National
National
Chair of EFAC agrees with Bishop Spong
- Written by: Taken from Anglican sydneyanglicans.net
I agree with Bishop Spong
Glenn Davies
August 26th, 2009
It is not often that I find myself in agreement with Bishop Jack Spong. According to the Church of England Newspaper report of 21 August, the former Bishop of Newark has rejected Presiding Bishop Katharine Schori’s contention that nothing had changed as a result of the 76th General Convention’s votes on gay bishops and blessings. Writing in the Newsweek on-line report of 8 August, Jack Spong wrote:
The battle over homosexuality in the Episcopal Church is over…The vote at the last General Convention was overwhelming. The sacred unions of gay and lesbian people are to be blessed and enfolded into liturgical patterns in the same way that the sacred unions of heterosexual people have been honoured for centuries…The ministry of this church is to be open to gay and lesbian people who are qualified and chosen in the process by which this church makes such decisions…
I find Spong’s candour a refreshing change form the usual obfuscation of bishops in TEC. Spong has campaigned for this development for over three decades. Readers may remember when Bishop of Newark in 1989 he presided over the first publically recognised ordination to the priesthood of a practising homosexual deacon. In September 1990, Spong’s assistant bishop, Walter Righter, ordained an active homosexual man as deacon. This action brought about the so-called Righter Heresy Trial. When the trial was finally completed in 1996, Bishop Righter was exonerated on the basis that there was ‘no clear doctrine” in the Episcopal Church which would prohibit the ordination of a practising homosexual. By 1996 Righter had not only been elected Bishop of Iowa but had since retired! The deacon he ordained was a parish priest in the Diocese of Newark. While it was another seven years before the first practising homosexual was consecrated a bishop, the line of progression is clear for all to see.
Why can’t the leadership of TEC publically recognise this? The game is over. They are going their own way and while they want to stay a part of the Anglican Communion (for this is intrinsic to their constitution and the retention of their property), they have not only spurned the Anglican Church from which they were brought forth, they have spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified and outraged the Spirit of grace (Heb 10:29).
Taken from SydneyAnglican.net
EFAC Australia President speaks on Jerusalem Declaration at London meeting
- Written by: Taken from Anglican Mainstream.net
Presentation at Be Faithful July 6th
Ominous and foreboding words are being said about the FCA by those who wish it ill – they say it is schismatic, it will divide the church, it is a power play.
These changes are at best misunderstandings or at worst political posturing.
Let me say this as clesrly as possible.
The FCA exists to keep Anglicanism united, to enable those whose spiritual existence as Anglicans is threatened to remain Anglicans with integrity.
It exists to keep orthodox, biblical Anglicanism inside the fold at the highest level possible; to gather up the fragments, to unite them. It exists so that evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics and mere Anglicans can continue to be Anglicans without compromising Biblical truth. The question for you is: will you join us, will you help us keep our Communion one, holy, catholic and apostolic.
Read more: EFAC Australia President speaks on Jerusalem Declaration at London meeting
Thanksgiving for the life of EFAC Founder Alan Kerr (7/6/1918 – 24/6/2009)
- Written by: EFAC Aust
A funeral service was held in Melbourne last week for Alan Kerr AM, a businessman and leading layman in the Diocese of Melbourne, and one of the founders of EFAC Australia.
Canon David Claydon gave a tribute to Alan’s ministry at the packed service at St James Church Mt Eliza, and spoke of Alan’s outstanding leadership and commitment to many Christian organisations, including APCM, Campaigners for Christ, Scripture Union, Ridley College, CMS, and ZADOC.
Alan was Chairman of EFAC Australia for many years and chaired the committee which ran the two large NEAC Congresses held in Melbourne in 1971 and 1981.
We gave thanks to God for Alan’s life and ministry and his commitment to the vision and aims of this EFAC.
We have included here some excerpts from Alan's book, 'Guided Journey- Some Experiences of a Lifetime.'
Wollongong bishop heads out on mission to grow church
- Written by: MICHELE TYDD
Anglican Bishop of Wollongong, Alan Stewart, has been appointed to lead a push to start new churches and boost congregations in the Sydney diocese.
Archbishop Dr Peter Jensen announced the appointment yesterday as part of the church's Connect09 campaign designed to "grow" the Anglican Church.
It is the first senior position created for this type of expansion, which is about planting and starting churches from scratch.
"I have come to the conclusion that Bishop Stewart is the best one to lead this vital work as the director of the Department of Evangelism," Dr Jensen said.
Bishop Stewart will take up his new role in February next year and his replacement will be announced at the end of this year.
Bishop Stewart, 50, a former youth worker in the church, said he was delighted with the appointment.
"I'm very excited about the work," he said.
"The last two years in Wollongong has been great, particularly working with other church leaders, but my heart really beats for this new task and to be working at the front line again.
"Mainstream congregations have been declining for the past 50 years, but we are seeing a reversal of that now with young men from many capital cities wanting to come into the ministry to build or plant new churches," he said.
"I can't really explain this change ... possibly a younger generation who don't think institutionally.
"They are on about Jesus and want fresh expressions of church, and we want to tap into it."
Taken from Illawarramercury.com.au
Vicar announced resignation to pursue teaching in Asia
- Written by: Sze Leng Chan- Christianity Today.com
Vicar announced resignation to pursue teaching in Asia
Monday, 1 June 2009
With mixed emotions, Reverend Dr. Paul Barker, Vicar at Holy Trinity Doncaster (HTD) and former Board Member at Ridley College, announced his resignation as HTD Vicar and instead would now focus on teaching in Asian seminary colleges.
After 13 years of presiding over HTD, Reverend Barker reminisced with Christian Today Australia of the growth that had occurred at the church. He recounted how the Chinese Church started from a few attendances to a current Sunday Service packed with congregants.
Acknowledging it was not easy to resign, he believed it was ‘God’s call on me’ to begin teaching in seminaries across Asia, sponsored by the Church Missionary Society (CMS).
Part of CMS outreach program is to station theologians in Asia, given it is one of the fastest regions for evangelism. Dr. Barker asserted that both his marital status and educational qualification would enable him to stay in countries, such as India and Burma, on a longer basis; thus enhancing the program effectiveness.
“..Being single, and with a Ph.D. means I have some facility to be able to assist in places where I already have taught, as well in some others,” he wrote in the Inside Look HTD newsletter.
“Also the more frequent visits will help this ministry more effective, mentoring faculty and students.”
Some of the theological colleges, Reverend Barker will be teaching in includes: Malaysian Theological Seminary in Seremban, MEGST in Yangon, and SAIACS in India.
He concluded his newsletter by thanking God for blessing him with outstanding people around and asked people to pray for the selection of a new vicar at HTD.
Taken from Christianity Today
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