Why Be Anglican

God On My Side

2007-05-21T21:29:00.001+10:00

A live reflection on Denton's coverage...

I expect some of my gut reactions will be as controvertial as his doco.

* Intro is using Jesus' words, with a weird traditional thing, interesting use through the doco of the NIV audio tracks.
* Then superimposed by perhaps some of the more radical bits of teaching on the pseudo healing/teaching ministries.
* Oooohhh George Bush... Scary!!! He is endorsing them!!! Nooooo!!!!
* Denton looks for the everyday believers... good to see that it is not just about the televangelists.

Issues identified:
Personal Promise Bible
I have had a view for a little while that is dodgy theologically. Denton is right to be sceptical, though some of the passages may actually be personal statements to me.
Noah's Ark
There was a funny joke about two stuffed elephants, he paid through the nose for them and carried them around in a big trunk. I think there also needs to be care taken in giving explanations about things like animal messes that are outside the scope of what the bible actually says... Maybe this would be good application for much of Genesis.
Arab Vision TV
Jos seems to be an authentic guy, sees results in his work, that should be pretty exciting. He seems to be quite genuine in his later bits too.
Aussie Christian TV
The Aussie looks tacky in his khaki, trying too hard to fit Australia's stereotype.
Hollywood Actress
A lady with eight Marriages might put you off for a little while. It seems that her pain may have contributed to becoming a Christian (the bigger picture always makes a bit more sense), and influenced her political activism.
Televangelist Producer
Perhaps a more contrary voice politically he has a few dodgy sayings in the clips. Examples include - "Perception is just as important as reality" - "No matter how powerful your message is, if noone is watching it doesn't matter".
Despite this he seems like a nice guy, though favours to some extent size over faithfulness.
Kids Programming
It didn't seem to be that much of a problem in and of itself. Kids praising God, I don't have an issue with that. Looks pretty peaceful compared to the other bits shown earlier in the clash of civilisations intro.
Door to Door Bible Sales
Just as a concept this confuses me greatly. Is business really booming now more than ever before?
Sculpture Guy
Seems to be very open about being an undercover evangelist (as much as you can be at a Christian broadcasting conference). Sculptures seem a bit interesting, caters for a nice trinket market. Queries remain on many points he expressed.
Christian Marketing
Denton appropriately noted on the excesses of Christian retail. Good to see some criticism of Jesus trinkets, but not knocked completely.
McDuff Brothers
What amazing hair, Boring singing - They have a pretty interesting story though with the Texas fire disaster and the felt need for repentance for not telling enough people about Jesus.
Final Events of Bible Prophecy
The guy behind it has an interesting life story, the bible that converted him in the cave, so ended up reading it, prayer wanting purpose for living. Helicopter with a national news crew sent to a cave, what a story.
His program is quoted as saying the final signs are fast being fulfilled, this raises generally the problems of the whole dispensationalist approach, danger of predictions being the last generation.
He is right to point out that return of Christ is good news and will happen, but I am wary of his predictions.
American Political Christianity
* America's Lost Dream - US founded to have only God as king.
* Crisis about politics of abortion and same-sex marriages, interesting lines drawn in the sand on issues. Seems problematic when mingling good and bad from the writers. Shows some breadth of socially conservative politics. Is the homosexual issue being overplayed??? Hard to tell. Appropriate perspective of the people that God is stronger.
*There is Bush again... No!!!!!!!! (joking). Some of those political stickers are scary, but there is a bit of balance and humour to cancel it out. Interesting political discussions where some are in love with them.
* Israel holy land - Isreali tourism ministry. The links between zionism and Christianity are interesting. The christ killers tag is perhaps unfair. They want tourism - well that would make sense. I'm not sure the people on the TV are understanding the Israel references properly. Rapture wrongly understood in these contexts.
Part of the Israel problem is that people misunderstand the impact Jesus had on the ongoing effect of God's covenant with Abraham. Good Biblical theology will teach that the land promised to Abraham now becomes fulfilled in a heavenly Jerusalem.
The Bible as God's word
The show presented an appropriate need for trust in the word of God. Whether the presentation commended the trust is another issue.
The last drilldown is all about the nature of other religions. The false religion points made were relatively fair. There were some unfortunate cringeworthy moments when discussing the Koran, but it seems lots of questions were asked about the exclusive nature of the Gospel - an exclusive nature that the bible clearly affirms.
Our faith is not about experience though, but should be nailed to the history and trustworthiness of the cross, otherwise it is all relative.

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount

2007-04-04T22:44:00.000+10:00

The wonderful thing about commuting (and running XLS Ministry Resources) is the chance to read many well written Christian books.

This last few weeks have seen me digesting Don Carson's "Jesus' sermon on the mount and his confrontation with the world" which runs through the terrain of Matthew 5-10.

I left the book impressed with Jesus, desiring to do evangelism at work when I get the chance, and humbled by my failures before God.

I'm not sure any book could get a better review than that, as God's word shines through the writings.

Justice and Righteousness

2007-04-04T22:34:00.000+10:00

In many a good argument Justice and Righteousness seem to be taken as seperate ideas.

Doing the right thing can be played against doing the just thing.

With God there is no such distinction. In Isaiah 42, the same Servant who brings justice to the earth has people in the coastlands waiting for his law (see v4).

There is a strong link between Jesus' bringing of justice and the personal changes that each of us go through as we are reformed to be more like him. As we are living rightly, God is using us to bring justice.

This easter we remember the radical love shown on the cross to sinners who did not deserve it. Christ died for his enemies, while they were his enemies. But we also remember that they are being changed and reformed into good friends.

Grace was never cheap, the crucifixion makes that clear, but Christ, the perfectly righteous, brings justice by taking away the sins of his people and teaching them the righteousness he practiced.

Jesus is someone we can go to for self-affirmation. His sacrifice makes us of real worth, but it shows that there was a problem so large that he needed to die.

