Coalition media archive
Posted on November 12, 2008
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“The Gospel Coalition has recently revamped its website, and it now holds 8,480 audio files and 842 video files. This archive has very nice topic and speaker indexes, and categories of sermons, Q&A, conference messages and interviews. This is a motherload of materials.”
– Thanks to Faith by Hearing for the tip.
Anglican Church of Canada on Facebook
Posted on November 10, 2008
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The Anglican Church of Canada, looking for a new way to reach the faithful, has launched its own official page on the popular social networking site Facebook.
“It’s an exciting new step for us,” Brian Bukowski, Web manager for the church, told the Anglican Journal…
– Story from The Toronto Star.
The Two ‘Courts’
Posted on November 9, 2008
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“There are two ‘courts’ we must deal with: the court of God in Heaven and the court of conscience in our souls.
When we first trust in Christ for salvation, God’s court is forever satisfied. Never again will a charge of guilt be brought against us in Heaven. Our consciences, however, are continually pronouncing us guilty. That is the function of conscience. Therefore, we must by faith bring the verdict of conscience into line with the verdict of Heaven. We do this by agreeing with our conscience about our guilt, but then reminding it that our guilt has already been borne by Christ.”
– Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace. (With thanks to Of First Importance.)
Diocese of Quincy votes to re-align
Posted on November 8, 2008
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The annual Synod of the Diocese of Quincy, Illinois tonight voted overwhelmingly to remove The Episcopal Church from the accession clause of the diocesan constitution and to join the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone.
The vote to leave The Episcopal Church was carried by 41 votes to 14 by the clergy and by 54 votes to12 by the laity. The decision to join the Province of the Southern Cone on a temporary basis was approved by 46 votes to 4 by the clergy order and by 55 votes to 8 by the lay members of the Synod.
– from Forward in Faith.
Bob Duncan re-elected Bishop of Pittsburgh
Posted on November 8, 2008
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Bishop Robert Duncan is once again the diocesan bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Clergy and lay deputies to a special convention of the diocese on November 7 voted to invite Bishop Duncan back into leadership of the diocese 50 days after the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church voted to remove (“depose”) him…
– Full report from the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Niagara moves ahead on same-sex blessings
Posted on November 8, 2008
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After three Anglican churches left its ranks this year over what they saw as a growing departure from biblical doctrine, the Niagara diocese has taken a further step toward conducting ceremonies to bless same-sex couples who have already been civilly married.
The Diocese of Niagara announced yesterday it will discuss its bishop’s proposal to proceed with determining the ceremonial process to be used in the blessing of same-sex marriages. The discussion will be held tomorrow at its synod, or annual general meeting…
– Story from The Hamilton Spectator. (Photo: Diocese of Niagara.)
What we do matters
Posted on November 7, 2008
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One impact of Tractarianism has been that practices that had not happened in the Church of England for 300 years were reintroduced, tolerated, permitted and now in a few cases almost prescribed.
Although evangelicals at first opposed these things as springing from a different gospel, along the way many seem to have become numbed to them and even adopted the practices for themselves…
– Church Society General Secretary David Phillips writes on vestments, eucharistic practice, and international Anglicanism. (Direct link to PDF file, courtesy of Church Society.)
Free money for new lives
Posted on November 6, 2008
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On December 8th 2008, all Australian families who receive Family Tax Benefit A will be given $1000 per child in order to ‘boost the economy’.
Students at Moore College had the idea of challenging Christians to give away half of the ‘free money’ they receive to help care for women who have had an abortion; those who are considering abortion; and also their unborn children. They seek to do this in three specific ways:
- To support and grow Anglicare’s Carramar Early Interventions, a safe-house and support program that cares for young pregnant women in adverse circumstances who want to keep their child.
- To support Women’s Forum Australia, an independent women’s think tank that conducts research, education and public policy development about a range of issues that affect women. WFA brings together women from diverse backgrounds, and works across the usual political and religious divides, to advocate for life affirming, pro-woman alternatives to abortion which would enhance women’s freedom to have their babies.
- To produce a high quality TV style ad campaign showcasing interviews with women who have had abortions and who want to speak out. Distributed via the internet, it will point pregnant women to a website with links to quality pro life counseling services across Australia, and with reliable information on abortion and its alternatives.
It sounds like a great idea. Read all about it at www.freemoneyfornewlives.com.au – and please pass on the link to others.
Come over to help us – at Mingenew
Posted on November 6, 2008
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A rural ministry position has become vacant at Mingenew near Geraldton in Western Australia for a self-funded Bible teacher.
Perhaps the Lord is calling you there.
Read the information from Bishop David Mulready in this PDF file.
See a map here. (Graphic: base image from Google maps.)
California voters approve gay marriage ban – but not TEC
Posted on November 6, 2008
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After one of the costliest, most rancorous and divisive campaigns in state history, California voters on November 4 narrowly approved Proposition 8, a ban on same-sex marriage. …
In a statement released November 5, Bishop Marc Andrus of the San Francisco-based Diocese of California said: “The recognition of the civil rights of lesbian, gay, transgendered and bisexual people is part of the broad shift in consciousness towards which we are moving. … Perseverance, knowing that God continues to travel with those who are disenfranchised, is a path we know.”…
– report from Episcopal Life Online. (Photo of Bishop Marc Andrus: Diocese of California.)
Praying for President-elect Obama
Posted on November 6, 2008
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Well, my country and much of the rest of the world are electric with the election of Barack Obama as the new President of the United States of America. To say that it is historic, is a gross understatement.
Justin Taylor and Al Mohler, have both inspired some reflection on the question of how we as Christians –Bible-believing, Reformed, Christians– ought to pray for him, and I have freely borrowed many of their words and thoughts on this. But here are some ideas for leading our people to pray for our President-Elect. Barack Obama…
– At Reformation21, Ligon Duncan offers some initial thoughts on how Christians must pray.
(Photo: First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Hat tip: Justin Taylor.)
California: ‘Gay marriage ban leading’
Posted on November 6, 2008
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A measure to once again ban gay marriage in California led Tuesday, throwing into doubt the unions of an estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who wed during the last 4 1/2 months…
Eight years ago, Californians voted 61% to define marriage as being only between a man and a woman. The California Supreme Court overturned that measure…
– Report from The Los Angeles Times.
See also Arizona and Florida ban ‘gay marriage’.
America has chosen a President
Posted on November 6, 2008
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… Evangelical Christians face another challenge with the election of Sen. Obama, and a failure to rise to this challenge will bring disrepute upon the Gospel, as well as upon ourselves. There must be absolutely no denial of the legitimacy of President-Elect Obama’s election and no failure to accord this new President the respect and honour due to anyone elected to that high office. Failure in this responsibility is disobedience to a clear biblical command.…
– Al Mohler writes on the responsibilities ahead for Christian people after yesterday’s US election.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…