Notes from the Lilypad

2011-02-09T06:54:00.002Z

The Minster is going strong...we have a sign!

Also, we are soon launching our 'pastorates', and the planned activities are now underway..several members of our community involved in youthwork, a market garden has begun and the thinktank is ready for business - our first research piece can be found on the website: www.latimerminster.org

News - September 2010

2010-09-27T05:39:00.004+01:00

I watched Songs of Praise yesterday, shot at All Saints Peckham in May and over the summer - so great to see all the beaming faces and the stories of hope, care and redemption. I am continuing to pray for all those whom we love, both in the church and the community. This is the second broadcast service filmed in May

Below is the official video from Clarence House (there is a Royal Channel on youtube) with the Prince of Wales' visit to Peckham in July.

Now that we have moved, the PCC of All Saints, along with the patrons (CPAS) are in the process of drawing up a profile in order to advertise for a new vicar later on in the year.

News of the Minster

www.latimerminster.org has regular updates and information, along with the twitter feed and the facebook group for those of you who are interested. The website is still in note/sketch format and is one of the projects we have to develop in the coming weeks.

Now we have moved and are established out at the ring road, our home is unpacked in Beaconsfield, a few others have moved with us from Peckham, and we have hosted our third Sunday service. Several members of the Order of Mission and a few local families and young adults also make up our pioneering community. We have set up a little office, and finally have a phone line, broadband and a bank account for the Minster. We are at the early stages of establishing a rhythm of prayer and action, and later in October will begin our Saturday evenings as well (for the time being called the 'Hub'). We have had a warm reception from other churches and church leaders in the area, and are more convinced than ever of the needs of our country, and the opportunities which are presented when we start to pursue the possibilities of our dreams.

The think tank 'Millennials' has now begun, and we have appointed a researcher who is drawing up the first phase of our next project.

The Book 'Millennials' is now out - available from the Minster office (frog@latimerminster.org), St Andrews Bookshop, Holy Trinity Brompton or available as an ebook from Amazon.

By St Bega. Keswick Convention 2010

2010-08-11T07:32:00.000+01:00

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Keswick: outdoor service st Bega's Bessenthwaite

2010-08-01T17:26:00.000+01:00

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R2D2 cake

2010-06-03T17:32:00.000+01:00

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Freedom Centre Choir, at All Saints Peckham. For songs of praise on BBC

2010-05-25T20:03:00.000+01:00

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FCI -'it is well with my soul'

2010-05-25T19:27:00.000+01:00

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Freedom centre choir getting ready to sing 'it is well with my soul'

2010-05-25T19:23:00.000+01:00

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All saints lit up for songs of praise recording monday night

2010-05-24T21:25:00.000+01:00

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No space for the vicar's car... Before BBC live broadcast

2010-05-22T20:07:00.000+01:00

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Ancient and modern

2010-05-22T19:20:00.000+01:00

Victorian school Hall of All Saints and the HD outside broadcast satellite truck for tomorrow morning.
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Ka-yo - the talent show !

2010-05-03T16:06:00.000+01:00

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Ambassadors in sports lead the football -GLP 2010

2010-05-03T15:24:00.000+01:00

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GLP. Turning over allotment on the estate

2010-05-03T14:23:00.000+01:00

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Pelican- bank holiday monday

2010-05-03T14:22:00.000+01:00

A break in the weather!
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Locking Church on Sunday

2010-05-02T07:00:00.002+01:00

This morning I am going early to church to LOCK IT!

yes - you heard it here first - as part of Godlovespeckham we will be holding all our services outdoors today in order to have services for those who usually don't make it to church. live rapping, gospel choir, testimony and BBQ for everyone...

God Loves Peckham 2010 - Day 1

2010-05-01T20:59:00.002+01:00

Many people look for love, but love is looking and laying down His life for them.