How to interpret the Bible

2007-03-07T22:02:00.000+11:00

According to JI Packer

There is more involved in witness to Christ than throwing pre-arranged clumps of text at unbelieving heads; the meaning and application of the gospel must be explained to men and women in their actual situation.
... Biblical terms and images (sin, justification, sacrifice, covenant, holiness, priest, blood, spirit for instance) are not self-explanatory; it is therefore our task as witnesses to Christ to seek out ways and means of making their meaning clear.

If you liked that, this next bit hits the nail on the head.

Not that we may alter or revise the gospel in order to make it more pallatable to the modern mind. That would be treachery to Christ. Our business is to present the Christian faith clothed in modern terms, not to propagate modern thought clothed in Christian terms. Our business is to interpret and criticise modern thought by the gospel, not vice versa.

Sheer Bravery

2007-03-04T21:55:00.000+11:00

This sort of selfless sacrifice was shown by one of my best mate's (from a previous church) dad. To jump in a car to save kids from being swept away is incredible, but totally in step with his character shown over the time I have known him.

Thank God he is still alive.

Primates spotted in Tanzania

2007-02-16T21:21:00.000+11:00

The heads of each Province of the Anglican Church (known as primates) are currently meeting together in Tanzania.

While a few procedural issues will dominate the play for the first few days, it will be interesting to see the events play out.

My concerns about church unity coming from a common truth will hopefully be reflected in a common patnership and mission are not guaranteed to be reflected in the decisions of the meeting, but much prayer is needed.

The nuts and bolts of the decisions will not come out straight away, but we need to keep praying.

Unfortunately, The Windsor Report is flawed, and the Panel of Reference has not been effective in upholding the doctrinal concerns of the faithful churches.

Pray that things are better this time.

Isaiah - Part 1 - The LORD has Spoken

2007-02-04T14:53:00.000+11:00

Having spent a good part of this week looking at Isaiah 1-2, it has been the simple things that have struck me.

We have a God who speaks to warn his people. A God who warns of impending judgement, and the need for repentance.

We have a God who calls on his people to be washed clean, and to have their sins taken away.

We have a God who has brought to himself people to serve in his holy city, still attracting the nations in.

But all of those things come from the most exciting thing. We have a God who speaks.

A question of Timing

2007-01-23T23:11:00.000+11:00

I am currently preparing a study on 1 Corinthians 4.

A bit that has always intrigued me is as follows:

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

It seems to me, upon a bit of reflection that the Corinthians had fallen for a mistake when it comes to timing. Correct exposition of other bible passages (like Ephesians 2) clearly leads to a correct assumption that Christians have by grace been raised to rule with Christ over the whole of creation.

But that is not what the present age experience should be like for the Christian. We can know this because the faithful in many parts are still being treated as sport for the world, and are still under intense persecution.

The present time is for proclaiming unashamedly the message of Christ Crucified. What this leads to is the potential for suffering like Christ.

Unfortunately, as a Christian in a stable denomination (at least within Sydney) and in a prosperous city, it is easy to forget what the time is for. Paul genuinely desires in the above passage to be able to say the time is for reigning, so he doesn't have to suffer any more, but he can't.

We are called in the gospel to serve a crucified (cursed) king. The king who took our punishment upon himself. The King has been vindicated (the resurrection), and he will be vindicated (the second coming). While we wait for that final triumphant vindication, honouring the king is not by living as kings, but by serving him with our lives.

The gospel goes out

2007-01-21T11:23:00.000+11:00

Went to a support night last night for my friend Alex who I have gotten to know at uni the past few years.

It is so exciting that he is taking a few years to try missionary service and to see what God can be doing with his life.

Please pray for Alex, and also the people of Japan. Please also pray for those involved as partners in the ministry effort at home.

Grace Explained...

2007-01-14T15:02:00.000+11:00

Reflection on Ephesians 2:1-10

With all of mankind, we are by nature condemned by God; no matter how nice, charitable, generous and moral we are we need God’s gracious mercy.
Only when we fully comprehend our dependence on God, can we seriously appreciate the richness of his grace.
All of us through our actions have brought upon ourself a death sentence. While we are as good as dead, we have been made alive together with Christ, because of the incredible mercy of God, and the great love he has for his people.

More Thoughts on Denominationalism

2007-01-12T22:44:00.000+11:00

The current scourge of the Anglican Church afflicts any worldly instrument of Christian unity from time to time.

As tends to happen, people who share the same gospel will differ in how to handle those who don't share the same gospel, and whose emphasis or theology relies on something other than the authority of God's revealed word.

Unfortunately, I cannot help but feel that the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union is a suitable example for bible-believing Christians in Anglican churches. As a student group, their stand when dealing with the direction of the Student Christian Movement held a different scope to that required now, but the principles are the same almost a hundred years later.

I wish I knew of other examples, but aside from the general life and vitality of many independent churches (including one my sister attends) in non-metropolitain New South Wales, the feeling is that Cambridge as a well documented example, shows the way forward.

Human institutions should always be made for the service of God's people. God's people aren't made to serve the institution. Any efforts for more fluidity in the interactions between churches, encouraging interactions and gospel partnerships which are mutually beneficial should be directly encouraged.

Unfortunately, this may force people to abandon property, or to find themselves using a different name to describe their group. It may see a need to start new fellowships and denominational structures, or for a simple lessening of geographic controls. But in the end, these steps are necessary because of the need not to preserve a particular denomination, but for churches to proclaim the message of God's redeeming love for the lost both to their congregation and to the world.

Some will urge patience and diplomacy in many situations, but this needs to be moderated by a need to ensure that a degree of tolerance does not go too far, because at present every toleration of heresy has just led to another problem arising.

If that overarching aim is remembered, the personalities won't get in the way, and hopefully God's people can work to reach his world.

A lesson in what happens when you ignore bits of the text...

2006-12-24T20:46:00.000+11:00

Hugh Mackay in todays Sydney Sun-Herald.

What seems strange is the freedom he uses certain phrases and descriptions of the incarnation of Jesus (and distorts them), to Christianise what are essentially pagan ideas.

