This is a remarkable statement.  I believe it sends a clear message.  It will be interesting to see how the Episcopal Church and other sympathetic bodies respond. It will be more interesting to see if the AB of Canterbury accepts and implements the Primates’ recommendation.  The Primates do not have any real authority over the Anglican Communion of which they are a part, so this resolution is far from binding.  It does however at least define the position of the majority of the primates.  While many see this a step forward for orthodoxy  others remind us that we have been here before, with resolutions and agreements that came to nothing in practice.  The Church of England as an established state church is not as autonomous as other Anglican churches, and so will have to also decide how to respond to the ruling of Parliament which has already identified same-sex marriage as a legally protected civil right.  So this story is far from over.  This statement from Archbishop Eliud Wabukala of Kenya gives helpful additional perspective.

 

Here is a recent report out of Canterbury.  I find Anglican Ink to be a reliable source of news if you want to follow them directly.

Dear Friends,

I apologize for neglecting this blog for the last 4 months.  In this new year I intend to re-engage on a regular basis.

We are also updating our recording capacity. I have posted two recent sermons which can be accessed by selecting the “Sermons” page on the menu bar.

Thanks for your patience.

Grace and Peace

Mark+

Here is a great resource for examining our hearts and lives.  It offers a set of questions that can be used to get down to brass tacks and to facilitate meaningful prayer privately or with a trusted partner or small group.

I thought this was an insightful analysis of the situation from our friends at First Things.

Kim Davis’s Conscientious Decision | R. R. Reno | First Things

With all the summer travel I have fallen behind in posting our sermons.  I am going to try to catch up this week, starting with the most recent and working back.  (Last Sunday’s sermon is now posted.)  You can find them by clicking “Sermons” on the Heading Bar just under the theme photo on the blog.  From there you may either listen to the sermon online or download it to your computer and transfer it to your phone or other device.  You can also burn your own CD.  Or if you would prefer, we can do that for you. Just let us know.

Archbishop Foley Beach will be at St Peter’s Wednesday Evening, October 21st for a Confirmation Service.  We encourage all baptized Christians who have not yet been confirmed to consider taking this opportunity.  We are not likely to have many more visits from Archbishop Foley now that he has taken on his new role with the Province.  He has had a special relationship with St. Peter’s from the beginning and consecrated our building on the day of our founding.

Confirmation is a great and ancient Christian blessing, with roots tracing back to the earliest days of the church, when the Apostles laid hands on new Christians and prayed for them to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  It is also a time when those who were baptized as infants or children to publicly profess their faith and their commitment to the baptismal vows that were said on their behalf.  It is powerful sacramental act through which a deep inward and spiritual grace is conveyed through outward and visible signs–the hands and the prayers of the bishop as God’s appointed means of grace.

Here is what our catechism says about Confirmation:

What is confirmation?

After making a mature commitment to my baptismal covenant with God, I receive the laying on of the bishop’s hands with prayer. (Acts 8:14-17; 19:6)

What grace does God give you in confirmation?

In confirmation, God strengthens the work of the Holy Spirit in me for his daily increase in my Christian life and ministry. (Acts 8:14-17; 19:6)

Those who have been confirmed in other churches that share the same basic understanding of its meaning, e.g. the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church , various Lutheran traditions, may be formally received into the Anglican Church of North America at the same service.

During this service all of us will have an opportunity to publicly declare our loyalty to Jesus Christ, and recommit ourselves to His service.

Note: Confirmation or reception into the ACNA is required for full membership at St. Peter’s.

To prepare for Confirmation, Alice Lindsley has graciously agreed to teach seven sessions son Wednesday evenings from July 22nd through September 2nd from 7:00-8:30 PM at St. Peter’s.  Child care can be arranged as needed.

As you can see from the topics listed below, these classes would be helpful for anyone wanting to explore more deeply the Anglican way of following Jesus Christ.  You do not need to be preparing for Confirmation to attend.

Week 1: Anglicans and the Authority of Scripture
Week 2: Anglicans and the Creeds/Ecumenical Councils
Week 3: Anglican Liturgy and the Dominical Sacraments
Week 4: Becoming a Disciple-Making Disciple
Week 5: Anglicans and Church Tradition/Church Fathers
Week 6: Anglican Polity and Anglican Orders
Week 7: Wrap-up: Time for shared reflections and final prayers together

I saw this closing salutation today on a letter from an Anglican church leader in Malaysia.  What a great mission statement!

Sometimes it helps to have it spelled out in simple language — short, clear and memorable, something to hold on to.

1 Thess 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

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Here is the link to the ACNA College of Bishops’ statement on the recent Supreme Court ruling.  We will be looking at the document next Sunday during coffee hour.

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