As I stood in the playground area of the Pelican Estate in Peckham today, surrounded by children playing, and listening to Jerry, a rapper and parable-weaver from the Carolinas rhythmically speaking of 'looking for love' I was reminded about how important it has been for us, as a church, to spend decent amounts of time, energy and resources sharing love in practical ways with our local residents. Love isn't local, but this is where we see it, feel it, understand it, know it.

Here's part of an update from one of our practical team leaders today who was tasked with gardens and cars -

great day today...

1) So, we washed 6 cars from exhaust to front headlight. Suds, clean water and dried! :D

2) We weeded, tidied up and de-mossed 5 gardens

3) We dug out a fruit tree and re-planted it

4) We did some of the council's work by clearing a 10 metre stretch of weeds and dying plants by the side of a house on side of Talfourd Road.

All this alongside fascinating conversations, and meaningful relationships renewed and built.

We gave away 120 coffees, countless cakes and other refreshments, had well over 30 children involved in activities all afternoon in one area, over 40 in another.

We have painted a sitting room, are starting work on other rooms, and have played football, painted faces, run two successful nailbars and had a cardboard car competition.

Add to this a comment about quality - the team have been cheerful, willing and excellent, caring for one another, and living out a life of sacrifice and genuine compassion - so there are many fewer 'strangers' than there were this time yesterday. It made me so happy to feel part of something so positive - truly the church is a building made with living stones.

Tomorrow, I, the vicar, will be locking my church doors in time for the services! Instead we will be meeting for our worship in the streets. rain is forecast, which will be challenging - but we are so looking forward to it. A resident is letting me take photos from the 11th floor of Crane house tomorrow morning as we get ready, another is allowing us to run our power cable from her flat. Our gospel choir is ready, and so are at least 2 rappers. I'm looking forward to it.

Residents at the pelican cafe

2010-05-01T15:33:00.001+01:00

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Pelican ready

2010-05-01T11:37:00.001+01:00

The Pelican estate, now fully prepared. Children beginning to wind their way out of homes, cars being washed, rooms being painted, free capucinnos being made... And the sun is out.
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Mission team

2010-05-01T09:41:00.001+01:00

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We're in a mission team. JJ and Zac are ready...

2010-05-01T09:23:00.000+01:00

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Youth team planning for Atwell Estate, GodLovesPeckham

2010-04-30T20:37:00.000+01:00

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Mural planning

2010-04-30T20:35:00.000+01:00

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Safeguarding briefing God Loves Peckham

2010-04-30T20:10:00.000+01:00

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Team briefing God Loves Peckham. Friday evening.

2010-04-30T20:03:00.001+01:00

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Pentecost Prayer

2010-04-30T17:35:00.004+01:00

He have just agreed the words for the prayer we will be praying on Pentecost when the BBC come to All Saints (23rd May)

Pentecost Prayer

Let everyone know this for certain:

Jesus, who was crucified is both Rescuer and King

So I turn from my sins and I turn to God,
I look to Jesus

for forgiveness;
When I believe in Him

then I will receive
the fire of love, the Spirit so Holy.
I hear today, this promise if for me
and for all our children

and for every nation.
Oh save us and our generation.

Father God we love you today, guide us we pray.

Son of God we come to you today, inspire us we pray;
Spirit of God we receive you today, fill us we pray!

Amen.

I am off to Church in a moment for our final planning meeting before God Loves Peckham 2010 kicks off!

Law Lords and misunderstanding of Christianity

2010-04-29T18:33:00.003+01:00

I have a sense of profound unease about a statement today from the Law Lords in the ruling ina recent case involving Christian freedoms in the UK.

Lord Justice wrote:

But the conferment of any legal protection or preference upon a particular substantive moral position on the ground only that it is espoused by the adherents of a particular faith, however long its tradition, however rich its culture, is deeply unprincipled. It imposes compulsory law, not to advance the general good on objective grounds, but to give effect to the force of subjective opinion.

