Sun
Oct
16
2005

Sydney building bridges to other churches

Synod is debating some new rules and regulations that will certainly set the cats amongst the pigeons!
The law, if passed, will allow churches anywhere in the world to affiliate with the Sydney Anglican Diocese.
Sounds pretty boring, but in fact, it could do a great deal to encourage and promote bible-based evangelical churches, where the local church structures almost outlaw the gospel.
The article linked to above explains it well.
Please join with me in praying for successful passage of this legislation, and the courage by our leaders to stand up to opposition that will certainly come from liberal church quarters

Posted by Neil, 16 October 05
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Comment

  1. Do you know how would this legislation apply to a congregation that does not yet exist? The article seems to refer to current congregations that want to come under the SydAng diocese. But would it allow folk to go and plant a SydAng connected church?

    ps, you have a typo in the title :)

    — Simon · Oct 16, 11:38 PM · #

  2. I believe it will be possible to start a church and then apply to link with Sydney (if the bill is passed)...
    Typo? what typo? ;-)

    — Neil · Oct 17, 01:07 AM · #

  3. This sounds like a totally sensible and reasonable idea, I think it would work very well. Is there any biblical reason why the Sydney Diocese should be limited to certain political boundaries? I can’t think of one.

    In business terms, it is like exporting to other markets, or extending the franchise.

    — Danny Haynes · Oct 17, 02:44 AM · #

  4. Ah, it wouldn’t be a Danny post without a commercial/economic flavour to it! ;-)

    But more seriously, the political ramifications are pretty huge. A body as large and complex as the national Anglican church has an equally large and complex political structure.
    Many parts of the national body will be very displeased if this plan goes through. Historical power bases will be threatened, and so on. And the really sad thing is that, because the liberal branches of the church do not have the gospel, human power bases are of major importance.
    You only have to look at the reaction of places like Newcastle Diocese when the Central Coast Independant Churches (read: pseudo Sydney Anglican) were planted. Same in Perth.
    Much courage will be required by our Diocesan leaders if this comes to be.

    — Neil · Oct 17, 03:24 AM · #

  5. Hmmm, maybe the baptists were right…

    WHAT AM I SAYING!

    — Phone · Oct 18, 05:52 PM · #

  6. Baptists? Right? About what?

    — Neil · Oct 18, 08:09 PM · #

  7. Reconsidering my earlier comment, I would disagree with the idea (to allow churches from anywhere to affiliate with the Sydney Diocese) only if the Diocese had made some agreement not to do this. (notice how I didn’t split the infinitive?) However if there is no such agreement, I am in favour. Perhaps others more familiar with the church rules would know the situation.

    On other matters, is someone having a go at the Baptists? What about? Some of my best friends are Christians from Baptist Churches, and I also grew up in a Baptist Church.

    — Danny Haynes · Oct 19, 03:30 AM · #

  8. Now I’m confused Danny!
    What are you agreeing or disagreeing with?

    I have no idea what Phone was saying about Baptists either!

    — Neil · Oct 19, 12:54 PM · #

  9. The baptists have a much less constrained idea of fellowship between churches – which is more like the early church. If you look at what i said I was actually saying, I actually said Baptists are correct – if church structure was more like the baptists, there would be no problem with being evangelical in a geographical area dominated by liberals or catholics…

    And Danny – remember where my wife came from…

    — Phone · Oct 19, 04:54 PM · #

  10. To clarify: I agree with allowing churches from anywhere to affiliate with the Sydney Diocese unless the Sydney Diocese has entered into an agreement/contract with other Anglican Diocese not to allow churches from anywhere to affiliate with the Sydney Diocese. In am in favour, but I wouldn’t want the Diocese to break a promise. In the absence of such an agreement, go for it, extend the franchise!

    Phone, I didn’t get the bit where you said, ‘What am I saying!’ Then I though Neil was having difficulty finding an area where the Baptists were right. No worries now.

    — Danny Haynes · Oct 20, 07:03 AM · #

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