Saturday, March 31, 2012

Piper Steps Down From Bethlehem Anabaptist Church, Minneapolis, MN

Sorry, John, ya' ain't important...at all. The Word and Sacraments are very serious rather than enthusiasms. Your disappearance won't mean alot for the studious, thinking, reading and thoughtful Bible readers, Confessionalists, and Prayer Book students. Bye John. We suspect you'll be active on the Baptyerian front, like Lig Duncan's good old boy network at ACE. Or, with the front office at Baptyerian central, Ligonier Ministries. We suspect you'll be proactive on other Anabaptistic, non-Confessional, non-liturgical and non-Conformist fronts. John, we simply abhor and detest the errors of the Anabaptists, a simple Reformed (and, historically Anglican) viewpoint. The Confessionally Lutherans say the same.

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/articles/transition-questions-and-answers-from-pastor-john-for-bethlehem

Transition Questions and Answers from Pastor John for Bethlehem

March 27, 2012| by John Piper| Topic: Events & Announcements

How do you feel about Jason’s candidacy?

I am overjoyed. Both at the process and the person. As I heard the results emerging from the various meetings, there were times when I wept for joy. I thought, “God was actually doing this. God is loving Bethlehem. God is giving unity. God is anointing Jason. His hand is on him for this. This is no mere human process. God has been at work in this for over twelve years. (Yes, and in eternity!)”

I will not duplicate here the long list of gifts and graces and competencies that suit Jason for the position. You can read those at the links in the Bethlehem Updates Blog. But a calling to the ministry is not simply equivalent to a sum of competencies. What I have been praying for the elders to have is not mainly the savvy to spot competencies (as important as that is), but, more importantly, the Holy-Spirit-given discernment to perceive the hand of God on Jason’s life for this specific calling. Spiritual discernment is more than gift assessment or competency calculation. Just as the calling is spiritual, the discernment of it is spiritual. That is why I wept for joy.

In my initial conversation with Jason on November 10, 2011, to ask if he were open to being considered, there was an astonishing sense of his readiness for this. It was beyond what I had expected. From that moment on, the sense of his calling has grown.

I joyfully and expectantly commend him to you with all my heart. Not only because of a long list of gifts and graces and competencies, but also because I believe God has chosen him and anointed him for this role. May the Lord confirm this with a hope-filled, happy, unified vote of the Bethlehem family.

What was your role in choosing and testing Jason Meyer?

I was involved in the process until we had narrowed the field to two candidates. At that point, I stepped away. I was not part of the meeting or the vote to narrow the field to one candidate. From that point on, I withdrew from all interviews and discussions and votes.

The main reason is simple: Part of discerning Jason’s convictions, competencies, styles, attitudes, habits, plans, and more, is to ask him how his would be different from those of John Piper. That kind of questioning calls for my absence. Another reason for not being part of the vetting process was that my voice carries significant sway, and in this case, it was better that the emerging unanimity of the elders rise from Jason’s own anointing. It did.

Why are you stepping down from your pastoral role?

Not because I am weary of preaching. O how I love to herald the greatest truths in the world! I hope to be doing it to the end.
Not because any staff or elders have urged me to. On the contrary. There has been significant push back over the several years we have been talking about this.
Not because I love you any less. Or love any less what this church stands for.
Not because I want to leave the church or leave Minneapolis. I hope to be part of the church and launch my life from this urban home till I need skilled care.

The reason we are moving forward with the succession plan now has to do with a strong conviction that good pastoring is more than preaching. I could still preach. Some have encouraged me to do just that. Just preach. Hand off other leadership responsibilities to others. I do not believe such an arrangement would make Bethlehem a healthy, thriving, mission-driven, aggressively visionary, growing church—which is what she should be!

A disconnect between the pulpit and vision-casting will not work for the good of the church. The pulpit is the main voice of the vision. The vision is hammered out in the grueling labors of countless encounters with staff and elders as biblical truth meets structural, congregational, and cultural reality. These vision-forming, vision-sustaining, vision-finalizing labors require leadership—leadership to keep the vision biblical; leadership to keep the vision energized and joyful and wise and relevant and possible; leadership to keep the vision moving through obstacle after obstacle; and leadership to trumpet that vision winsomely to thousands of members.

That kind of leadership does not happen without one chief among equals leading the way. And that person, in my view, must be the Pastor for Preaching and Vision. The one who heralds the vision and captures the hearts and minds of the people for the vision can only do that if he has paid the price of crafting the vision and winning his fellow leaders for it. He cannot herald a vision with integrity and power that he has been handed on a piece of paper.

With that background, I hope it will make sense to you that the time is right for the succession plan to move forward (with Jason and me overlapping for a season). Until recently, I felt like I could give that kind of leadership to Bethlehem. But now there are at least four factors that cause me to believe that this chapter is almost over. In other words, while I can still preach with joy and strength and fruit, the season of fruitful and effective leadership in structuring this church for maximally effective pastoral care, church-wide discipleship, effective evangelism, strategies for growth, and more, is drawing to a close.

Here are some of the factors that lead me to this conclusion.

1) Most importantly, I am less competent at leading Bethlehem structurally and organizationally than I used to be. For about 30 years, I was usually able to see through the complexities and formulate feasible and exciting plans—always with the help of incredibly devoted and gifted partners in ministry. This is no longer the case. For two reasons: One is that Bethlehem is more complex than it used to be; and the other is that my energies and abilities for this kind of organizational and structural planning are diminished. If I were younger and more focused, I might be able to do what I used to do. But I am not younger or more focused. This is a glorious moment in the history of Bethlehem, and it is not a time for less focus and energy for planning, but for more.

