Have you ever thought about the fact that the Church observes several major feasts for God the Son (Christmas, Easter, Ascension) and one for God the Holy Spirit (Pentecost), but none for God the Father. I am not sure why …
Contention 6: TRINITY SUNDAY: GOD THE FATHER’S DAY
Have you ever thought about the fact that the Church observes several major feasts for God the Son (Christmas, Easter, Ascension) and one for God the Holy Spirit (Pentecost), but none for God the Father. I am not sure why …
Contention 5D: WHAT DOES JUSTIN WELBY THINK ABOUT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE?
What does Justin Welby think about same-sex marriage? The answer seems to be, in the words of Herman Melville’s fictional character Bartleby the Scrivener: “I would prefer not to…”
Contention 5C: THUMBS SIDEWAYS: THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND RESPONDS TO TEC
The Episcopal Church USA (TEC) is hoping for a welcome response to its new doctrine and practice of same-sex marriage. The reply from England is, however, neither thumbs-up nor thumbs-down but rather thumbs-sideways.
Contention 5B: WHO IS COMING TO THE EPISCOPAL WEDDING RECEPTION?
Two hallowed principles lie behind my question. The first is the principle that praying shapes believing (lex orandi lex credendi). Here is an example of this principle. When we pray “Our Father, who art in heaven,” the prayer shapes our …
Contention 5A: THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND TRIAL [USE] MARRIAGE
By pressing the “Track Changes” button, I can strike through anything and then at my leisure [delete it] altogether. And that is what the Episcopal Church USA (TEC) is doing with its Prayer Book and in particular the service of …
REDISCOVERING THE TAPESTRY OF SCRIPTURE: Understanding Its Plain and Canonical Sense
Imagine yourself standing in front of one of those huge old tapestries that one sees hanging in a cathedral.[1] You immediately notice the intricate weaving into rich patterns of themes taken from the heavenly throne scene of God and the …
Contention 4: WHO MOVED? GAFCON AND PROPHETIC TRADITIONALISM
Here is a tale that you can only appreciate if you are old enough to remember the days when cars had a bench front seat. It goes like this: a middle-aged couple are out for a drive when they notice …
Contention 3: IS GAFCON A GINGER GROUP?
Recently, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was asked whether he was warning people away from this year’s Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon) in Jerusalem. His reply was: “where Gafcon is acting as a ginger group, a source of prayer …
Contention 2: “TAKING SWEET COUNSEL TOGETHER”
Christian fellowship (koinonia) is essentially a matter of Personal relationship, a relationship grounded in the love of the Father and the Son through the Spirit. This relationship is both individual – the Christian being united with God through faith in …
Anecdotage: PORTRAITS FOR LADY DAY
Reading an article today on the Feast of the Annunciation sparked a strong memory. My wife and daughter and I spent a glorious week at Christmas 2001 in Florence. While the weather was wintry, we had many of the sites …