Australian Bishops’ Meeting begins – round-up and call for prayer

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This weekend sees the annual meeting of the Bishops of the Anglican Church of Australia. The bishops will gather on Sunday 6 March and continue meeting for the rest of the week. This year’s meeting comes shrouded in particular controversy following the decision of Bishop of Newcastle, Greg Thompson, not to attend citing as his reason Sydney Archbishop Glenn Davies’ call for the House to simply uphold the Protocols that had agreed to, not least when it comes to the conduct of clergy and the question of their appointment.

Since that initial accusation of divisiveness, the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Australia have issued a statement,

In response to a recent article in Newcastle Herald, the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Australia) was described as โ€œassociated with the global Confessing Anglicans movement based on strong rejection of female and gay clergy and same sex marriage.โ€

We want to clarify that we are fully supportive of the global Confessing Anglicans movement. However the movement is not based on what it rejects but what we uphold.

Our principal objects are:
1. to promote orthodox Anglican faith and practice as set forth in the Jerusalem Declaration and in the Fundamental Declarations and Ruling Principles of the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia;
2. to help reform, heal and revitalise the Anglican Communion and expand its mission to the world.
3. to provide fellowship to orthodox Anglicans who find themselves in a minority position in their own Dioceses due to actions of others who depart from orthodox faith and practice.

We pray for, and continue to support, all orthodox Anglicans around the country.

Prayerย is what’s needed right now. Here’s an adaptation of the prayer for a Synod from the AAPB (An Australian Prayer Book).

God our Father,

You judge your people with wisdom and rule us with love.

Give a spirit of understanding to the bishops of our Church they they may make wise decisions that will give glory to you and be a blessing to your people.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

And Jesus’ prayer for unity (John 17:17)

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

 

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