2) There is an ever-increasing pull on my life to be involved in ministry outside Bethlehem. Much of this feels strategic to me for the cause of Christ. While I felt competent and energized to formulate plans for the structures of Bethlehem, this outside pull was secondary. But I sense that this is changing. It seems to me that the Lord is saying: “You have led Bethlehem to this point; it is time to hand off the internal leadership labors to another; I have a few other things yet for you to do.”

3) Writing has always been a calling. But it has been secondary to preaching at Bethlehem and to internal leadership at this church. You have been very generous to me over the years to give me writing leaves. As my years go by I realize that there are writing projects that I think God wants me to finish. This adds to the pull I feel away from the demands of internal leadership at Bethlehem.

4) I want to finish strong. It seems, in view of all this, that it is wise to step down from this role before my weakening leadership competencies jeopardize the amazing potential of this church.

Finally, I have felt confirmed in this by several other factors. One is that Noël agrees that this decision is wise. Her discernment matters a lot to me. Another is that God has given me strong assurance that I am not leaving you without caring for your welfare after I am done. God has, I believe, raised up a shepherd after his own heart for this very season. This is a huge confirmation to me that God’s mercy is holding sway here. He is loving his church well. That is what I long for. I want the work of the last 32 years to be a platform for greater depth of discipleship, and for phenomenal growth. With Jason ready to lead, I believe that is what this transition means.

What will you do?

After the overlap season with Jason, Noël and I and Talitha plan to leave town for a year or so and find a place for writing and reflection. There are several writing projects I want to make headway on. And I want some time and distance before I lock in to any pattern of ministry too quickly. I need to get some perspective and pray and think about the next ten years.

In general I can say that, if God gives me life and health, these years will involve my role as Chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary, and my role as founder and teacher for Desiring God. I love to teach seminary students, and I love to encourage and strengthen the God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated vision of pastors. And I love to write. So some configuration of those loves is what I expect to see.

My life’s calling remains the same: I exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ. Pray that I will spend and be spent for this till I can speak and write no more.

What will your relationship to Bethlehem be?

This is delicate. Traditional wisdom is that a long-term pastor needs to make himself scarce lest he undermine the leadership of the new pastor. That’s part of why Noël and I want to leave town for a while.

But with the guidance of the elders and staff, I hope that our membership can remain at Bethlehem and that we can worship here when we are not committed elsewhere. It is not biblical to become a “free agent” accountable to no church. In other words, if, in the next years, I were to move in any direction that would bring reproach on the name of Christ, this is the church I want to discipline me.

I do not expect to have any official role in leadership in the church. Nor do I think this would be wise. My “elder” gifting and call should be expressed, I believe, not through active membership on the Council of Elders, but, at their commission, in the roles of teaching and preaching outlined above. In other words, my place at Bethlehem will be very low profile as Noël and I enjoy worshipping with you and sitting under the anointed ministry of Jason Meyer. If at any time, we or the elders felt this was an unhelpful arrangement, we would do what’s best for the church.

How do you feel?

Overwhelmed with thankfulness for God’s faithfulness for 32 years, and for his provision for the next season under Jason. Sorrowful for my personal and ministerial failures of the last decades. Affectionate for you, the people I have loved and served. Confident that God has greater things in store for you than you can imagine. And for us. For the Christian, the best is always yet to come. Always.

WSC 21: The "Only Redeemer" of "God's Elect"

From our beloved Catechism with words to remember and digest.

A prudent post at: http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/?p=263

One can sum up the Reformed faith by listing five “only’s” — only Scripture, only Christ, only grace, only faith, and only to the glory of God. We look today at the second “only” in “Only Christ.” The apostle Paul would remind us in 1 Timothy 2:5 that “there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (ESV)

With another date of only localized Presbyterian topics, we return on this last day of March 31, to the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Standards. In question and answer 21, we read the words “The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to be God, and man, in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.”

We speak first about “the only Redeemer of God’s elect.” The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Redeemer to those whom the Father has given to the Son, as that phrase is continuously found in the high priestly prayer of Jesus in John chapter 17, or “the elect.” Peter clearly preached in Acts 4:12, when declaring the good news of eternal life in the days following the Ascension of Christ, that “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (ESV)

See the repetitive statements! Despite what the Bahai religion states, despite what other religions claim, despite what your unbelieving neighbor believes, there is no one else! There is no other name under heaven! There is no other name given among men! It is ONLY CHRIST.

We need to echo the testimony of the apostle Paul when he wrote, “For although there may be so-called gods in heaven and on earth — as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’ — yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (1 Corinthians 8:5, 6 ESV)

Last, our Confessional fathers remind us that the Lord Jesus Christ is both God and man, in two distinct natures as eternal deity and true humanity, yet only one person, forever. Our finite minds may not be able to fully understand it. But God’s Word, the Bible declares it, and on that Scriptural teaching we rest, firmly committed to it.