It is incredible when people ignore the biblical explanation of an event, to create their own one special interpretation. But what is sad is that some people still respect Hugh for his social commentary, and may think these ideas really are what Jesus is about...

Power of God rests with the wisdom of humanity

THOUGH many Christians won't admit it, the birth of Jesus poses the ultimate challenge to the idea of God as a supernatural being. The teachings of Jesus present God as an inner, spiritual experience - the spirit of goodness, truth and love - that simply cannot co-exist with the old concept of God as a vindictive, partisan, arrogant, angry, judgemental being, manipulating the external world at will.

The genius of Christianity is the revelation that "the Word was made flesh"; that the "guy in the sky" was dead. The Christian God exists within us, and nowhere else. It is a spirit with the power to make us whole ("holiness" being a fancy religious word for wholeness).

If we nurture that spirit and revere its power, we will have found God - not in the wonders of "creation" but in the greater wonders of human kindness and charity. Since there's no supernatural God to attend to the world's suffering, we ourselves must act. That's why Christianity is so intensely focused on social justice and the needs of the sick, the poor, the marginalised.

For Christians, the circumstances of Jesus's birth are intensely symbolic: no room in the inn; a stable shared with animals; a manger for a cradle. Their message is that goodness (God within us) is borne out of humility. Arrogance, triumphalism and vengeance turn out to be the most ungodly traits imaginable.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-23T11:54:00.000+11:00

Keeping Busy over January

2006-12-20T13:27:00.000+11:00

Summer Bible Series
Sundays 5pm in January
St Peters Anglican Church, Hornsby

The weak and foolish church

Join us in an informal setting to study the bible together every Sunday evening in January 2007. All ages are welcome.

January 7: The weak and foolish prisoner
January 14: The weak and foolish messenger
January 21: The weak and foolish leaders
January 28: The weak and foolish lifestyle

More on the CIS Night

2006-12-13T11:00:00.000+11:00

An edited bit of part of the speech is extracted by The Australian here...

So Labor has a leader who champions Bonhoeffer's muscular Christianity and finds him in the tradition of Thomas More, who defied the king and paid with his life. Why did Rudd write this article? Not because he had spare time on a rainy day. It was part of Rudd's campaign to establish his philosophical credentials for the Labor leadership.

For Rudd, what counts is how the individual Christian should relate to the state. His answer is unequivocal. They should relate by Bonhoeffer's principle of action, and that means taking the "side of the marginalised, the vulnerable and the oppressed". Rudd says the church's role "in all these areas of social, economic and security policy is to speak directly to the state". He wants the church to fill the moral and political vacuums.

There is no compromise. In case you missed the point, Rudd gets specific: "We should repudiate the proposition that such policy debates are somehow simply 'the practical matters of the state' which should be left to 'practical' politicians rather than to 'impractical' pastors, preachers and theologians."

It would be hard to imagine a more comprehensive rejection of aggressive secularists seeking to keep religion and church out of politics. For Rudd, religion has an important and constructive role to play. The state, in turn, has an obligation to listen, if not to endorse.

Religion and Politics

2006-12-11T22:33:00.000+11:00

The Centre for Independant Studies had a talk tonight on the interaction of Religion and Politics.

Much was said about the slow resurgence of religion, though unfortunately by aggregation, many points seemed to be lost or dulled as attempts were made to generalise across various groupings.

The core message was a constitutional law one. Australia has a seperation of church and state, but not a wall which prevents the two from intermingling.

Interesting points were made about the extent of church involvement in secular activities, and recent calls for this to increase.

I wonder though how effective this could be. Politicians will try and get churches to support them. As churches increase their political commentary, they may be over time endangering their focus on their core tasks.

To get the balance right, that is the hard thing.

Time to move on...

2006-11-17T23:15:00.000+11:00

Time keeps marching on, as does responsibility...

The unknown beckons, but one thing stays constant...

If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. (Philippians 1:22)

God has fruitful work for me to do, I just need to trust him as it happens.

I'm not an eye

2006-11-14T21:24:00.000+11:00

1 Corinthians 12-14 paints a beautiful picture of how the body of Christ should work together. It also has given me a nice framework to avoid excess frustration as I have found certain ministry activities very challenging these past twelve months.

I see other people do them effortlessly and wonder why I can't. But then again, this is a good thing, partly because it encourages me to be me in what I can do, and what I end up doing.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

Artwork pointing me forward

2006-11-04T00:03:00.000+11:00

My sister (the married one) created an artwork months ago for me, it sits in my room, with the following words on it.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The temptation at times has been to not trust God, to get frustrated, and to just find things really hard, caught up in what I feel I should have.

A whole chapter of my life (and a chapter of ministry opportunities) is coming to an end. I will soon be done with UNSW, with only a few things left to do. But God has been very gracious to me, not necessarily in what I wanted, but more so in what I needed to grow in and learn. He has everything in control, has given me eternal life though I am a wretched pitiful sinner, and has hopefully lots of service for me to do for him between now and when I finally claim the prize Jesus has won for me.

God has made my paths interesting over the past 12 months, bringing me into relationship with many incredible and godly Christians. He has also been preparing me for various ministry roles, though it is hard to see what exactly they will entail yet. Please pray that I will continue to trust him, and that I will continue to be following him with my priorities till death or his glorious return.

What Men Think

2006-11-02T20:05:00.000+11:00

It is always dangerous to worry about what other people will think because of your actions, and if that is a reason for making an action, people should be worried.

However... I really appreciated the public encouragement found here from Al Mohler of our Diocese's directions.

Here is a sample...

Dr. Peter Jensen, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, is one of the most influential evangelical leaders in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The archdiocese he leads is among the most conservative within the Communion and, not surprisingly, one of the healthiest as well.
...
In a recent article on the wrath of God, Dr. Jensen wrote this:

"[T]he contemporary church uses three strategies to soften the offence caused by the cross. The first is to cloud the whole thing with mystery. We are permitted to say that Jesus died for us but we are not permitted to say what this means and how it relates to sin and wrath and judgment. Second, is to offer some other explanation for the cross than what the Bible itself says. We are told that the cross occurred solely to demonstrate the solidarity of God with us in our suffering. Third, is to ignore the cross altogether and find the centre of Jesus' mission in the incarnation or even worse in his present friendship for us, sung about in endless trivial songs.

