Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Sydney Anglicans with a Charlie Horse Between the Ears

We offer a story from the Sydney Anglicans, another story of more Manglicanism and muddling mediocrity. Weakness if you will. Compromise of principle. Lack of a strong centre of conviction. Sydney has long portrayed and believed itself to be Protestant, Reformed and Evangelical Anglican.

The Head of Moore College in Sydney, Dr. Mark Thompson, has given that impression. But according to the article, he yields "to the moment." He calls it the "opportunity of the moment to forge new understandings with orthodox Anglicans--anglo-catholic, evangelical, charismatic--and through principled co-operation ..." What a pile of nonsense.

We've had 150 years to understand anglo-catholicism; we know what it is. We've had 50 years of exposure to hand-waving enthusiasts. And disciplined Prayer Book piety comports with hand-waving, jean-wearing, guitar-pluckin' enthusiasms? Did I miss something here? We're n0t sure what "evangelicals" means above; but we think Dr. Moore thinks he is one; if so, it means weak compromise.

But while Mark speaks of "principled co-operation," how about sage, consistent, "principled application" of the Protestant, Reformed, and Evangelical faith he touts?

We stress the words "principled" and "application," that is, the governance by those "principles" touted---Protestant, Reformed and Evangelical. Stress on the word "application" of those principles to the affairs of daily decision-making, ecclesiology, leadership, statesmanship, including the ACNA, Anglo-Romewardizers, and charismatics.

Talk is cheap. Non verbum, sed actum is the phrase on the arches of the high-end Merchant Marine Academy.

I highlighted Mark's vertigo in the final paragraph. More theology with the governing hermeneutic as "institutional demands." Another hugfest. Another chairos-moment of enthusiasm.

The title of the article is entitled "We see them and embrace them." "Gosh-golly-gee-whiz, fellas, let's just all love Jesus and get along. Let's just emote and embrace them. Let just put our faith and principles to the side."

More double-, triple-, and quadruple-mindedness. Say one thing, do another. Say one believes one thing and betray that belief and statement by action. It's more of the old John Stott-weaknesses when he and other "so-called" evangelicals buried the hatchet with the Anglo-Romanists during the 1970's.

We wonder when Phillip Jensen will have a Mary-invoker at his next diocesan convocation---have Jack of Texas to lead or Keith of Quincy. Why not? It's orthodox Anglicanism, right? Or, offer Paul of FIF an opportunity to give lectures on the "orthodox Anglicanism" on the subject of Purgatory? Or, why not bring Metropolitan Jonah to the next Sydney convocation to lecture about the "heresy" of the Reformation? Why not, Mark tells us these men are "orthodox Anglicans." And not just Mark, but the entire Diocese of Sydney.

Another Anglican group: " They've got baggage." Rather than being principled, we find them half-hearted, enthusiastic, and double-minded. Thank God for exposure to leadership principles afforded from United States Marines. And thank God for my earthly father, a man of life-long consistency, fidelity, principle and honour. "Principled, consistent" leadership is not evident here.
We're not here to be weak, but honest Churchmen.
Where else and on what else will they compromise?

Another college we won't recommend to others as well...for theological training.

http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/news/stories/we_see_them_and_embrace_them/

We see them and embrace them
Russell Powell
October 28th, 2009

On the final night of the 2009 Synod, the Anglican Diocese of Sydney has passed a resolution embracing the new Anglican province, the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).

In the words of the resolution “Synod welcomes the creation of the Province of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) under the leadership of Archbishop Bob Duncan and notes the GAFCON Primates’ Council recognition of the ACNA as genuinely Anglican and its recommendation that Anglican Provinces affirm full communion with the ACNA. Synod therefore expresses its desire to be in full communion with the ACNA.’
The resolution also asks the Standing Committee of the diocese to seek a General Synod motion affirming the national church be in full communion with the ACNA.

In moving the motion, Sydney rector Gavin Poole, who spent time in the US working at an Episcopal Church, spoke of his first hand experience with the liberalism of TEC and paid tribute to what he called ‘the courage of Archbishop Duncan’.