TBN Bimbo, Paula White: ER2, TD Jakes, & Baptacostals

Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries offers his assessment of ER2, TD Jakes, and Benny Hinn’s girl-friend, Paul White. We offer our comments in red.

http://apprising.org/2012/03/30/elephant-room-2s-t-d-jakes-spiritual-daughter-paula-white-in-the-news/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+apprising%2F2+%28Apprising+Ministries%29

ELEPHANT ROOM 2′S T.D. JAKES’ SPIRITUAL DAUGHTER PAULA WHITE IN THE NEWS

RA: After Paula White’s involvement with Benny Hinn in Rome last year, with all the hand-holding and the divorce in suspense, what’s going on currently? We know, as of last year, that old Benny got divorced from his wife. Benny ditched her and his wife ditched him. So much for Biblical marriage amongst the Yappaholics. We covered Benny’s divorce at: http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2011/05/update-on-benny-hinn-divorce-from.html.

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on Mar 30, 2012 in AM Missives, Current Issues, Features, T.D. Jakes, Word Faith

Apprising Ministries continues covering the aftermath of the Elephant Room 2, which was put on by former Gospel Coalition members James MacDonald and Mark Driscoll. [RA: Apparently, Driscoll and the Gospel Coalition have been involved. As Confessional Anglicans, we’ve not followed the ins-and-outs of these Baptacostals, except at a well-advised distance. They offer so little. Our distance is suitable and well-advised.]

I told you in There’s More To The Resignation Of James MacDonald From Gospel Coalition that MacDonald would resign from TGC because he didn’t want to “pull the plug” on T.D. Jakes coming to the ER2.

[RA: We’re still not following all the chaos of these sectarians like Harvest Chapellers, Acts 29, Driscoll and others. We are not schismatics and sectarians without confessional or creedal roots. Who is Jakes? MacDonald? TGC? Baptacostalist sectarians?]

Then on Wednesday of this week we suddenly saw Mark Driscoll Resigns From The Gospel Coalition [RA: We note this/] right on the heels of Matt Chandler To Be New President OfFActs 29 Network as Driscoll decided to step down. Sources within Acts 29 tell me these are related, at least in part, to ER2. [RA: Sectarians and schismatics from the beginning. They are Baptacostals and Baptacholics.] Fallout from ER2 will likely continue to be seen within the contemporary evangelicalism [RA: What is “contemporary evangelicalism”?] this year because the main claim to fame for this conference was, in my opinion, the pass given to Word Faith mogul T.D. Jakes. [RA: What has been, if ever, the Confessional, liturgical and creedal benchmark for McDonald or the other schismatics? Ditto for all TBN exhorters? Or SBCers without a Confession?] As I see it, led by Mark Driscoll, Jakes was essentially allowed to say, “I’m a trinitarian-modalist.” [RA: Since when has the Creed, or Creeds, meant much to SBC exhorters like Silva? At least Anglicans have retained the Creeds.] Jakes’ obvious Word Faith prosperity teachings were never even mentioned, let alone addressed. [OK, is this it?]

The net result is ER2 was successful in mainstreaming T.D. Jakes [RA: So?]; and then James MacDonald would go on the offensive on the Chris Fabry Live (CFL) program to imply that in their private dialogues Jakes does not accept the label of a Word Faith prosperity preacher. However from years of involvement with, and study of, the WF movement I can tell you that no WF preacher wants to be branded with that particular label. [RA: So, put the question in full and in the particulars to Jakes. At this point, McDonald is just another sectarian, schismatic, Anabaptistic, and
Baptacostal revivalist.]

Unfortunately for James MacDonald et al the facts simply don’t line up with his assertion that T.D. Jakes is not a WF prosperity preacher. [RA: It would appear that Jakes is a full-breed Pelagian, to wit, that children imitate and follow their parents’ behaviours, rather than inherit sin natures. We’ve always understood Jakes to be a Word-Prosperity-Pimp. Why any discussion of it by MacDonald?] For example there’s Megachurch Pastors Joel Osteen And T.D. Jakes Unite And Why You Should Care and T.D. Jakes May 2012 Leadership Conference To Feature Joel Osteen. Then just a couple of weeks ago T.D. Jakes Speaker This Month For Paula White’s A God Encounter. [RA: Has Jakes ever postulated or presented his “Confession of Faith,” like the Westminsterians? If not, why not? Where is Jakes’s confession to the world?] While Osteen sugarcoats his Word Faith prosperity [RA: Osteen has to be the most ignorant cleric on TV today] preaching by mixing in self-help jargon ala Robert Schueller [RA: While at it, where is Osteen’s “Confession of Faith,” like the Westminsterians. Does the old boy have one? One that can be examined? Osteen’s ignorance is legendary.] , there is no doubt that Pastrix Paula [Ditto for White’s “Confession of Faith”] White is basically a female version of T.D. Jakes. If you didn’t know, there’s good reason for this as White often speaks of Jakes as her “spiritual father,” which you can hear for yourself in Elephant In The Room: T.D. Jakes And Paula White. To point this out is not merely guilt by association.

To look at this in a legal sense, it goes to the credibility of T.D. Jakes. It was James MacDonald who called Jakes to the witness stand in ER2 and he’s attempted to defend his brother Jakes. We then have every right to cross examine the record of T.D. Jakes [RA: This is always the right of a
Biblical analyst] who stated on the record that he holds an orthodox view of the Holy Trinity and, according to his spiritual defense attorney [RA” Spiritual attorney?} now apparently claims not to be Word Faith.