The wrath of God is as real as your sin. The only thing which can satisfy the wrath of God is a satisfaction paid for your sin provided by God himself. Jesus has done this by dying for you on the cross, saving you 'from the wrath to come'. Whether we like it or not, that is the heart of the gospel. Turn the wrath of God into something else, or ignore it, and you will not have Christianity, but some other religious look-alike. That is our choice."

Those words sound refreshingly like the great Anglican leaders of the past, such as Bishop J. C. Ryle (1816-1900), the first Bishop of Liverpool. An Anglican archbishop preaching on the wrath of God? Read it for yourself.

Archbishop Jensen's brother, Phillip Jensen, is Dean of Sydney and its St. Andrew's Cathedral. A gifted preacher, his sermons at the cathedral may be heard here.

The Sydney diocese is an encouragement and hope in the Anglican Communion.

Tired of the Debate

2006-10-26T22:02:00.000+10:00

Women's Ordination to the Presbyterate has been repudiated again.

This time, many more people than in the past voted not to even have a debate.

Calls for the inevitability of the measure are very much premature, as the first cultural change picture appears to be growing in strength.

Sydney has a good situation, with many men and women working to serve Jesus with their lives (and many doing it in a full-time paid capacity too).

What a wonderful thing that is.

Question Answered

2006-10-24T00:06:00.000+10:00

It seems that the Archbishop liked my question, but that the planning processes are already happening.

Lots to write about from another day of Synod, but I might put it all together tomorrow.

There was however an excellent motion about the Global Anglican Crisis which brought great joy to me to see pass.

Oh well, I have uni in the morning and am tired.

Revitalising the Church

2006-10-18T23:13:00.000+10:00

I asked the following question in the Synod today:

Archbishop,
I give notice that I wish to ask the following question:

i. Has the Diocese kept the results of the Parish Buildings and Capital Audit conducted prior to last year’s Synod?
ii. How many parishes in established suburbs are at or near to capacity when utilising their buildings?
iii. Is there any encouragement being offered to have smaller churches revitalised by congregation-planting partnerships, before these churches enter serious decline?
iv. Are there any current plans to use the Audit Results to assist planning congregation-planting partnerships between parishes with buildings at or near capacity and parishes with free or under-utilised buildings?
v. Does the archbishop consider that these sorts of arrangements will have the potential to continue strengthening the work of the mission in established suburbs?

It is nice that we live in a city with such a concern for the gospel, that the Synod can be used for operational fine-tuning.

I just hope the implicit challenge to action in the question will actually be heeded.

New Westminster

2006-10-16T23:30:00.000+10:00

I am deeply concerned about the situation facing the Anglican Network Churches in British Columbia which are in the Diocese of New Westminster.

It was known that the promised remedy of the Archbishop's Panel of Reference would not necessarily fix everything, but I am quite saddened by the fact that the report deals in much detail about legal technicalities rather than theological realities.

The Anglican Communion Worldwide is disfunctional, unfortunately there is no common theological ground uniting the different bodies, and this is reflected in many differing ways.

What seems to be needed is a strong reform, and the creation of new theologically based networks, maintaining unity and support for our Anglican brothers and sisters worldwide. How this will look will be an interesting discussion point for many.

Sydney Synod Day 1

2006-10-16T23:17:00.000+10:00

I'm not sure that a diocesan forum is necessarily the best thing to frame things around when considering the strengths and weeknesses of a denomination.

But the bold leadership of individuals may shape your views either way.

The things that stood out most were probably the following:

Peter Jensen reminded people tonight of the fact that when we hold the gospel clearly, we can change other things to ensure we keep having the gospel reach people.
A particularly nice bit of his challenge was as follows:

One of my most vivid memories is of a dear friend of mine who was a member of the same church as me. He was a Professor at the University, a man of impeccable rectitude, an adornment to the gospel. He grew up as an Anglican in the bush, where they do things a bit differently. He cherished a more formal style of church; nothing flash: he is what you may call a Prayer Book Christian; like me if it comes to that. His faith is part of him; it is very much who he is; and church with the Prayer Book and a bit of dignity is part of that inner piety which makes the man what he is.

We met in the pews one Sunday morning. We had just been through what for him was a travesty of church – substance but no style; omissions of all the things which we cherished - music, indescribable.. ‘I miss the old ways,’ he said. Then he paused. ‘But, Peter, I’d rather give up the old ways, hard though that is, for the sake of what we are now doing for Christ.’ For there in that church as the Bible was being taught were young and old men and women being transformed by the Spirit of God, coming to faith and going ahead in Christ.

And then Al Stewart gave a talk about various things including an example about feral pigs... (ask me later if you want the full story). The gospel is not an optional extra according to Jesus, we need to feel that it hurts us when we shape our priorities.

The fun with debates seems to start tomorrow, although there will be a few interesting debates interspersed with generally important things which need to be done.

Humility

2006-10-04T23:04:00.000+10:00

There is something attractive about people who can simply be humble. It is a call for the Christian, and is what should come naturally when anyone stands beside the cross.

But it is really hard. We want others to see our carefully crafted image rather than our true sometimes grotesque selves. It is easy to think that Jesus' death for me wasn't as hard as it could have been for those others, until we actually look at ourselves failing to live the way God intends for us to.

I have often been careful to be rather cryptic in referring to things I have failed at outside the glare of my friends, but it sometimes has let the light hide away from where it needs to be.

Please pray that I will continue to be honest and repentant about my real failings, so that the glory of what Jesus has done for me can be shown all the more.

Promoting the Gospel

2006-10-02T17:40:00.000+10:00

Just been reading John Dickson's book on how we promote the gospel.

