The Jerusalem Declaration

Here are 14 statements from GAFCON worth reflecting on:

THE JERUSALEM DECLARATION

In the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit:

1. We, the participants in the Global Anglican Future Conference, have met in the land of Jesus’ birth. We express our loyalty as disciples to the King of kings, the Lord Jesus. We joyfully embrace his command to proclaim the reality of his kingdom which he first announced in this land. The gospel of the kingdom is the good news of salvation, liberation and transformation for all. In light of the above, we agree to chart a way forward together that promotes and protects the biblical gospel and mission to the world, solemnly declaring the following tenets of orthodoxy which underpin our Anglican identity.

2. We rejoice in the gospel of God through which we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because God first loved us, we love him and as believers bring forth fruits of love, ongoing repentance, lively hope and thanksgiving to God in all things.

3. We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God written and to contain all things necessary for salvation. The Bible is to be translated, read, preached, taught and obeyed in its plain and canonical sense, respectful of the church’s historic and consensual reading.

4. We uphold the four Ecumenical Councils and the three historic Creeds as expressing the rule of faith of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

5. We uphold the Thirty-nine Articles as containing the true doctrine of the Church agreeing with God’s Word and as authoritative for Anglicans today.

6. We gladly proclaim and submit to the unique and universal Lordship of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, humanity’s only Saviour from sin, judgement and hell, who lived the life we could not live and died the death that we deserve. By his atoning death and glorious resurrection, he secured the redemption of all who come to him in repentance and faith.

7. We rejoice in our Anglican sacramental and liturgical heritage as an expression of the gospel, and we uphold the 1662 Book of Common Prayer as a true and authoritative standard of worship and prayer, to be translated and locally adapted for each culture.

8. We recognise that God has called and gifted bishops, priests and deacons in historic succession to equip all the people of God for their ministry in the world. We uphold the classic Anglican Ordinal as an authoritative standard of clerical orders.

9. We acknowledge God’s creation of humankind as male and female and the unchangeable standard of Christian marriage between one man and one woman as the proper place for sexual intimacy and the basis of the family. We repent of our failures to maintain this standard and call for a renewed commitment to lifelong fidelity in marriage and abstinence for those who are not married.

10. We gladly accept the Great Commission of the risen Lord to make disciples of all nations, to seek those who do not know Christ and to baptise, teach and bring new believers to maturity.

11. We are mindful of our responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation, to uphold and advocate justice in society, and to seek relief and empowerment of the poor and needy.

12. We are committed to the unity of all those who know and love Christ and to building authentic ecumenical relationships. We recognise the orders and jurisdiction of those Anglicans who uphold orthodox faith and practice, and we encourage them to join us in this declaration. We celebrate the God-given diversity among us which enriches our global fellowship, and we acknowledge freedom in secondary matters. We pledge to work together to seek the mind of Christ on issues that divide us.

13. We reject the authority of those churches and leaders who have denied the orthodox faith in word or deed. We pray for them and call on them to repent and return to the Lord.

14. We rejoice at the prospect of Jesus’ coming again in glory, and while we await this final event of history, we praise him for the way he builds up his church through his Spirit by miraculously changing lives.

GAFCON

Church Planting Masterclass No.3

This is just a reminder of the third church planting seminar by Nigel Gordon.

Thursday 3rd July 7:45pm at Church.

This evening will particulalry focus on the details of Nigel and Liz's church planting venture for next year. There will be an open forum with Nigel to discuss the plans for the church plant he will be leading in 2009. This is an important meeting to get informed about the new Church plant. This is for both those who might be interested in joining Nigel and those who will support through prayer and interest back at St. Matt's. Everyone is invited.
GP

Some commentary on the GAFCON Final statement

Tony Payne reflects on the final statement of GAFCON

the Statement itself says

"Our fellowship is not breaking away from the Anglican Communion. We, together with many other faithful Anglicans throughout the world, believe the doctrinal foundation of Anglicanism, which defines our core identity as Anglicans, is expressed in these words: The doctrine of the Church is grounded in the Holy Scriptures and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the said Scriptures. In particular, such doctrine is to be found in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer and the Ordinal. We intend to remain faithful to this standard, and we call on others in the Communion to reaffirm and return to it. While acknowledging the nature of Canterbury as an historic see, we do not accept that Anglican identity is determined necessarily through recognition by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Building on the above doctrinal foundation of Anglican identity, we hereby publish the Jerusalem Declaration as the basis of our fellowship."