Since Paula White claims Jakes was her mentor [RA: Jakes? White claims this? Where is the scholarly bibliography of several hundred volumes? Jakes? How about the scholars of the ages?], which he also acknowledges, then we are within our right to examine her teachings and lifestyle because they also reflect upon her spiritual father T.D. Jakes. In closing this, for now, I point you to an Orlando Sentinel piece from January of this year called New Destiny’s Paula White preaches from life of ups, downs. Jeff Kunerth begins:

In her first sermon as the new pastor [RA” Pastor?” Ahem.] of New Destiny Christian Center, Paula White described herself as a “messed up Mississippi girl” who was picked on as a child. [RA: Irrelevant to Biblical exposition, Biblical Churchmanship, doctrine, worship and piety.] But don’t let this blond hair fool you, she told the congregation, this girl knows how to fight [RA: A bit of a yawner for retired and active duty U.S. Marines. Sorry, Paula, but not very impressive].

“I came out of my momma’s womb fighting,” [RA: You’re alone? Do you think 1000s upon 1000s came foreward without a struggle, Paula? And you are special because of….?] she said. “That’s why I will go to war. I will fight.” (Online source) [RA: What a bizarre claim. The issue is harmartiology in the classical sense, not your forlorn experience amongst southern Enthusiasts.]

Obviously, by claiming to be a pastor White is already in violation of God’s Word (cf. 1 Timothy 2:12). [RA: After all, what is this gal’s theological background? A 90-hour MDiv? A 30-hour Th.M.? A Ph.D.? Or, much less?] You might be saying, “Wait a minute she’s supposed to be the senior pastor of Without Walls Church.” That’s right, she is; and she found a way to become pastrix of New Destiny Christian Center (NDCC) as well. [RA: Just another loud-mouthed hack and Baptacostalist without an education and with a lot of vigour. What else might be expected of individualistic Anabaptistic enthusiasts?] You might recall in August of last year I told you that Florida Megachurch Pastor Zachery Tims Found Dead, NDCC was his church.

Well, pastrix Paula White claims that she was Tims’ spiritual mentor. [RA” White, a pastoral mentor, without degrees? ] For more on the controversy surrounding just how White came to be appointed pastor at NDCC I refer you to Paula White Officially Appointed Senior Pastor of Zachery Tims’ Fla. Church. [RA: More hackeries and loondoms.] Right now we return to our look at the teachings of pastrix White as Orlando Sentinel reporter Jeff Kunerth continues:

White often refers to her past personal hardships as examples of how faith and determination have elevated her into the pulpit. Her rags-to-riches travails inspire those in the congregation who have experienced difficulties in their lives. [RA: Yawn. Where’s the exposition of Sacred Scriptures?]

“Part of her appeal is the success theology [RA: Holy moly, as a retired Marine and as a retired senior officer, I can preach my successes in the military? Holy moly, let me write a book and get on TV too…] she preaches,” [RA: Sheer crap.] said Sheila Strobel Smith, an expert on leadership transition in mega-churches like Apopka’s New Destiny. “For people feeling down and out, they can see she has picked herself up and made a success of herself. And her life continues to play that out.” (Online source) [RA: More yawning.]

As you can see, just as her spiritual father T.D. Jakes, White’s message is herself; typical of Word Faith prosperity preachers. [RA: Suitable to half-wits and illiterates.] As with other WF snake oil salesmen [RA: Including the entire TBN crowd and Benny Hinn] Kunerth also tells us that Without Walls Church, which White co-founded with her then husband Randy White [RA Whoa, Paula White, the scholar, the diva, the august, the Bimbo, the magnificent, the PhD,. and the boyfriend of Benny Hinn. The two magisters and examples of illustration, the divorced Paul and Randy, examples of Christian doctrine, worship and piety (tongue in cheek[ got divorced, yet without a whimper from TBN]: became the focus of a congressional investigation into several high-profile preachers suspected of living lavish lifestyles at the expense of their congregations. (Online source) [RA: Have we ever seen Paula’s financial records? In full? The whole and entire matter is still unresolved, including Paul Crouch Sr.’s manifestations.]

Kunerth also tells us, as it concerns her taking over NDCC, that White:

has plenty of detractors, including R. Douglas Chukwuemeka, who came out of the same Baltimore church as Zachery Tims and pastors New Destiny’s sister church in Arizona. Chukwuemeka challenges White’s assertions that she was the close spiritual mother of Tims. [RA: Baptacostalist yappings]

“She’s making it up and playing on the people’s feelings,” said Chukwuemeka, senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Church in Laveen, Ariz. “She definitely would not be the one he would want to succeed him.” (Online source) [RA: For the youths, young people, new inquirers after Christ, non-catechetized but learning, and new joins, keep your hand on the wallet, firmly. Think, read, mark and decide, but never follow these half-wits.]

§ Then finally Jeff Kunerth shares the following, which comes as absolutely no surprise to those of us familiar with the preaching stylings of pastrix Paula White [RA: Silva, start getting your subject and verb agreements together, otherwise, you look like an uneducated Baptistic rubarb...that's what we expect from Baptacostals]:

Tall and slender, she appears more model than minister — until she opens her mouth and begins to preach. In a style borrowed from black pastors, including her “spiritual father” T.D. Jakes, White preaches with a breathless delivery of nonstop sentences that rise to an emotional peak just short of exhaustion. (Online source) [RA: The few times we’ve heard Paula speak, she sounds like a Baptacostalist loon. No depth. No Confessionalism. Certainly, no liturgy. No Creedalism. What does she offer but her ignorance? Does she even have a credible and basic 90-hour degree in theology, a “starters” degree?]