It was a pretty good challenge to keep my life in line with gospel standards, and to keep seeing my priorities reflect God's priorities, but over the whole of what I do.

It was a pretty nice thing to read through, and a clear explanation of a few things.

Definately worth a good read, and personally helpful to keep me thinking through various things as I look towards working next year.

Snakes on a Plain

2006-09-23T14:59:00.000+10:00

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food." Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
- Numbers 21:4-9 (ESV)

What a golden example of what salvation is.

How amazing that Jesus pointed it out so early in his ministry...

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
- John 3:14-15 (ESV)

Jesus Merchandise

2006-09-15T17:22:00.000+10:00

Sometimes I wonder about the latest things being marketed at the fashion conscious Christian.

Try these on for size...

They could be have more interesting double meanings too, but these look plain weird.

Getting Busy with Ministry

2006-09-04T12:48:00.000+10:00

After a quiet week or so, my calendar is looking busy from next week.

Pre-existing Ministry Commitments seem to make October look rather hectic, especially as I get to spend five days sitting in the Synod of the Sydney Anglican Church.

I am glad I took the opportunities to get things done early. Let us just hope that things keep going as well as they can be.

2006-09-01T22:33:00.000+10:00

Something to get excited about...

Why I chose not to stay in politics...

2006-08-30T17:18:00.000+10:00

A very nice older lady in my church's 9:30 congregation and I were having a chat about work.

Since I haven't started yet, I was left to discuss some longer term aspirations to save money, allowing me to head towards full-time Ministry.

What was perhaps strange was that she immediately suggested that maybe I should be looking at public service as a politician. Because of this, I have once again had to rethink my decision to leave active involvement in politics, to head for probable full-time ministry.

Here is a summary of a few reasons why I still think I am making the right decision.

The Nature of the work
A politician has his time freed up to convince people to support him and his party.
A minister of the gospel has his time freed up to challenge people to serve the Lord Jesus, and to teach about the God who made the world.

The effect of the work
The politician can try to create a better society by law reform proposals (in terms of either adding to or removing regulation; taxation; criminalisation; etc).
The gospel minister is allowing God to change people through his work.

The restrictions on where you live and work
The politician will seek to work in an area where many people agree with them, and as such makes their work easier to do. They will perhaps also work where they have a natural ascendancy against challenges to their work.
The minister of the gospel should not have the same restrictive approach, they can work just as effectively in areas that vote different ways.
(Note: this is an issue that is more pronounced in political things than in secular work, you may be tied to an office, but you don't have to live and church in a certain style of area).

The temptation to make ministry about you
A church minister is always at risk of making their ministry about building for themselves a profile, but...
The politician is trained to be looking at ways of identifying supporters, recruiting supporters and isolating those that won't support them. While some may do an admirable job working in politics and being involved in church, others may not find the balance so easy, and feel that their primary weekday task should operate at church too.

I might write some more on this later... but at the moment this is enough.

An outlook for Ministry

2006-08-30T16:58:00.000+10:00

I've decided not to go to any of the Challenge Conference events this year, for what may be a purely selfish reason - I really want to be doing full-time ministry work now.

It is hard to explain this mindset properly without understanding the context (especially because I would very much encourage others to go).

1. I always get excited when a ministry opportunity comes up "somewhere else" and I think about changing to do that role.
2. I really need to be doing full time work next year, and the temptation is to commit to a ministry position before the timing is right.
3. I will be a more effective ministry person longer term if I have spent enough time in the workforce to understand to at least some extent what it means to be a godly Christian man with a full-time job.
4. The thought of studying for an extended period of time right now actually horrifies me. Even if that study means that I will be better prepared to teach the gospel. I need to work for a while.

Moving to Hornsby has helped me see how much my parents have made decisions right throughout my life with an attempt to be faithful to the gospel calling. I have seen clearly the sacrifices they have made, and keep seeing the willingness to use what God gives them for the purposes of building his kingdom.

The Lord Jesus Christ has put his claim on my life, I wish to submit to his claim, but at the same time, I need to realise the many wonderful ministry opportunities I have now, and to keep working hard at seeing people presented with the gospel, and equipped and trained to proclaim the gospel to others.

Random Surveys

2006-08-26T10:34:00.000+10:00

Kog (Not an Anglican admittedly) has posted a survey on his site, and having little to do this morning, I decided to see what to do with it.

For some reason, the song choices pointed me to putting the survey here (maybe I haven't put enough non-Church Music on iTunes).

Anyways... here goes, feel free to laugh

---

----------
1) Put your music player on shuffle

2) Press forward for each question

3) Use the song title as the answer to the question

4) NO CHEATING!!!
______________________________

1.) How am I feeling today?
Compelled by Love – Bryson Smith

2.) Where will I get married?
Kingdom Song – We are His People

3.) What is my best friend's theme song?
Make Every Effort – Consider Christ

4.) What is/was highschool like?
O Come and See – Nicky Chiswell (Resurrection)

5.) What is the best thing about me?
Your Love to Me – Ruth Buchanan (Talking About Jesus)

6.) How is today going to be?
Could He Be The one? – Ruth Buchanan

7.) What is in store for this weekend?
My Lord you Wore no Royal Crown – Emu Music

8.) What song describes my parents?
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise – Bryson Smith and Phillip Percival

9.) How is my life going?
The Servant – Consider Christ

10.) What song will they play at my funeral?
I Will Trust in the Lord – Consider Christ

11.) How does the world see me?
The Weight he Chose to Bear – Ruth Buchanan

12.) What do my friends really think of me?
Your Hand of Mercy – Phillip Percival

13.) Do people secretly lust after me?
Man of Sorrows – www.reason.mu

14.) How can I make myself happy?
Nothing Can I Boast In - Percival

15.) What should I do with my life?
”Christianity - the Best fit for this world?” – Archie Poulos and Peter Slezac
(Hey I think it is funny that the only non-song so far is this one… especially because it actually has me on it, from days of Freedom)

16.) Will I ever have children?
Worthy Of All Praise – We are His People

17.) What is some good advice?
In his Image – We are His People

18.) What do I think my current theme song is?
Revive Us – We are his People

19.) What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Saviour and Friend – Ruth Buchanan

20.) What type of men/women do you like?
Where else have we to Go – Nicky Chiswell

21.) Will you get married?:
Halleluiah to the King of Kings – See Him Coming

22.) What should I do with my love life?
Psalm 24 – Nicky Chiswell

24.) Where will you live?
Your Great Name We Praise – Sovereign Grace Ministries

25.) What will your dying words be?
Before the Throne of God Above – Sovereign Grace Ministries

What the people want

2006-08-20T15:24:00.000+10:00

Teaching Sunday School can sometimes be a great thing in clarifying issues in your own head.