For a brief useful comment on the final Statement

see Tony Payne

We look forward to Kanishka's reflections when he returns.

Click here for full text

GP

GAFCON: The final statement

Here is an extract:

"The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), which was held in Jerusalem from 22-29 June 2008, is a spiritual movement to preserve and promote the truth and power of the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ as we Anglicans have received it. The movement is global: it has mobilised Anglicans from around the world. We are Anglican: 1148 lay and clergy participants, including 291 bishops representing millions of faithful Anglican Christians. We cherish our Anglican heritage and the Anglican Communion and have no intention of departing from it. And we believe that, in God’s providence, Anglicanism has a bright future in obedience to our Lord’s Great Commission to make disciples of all nations and to build up the church on the foundation of biblical truth (Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 2:20).

GAFCON is not just a moment in time, but a movement in the Spirit, and we hereby:

• launch the GAFCON movement as a fellowship of confessing Anglicans

• publish the Jerusalem Declaration as the basis of the fellowship

• encourage GAFCON Primates to form a Council. "

Click here for the full text

GP

Websites for Gafcon updates

Here are a couple of websites for good information and commentary on GAFCON

The Anglican Church League

http://acl.asn.au/

The Sola panel

http://solapanel.org/

The GAFCON Website

http://www.gafcon.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=29


Cheers

Gavin

Oprah's Jesus

Oprah has stirred up Christians in the US recently with her comments about Jesus...

One segment of the YouTube video, taken from Oprah’s show, is a prime example of what angers many evangelical or traditional Christians. “There are many paths to what you call God,” Oprah says. When someone in the audience challenges that Jesus said he was the only way, Oprah retorts, “There couldn’t possibly be just one way.”

Widaman said the beliefs of other entertainers, such as Tom Cruise and Madonna, have come under quite a bit of scrutiny. “But because Oprah is who she is, the media is much less willing to tackle her strange beliefs because of the power she holds through her production company, television show and magazine,” he said. “We thought her views warranted examination as anyone who is using their power to spread them,” he said. “She really is using her television show as a pulpit for her gospel.”

In his investigative article, Steve Rabey gives further reasons for Christian discontent. “Oprah speaks less about salvation through Christ than she does Christ-consciousness,” he writes. “Likewise, she describes heaven not as an eternal destination but an inner realm of consciousness.”

For the full Article Click Here


What do you think?

GP

Reflections from GAFCON on Anglican identity

Australian christian writer Tony Payne reflects on Anglican identity at GAFCON.

"What is a true blue Anglican? And what is the positive basis for Anglican unity and identity?
The workshop I’ve been attending on ‘Anglican Identity’ has been very stimulating on this crucial question, especially the addresses by Ashley Null and Andrew Shead on the common authority that Anglicanism rests upon. According to the norms and rules of the conference, I’m not allowed to report in detail on what happens in the these workshops. What I can tell you is that Null and Shead brilliantly outlined and reaffirmed that Anglicanism has an overarching, identity-shaping, unifying authority in its doctrine of Scripture.

When we look at the core documents of Anglicanism (the 39 Articles, the Homilies, and the Book of Common Prayer) a very clear picture emerges. Scripture alone is the authority, and the ‘church’ (viewed as the denomination here) is but a keeper and witness to ‘Holy Writ’, and has no power to over-rule Scripture, dismiss it, or bypass it. And although the church and its councils may resolve controversies and make decisions about matters of ceremony and order, this authority is ruled and circumscribed by Scripture..."