I’ll leave you with the following demonstration of pastrix Paula White in action so you can see part of “the show” for yourself. Below is White preaching the classic Word Faith sow a seed of money [RA: “Send dem dollas in you folks” preaches the huckster] so God will be obligated to bless you; and this she does for her spiritual father T.D. Jakes at his Potter’s House in December of 2010:

00:00

RA: For new inquirers to Christendom, teenagers, non-Catechetized, or young adults without a background. Paula White, T.D. Jakes, TBN, Paul Crouch and Benny Hinn should be avoided. On our end, we need to develop a basic bibliography for new joins. After these exercises about “Witless Wonders,” like White, we will get to the issues of providing a basic bibliography.

07:04

Friday, March 30, 2012

Consultations on Canterbury: 39 Articles and Westminster Confession?

We have our own questions. (1) Use of the 1662 BCP. (2) 39 Articles. (3) Westminster Confession of Faith. (4) Hermeneutics. (5) If not the 39 Articles, old 1662 BCP, and Westminster Confession, why not? What's the problem, Rowan, or the successor? (6) If the English Church can't answer these questions, why not? Where's the theological inquiry on these things? Must we draw our own conclusions in the absence of significant, thoughtful and intelligent inquiries on them? Here's the botttomline for Canterbury and the Queen: the Bible determines the faith, period. See WCF, 1.10.
http://www.anglicanink.com/article/consultation-opens-appointment-next-archbishop-canterbury

Consultation opens on the appointment of the next Archbishop of Canterbury

Press release from the Church of England

Article | March 30, 2012 - 7:15pm | By George Conger

Announcements in the Church Times, Church of England Newspaper and The Times have started the consultation process ahead of consideration by the Crown Nominations Commission as to who will follow Dr Rowan Williams as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury.

This is the first time the process for nominating a new Archbishop of Canterbury has begun with such an announcement, following changes to introduce more transparency in the appointment of bishops.

The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr Rowan Williams will be stepping down from the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury on 31st December 2012.

Any person wishing to comment on the challenges and opportunities that should be taken in to account in considering the appointment of his successor or who wishes to propose candidates should email, by Monday 30th April, to abc.vacancy@churchofengland.org .

Comments and proposals can also be sent in writing to one of the following:

Sir Paul Britton, Prime Minister's Secretary for Appointment, c/o Honours and Appointments Secretariat, Admiralty Arch, The Mall, London SW1A 2WH

Ms. Caroline Boddington, Archbishops' Secretary for Appointments, The Wash House, Lambeth Palace, London SE1 7JU

Notes
Outline of procedures for the appointment of an Archbishop of Canterbury

The responsibility for choosing the next Archbishop of Canterbury rests with the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC). Its task is to submit the name of a preferred candidate (and a second appointable candidate) to the Prime Minster who is constitutionally responsible for tendering advice on the appointment to the Queen.

The membership of the CNC is prescribed in the Standing Orders of the General Synod. When an Archbishop of Canterbury is to be chosen there are 16 voting members
The Chair (a layperson) - to be appointed by the Prime Minister
A Bishop - to be elected by the House of Bishops
The Archbishop of York or, if he chooses not to be a member of the CNC, a further Bishop to be elected by the House of Bishops
Six representatives elected from the Diocese of Canterbury by their Vacancy in See Committee
The six representatives (three clergy and three lay) elected by General Synod to serve as members of the Commission for a five year period
A member of the Primates Meeting of the Anglican Communion elected by the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion.

In addition, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary and the Archbishops' Secretary for Appointments are non-voting members of the Commission.

Before the Commission first meets there will be an extensive consultation process to determine the needs of the diocese, the Church of England and the Anglican Communion. This has several phases;

The diocesan Vacancy in See Committee will prepare a brief description of the diocese and a statement setting out the desired profile of the new Archbishop
The Prime Minister's and Archbishops' Secretaries for Appointments will conduct a wider consultation exercise to inform the Commission's consideration of the needs of the mission of the wider Church of England and the Anglican Communion.

The expectation is that the Commission will have an initial meeting around the end of May to agree its process, which is likely to continue over the summer. The number of meetings will be for the Commission to determine. The process will among other things include;

Review of background material and results of the consultations, discussion of the challenges for the next Archbishop and, in the light of these, consideration of the personal qualities required
Consideration of candidates
Voting to identify the recommended candidate and a second appointable candidate, whose names will go forward to the Prime Minister.

Since 2007 the agreed convention in relation to episcopal appointments has been that the Prime Minister commends the name preferred by the Commission to the Queen. The second name is identified in case, for whatever reason, there is a change of circumstances which means that the appointment of the CNC's recommended candidate cannot proceed.

Once the Queen has approved the chosen candidate and he has indicated a willingness to serve, 10 Downing St will announce the name of the Archbishop-designate.
The College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral formally elect the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

The election is confirmed by a commission of diocesan bishops in a legal ceremony (the Confirmation of Election), which confers the office of Archbishop on him.

The new Archbishop does homage to Her Majesty.
The new Archbishop is formally enthroned in Canterbury Cathedral.