My class is currently learning about the period from Judges through to the end of 2 Samuel.

Today we were looking at the whole idea of wanting a king.

I talked with them about various things, and it came out clearly within the discussion that sometimes God gives us things that aren't right for us, but they are what we want, and he uses those things to teach us lessons.

I have a feeling that this is so with my life recently.

I think I and others need to keep spending time thinking about how wonderful God is for me, and less time wondering where things are heading.

"Confirming" the Gospel

2006-08-17T21:56:00.000+10:00

I don't know much about what others think, but in the busyness (and business) of doing ministry things, I have found it is sometimes easy enough to get caught up in the tasks you are doing, and to place them at supreme importance.

To challenge this, I was confronted in an unusual way by the Apostle Paul (and indirectly in preparation, by Don C as he discussed Paul).

Discussing Philippians 1:1-8 today with a friend, I was struck by how little Paul was actually currently contributing in a real sense to the partnership in the gospel. He wasn't planting churches or speaking to large crowds, he wasn't really doing any of the great "church growth" activities of his apostolic ministry. (I must admit he was writing his letters for us, imparting through his hand the God-breathed word).

What Paul was doing however, and this is perhaps the most important thing he ever did, was to confirm the gospel in his life. I only really saw the significance of it today as he discussed the work the Philippians were doing, but it struck me as something so incredible.

It is so easy to think that what matters is how much I can contribute financially, how much I pray, how much I evangelise, whether I pastor a church. While all these things are good, and allow others to know Christ, it is an essential part of our partnership in Jesus Christ with him and all believers through the ages that we make the gospel the centre of what we do. We need our lives to show that this is what we are committed to.

Please pray for the task-oriented blokes. Pray that their gospel proclaiming tasks would be matched by gospel confirming lives.

Time to be Anglican - Officially

2006-08-09T17:20:00.000+10:00

I have a like/dislike relationship with the Census.

In some ways it is good, and much more convenient than the old style Quirinius and Caeser Augustus ones. (Despite the temptation to play with the stats by going to the south coast or another like location).

What gets me though is the "Religion" question.
I know what they are seeking to achieve/discover by it, but what happens when I don't identify as a particular religious affiliation?
In the past month I have attended good evangelical Christian churches in non-denominational, baptist and anglican settings.

The decline in denominationalism is something I tend to like writing about, but it is a good and bad thing. The Churches may even find the data collected on the form is not that great for what they are seeking to achieve.

Does it really matter if I am a Christian not an Anglican? Does it impact the system?

And what about independant Chinese church? What box do they tick? (Is it the same one as Hillsong?)

Oh well,

Worth a bit more of a look.

Ministry Involvement and Boy-Girl Relations

2006-07-25T23:40:00.000+10:00

I don't know if anyone reads this anyway, but here goes some thoughts I have had lately. I don't want at this stage to dwell on them deeply, but they probably need to be said.

1. Boy-Girl Relationships are hard work
The apostle Paul even says so in 1 Corinthians 7:32-34.

The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided.

2. Ministry is purposeful hard work

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

3. Boys are often task focussed

4. If the task does not indirectly involve their girlfriend, there is a risk of the girl feeling neglected
This is probably especially so when the couple are both active in ministry, but in different gatherings. What may often appear to be a God-centred decision is not necessarily honouring him in our relationships.

4A. There is not always a simple fix to this problem.
The Lack of "real" commitment in dating relationships does no-one any good. The primary commitment to home and church can lead to awful tensions while you still live under your parent's authority. For a relationship like this to work, both sets of ministry need the support and informed consent of the other partner. - Maybe once again the easy/correct answer here is sadly going to be singleness if you want to maximise current ministry effectiveness.

5. Please pray for young leaders in our gatherings, they need great wisdom in managing their time and involvement.

6. Holiness and faithfulness should trump involvementness
The temptation to be a "super-minister" who can be helpful at any time and in every way, hopefully building others up, is quite strong when you have time, energy and limited responsibilities (ie. When at Uni). Unfortunately, this is not a good model for a lifetime of service. As much as it hurts to consider it, the bible is clear that leaders need to do things like

He must manage his own household well (1 Timothy 3:4)

and

if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? (1 Timothy 3:5)

7. I am struggling with this issue a lot
I am not really sure what is needed here... If our "involved" people are in relationships, and I am sure this should include ones not yet at marriage, should we simply let them see how it all works? Would it not be great for wiser and older counsel within our University groups and churches (especially those of our leaders who are married) to assist them, and to ensure that they are balancing their responsibilities.
In the end, I am sure this will have a much greater benefit to the uni ministries, and to the lives of the servants, than simply having more relationships fail because the girls felt neglected as their guys did too much ministry.

What happened to just proclaiming the gospel?

2006-07-10T08:04:00.000+10:00

Christian ministry is hard. The challenges and the time involved do not always lead to a great reward right now. The temptation is always to find an easy fix, a quick solution, a way to make things happen without trying very hard.

The struggles and the temptations can lead to seeing despair in the midst of hope, can lead to faithful servants abandoning their post feeling ashamed of their arguments, and sick of defending orthodoxy.

The falling away of friends into the hands of theological liberalism, or even them just not caring as much anymore is also tragic.