For the Full text Click Here ....

Go Cranmer!

GP

The WA gang at GAFCON

Look Carefully for the K

A blog reader sent me this .........

apparently Kanishka had finished his turkish coffee and made it back for the photo shoot... Look carefully for the K

GP

Spot Kanishka?

I can see Marty Foord and the Mulreadys in the Aussie bunch but where is Kanishka ?
Turkish coffee on the Via Delorosa?

Preach the Word: GAFCON

At GAFCON, Henry Orombi (Archbishop of Uganda) preached a powerful sermon on ‘Jesus is Lord’, the high point of which was his emphasis on the powerful, transforming word of God.

He said

"The preaching of the word of God allows faith and response to germinate. When the Word is preached, things happen. Why is the church in the Global South growing? And not in the North? When I am in Uganda, I preach for one and half hours. How long do they preach in the North? Ten minutes? What is happening in the North? Do they have a love for the Word? An ordinary Christian in the South has a Bible that is well-used and well-thumbed. How well thumbed is your Bible?"

(GP:Longer Sermons Yes! ??)

Tony Payne reflects:

"This emphasis on the Word was also one of the most encouraging things about Os Guiness’s extraordinary address late on Monday afternoon, about the gospel and secularism. Having provided a masterly exposition of how advanced modernity and secularism was threatening Christian discipleship, his answer (among other things) was not that we needed to find some slick new message, or some clever new method. We need now more than ever, he said, to rely on the simple, plain preaching of the Word, and the accompanying power of the Holy Spirit."

So how thumbed is your Bible?

GP

Spot Kanishka at Mt Olives

Phil Sarich put in this entry from Bahrain... not much to do in Bahrain apparently

World Refugee Day

This missions focus is on the plight of refugees. Last Friday, June 20th was World Refugee Day. Throughout Australia this week, there have been many events that have underlined our need as a community to welcome the strangers in our midst. In fact the theme of Refugee Week this year is "A Place to Call Home" And don't we all want this for ourselves. But how about those many millions who have fled terror and persecution. 700,000 have come to our shores in the last thirty years.

Here at St Matthew's we have tried to respond to this huge need by the formation of the St Matthew's Refugee Support Group, so ably led by Gwenyth Graham. This group is made up of over 20 volunteers, most of whom come from the community and other churches and who work as part of CARAD, that is the Coalition of Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees. For the past eight years they have supported dozens of traumatised individuals and families as they have struggled in detention centres and then to get established in a new culture and country. This has involved helping to get flats, get furniture, get jobs, get medical appointments, get Medicare, get schooling, get English classes, get legal aid, and a hundred and one other things.

They like we have rejoiced that the new Government has abolished the iniquitous Temporary Protection Visas which left people in limbo for years,and that the Government has also brought to an end the so-called Pacific Solution. It has meant that all those people who St Matthew's are caring for have now gained permanent residence with the notable exception of three people who are still waiting for the letter that will tell them that they can make Australia home.

It is good for us as a church to realise that CARAD receives no Government funding whatsoever and can only continue its caring role through the goodwill gifts of those who take the plight of refugees to heart. There have been recent times when finances were almost exhausted. CARAD has had to totally support those refugees on Bridging Visas who were denied their right to work or study or claim Medicare. This has been a huge drain on resources. CARAD is currently urgently needing a Treasurer so if you have skills in this area and could help, please see me or Gwenyth afterwards.

It is good to know that many of the refugees that have been helped through the St Matthew's Refugee Support Group are moving on with their lives. Some have even bought houses, others are doing advanced study, and one young girl who came several years ago, spoke at Willetton High School as part of Refugee Week and is presently studying at Murdoch Uni.

Let us thank God for Gwenyth and Peter Graham and their band of volunteers and pray that our Government will continue to govern with compassion and care for those who come to this country for refuge from the traumas of life.