This must be so, since in the eye of everyone save the believer religious faith is necessarily subjective, being incommunicable by any kind of proof or evidence. It may of course be true; but the ascertainment of such a truth lies beyond the means by which laws are made in a reasonable society. Therefore it lies only in the heart of the believer, who is alone bound by it. No one else can be so bound, unless by his own free choice he accepts its claims.

see

http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2010/04/we-have-never-said-antigay-christians-are-bigots.html

While I deeply sympathise with the individuals involved in the case, what bothers me is that one of the highest authorities in the Land could have such an extraordinary philosophical stance and utter misunderstanding of Christianity. The objective/subjective divide which puts faith in subjective and reason in the objective camp is breathtakingly ignorant it seems to me - I have a sense of despair that the view is still out there, and it remind me how important apologetics really is. As Christians we have a 'reason for the hope that we have' not nutty emotional response to untestable and otherwise ludicrous ideas. I think it is time to refute the idea that our faith is subjective alone - if it were then the Justice is right - to impose these ideas on others would be wrong - but if his fundamental premise is in error, then the judgement is itself based on subjective bias...

24 7 prayer

2010-04-23T16:08:00.000+01:00

The 24 7 prayer room - the boiler room is ready to go- completed this morning, just in time for a week of prayer which begins this Sunday. We are praying for Peckham, and the fullness of the Holy Spirit as we prepare for Pentecost.
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Are you listening?

2010-03-17T19:43:00.000Z

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Millennials a thought

2010-03-06T21:39:00.002Z

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6223989/

Michael Landy's Art Bin, camberwell.

2010-02-25T14:11:00.000Z

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Ripping art for the art bin- south london gallery, michael Landy

2010-02-25T14:10:00.000Z

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From Peckham to the M25

2010-02-22T17:07:00.003Z

Some things are easy to say or post. Other things are not. Saying to your congregation that the Lord is calling you on is very hard, but All Saints was yesterday shocked by exited for us. I have been so proud of their mission motivation and preparedness to release us. Below is our official announcement about the next steps...

After 7 wonderful years of ministry at All Saints, it has become clear to myself and Amy that the Lord is calling our family to move to another missionary calling. We are planning to plant a new Anglican Minster church near the M25 as a Perimeter Church for London. This new ministry will be a part of The Order of Mission, an Anglican order, and we will have a focus on reaching and empowering the rising generation. We will be moving from Peckham into an initial set up phase for the new Minster and it may be that God is calling some of you to move with us. We have loved our time here at All Saints and been amazed at what the Lord has done and we feel certain that God has wonderful plans for the church here in a new chapter with a new leader.
The exact location has not yet been confirmed, nor the precise timing of our move, though we are convinced of the Lord's leading at this stage. It is looking likely that we will be moving over the summer, and should be 'in place' as a family by September, in time for the new school year.

Two midshipmen dig in to a 1lb burger at Chick and Ruth's diner, Annapolis

2010-01-16T16:56:00.001Z

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Jim Phillips and amy annapolis- maryland state capitol dome behind.

2010-01-15T16:57:00.001Z

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View of naval academy dome from Aslan house. Annapolis

2010-01-14T22:14:00.001Z

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C T Studd and the chocolate soldiers...

2010-01-05T23:38:00.002Z

Amy and I are often inspired by the example and the writings of a great missionary pioneer called C T Studd. Once an England Cricketer in an age when England still won cricket matches, and from a very influential and wealthy background, he responded to a missionary call and went to China with the Chinese Inland Mission, then later to Africa, leading as much by his example as by his decisions. We have recently come across a small pamphlet he wrote called 'Chocolate Christians' which seems relevant today, even if the language reminds us of an inspiring and bold approach that has all but gone in the UK now. Especially after the Christmas and New Year season with so much chocolate about the danger of all sweetness and no discipline feels very real.