Churchianity has deep roots in every denomination, but since I started university, (and obviously before that time too), not long has gone by without a major announcement that someone somewhere has misapplied the scriptures. Whether it is the preacher who suggests that not seeking riches is a false and defeatest mindset for a Christian, the preacher whose own personal unrepentance of certain obvious sins did not disqualify him from becoming a bishop, or the clerics who have been so swept up in modernist rationalism, feminist activism and hedonistic feel-goodism so as to be washed away from a solid biblical base.

As the writer to the Hebrews said

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. (Hebrews 13:8-9)

If anyone out there reading this finds the pressure too much, and wishes to give up; just remember that Jesus Christ has died and rose again. He has given us an eternal inheritance, undefiled, unfading and kept in heaven. We need to be continually strenghtened by the grace of God.

Why Be Anglican?

2006-07-06T20:00:00.000+10:00

I don't know who is reading this blog, but one thing stands out starkly from what Rowan Williams said last week, the Archbishop values denominational unity above gospel unity.

A similar thing happened to the now effectively defunct Student Christian Movement about 100 years ago. The battles are outlined in the book pictured on the left.

But there has now been time for a response on the issues at hand.
Nigerian Bishops Respond

The Archbishop says we “have tried to be a family of Churches willing to learn from each other across cultural divides, not assuming that European (or American or African) wisdom is what settles everything, opening up the lives of Christians here to the realities of Christian experience everywhere”. He then goes on to suggest that the genuine concerns expressed about orthodoxy and the need to contend for the faith once entrusted to the saints, have made the debate harder, and “reinforced the lines of division and led to enormous amounts of energy going into ‘political’ struggle (!) with and between churches in different parts of the world.” The idea that these genuine concerns have degenerated to the “politicization of a theological dispute” instead of “reasoned debate” is very sadly patronizing. One would have expected that those who had embarked on this religious misadventure would be encouraged to judge their actions against our well-established historic tradition.

A prominent Sydney man responds:

Christian unity is not forged in constitutional structures. Christian unity is a unity of mind and understanding. It is “being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind” (Philippians 2:2).

It is ridiculous to pretend that the Anglican Communion has such unity. A new non-theological covenant of constitutional unity, created by the bishops who have caused so much of our present unhappy divisions will inevitably be a new tyranny.

If the Archbishop wants a theological covenant – we have one already called the 39 Articles of Religion. It was agreed upon “For the avoidance of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching upon true religion.” Rather than getting the bishops to write a new one, why not call them back to the observing the old one. It is called repentance. It is something that the Episcopal Church has repeatedly refused to do.

I guess the title once again reflects my frustrations. There is a reason to be Anglican, but unfortunately, if being Anglican is the main game, the gospel will be ignored.

The Archbishop of Canterbury

2006-06-28T10:17:00.000+10:00

Why be Anglican according to Rowan Williams

The only reason for being an Anglican is that this balance seems to you to be healthy for the Church Catholic overall, and that it helps people grow in discernment and holiness. Being an Anglican in the way I have sketched involves certain concessions and unclarities but provides at least for ways of sharing responsibility and making decisions that will hold and that will be mutually intelligible. No-one can impose the canonical and structural changes that will be necessary. All that I have said above should make it clear that the idea of an Archbishop of Canterbury resolving any of this by decree is misplaced, however tempting for many. The Archbishop of Canterbury presides and convenes in the Communion, and may do what this document attempts to do, which is to outline the theological framework in which a problem should be addressed; but he must always act collegially, with the bishops of his own local Church and with the primates and the other instruments of communion.

Church-Day Moments

2006-06-25T21:15:00.000+10:00

Churches of believers can get stale very easily. This is one thing I have noticed especially in Hornsby, but also in other places too. Yes, we need to meet up with one another, and to spur each other on to love and good deeds, but we also need the occasional rejuvination to keep going when things get hard.

At the moment, church makes me tired. We have started some cool things, especially in an effort to keep strengthening the work done at the 9:30am service. Personally I have taken over a Sunday School Class, and this has allowed mum to be freed up for spending time with the other adults.

I am wondering, but I think this is true as well, that sometimes our fellowships need to be shaken up and changed every once in a while. We need new people coming in and injecting life and enthusiasm into the dynamic. Over time, these injections of life and enthusiasm will wax and wane, but there will still be plenty of new people to hopefully inject some more.

I am excited, I get to change roles next week. Our church is employing a new guy to come in, and to bring his energy and enthusiasm into our team. He is excited, his sending church is excited, and we hope it works well.

I don't quite get what my new role will be. Earlier this year, I reduced my administrative responsibilities, and took on more teaching roles. I will have to spend at least a term working out how things will run under the new arrangement, but it is nice to get to pass-on part of the responsibility for a ministry to someone else capable and excited.

I pray that the Lord will keep strengthening all of us working in our church to keep achieving his wonderful purposes.

Needing to Learn

2006-06-24T14:48:00.000+10:00

I was humbled this morning at my Beach Mission Planning Meeting. This was a nice, almost pleasant compliment to my tiredness, explained on my other blog.

I have changed sections this year, to minister to a new age group, but things are exciting. I WANT to learn how to work with my new team, under my new leaders. I want to be in a situation where I am not the leader, but rather just get to concentrate on teaching. I even want to think about doing this thing longer term. But perhaps most importantly, I am glad the mission is in January, it gives me a chance to relax now, and to get my work done properly.

Rejoicing in the Lord

2006-06-22T14:45:00.000+10:00

Preparing Youth Group for tonight, I am struck by the simple and well known words of Philippians 4:4-9.

4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

I think there is a degree of this that I sometimes find hard. After twenty-two years following Jesus, some days it can be hard to wake up in the morning and think "I am going to rejoice today, because Jesus has died for me." Sometimes it is because I have forgotten the peace of God, sometimes I have simply forgotten what Jesus has done for me.

It is so easy to focus on what we don't have, that in the process we forget the all surpassing value of what we do have, and (worse than that) we forget the one who gave it to us.

