Williams hails apparitions at Lourdes
Posted on October 3, 2008
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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has become the first Primate of the Church of England to accept visions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes as historical fact.
In a homily at an international Mass in Lourdes on the Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham last week, Dr Williams implied that he believed 18 visions of Our Lady experienced by St Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 were true…
– The Catholic Herald reports.
Pittsburgh final communiqué before vote
Posted on October 2, 2008
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Pittsburgh’s Coalition for Realignment has issued a final pre-convention communiqué with 4 reasons to give a resounding YES to realignment at this Saturday’s vote.
It’s available here as a PDF file.
And the Diocese is organising a ‘Moving Forward in Mission’ Conference on November 7 and 8.
The Passions of the Marian Martyrs: Lessons for the Anglican Communion
Posted on October 2, 2008
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Evangelical Christians within the Western branches of the Anglican Communion face continual hostility because of their commitment to Jesus Christ and the biblical gospel, as is increasingly apparent with every year that passes.
To become a gospel minister within the Anglican churches of Britain and North America now requires a willingness to face a lifetime of bullying and scorn, not least from neighbouring clergy and the episcopal bench. We cease to be surprised at scandalous tales of harassment of the godly by power-thirsty bishops. Ministers have their licences revoked, their church buildings confiscated, their stipends stopped, their families expelled from their rectories, simply because they insist on obeying God before men.
The persecution of the saints by those in positions of ecclesiastical power has become an established part of life within the Anglican Communion in the West. Yet we have been here before. …
– Dr. Andrew Atherstone, Tutor in History & Doctrine and Latimer Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, wrote this article (direct link to PDF file) for Churchman in 2006. Sobering reading.
Thanks to Church Society. (Photo: Wycliffe Hall.)
GAFCON Primates’ Council on the ‘deposition’ of Bishop Duncan
Posted on October 1, 2008
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This statement has just been released –
Statement by the Primates’ Council of GAFCON on the alleged deposition of the Bishop of Pittsburgh.
The fact, timing and manner of the action taken by the American House of Bishops toward Bishop Bob Duncan of Pittsburgh has filled us with dismay. He is a Bishop in good standing in the Anglican Communion, and is guilty only of guarding his people from false teaching and corrupt behaviour as he promised to do. Once more the upholders of the orthodox faith are made to suffer at the hands of those who have introduced new teachings.
However, the action has also had the effect of clarifying matters even further. It is now impossible to believe that the exhortations of the Lambeth Conference and the Windsor Continuation Group will be heeded. No Pastoral Forum has been established. We remain convinced that the faithful Anglicans of North America need to have their own Province recognised by the Communion as a whole. We are determined to stand with Bishop Duncan and those who, like him, have protested in the name of God against the unscriptural innovations which have caused such divisions amongst us.
In the absence of other substantive provision from the historic structures of the Communion, the Primates’ Council gives its full support to Archbishop Greg Venables in receiving Bishop Duncan as a Bishop in good standing in the Province of the Southern Cone.
1st October 2008
(Photo: Joy Gwaltney.)
Jensen on responding to Driscoll
Posted on October 1, 2008
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Recently Sydney has had the pleasure of hearing an American preacher, Pastor Mark Driscoll. In a two-week period he spoke in many venues, including the Cathedral.
In the Cathedral he twice addressed a packed gathering of Christian workers. His second address was a challenge to our evangelistic ministry of the gospel in this city. He lovingly told us of eighteen problems that he saw we had. It was an address that has caused some considerable discussion amongst Sydney’s evangelical community.
Since that address I have been approached by many people wanting my opinion on Mark Driscoll and in particular on his critique of Sydney’s evangelism.…
– Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, writes in the Cathedral newsletter.
(Image: Anglican Media Sydney.)
‘Cult’s teachings deemed heretical’
Posted on September 30, 2008
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“The Presbyterian Church of Australia has declared heretical six principal teachings of a cult inside a Melbourne Presbyterian church, and ordered that the church’s findings against the cult be read at every Presbyterian congregation in Australia.
The declaration, to be released today, vindicates the church in its decade-long battle to expel the cult…”
– Story by Barney Zwartz in The Age.
Desiring God Conference files online
Posted on September 29, 2008
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The 2008 Desiring God Conference was held in Minneapolis over the weekend. Sinclair Ferguson, Bob Kauflin, Mark Driscoll and John Piper and others spoke.
Following their normal practice, the people at Desiring God have generously made the transcripts, audio and video files of the conference available.
