The Tragedy of the faux-Evangelicals
Posted on December 15, 2008
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Matt recently pointed us to a post by Christina Rees, chair of the women’s ordination pressure group WATCH (Women and the Church). The piece by Rees is one of several in the last week for the Guardian newspaper’s “Comment is Free” section.
Last week the question was raised “What should evangelicals believe?” This is, of course, a key question. Much of the fracturing amongst those who are opposed to the innovations of TEC and others in the Anglican Communion comes about because this simple question cannot be answered clearly. …
– David Ould writes at Stand Firm.
Battle within the Diocese
Posted on December 14, 2008
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“A congregation on Binghamton’s southside will remain in its church, for now.
The Church of the Good Shepherd broke free when the Diocese of Central New York decided to embrace homosexuality.
Action News reporter Erik Burling was in court as both sides made their case to claim the church…”
– from WBNG News, New York. See also this earlier post.
Religion in schools to go God-free
Posted on December 14, 2008
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Victorian state primary school students will soon have an alternative — religious education lessons taught by people who do not believe in God and say there is “no evidence of any supernatural power”.
The Humanist Society of Victoria has developed a curriculum, which the State Government accreditation body says it intends to approve, to deliver 30-minute lessons each week of “humanist applied ethics” to primary pupils. …
– The Age.
Britain heading for a “massacre of carols” this Christmas
Posted on December 14, 2008
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Traditional Christmas carols are being wrecked by politically correct vicars who are altering well-known words because they think their congregations will not understand them or will find them offensive.…
– Ruth Gledhill writes at Times Online. (Photo: Times Online.)
The Pope a Protestant?
Posted on December 13, 2008
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About once a week, the Bishop of Rome, Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger), holds a “general audience” in St Peter’s Square in which he gives instruction (catechesis) to Roman Catholics. In three of the more recent of these catechetical audiences he has sounded themes that might be taken as Protestant. …
On 19 November, as part of a larger series on Paul’s theology, he gave the first of two brief addresses on justification. …
… doubtless many readers will be tempted to stop reading and to rejoice that the Reformation is over. … That would be a mistake.
– R. Scott Clark, Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at Westminster Seminary California, looks at the Pope’s teaching in its context – at The Heidelblog.
(Image: The Vatican website.)
Robert Gagnon responds to Newsweek
Posted on December 12, 2008
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Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has written a lengthy reply to the Newsweek article (see earlier links: Newsweek goes for Gay Marriage, and Sola scriptura minus the scriptura).
Dr Gagnon’s response analyses and dismantles the Newsweek argument. Well worth reading. PDF file (direct link) at www.robgagnon.net.
(Photo: Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.)
Presiding Bishop taps Episcopal lawyers to fund TEC lawsuits
Posted on December 12, 2008
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“According to the Executive Council minutes from February and October 2008, they have pulled $900,000 in trusts just to re-establish the three dioceses – San Joaquin, Pittsburgh and Ft. Worth – that have seceded from TEC.
There will not be enough money to litigate the AMiA, CANA, Southern Cone, Kenya parishes still in their buildings, said the source. …”
– Story from VirtueOnline. (Photo: Episcopal Life Online.)
The Secularisation of the Church
Posted on December 11, 2008
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… As The Times [London] reported the story:
The Church of England should be open for use by people of any religion or none, like a hospital, says Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York.
There is a strong case for regarding the Church as a public body that does not exist simply to serve believers, he argues. Whether or not most people attend regularly is irrelevant.
This is a strange and pathetic vision of the church. No longer the assembly of believers, the church is now defined merely as a public utility.…
– Al Mohler comments. (Photo of Archbishop Semantu: Archbishop of York’s website.)
Derek Kidner (1913–2008) with the Lord
Posted on December 11, 2008
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From Justin Taylor –
“I’ve heard confirmation that OT scholar Derek Kidner has gone to be with the Lord. The memorial service was held last Friday.
Kidner, an ordained Anglican priest, held the following positions:
- Curate of St. Nicholas, Sevenoaks (1941-1947)
- Vicar of Felsted (1947-1951)
- Senior Tutor at Oak Hill Theological College (1951-1964)
- Warden of Tyndale House in Cambridge (1964-1978)
He was known for his engaging, insightful, and accessible work on the Old Testament.”
(Image: cover of Derek Kidner’s Bible Speaks Today commentary on Ecclesiastes, 1976.)
Rector’s Journal: Failed negotiations, email exchanges, an ambush…
Posted on December 10, 2008
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Matt Kennedy outlines his church’s interaction with the TEC’s Diocese of Central New York.
“On Friday December 12th, 2008, the Diocese of Central New York will attempt to takeover both the property and the assets belonging the Church of the Good Shepherd. …”
– at Stand Firm.
Sydney Standing Committee ‘warmly welcomes’ new Province
Posted on December 9, 2008
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Anglican Diocese of Sydney
Media Release 8 December 2008
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Sydney has welcomed the creation of the Province of the Anglican Church in North America.
At its December 8 meeting, the committee passed the following resolution –
“Standing Committee, noting that a provisional constitution for the Province of the Anglican Church in North America was adopted on 3 December 2008, warmly welcomes the creation of the new Province, and sends our greetings to the faithful men and women who have taken this significant step forward in gospel mission, and assures them of our prayers for God’s blessing on the Province as it works to make Jesus known and as it represents orthodox North American Anglicans in the councils of the Anglican Communion.”
Short and Packer honoured
Posted on December 9, 2008
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Distinguished Anglican theologian JI Packer and the Rev David Short have been appointed honorary clerical canons of Sydney’s St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Both Dr Packer and Mr Short had their licenses removed by the Canadian Anglican leadership when their church, St. John’s Shaughnessy in Vancouver, voted to realign with the Province of the Southern Cone. …
– Russell Powell reports at SydneyAnglicans.net
What should evangelicals believe?
Posted on December 9, 2008
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The question of the week on The Guardian ‘Comment is Free: Belief’ blog is, “What should evangelicals believe? What must an evangelical think and do to make him or her worthy of the name?”
My reply, the first of what will be five for the week, is here.
– John Richardson helpfully contributes to public debate in the UK.
Sola scriptura minus the scriptura
Posted on December 9, 2008
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I knew we had to take a look at this week’s Newsweek’s cover story when I read the first line. It was just that bad. It was written by senior editor Lisa Miller who oversees all of the magazine’s religion coverage. Which is pretty shocking when you look at the unbelievable ignorance on display in her grossly unfair first paragraph…
– Mollie Hemingway at Get Religion. (hat tip Between Two Worlds.)
Episcopal Diocese of L.A. officially condones the blessing of gay unions
Posted on December 9, 2008
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The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has announced that church leaders can bless the unions of same-sex couples as a matter of policy.
The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, whose diocese encompasses Los Angeles County and five other Southern California counties, made the announcement Friday during a diocesan convention in Riverside. …
– Report from The Los Angeles Times.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…