Rejoice in the Lord today, for he is marvellous, and has saved us even though we do not deserve it.

The good effect of being in Sydney

2006-06-21T16:30:00.000+10:00

Rev Dr Mark Thompson:

The Episcopal Church of the USA is an object lesson in what happens when our decision-making is not shaped by the teaching of Scripture. Unless we are informed about what God has to say on such matters as how men and women should serve each other in Christian congregations, human sexuality more generally, or the unique value and dignity of human life even prior to birth, we are left vulnerable to powerful rhetoric and the attitudes of the world at large, a world which stands opposed to the teaching of Scripture.

These debates are not going away. The ECUSA decision makes this very clear. We cannot expect them to stay at a safe distance either. Here is a powerful reminder that we need to prepare ourselves by searching the Scriptures and encouraging each other to think and talk as those who trust and rejoice in the word of the living God.

The President of the Anglican Church League in Sydney hits the nail on the head. The events in the US, often reported by an over-excited media here, are about Scripture.

I am just glad that in Sydney we can focus on more important things, like teaching people about the Jesus who died so we could be made right with God.

Why denominations can be important

2006-06-21T09:12:00.000+10:00

Denominations are a strange thing. For most Reformed Evangelicals, the Denomination doesn't matter that much. The local church matters, the doctrine of the group you are part of in that church probably matters, and the preaching of the gospel matters.

In the same way, someone could come up to me and ask why I have decided it would be good to be an "Ordained Anglican" minister, rather than simply make the decision to serve God in whatever church I end up in, after possibly going to Bible College.

But what great opportunities I have seen to explain the gospel of Jesus within the Anglican Church in Australia. People will still turn up to their local Anglican Church requesting all sorts of things: their parents who need to keep their daughter's grandparents happy by baptising the child; the people who like the sound of Organ music and old hymns; the couple wanting to get married in the nice building; the visitor who just wanted to check the church out.

Denominations are not that trendy or relevant in the most part for the under-40's, they seem to not impact that much on Christian Fellowship together. The Briefing and other like publications have seized on this regularly, by focussing on "Bible-based churches" or like terms (with some even suggesting we are in a state of "post-denominationalism" in our churches).

One thing denominations do very well however is in ensuring that networks are in place for the recruitment and training of ministers. They provide possibilities for transferal of ministry service over time in various locations. They provide stability of form and hopefully theology for people who move from place to place. They provide the backbone of School Scripture (even if simply by defining it as protestant). They provide networks for Ministry teams, and support systems. They also provide insurance, property and administrative support for Ministry Activities.

Denominations also tend to provide better Global and Regional networks than more diverse bodies could. Ecumenical bodies can lower the debate to lowest common denominator issues, while doctrinally based denominations don't always have that.

I will try and write some more about Anglican Denominational issues later when I need to procrastinate some more, but for the moment, I think denominations will still carry some weight, just because they signal to the public who you are.

Who is Fort Worth Diocese?

2006-06-20T20:50:00.000+10:00

For the Australians who may have read my previous post and wondered what I am talking about in relation to International Episcopalian issues, I think it might be time to look at the Fort Worth Diocese.

This is the stand they have taken:

The Bishop and the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth appeal in good faith to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primates of the Anglican Communion and the Panel of Reference for immediate alternative Primatial oversight and Pastoral Care following the election of Katharine Jefferts Schori as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
This action is taken as a cooperative member of the Anglican Communion Network in light of the Windsor Report and its recommendations.

The Diocese is growing (in a declining denomination)

Change in baptized members, Change in communicants in good standing,
2000-2004
Diocese of Fort Worth +4.6% +5.5%
Province 7 average -1.0% -1.6%
Episcopal Church in the U.S. -3.5% -2.3%

And they have a good Bishop

A Statement from Bishop Jack Iker
Diocese of Fort Worth
on the Election of the New Presiding Bishop
June 18, 2006

In a rather surprising election today, the House of Bishops chose Katharine Jefferts Schori to become the next Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. When first nominated, she was widely regarded as a “dark horse candidate” and as “the token woman” on the slate. I for one never expected that she could be elected.

Her election signals a continuation of the policies of the outgoing Presiding Bishop, namely support for the ordination of practicing homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex unions, practices which have divided the Episcopal Church, impaired our relationship with a majority of other Provinces, and brought the Anglican Communion to the breaking point. The fact that her ordination as a bishop is not recognized or accepted by a large portion of the Communion introduces an additional element of division and impairment. When she becomes the first female primate of the Anglican Communion, it remains to be seen as to how she will be regarded by the other 37 primates, the vast majority of whom come from Provinces where women cannot be elected as bishops.

In one sense, we should not be surprised, at all, for this is The Episcopal Church, which takes pride in being first with every new innovation: women priests and bishops, the blessing of same-sex unions, the election of the first gay bishop in 2003, and now the selection of the first female primate in 2006. One wonders what might be next.

We might be hearing more about this place soon, but even in the ECUSA, some people still wish to hold to biblical authority, even if they are in Texas.

Why Be Anglican?

2006-06-20T18:15:00.000+10:00

I have struggled with this issue a bit, and have decided to do what any normal person does when they struggle with an issue for long enough, create a blog.

Of course, as an Australian, I will focus on Australian issues, and concerns raised by the possibility of seeking ordination eventually in the Sydney Diocese.

Many Christians (even in the reformed evangelical circles in Sydney) have thought I take church history too seriously, especially Anglican history, because it says a lot about where the modern struggles in the Anglican church are.

Today is a great day to start blogging, because it is a day that has exhasserbated my frustrations with the institutional structures of the Anglican Church. A day where we learn that the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas has sought to be removed (as a whole diocese) from the ECUSA, and a day where we learn about the choice of the ECUSA to continue being led by people who don't take the Bible seriously as the revealed word of God.

As with all online ventures, this new venture may be something that slows down after a while, and becomes less focussed, but I hope it will be a good place to think about things.