housekeeping and a youth worker convention

A couple housekeeping notes:

Now that I’m a confirmed member of Providence Reformed Episcopal Church and have revealed the identity of that “Small Continuing Anglican Church,� I will show restraint in telling of my experiences there. I don’t think it would be appropriate to tell of everything I see there any more than it would be appropriate for you to broadcast everything that goes on in your family.

No one has expressed concern about this. But I thought it best to go ahead and let readers know.

Also, I will be at the National Youth Workers Convention in Dallas Friday into Monday. So I probably won't be posting much then.

If any readers will be at that convention, I'd love to meet you. Give me a shout! Or look for a black "God Knows What It's Like to be a Teenager" t-shirt. That will probably be me shamelessly promoting my book.

But I don’t wanna any part of this

When should a Christian quit tolerating a denomination? Perhaps when that denomination tolerates stuff like this.

Again, if a church is so weak in its commitment to the faith that it’s unwilling or unable to proscribe such unchristian practices within it, then why should any Christian have any commitment to it?

My answer back in 1988 to the mainline Presbyterian Church was he shouldn’t. And I left. That’s still my answer today and one reason I didn’t visit any ECUSA church in my recent church search.

Am I Still a Wannabe Anglican?

My confirmation begs the question: Am I still a wannabe Anglican? Or am I the real thing now?

Different people would have different answers. I know some would not consider me Anglican until I’m in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. And that hasn’t happened, although it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Others might find my Anglicanism suspect because I don’t smoke and drink sherry.

I do consider myself Anglican now, however. I believe the creeds and over 95% of the 39 Articles. I’m in agreement with and even love Anglican worship and practice. And now I have joined a Continuing Anglican church. I’ve even made the point of being confirmed by a bishop in the apostolic succession (as Reformed Episcopal bishops are) even though the polity of the church I joined did not at all require that. (A transfer of membership suffices in the REC.)

In some ways, I’m still a wannabe Anglican, though. I want to be part of the Anglican Communion, or at least a worldwide orthodox Anglican communion much larger than the Reformed Episcopal Church (And so do REC leaders I suspect.). Being a part of something larger than just my local or national church is one desire that lead me to Anglicanism.

Taken altogether, it’s probably most accurate to say I’m a Newbie Anglican.

But I don’t want to change the web site address. I might play games with the blog title though.

++Peter Carnley, Good Riddance!

The long and awful years of Peter Carnley’s Primacy over the Anglican Church of Australia are finally coming to an end. And not a moment too soon.

I’ve taken him to task here before and could have easily done so many times. For he has the wonderful ability to say something stupid and/or offensive to conservatives every time he opens his mouth.

And he’s ending his time as Primate that way as well. He uses his opening address at the General Synod over the weekend to take potshots at Prime Minister John Howard in the midst of an election campaign.

And he suggests that we should just think of homosexual relationships as friendships.

As one poster, Gayle, on the linked thread mentioned, the irony of this is as rich as its stupidity. For activist homosexuals and decadent Western society have so sexualized everything, that it’s difficult to have close non-sexual friendships anymore. I myself have guy friends I would like to be closer to, but I’m at the same time afraid to be closer for fear it would be misinterpreted.

In any case, ++Carnley is going out in style. The only downside to his leaving is that there isn’t much hope that his successor will be much better.

Bell-ringing Anglicans!

I went to St. David's in Denton this morning. The liturgy was excellent as usual. I've mentioned before that the rector has a passion for history and good liturgy.

They rang a bell 6 or so times during the service. They are bell-ringing Anglicans there.

Afterwards, I told the rector I got confirmed in the Reformed Episcopal Church (St. David's is ECUSA . . . barely.). And I let him know his parish played a role in my Anglican pilgrimage. We talked a bit. He knows Bishop Ray Sutton (the bishop who confirmed me). The Right Reverend Ray gets around.

It’s been a long time.

Speaking of waiting for the Lambeth Commission, it seems a long time ago, at least to me, since this all started in the Summer of 2003. But this is now October 2004, and we’ll soon hear from the commission.

I have been pretty persistent in praying for the Anglican Communion. I urge you all to continue to be persistent as well. As the 1928 collect for this past week prays:

O Lord, we beseech tee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it can not continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by they help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The timeliness of Bible readings (and collects)

I’ve always been one to believe in God’s timing in bringing His word to us. Like my very recent pastor Tommy Nelson has said, God knows what you’re going through, and He knows where you’re going to read in His word. And He can bring the two together to speak straight to you.

I found that again to be the case during my Confirmation Sunday. The Epistle Lesson from Ephesians 3: 13-21 has long been a favorite prayer of mine. And its prayer for strengthening by the Holy Spirit is very appropriate for a confirmation.

I’m beginning to wonder if God uses collects that way as well. The 1928 and REC collects lately (which are the same) seem to focus on asking God to preserve and guide His church – very appropriate as the Anglican Communion waits for the Lambeth Commission report to come out.