John Piper’s talk on Is There Christian Eloquence? Clear Words and the Wonder of the Cross is particularly helpful –
“There is a way to speak the gospel—a way of eloquence or cleverness or human wisdom—that nullifies the cross. I dread nullifying the cross, and therefore it is urgent that I know what this eloquence-cleverness-wisdom of words is, so I can avoid it.”
See all the files at Desiring God. (Note that each video file is approx. 200MB.)
Another church votes to join ANiC
Posted on September 29, 2008
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St. Aidan’s Anglican Church in Windsor, Ontario, Joins the Anglican Network in Canada.
“At a special vestry meeting held earlier today, St Aidan’s became the 19th ANiC parish and the 11th former Anglican Church of Canada parish to vote to join ANiC this year. The vote was:
- 109 In Favour
- 0 Against
- 0 Abstained. The vote was unanimous.”
– from the St. Aidan’s website. The ANiC has issued this press release.
The Problem of Heresy
Posted on September 28, 2008
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Next weekend the Diocese of Pittsburgh holds its special diocesan convention to consider separating from The Episcopal Church. The Rev. Christopher Klukas, Rector of a church in that diocese, has written a helpful analysis of what happens when heresy in a denomination is not challenged.
“But how did we get to this point? How did the Church become so corrupt? … The roots of our present problems go as far back as 150 – 200 years. The situation didn’t become acute, however, until the 1960s. It was at this time that Bishop James Pike published a book called ‘A Time for Christian Candor.’ In this work he openly denied such basic doctrines as the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Virgin birth.”
Download the PDF document here, courtesy of Chris Klukas. (Photo of Bishop James Pike: Grace Cathedral, San Francisco.)
Pittsburgh bishop will not appeal deposition
Posted on September 27, 2008
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The Bishop of Pittsburgh, the Rt Rev Robert Duncan has said he will not appeal against the ruling, as bishops worldwide condemned the Episcopal Church of the manner of his deposition.
He said: “I’m very sad, sad for the Episcopal Church. In 15 days the diocese will determine whether it too wants to be part of the Southern Cone and figure out whether it wants me back as bishop. That is up to the diocese, although I have a sneaking suspicion they will want me back.” …
– Report from Religious Intelligence. (As of today, the vote is seven days away – starting on Saturday 4th October.)
Archbishop Orombi pledges support for Bishop Bob Duncan
Posted on September 26, 2008
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Dear Bishop Duncan,
I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the name above all names, and the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I have very intentionally addressed this letter to you as Bishop Duncan, for, indeed, you are a Bishop. …
– Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, Primate of Uganda, writes to support Bishop Bob Duncan. Full text at the American Anglican Council.
(Photo: Joy Gwaltney.)
Synod Survival Guide now online
Posted on September 26, 2008
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Many members of Sydney Synod have expressed their appreciation for the previous editions of Robert Tong’s The Synod Survival Guide.
Published by the ACL as a service to members of Synod, the Guide is a clear and helpful introduction to what goes on at Synod and is highly recommended for new members of Synod.
Now in its 4th edition, it is available now as a free PDF download.
As well, Synod members can request a free printed copy – and we’ll mail it as soon as we get it back from the printers. And copies will also be available at the ACL Synod Dinner (PDF invitation).
Go to our Synod Survival Guide section for details.
ACL Synod Dinner bookings now open
Posted on September 25, 2008
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The 2008 ACL Synod Dinner is set for Monday 13th October – in the Chapter House of St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
The dinner is open to all Synod members, all ACL members, and others who would like to hear about ‘GAFCON – the inside story’. Allison Street and Bishop Glenn Davies – members of the Sydney team at GAFCON – will be sharing on what really happened at this crucial Anglican meeting.
Tickets only $15 each. Pay at the door, but bookings essential.
Download your invitation for details on how to reply – a 265kb PDF file.
Another church departs TEC
Posted on September 25, 2008
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More than 300 members, 90% of the congregation of St. John’s Episcopal Church in New Braunfels, have left The Episcopal Church citing the church’s failure to uphold the authority of Holy Scripture – and recent sexual innovations including the consecration of an openly homosexual priest to the episcopacy.…
– Full report from VirtueOnline. (Photo: St. John’s church.)
Carson on works of mercy
Posted on September 25, 2008
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In many parts of the evangelical world, one hears a new debate—or, more precisely, new chapters in an old debate—regarding the precise place that ‘deeds of mercy’ ought to have in Christian witness. … the debate between those Christians who say that we should primarily be about the business of heralding the gospel and planting churches, and those who say that our responsibility as Christians extends to the relief of oppression, suffering, and poverty in all their forms. …
– In the light of the TEC/CofE focus on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, Don Carson’s editorial in the current issue of Themelios is especially worth reading. (hat tip Justin Taylor.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…