BT

GAFCON underway

The opening address of GAFCON was given by Peter Akinola, Archbishop of Nigeria

"Brethren, we are here,
Because we are bound together in a godly fellowship by the Gospel-the gospel that shaped the theological and ecclesiological foundations of our Church-the same gospel with its transforming power that made the difference in the lives of our heroes like Thomas Cranmer, William Wilberforce, the Clapham brothers and Ajayi Crowther.

Because we are convinced that GAFCON is a veritable tool within the Communion which God is using to bring together all who are concerned not only about the need to preserve the faith, but also to persevere and bequeath a legacy of wholesome, undiluted faith to future generations of Anglicans. It is God’s gift to the Anglican Communion and to the world.

To draw fresh inspiration to enable us ‘contend for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints’ both for our sake and for the sake of future generations of Anglicans."

Click Here for the full opening Speech of GAFCON

GP

Cuppa for cancer

Thanks to Charlotte for sharing her story about her struggle with cancer at the Cuppa for Cancer morning tea. It was a great encouragement for all who heard it. The audio is available through the office. Some women have been encouraged to reconnect with God on the basis of the encouragement Charlotte found in him and her church family during this time.

The morning raised around $1000 for the Cancer Council. The money is going to be used to fund practical support programs for men and women undergoing cancer treatment that are not eligible for any assistance under Commonwealth assistance.

The picture is of Gretel who was six weeks old when the cancer was discovered.

It was a great morning with lots of visitors. thanksd to the organisers.

GP

We wish we had done more...

This year marks the hundredth year involvement of CMS in mission to the indigenous communities in Arnhem Land in the NT:

1. CMS began by establishing Arnhem Land missions for the indigenous people, for protection from those who were killing and exploiting them.

2. CMS continued by trying to establish “industrial missions” (self sufficient farming homesteads) to teach indigenous people skills in farming to help them be equipped for when they would contribute to white Australian culture. All the while sharing in Daily worship and Bible readings. CMS took on board the anthropology of the day.

3. In the 1963 BHP sought to establish a viable Manganese mining operation on Groote Eytlandt. CMS was instrumental in negotiating a fair ongoing royalty for the indigenous owners.

4. In the years of self-determination CMS has turned its focus to the raising up and training indigenous leaders hence the establishment of Nungalinya College 1973, and the establishment of Bible translation of the local dialects.

5. CMS is now seeking the kinds of missionaries who are prepared to sit beside the indigenous and be their friends and equally learn from them. This is the intention of Rob and Leanna Haynes at Alyangla, Groote Eytlandt and Steve & Narelle Etherington’s role at Nungalinya College.

“History is not always fair, but CMS has nothing to be ashamed of in its actions in support of Aboriginal land rights in the years when her voice was able to make a difference. That CMS failed and the Oenpelli Aboriginal people lost is not CMS fault CMS missionaries did the best they could” John Harris

Bringing them Home “Stolen Generation” Report CMS 1997:

“The Australian Government and the Australian community held low aspirations for Aboriginal people of whatever descent. CMS cared more about them than did the rest of the community, but did not think further than trying to help these people to a decent independent life. Indeed many of the missionaries themselves lacked higher education. These young people committed to CMS’s care were remarkable young Australians. We did something for them but we wish we had done more”

Next month a small group of us led by Steve Pivetta of CMS WA will visit Nungalinya College and two indigenous Christian communities on Groote Eytlandt. It will be a time for us to listen and encourage, to share and to build up, to get a glimpse of the efforts of an indigenous church struggling to bring the light of Jesus to its broken community.

In preparing us for the interaction with Groote Christian aboriginal community;Space, silence, shyness, and quietness are all aspects of their culture of communication These are all things this white boy knows nothing about…

Pray that we might have safe travel, Pray that we can encourage the CMS Missionaries (Steve and Narelle Etherington, John and Leanna Haynes) Pray that we can listen and learn from the indigenous Christians of Groote Eytlandt.

