Here at davidould.net we take an interest in all manner of Anglican things and the following piqued our attention.
In February 2 bishops of the Anglican Church of Australia were installed. First, Kay Goldsworthy was installed as Archbishop of Perth on 10 February 2018. (Full order of service available here [pdf]).
Next, on 17 February, Matthew Brain was installed as Bishop of Bendigo.
So what drew our eyes? Here are the openings of both services. This is what was sung as all the collected dignitaries and officials processed up to the front. Here is how a service of worship was framed in 2 Cathedrals on opposite sides of a nation (both are taken from the original orders of service).
First, Perth:
Next, Bendigo:
We’ll leave that for your reflection.
davidould.net thinks the following may be helpful in your rumination:
XXII. Of Purgatory.
The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration, as well of Images as of Reliques, and also invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.
The two apparently similar events bring to mind the comment made during the bodyline test of yore:
“There are two teams out there but only one is playing Christianity”.
One can suppose that to have reached senior rank in the Anglican Church a person must have engaged with the Word and with the history of the Reformation at some stage of their lives. It beggars belief that intelligent people who have done those things can act so clearly against the principles that Christ laid down for the guidance of His followers. It also beggars belief that anyone with any sense of the coming Judgement can so openly defy Him and so deliberately flout the rules that He set out for those who would lead His people.
As a forgiven sinner, I would humbly suggest that all in leadership positions in the church engage with the Word regularly to clarify Christ’s instructions about theses things and to compare what they do with what He would have them do. If they are not sure how to go about that, it is suggested they might start by reading, and seeking the Lord’s guidance to help them understand, the first letter to Timothy.
Robert