Further details on the nomination process for Diocesan Bishops can be found at
http://www.churchofengland.org/clergy-office-holders/asa/senappt/dbnom.aspx

This includes the particular arrangements made for the See of Canterbury.

Andy Underhile: "T" of TULIP, Does it Matter Much?

Andy Underhile, a friend and fellow Churchman, a brother-elect in Christ’s Majesty, a justified sinner, a wicked man but justified, a Calvinist, but better, he is a man with biblical insight and has begun a series on TULIP.

He develops the first point, “T” in his first post. See: http://andycontramundum.blogspot.com/2012/03/defining-t-in-tulip.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FDofecr+%28Contra+Mundum%29. Does the "T" in TULIP matter much? We post responses for the sake of the youth, the younger theologues and the next generation.

We post Andy’s comments in black. Reformation Anglicanism will amplify, revise and extend on Andy salutary post. These revisions and extensions are not corrections, but are amplifications. Our comments will be in blue. As the Rev. Dr. Jack Gerstner, Ph.D., Harvard, a mentor to this scribe in the 1970s, once exclaimed, TULIP is the “fairest flower in God’s garden.” RA will never forget Dr. Gerstner’s lecture in the early 1970s at First Presbyterian, Pittsburg, PA. This fair flower involves every loci of systematic theology. Our audience must be young people, young theologues, young inquirers, collegians and others. Old people, like me, have had our time and exposure, making our culpability or exonerations what they will be. For the older, have we taught these things? If older, have you taught and defended these things? If younger, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest. Think and reach your own conclusions, as you assuredly will do, one way or another. We will offer a few annotations in the endnotes or the brief, annotated bibliography. This is not a scholarly post, but a musing from an older Churchman. I pray that my own children may read this. Again, Andy Underhile’s notes are in black and RA’s in blue.

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The acronym TULIP is a mnemonic device for Reformed soteriology;[i] that is, the doctrine of salvation. There are five letters, hence the frequent reference to 5-point Calvinism.

Does Canterbury teach TULIP?
ACNA? AMiA? PEARUSA? CANA?

RA: For the younger crowd, “Soteriology” is the “doctrine of salvation,” a standard locus or focus in all theologies. My audience must be the younger crowd. I should advise the younger crowd to procure and master Berkhok’s Systematic Theology.[ii] Get it and read it. Modern ministers will not advise you of this. The older man offers you this counsel.

Apparently, as we write, there is a renaissance of inquiry into “TULIP” by what is called the “Young, Restless and Reformed,”[iii] a movement amongst American Baptists and Baptacostalists, e.g. Mahaney, Driscoll, Chandler, Piper, Mohler. These men are “new joins” to the discussion of TULIP, arising since the 1990s. TULIP is standard fare amongst old school Confessional Presbyterians and Reformed Churchmen, but it is entirely new—coming off revivalist doctrine, worship and piety—amongst Baptists over the last twenty years. Hence, to study “TULIP” is to study historic Presbyterianism, old school Anglicanism, and a part of Lutheranism. Modern Baptists and Pentecostalists know little of these things. Dr. Al Mohler, Southern Seminary, however, a “Southern Baptist,” stumbled into TULIP in the 1990s and has been aflame, ablaze and on fire since then. Mohler’s fellow Baptists, the majority of them, are not amused by a discovery of TULIP. RA well remembers Al’s energetic presentations at Ligonier Ministries in the late 90s. Alas, Mohler “warmly” asserted TULIP, as if the second coming had occurred. TULIP also, in better times, was accepted in the Church of England. King James 1 and the Archbishop of Canterbury accepted the conclusions of the Synod of Dordt, 1618-1619, although, to their injury, it was not codified in doctrine. To study TULIP is to study basic Biblical essentials in soteriology.

The letters stand for the following: [RA: For collegians and young theologies, this mnemonic needs to be memorized, along with the relevant biblical texts. TULIP, the fairest flower in God’s garden.]

Total Depravity [RA: In this post, Andy deals with just the “T.”]

Unconditional Election

Limited Atonement

Irresistible Grace

Perseverance of the Saints

Over the course of this series of posts, Lord willing, we will briefly explain what is meant by each of the five points. [RA: Thanks Andy, an important issue. Andy, Articles 9-12 of the “Thirty-nine Articles” for the Church of England and Chapter Six of the “The Westminster Confession of Faith” provides an excellent preliminary study. Also, the Irish Articles of 1615, 11-17, 22-28. We ask the young theologues to ask, review and draw their own conclusions. ] After so many more weighty theological posts, why something so fundamental and basic now? [RA: Exactly, because TULIP is foundational, basic and essential.] I take nothing for granted. [RA: Wise.] I have been a Christian long enough to know that much of Christian doctrine goes unexplained and it is simply assumed by preachers and teachers that their congregations are fully conversant with these things. I feel it wise to, every now and again, go back and refresh our memories about some of the simple basic truths of our most holy faith.

RA: We share Andy’s concern re: the five points and that’s why his post is important. One cannot, as Andy indicates, take this for granted. To settle this issue is to deal with a host of other related issues as well. Every loci of theology is affected: God, humanity, Christ, redemption, church and sacraments, and eschatology. Further, Andy is correct to note that “preachers and teachers” assume these things. The neo-Calvinists, as they call themselves at Gospel Coalition, Together for the Gospel, and at Mohler’s seminary are pressing these things. For this RA is thankful, however, these Anabaptists have other things to learn. We recommend a book here by R. Scott Clark, Recovering the Reformed Confessions. While Scott’s book does not amplify on TULIP per se, it does offer a wider review of Reformed life in the Confessions which includes the Synod of Dort.[iv]

Total Depravity

RA: The “total” in Total Depravity refers to the entirety of a person’s constitution: mind, thoughts, will, decisions, feelings, affections and body.