HEROISM is the lost chord; the mission note of present-day Christianity!
Every true soldier is a hero! A SOLDIER WITHOUT HEROISM IS A CHOCOLATE SOLDIER! Who has not been stirred to scorn and mirth at the very thought of a Chocolate Soldier! In peace true soldiers are captive lions, fretting in their cages. War gives them their liberty and sends them, like boys bounding out of school, to obtain their heart's desire or perish in the attempt. Battle is the soldier's vital breath! Peace turns him into a stooping asthmatic. War makes him a whole man again, and gives him the heart, strength, and vigor of a hero.
EVERY TRUE CHRISTIAN IS A SOLDIER--of Christ--a hero "par excellence"! Braver than the bravest--scorning the soft seductions of peace and her oft-repeated warnings against hardship, disease, danger, and death, whom he counts among his bosom friends.

THE OTHERWISE CHRISTIAN IS A CHOCOLATE CHRISTIAN! Dissolving in water and melting at the smell of fire. "Sweeties" they are! Bonbons, lollipops! Living their lives on a glass dish or in a cardboard box, each clad in his soft clothing, a little frilled white paper to preserve his dear little delicate constitution.

Crystal palace tower on snow trek

2009-12-21T18:42:00.000Z

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Snow covered Norwood junction in train standstill!

2009-12-21T17:26:00.000Z

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Family nativity all saints

2009-12-21T16:34:00.000Z

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Nativity service

2009-12-20T15:50:00.000Z

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Humphrey camel by 'herods' of knightsbridge- nativity show all saints peckham

2009-12-20T15:20:00.000Z

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Caroling friday 8 10am

2009-12-11T08:07:00.000Z

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Friday caroling 7 30 am. Peckham rye station.

2009-12-11T07:33:00.000Z

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Carols at peckham Rye 2009!

2009-12-09T08:49:00.000Z

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Nativity at foot of the tree

2009-12-05T19:36:00.000Z

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Lord Carey at St Aldates, giving thanks for the Ministry of Canon Michael Green

2009-10-17T00:17:00.001+01:00

Michael Green, this is your life..

2009-10-17T00:16:00.000+01:00

All Saint's Peckham.jpg

2009-10-08T07:38:00.001+01:00

A member of the congregation sketched this out..
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Tube Legs...

2009-09-29T12:06:00.000+01:00

Dear All Saints

"I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel."

How man of us have perfected the 'London Underground legs' - they are a bit like sea legs, and enable you to stand on the tube, as it sways and lurches, whilst managing still to focus on your book or newspaper, and at the same time not spilling your hot drink. It takes a little while, but once you've got the hang of it, keeping balanced while the world sways around you, it can be quite fun. Try it this week, and grin at your fellow passengers, saying under your breath 'look, no hands' as they marvel!

Paul uses the same term here in Phil 1:27 to say 'stand firm' - language borrowed from wrestling to mean, holding a firm foothold whilst you are buffeted and challenged. Unless we are fans of Japanese Sumo wrestling, or perhaps grew up in the USA where wrestling is also popular this little reference might pass us by.

Paul is not writings to the Christians and hoping they will never face challenges, but he is praying for them, that under strain they might stand firm, and hold together as a church family when they face challenges - to be 'as one man'. Perhaps we can come to church and immediately whizz over to greet our friends, inadvertently ignoring or passing by those around us. When we do, we are not living up to our call to be like 'one man'. Perhaps we come to church and intentionally keep ourselves to ourselves. Might I recommend joining a small group in the church, or a mid-week opportunity for fellowship and service so 'WE' can be like 'one man', rather than a collection of little islands.

Also, the message of Jesus is worth being buffetted around for because what brings life to you and me, also can bring life to others. To go back to the tube - perhaps we are meant to stay upright and firm so we don't spill the hot drink, but can deliver it safely to someone else at the next station. The gospel can be a warm and envigorating gift which we can share with others. Alpha starts this week - why not sign up or invite a friend or two.

With love,

Frog

Dear Saints of God...