“Canterbury may be blind to them, but we see them and embrace them. Please offer the ACNA your right hand of fellowship” Mr Poole told the Synod.

The motion also asks General Synod Standing committee to note the publication of the Jerusalem Declaration and to encourage its study as a means to Anglican identity and cohesion.

Photo: Archbishop Jensen and diocesan officials during debate.

The motion was seconded by Sydney layman Robert Tong who helped in the creation of the province as a consultant to its governance taskforce.

Mr Tong was also at GAFCON when the Jerusalem Declaration was formulated and hailed it as “a clear statement about Anglican identity and coherence and based clearly on scripture.”

The resolution also contains a section on the recent Vatican offer to disenfranchised Anglicans.

The motion “Welcomes Archbishop Duncan’s assessment that the recent Vatican offer of a Personal Ordinariate ‘will not be utilised by the great majority of the Anglican Church in North America’s bishops, priests, dioceses and congregations’ and urges all Anglicans to reject the Vatican’s proposal”.

The President of the Anglican Church League, Dr Mark Thompson described that as an important part of the statement, even though it was a separate issue to the welcoming of the new province.

“The opportunity of the moment is to forge new understandings with orthodox Anglicans from different traditions – anglo-catholic, evangelical, charismatic - and through a principled co-operation, and the emphasis needs to be on principle, to rescue the denomination from the liberal agenda to which it has been captive for over 50 years” Dr Thompson said.

The motion was carried on the voices in the last hour of Synod.

2 comments:

Andrew Gosse said...

Does anyone else have the foreboding sence that being Reformed, meaning the 5 solas, is being relegated to the back pew with the real intention of those who "tolerate" us are hoping we'll go out the door? Really I ask, is it just me? Since when is Grace (As Jesus taught it) a bad thing or hard teaching? Anyone else feel like they are alone or among very very few brothers/sisters?

Reformation said...

Informed reader:

I loved your post at anglicansablaze blogspot. Good field report on one ACNA "priest among fellow priests," although he's not Confessionally or Reformationally Anglican...from the description.

Second, thoughtful, thinking, informed, reformed, educated Anglicanism...it's not on offer with ACNA leadership.

Third, I saw Keith of Quincy on Anglican TV with the Orthodox signing ceremony at Nashotah House. His little homilette was suitable for a "Dollar Store" or the old "5 & 10 Cent" Dime Stores. It was appallingly weak given that he sports the title "Bishop."

Fourth, review the blogspot of leading Anglican centres of advertisement. Does the Windbag of Virtual Vertigo offer substantive series on "Reformed theology?" The five solas? The Reformation?

Fifth, did Sydney take a stand?

Sixth, Peter of Africa appeared to take a stand, claiming to be a "proud inheritor of the Anglican Reformation" although two paragraphs earlier he notes that Rome holds the "same committment to the same historical apostolic Gospel." Talk about confusion.

Seventh, ever hear anything about this from Venables in South America?

Eighth, look at the Dr. Moore's statement above. Saying one thing and "acting out" in another direction. I'll have no more of that "double mindedness" and will call them when I see it.

Ninth, we'll put Robin Jordan on report. While he often comes down in a Reformed direction, we have no definition of "Reformed Theology" from him. His work on the Constitution and Canons has been helpful, but a much clearer voice is needed.

Tenth, look again at that very stupid gaggle, 23 June, in Bedford, TX...the hoopla...the pufferies from Windbag...the enthusiasm. Then listen in to two leading speakers: Rick Warren and OCA Jonah.

Of course, this scribe feels alone.

Yet, this much. So was St. Athanasius. He was exiled several times. The numbers weren't with him, but he stuck to the Scriptures and defended the co-essential and co-eternal nature of the Second Person of the Godhead. Even the bishop of Rome had bagged out in the Arian direction. Not Athanasius. Nor should we.

We need a clean leadership sweep, but we won't get it. Bob of Pittsburg as a theological leader? It's laughable. Jack in TX? I don't think so. Or Keith in Quincy? Puleeze.

Thanks, you're not alone.