The doctrine of Total Depravity, or as it is sometimes known, Total Inability, teaches the complete inability of man to save himself, or indeed to have any part in saving himself because of the effects of sin in the soul. [RA: One must read Martin Luther’s exquisite Bondage of the Will.”[v] For young people, collegians, and novices, this is eminently readable. It’s a book that must be digested. Roman Catholics will never discuss this. Mainline liberal clerics exist in some other parallel universe. You can easily dismiss mainline clerics as not knowing, understanding or believing in the "T." American “evangelicals” essentially dismiss this. As noted, some neo-Calvinists—to use their term—are rediscovering this. Confessionally Reformed Churchmen have long taught these matters.) Man is dead in his sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). Therefore he can do nothing, as a corpse, to bring himself back to life. Every part of man's nature was corrupted by sin, therefore, we say that man has a sinful nature, which longs only to rebel against God (Hosea 6:7; Gen. 6:5; Psalm 58:3). [RA: There are important implications here for evangelism and discipleship. First, there is confidence for the Bishop (Senior Presbyter and Churchman amongst fellow Presbyters, juniors), Presbyter and Deacon. Teach the Christian faith. Leave the results to God, since God alone “raises” the “dead” to faith in the teaching of the faith. This writer has seen it many, many times. In an earlier life, when teaching and living amongst Marines and Sailors, I would tell a young man or small group, allow me to teach the Christian faith. Upon permission, the teaching would occur. I’d teach the essentials without American salesmanship, revivalism or gimmicks. I told the novices this was my approach. Give me six weeks, men, to present the case for classical Christianity. Let me teach. Further, let us learn together. I told them I was a fellow-learner, reviewing old lessons, and the Chief in the class…but no pressure. Decide in six weeks if you wanted more. These lads always wanted more. No pressure. Yet, many times, a lad would come to me sometimes weeks later—without my solicitation—plop down and say, “Sir, I gave my life to Christ last night…” Again, trust in God’s work alone to raise the dead. Two of those men went into and continue in full time ministry. The Word alone controls the landscape. While men are dead in sins and trespasses, His Majesty raises the dead to lives of faith, repentance and duty.

Man’s sin is extensive as well as intensive. Individuals may not be as bad as they can be; they are as bad off as they can be. The effect of the fall upon man is that sin has corrupted every part of his personality: intelligence, emotions and will. [RA: We noted this earlier.] The unregenerate person is declared to be "dead" in sin. Apart from the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit the natural man is "blind" and "deaf" to the message of the gospel. [RA: Regeneration is entirely in God’s hands, not our’s. While we must present an intelligent, develop and cogent case from Scriptures, there is no need for gimmicks, tricks or other manipulative devices to gain an audience.]There is a natural but total inability to come to faith in Christ apart from a divine work of grace in the heart. [RA: Amen.]

Every act of an unbeliever is done outside of faith in Christ. Scripture says that whatever is not of faith is sin (1 Cor. 14:23). In our flesh there dwells "no good thing" (Rom. 7:18). [RA: Of recent inquiry, is our study of literature. The darkness, melancholy, despairs and hopelessness of humans apart from Christ is underscored. RA asked the literature teacher this week, “Based upon all our readings this semester, is everything dark and dreary? Am I reading these things correctly?” She responded that she, a 30somethingish near finishing her doctorate in English, had the same response during her undergraduate days, to wit, “Does anyone just write for “shits and giggles?” In other words, she saw what I was seeing. She concurred that even in the comedies, there is darkness and dreariness, but, in literature, one gets used to it. A theological analysis of literature is a standing order for RA’s day.) All of our righteousness is as "filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6). Even acts of apparent self-sacrifice mean nothing to God, for even the "sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination (Pro. 21:27).

What about the "good" in the world? What about the fact that unsaved husbands and wives usually loves each other and their children? First of all, total depravity takes into account what we call Common Grace, that is, God's restraining power over the sinfulness of men. [RA: In this mix, one may add the federal and state courts. A federal Judge told me recently, “Judges view themselves on the frontlines containing chaos. The Judges see the disorders and dysfunctions of depravity. We may thank His Majesty for courts in the order of common grace. More could be said, but we shan't.] Secondly, all who do not worship God are idolaters. [RA: Here one must teach and press the issues of the first commandment. This first commandment leads us to Christ, the Cross, the atonement, forgiveness, saving faith, saving repentance and justification by faith alone. The Westminster Larger Catechism lays these issues out, enlightening all readers. Convicting, invincibly, any reader. Apart from regeneration, there is no interest in this issue. For converted Churchman, this question is lively and active.

Here’s a wise voice in the Westminster Larger Catechism. Young inquirers, non-Christians, and collegians, you can learn these things, objectively.

“Question 104: What are the duties required in the first commandment?

“Answer: The duties required in the first commandment are, the knowing and acknowledging of God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly, by thinking, meditating, remembering, highly esteeming, honoring, adoring, choosing, loving, desiring, fearing of him; believing him; trusting, hoping, delighting, rejoicing in him; being zealous for him; calling upon him, giving all praise and thanks, and yielding all obedience and submission to him with the whole man; being careful in all things to please him, and sorrowful when in anything he is offended; and walking humbly with him.