GP

Postcard from Groote Eytlandt

Prayer Points – Rob and Leanna Haynes NT - 13 June 2008

Dear Praying Friends,

It is a while since we have sent out prayer circular but have been conscious of being upheld before our heavenly Father for the last couple of months. Many of you will have been a part of that through your prayers, and for that we are very grateful. There are some who have been wonderful in their encouragement of us by 'just keeping in touch'. Thank you so much. Some may not be aware that Rob was diagnosed with a virulent prostate cancer on 7th April and our son Mike was diagnosed with virulent leukaemia on 7th May.

Where are we at present:
We have both been in Goolwa SA, staying with my mother for five weeks now. We came here after Rob had his surgery to remove the prostate gland in Sydney on 16th April. Rob has been convalescing from the surgery and I have been working for Anglicare NT from my computer and phone down here. It seems ages ago now but the news is good and he is healing well. The doctors are confident that they were able to get all the tumour and that the cancer had not left the prostate. We pray this is the case, because ultimately it is up to God whether it 'got out' or not. Rob had his first post-op blood test today and this will be the benchmark for future tests.

The day after we got to Goolwa, we got the awful news that our oldest son, Mike, was diagnosed with Leukaemia. This came as a terrible shock and we made the rush trip up to Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide to see him. Again by God's grace Mike has a type of Leukaemia that is most readily cured. He has been receiving chemotherapy for the past few weeks and, we believe, as of today he has turned a corner. The blast cells that were causing the problem around his bloodstream are no longer evident in his blood tests. We await the news of the next bone marrow biopsy to see if the cancer has been eradicated from his bone marrow. This won't be for a few more weeks.

However we now feel able to return to Darwin. We were not willing to leave until we had some news one way or the other about our son. It has been an extremely difficult time for his family. He and Elisa have three young children. The prospect of Mike not being able to work for three months has also been very challenging for them all. He is basically self employed as a music teacher with money made from his work in EType Jazz into the band company. Their church family at Blackwood Church of Christ and other friends and family have been surrounding them with love and care and financial help which has been wonderful to see. The nice thing is that their new CD, which was mastered in the US, is all of their own compositions. Mike has contributed a number of these and one of them will be featured as a promotional single. So if you hear Square Peg in a Round Hole, you will be listening to one of Mike's songs. We had the delight of listening to it on the local ABC radio station with him from his hospital bed last week.

We plan to drive back to Darwin beginning Saturday 7th June, taking four days to complete the trip. We will then stay in Darwin for a couple of weeks as there are meetings there that we need to attend before returning to Groote. I will be travelling to Brisbane for a meeting, then a day later we have a Diocesan Conference in Darwin to talk about the strategic plan for the Diocese.

On Groote the churches are continuing to faithfully serve our Lord Jesus. The leaders ring Rob from time to time to keep in touch. They have all been much in prayer for both Rob and our son over this time.

Thank you for your prayers and faithful support. We apologise for not being in touch over the last couple of months but given the above we know you will understand.

Please continue to pray for the churches on Groote Eylandt and the faithful Christians on Bickerton Island as well. Please also continue to pray for our family as we adjust to our new relationship with cancer in our family. Rob's sister is also recovering from breast cancer. Many of you know what this is like and we are grateful for your understanding.

We are confident that our sovereign God is in control of all our 'goings out and our comings in' and that He is faithful in all things.

We encourage you to continue your support of CMS, especially as the financial year draws to an end. CMS have been wonderful in their support and pastoral care of us over this difficult time. We continue to believe that the Lord wants us to continue to serve Him in North Australia and covet your prayers and support for that work.

