Lambeth Conference to go ahead ‘with most of the bishops present’
Posted on January 26, 2008
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“Seventy per cent of bishops have said yes to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s invitation to attend this year’s Lambeth Conference. …”
Full report from The Church Times
GAFCON Travel Plans?
Posted on January 26, 2008
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“We have heard that GAFCON has aroused considerable interest and enthusiasm. We would encourage those who are planning visits to the Holy Land to coincide with GAFCON to await the announcement of the venue and the exact start and finish dates before making final plans.
The GAFCON Leadership Team.”
Latest news from the Global Anglican Future Conference website.
J I Packer on the state of the Anglican Communion
Posted on January 26, 2008
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Widely respected theologian J I Packer has spoken about the current state of the Anglican Communion in an interview with VirtueOnline.
“I expect congregations in TEC and the ACIC being fed on liberal theology will continue to wither on the vine as they have done for the last half century. Liberal theology, without the gospel, proves to be the smell of death rather than of life.”
A Case Study in American Religion
Posted on January 25, 2008
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Dr. Michael Horton and friends at The White Horse Inn broadcast are asking, ‘Why is Joel Osteen [Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston] so popular?’
In their online series on ‘Christless Christianity’, this week they examine the teaching given at one of America’s largest churches. Listen online at ‘The White Horse Inn’.
John Piper on A Common Word
Posted on January 25, 2008
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John Piper from Desiring God discusses a loving Christian response to the “A Common Word Between Us and You” letter written by Muslim scholars in October 2007.
You can read the ‘Common Word’ letter here, and watch John Piper’s response here (9 minutes).
CoE complaint about churches with no Bibles
Posted on January 24, 2008
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“They may be found in every hotel bedroom, and are widely available in prisons and hospitals, but members of the clergy claim one of the last places you will find a Bible is in a church.
The absence of the Word of God from the pews is of such concern to the Church of England that it is to debate the issue at the next meeting of its General Synod, or “Parliament”, next month. The complaint was raised by Tim Cox, a Synod member from Blackpool, who said he had been dismayed to discover that churches he visited “all too often” had no Bibles for worshippers to follow the readings and the sermon. …”
Full story from the UK Telegraph.
Evangelical Religion – J C Ryle
Posted on January 24, 2008
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Written 130 years ago, Bishop John Charles Ryle’s tract on “Evangelical Religion” is still essential reading. The first Bishop of Liverpool in the UK, Ryle fought valiantly for the authority of the Scriptures in the Church of England.
“Since many religious disputes have arisen solely because there has been a lack of accurate definition, I am beginning this paper by explaining exactly what I mean by ‘Evangelical Religion’.”
The precise challenges faced by Ryle have changed, yet the need to ground the Christian life in the Bible remains. You can read his tract here.
Helpful Sermons
Posted on January 23, 2008
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‘Faith by Hearing’ is a very useful index of online audio content from solid expository preachers. There is a great treasure of material compiled by Todd Shaffer in Montreal.
Currently featuring links to talks by Don Carson and many others.
See Faith by Hearing.
Australia Day Convention at the Cathedral
Posted on January 22, 2008
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On Monday January 28th, St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney is host to the first Australia Day Convention.
The Dean, Phillip Jensen, is speaking on Mark chapters 1-8.
Details are available from australiadayconvention.com.
Lambeth 2008: Lift-off or fizzle?
Posted on January 22, 2008
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Was Rowan Williams’s speech launching the 2008 Lambeth Conference written by him or by someone else? That is the question I am asking having just read it online. …
What does one make of this, for example?
“In spite of the painful controversies which have clouded the life of the Communion for the last few years, there remains, as many people have repeatedly said, a very strong loyalty to each other and a desire to stay together. The fact that about 70% of bishops worldwide have already formally registered for the Conference, with a number of others who have signalled that they will attend, shows something of this desire.” …
John Richardson, the “Vicar of Ugley” writes on last night’s media event to launch the upcoming Lambeth Conference 2008. See also the Anglican Communion website.
Service celebrates 2 beliefs – Hinduism & ?
Posted on January 21, 2008
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“Hindu nun Pravrajika Saradeshaprana, dressed in a saffron robe, blew into a conch shell three times, calling to worship Hindu and Episcopal religious leaders who joined Saturday to celebrate an Indian Rite Mass at St. John’s Cathedral near downtown [Los Angeles]. …
During the service, the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, issued a statement of apology to the Hindu religious community for centuries-old acts of religious discrimination by Christians, including attempts to convert them. …”
Story from The Los Angeles Times. (May require free registration).
Anglican clergy asked to declare allegiances
Posted on January 21, 2008
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“An Anglican diocese in Newfoundland will take the rare step Monday of requiring all of its clergy to declare their allegiances to the Church, or ‘do the honourable thing and resign’ if they support a breakaway movement that opposes same-sex unions. …
[Bishop] Cyrus Pitman issued the ad clerum in part as a response to the departure of his predecessor, Donald Harvey, who left the Anglican Church of Canada several years ago over the issue of blessing same-sex unions and is now affiliated with the more conservative Anglican Network in Canada. …”
Full story from The Canadian Press. See also this earlier story from The Western Star.
J I Packer – A History of the English Puritans
Posted on January 20, 2008
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Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson Mississippi is placing online a great deal of free sermon and lecture audio through iTunes U. Recently added are their recordings of J. I. Packer’s 1988 lectures on the English Puritans.
What did the much-maligned Puritans believe and what can we learn from them about ministry? These lectures provide a valuable insight into the Puritans and are well worth hearing.
To access the material, go to the RTS website (it has a link to download iTunes if you need it) and then select the ‘Click to Launch iTunes’ button. Once there, click on ‘Courses in Church History’. On the next screen, go to ‘History and Theology of the Puritans’ – and you will be able to download all 16 lectures and the syllabus.
New Bishop of Nevada blessed by interfaith leaders
Posted on January 19, 2008
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“Episcopal bishops, local interfaith leaders, native American ‘smudgers’ and drummers, choirs and church people from throughout the state gathered Saturday, January 5 to participate in the consecration of The Rev. Dan Thomas Edwards as the 10th bishop of Nevada. …”
Read the full report from the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada.
See also this report from The American Chronicle –
“In a marvelous gesture, the new tenth Episcopal Bishop of Nevada, Right Reverend Dan Thomas Edwards, was blessed by a Catholic Bishop, Hindu chaplain, Muslim Imam, Jewish Rabbi, Bahai leader, Baptist minister, and a Native American faith leader …”
Website upgrade in progress
Posted on January 17, 2008
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Friends, we are currently making some changes to the ACL website. Images and other details may be missing for a short while as we move things around. Thanks for your patience.
If you are looking for material on the old website, that is still available here.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…