“Question 105: What are the sins forbidden in the first commandment?

“Answer: The sins forbidden in the first commandment are, atheism, in denying or not having a God; idolatry, in having or worshiping more gods than one, or any with or instead of the true God; the not having and avouching him for God, and our God; the omission or neglect of anything due to him, required in this commandment; ignorance, forgetfulness, misapprehensions, false opinions, unworthy and wicked thoughts of him; bold and curious searching into his secrets; all profaneness, hatred of God; self-love, self-seeking, and all other inordinate and immoderate setting of our mind, will, or affections upon other things, and taking them off from him in whole or in part; vain credulity, unbelief, heresy, misbelief, distrust, despair, incorrigibleness, and insensibleness under judgments, hardness of heart, pride, presumption, carnal security, tempting of God; using unlawful means, and trusting in lawful means; carnal delights and joys; corrupt, blind, and indiscreet zeal; lukewarmness, and deadness in the things of God; estranging ourselves, and apostatizing from God; praying, or giving any religious worship, to saints, angels, or any other creatures; all compacts and consulting with the devil, and hearkening to his suggestions; making men the lords of our faith and conscience; slighting and despising God and his commands; resisting and grieving of his Spirit, discontent and impatience at his dispensations, charging him foolishly for the evils he inflicts on us; and ascribing the praise of any good we either are, have, or can do, to fortune, idols, ourselves, or any other creature.

As such, you can see that no one, repeat, no one, of any station, position or attainment, has kept this law. Hence, Christ, the Cross and the atonement.

If one truly assesses the first commandment, the “T” of TULIP gains clarity.

Herein, one stands before St. Paul’s clear lesson in “The Epistle to the Romans.”

For old Prayer Book Anglicans, it gives the sense of the confession in Morning and Evening Prayer, that we have erred and strayed from Thy ways like lost sheep, having trusted too much in the devices and desires of our own hearts. Fellow Prayer Book Churchmen, you know the rest. You know the prayer of confession for Holy Communion. It "is what it is" and "was what it is."

The essence of idolatry is actually self-worship and the image merely becomes the tool or instrument for the attainment of the worshippers’ desired ends. Thus, we are on solid Biblical ground for saying that much of the "good" in the world is simply the result of self-interest. If I kill my customers, I can't get them to buy my products, thus murder cramps my style. Moreover, it seems warranted by Scripture, in light of language about sinners' deadness and blindness and alienation of mind, to assert that our depravity is so bad that we misread our world and see in it as a much better place than it is.

RA: It is very, very important to study the texts noted in the briefly annotated bibliography, including the Biblical texts.

This is, no doubt, an unpopular doctrine, because our world unquestioningly accepts the idea that all men are basically good, that there is good in everyone. True Christians much abominate such a belief. Scripture declares that all men are sinners, all men seek only evil continually, all men are at enmity with God and all men stand before God with nothing but the menstrual rags of our "righteousness."

Posted by Andy at 10:30 AM

RA: What Andy Underhile has noted here about the “T” of TULIP is emphatically underscored by Confessional Lutherans, old school Anglicans (in better days, but still in the BCP) and Presbyterians.

The "T" of TULIP, does it matter? Indeed it does. It is foundational to Christian Churchmanship, conversion, saving faith, saving repentance, justification, joy, gratitude, worship, praise and piety.

Young inquirers about Christianity, you will need to think this matter through, from Genesis to Revelation. It is of the essence of Christianity. Young people, be careful, it's dangerous out there. Read, mark, think and digest.

Young inquirers, you are on your own, essentially. The modern salesmen will not teach these things. Andy has. So has the historic, biblical, catholic, and apostolic church, so deeply obscured by Pastorpreneurs, liberals, charismatics, Baptacostals and other mobocrats, democrats and enthusiasts. It's tough being young in these days. But, read and follow this old scribe's musings, Andy's post, and the bibliography.

Thank you, Andy, for your timely post. "T" matters.

[i] Boettner, Loraine. The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination. Grand Rapids, MI: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 1991. Print. A must-have and must-read for young theologues and collegians. This volume is not optional. This suggests, as we write, the production of a basic bibliography for young theologies.

[ii] Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996. Print. My father handed this volume to me at age eighteen and fresh out of high school. He also handed me Charles Hodges’s three-volume Systematic Theology. Dad’s counsel was simple. “Read ten pages a day, ten chapters from the Old Testament and ten chapters from the New Testament every day.” I don’t think that counsel can be improved by anyone. Young people should still heed this counsel.

[iii] Hansen, Collin. The Young, Restless and Reformed.” Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008. Print. For students of Baptacostalist and Baptist developments in the US, this journalist volume should be read. It’s a fast read, a few hours.

[iv] Clark, R. Scott. Recovering the Reformed Confessions. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 2008. Print. This is another must-have and must-read. Again, young thinkers in Christ must read and review Scott’s book. Any bloggers reading this must assess Scott’s book.

[v] Luther, Martin. Bondage of the Will. We believe Greensboro, NC: Empire Books, 2012, is one publisher, but there are others. Print. Clearly, a must-have and must-read for the young theologue. It entails an important discussion between Martin Luther and Erasmus.