Your servants in Christ,


Rob & Leanna Haynes
PO Box 723
ALYANGULA NT 0885
Tel: 08 8987 6421
Rob Mob: 0428 811 280
Leanna Mob: 0428 912 404
Email: rlhaynes@cms.org.au

Postcard from South Africa

Hi Everyone,
It's been a pretty hectic few weeks since I last wrote. I'm back at work now after a couple of weeks travelling around with Jennie and Alison. It was a really nice time and and we made the most of being tourists in such an amazing part of Africa. We did a trip from Durban to Swasiland, Kruger, Drakensberg visiting beaches, game parks, friends and the hospital. It was a really valuable time to just hang out together. I was reminded that in the rush of life, having moments just to enjoy relationships are really special and shouldn't be taken for granted:)

Getting back into work was a bit of a shock to the system and I haven't had a day off since i got back two weeks ago. The last 24 hrs was probably the most intense since i arrived. I didn't get to sleep at all and seemed to encounter the most challenging patients I've ever had.
The first case in theatre yesterday was a pair of breech twin requiring C-section, I was doing the anaesthic (spinal) and mother and babies came through well:)
After theatre i did an autopsy on a patient who had a stabbed heart and a chest full of blood, (killed just down the road!) and 8 stabs in the neck including a cut that had fractured the cervical vertebrae and severed the spinal cord!
Then last night I got called to treat a tragic rape victim (14) needing HIV prophylaxis, forensic testing etc. Again at 2am i got a frantic call from nurses in maternity, i arrived and attempted to resuscitate a new born unsuccessfully for 20min despite intubation, adrenaline etc. The mother of unfortunately kept bleeding heavily post-delivery. After everything failed to stop the bleeding she was rushed to theatre for an emergency hysterectomy. After 4hours in theatre she ended up arresting on the table and died despite defibs, adrenaline etc. Once i left theatre it was time to do the morning ward round fortunately most of the kids had recovered from the gastro 'epidemic' and could be discharged (although one died during the week). The electrolyte imbalances have been the most impressive i've seen - (if you're interested in electrolytes: eg Na of 100mmol in one baby, K <2>

Cheers

Daniel

Postcard from Mexico

Dear friends,

Greetings from Mexico City! We're almost at the end of semester, with the café holding out until 10pm again, as it had this time last year.
Somehow, though, it hasn't been quite as exhausting as last year, even though we have had more and more customers and we remain busy.
Please pray that we will continue to have a strong testimony for the community, look after our student workers, and make the most of every opportunity for the gospel. On Friday night we met with the majority of the workers to talk about how we're going, pray together, and spend time in fellowship. It was a useful and encouraging time together.

We'd appreciate your prayers for us as we prepare for the summer holidays here, and for visiting Perth in December. It seems like a long way off still, but there are many things we need to work out even now. Thank you for your ongoing support in praying for us and your financial generosity. We love to hear from you. Keep fighting the good fight,

Robert, Shelley, Tom and Luis

Why Plant Churches?: The Master Class

A reminder that you are invited to the second of our church planting masterclasses.

Why Plant churches?

Nigel Gordon

Thursday 7:45pm@ Church 5th June

This is part of our "Equipping for maturity" courses.

GP

The Gospel According to Prince Caspian

With the Prince Caspian movie coming out soon. I had to remind myself of the story of Prince Caspian. Still set in Narnia, it doesn't stick in my mind like The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe. Prince Caspian was summarised as follows:

Plot: Some 1600 years later Miraz, the brother of Caspian IX, usurps the throne, suppresses all knowledge of Aslan and Narnia’s history, and forces the faithful remnant in the land into hiding. The original four children are drawn back into Narnia and find the land in ruins. Meanwhile, through some humble Narnians, Prince Caspian, the rightful heir to the throne, discovers the true story of its beginnings and resolves to regain the kingdom. As he and the children are brought together by Aslan, they begin the fight to liberate the land.

Key Idea: Apostasy and Restoration. Over time the nation has forgotten and wandered away from its true roots, and those who have assumed power actively suppress knowledge of that truth. Despite this, the truth is passed on courageously by some faithful ordinary people, who come together to fight against Aslan’s enemies, until his authority over the land, and its rightful human ruler, are restored.

Click Here for a Chrisitanity Today Review of Prince Caspian

Southern Cross Movie Review

As for the movie, in Australia it got an "M" rating, in America it got a "PG" rating and is described as a PG Lord of the Rings with bloodless battle scenes. We are still debating whether the boys will see it....

Go Aslan!

GP