2009-09-02T21:35:00.002+01:00

Dear All Saints and visitors, When Paul speaks to the church at Philippi he calls them 'Dear Saints of God' - it is addressed 'To all God's Holy People at Philippi'. Now, though I often have letters addressed to me in different ways, very few people write to me in this way, and yet this is how the apostle spoke and wrote to the people who were so dear to him. This shouldn't take us by surprise, though it often does, because Jesus doesn't withhold any tenderness from us, knowing our hopes and fears, our dreams and concerns. As we begin this term, lets us be mindful of the affection that God has for us, and how He writes to us with such care and dignity, like a father bending down to give us his full attention, then lifting us up to his face to get a better look and telling us how much we mean to him. Through the next week take a moment to recognise, as you turn over different decisions and thoughts in your mind, that you have an extraordinary status in His eyes and in His plans - the letter is addressed to all of us - and none are forgotten. As A.W. Tozer wrote in 'Pursuit of God' [p.3] "The continuous and unembarrassed interchange of love and thought between God and the soul of the redeemed man is the throbbing heart of the New Testament religion." We will be introducing new volunteers and team members today, and over the next few weeks aim to complete our registration as a charity in compliance to new laws issued by the government. Why not take some time over the next week to find out more about the life and ministries of the church, join small groups, pray and worship and get to know one another better. In particular we are looking for more volunteers to help with welcome and refreshments (email: parish.secretary@allsaintspeckham.org.uk) as well as youth and childrens' helpers. (esther.barnett@allsaintspeckham.org.uk) or ring the office on 0207 639 3052. I will be standing by the door at the end of the service and would love to meet you if you are new or would like to find out more and would especially love to meet you if you are visiting us. Yours in Christ Frog

Calm after storm seabrook island

2009-06-17T01:35:00.000+01:00

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Blogging sabbatical

2009-05-08T14:56:00.002+01:00

Dear All - the lack of blogging is due to sabbatical. Expect no posts till early July!

For any All Saints news visit the church website or ring the church office for any info, for Zacharias Trust website for updates. We have been in South Africa for the last 3 weeks, have one or tow loose ends in the Uk, then in South Carolina till end of June.

William Booth's Wisdom

2009-04-04T13:43:00.002+01:00

Member of the church of England I may be - but as a South Londoner The Salvation Army's William Booth is up in the top 5 of heroes. Here what he says about the impact of the Gospel and the place of social action:

"To get a man soundly saved it is not enough to put on him a pair of new breeches, to give him regular work, or even to give him a University education. These things are all outside a man, and if the inside remains unchanged you have wasted your labor. You must in some way or other graft upon the man's nature a new nature, which has in it the element of the Divine."

Hope08 - evaluated

2009-03-31T19:52:00.002+01:00

At Last an evaluation document has been brought out for the Hope 08 initiaitve which we were very involved in at All Saints.

http://www.hope08.com/Publisher/File.aspx?ID=35145

It seems that not a single church interviewed said that they had moved backwards in mission, co-operation or prayer as a result of being involved in Hope08 - do read this for an encouragement in a time when many stories about chirstianity are more 'bad news' than 'good news'.

What do you love about Church?

2009-02-20T14:50:00.004Z

Please forgive this enormously long post, it merits it. Several weeks ago a small survey was carried out amongst the members and attenders of All Saints. About 130 people filled it in, and we have had an initial look at the results as a PCC and staff team. Amy and I (Frog) have been encouraged to read the comments in a time when so many people talk about why people do not go to church - perhaps you will also be encouraged. I have not edited the comments - so they are in a raw form.

Below, are the comments in answer to the question - 'What do you love about All Saints?'

Special things:It is a privilege to be a member of such a wonderful church.

I'm staying in Peckham because of All Saints and its members. Great job.

All Saints is a body of believers who love Jesus, take God's word seriously and are learning to live it out in the power of the Holy Spirit.

I love the fact it made my mum smile again

Mistakes are OK and you can carry on.

I love that All Saints is about all of the values in the first questions - not just some - this is truly unusual.

Being a part of something historic and big in terms of what God is up! The history of the church is awesome!

I like the Anointing Presence of the Holy Spirit and the Angels I can see close to the Communion Table and in other parts of the Church during worship - I often see Jesus in the Morning Services

Presence of God/Jesus at work

The vibrancy of church which expects to meet with Jesus, be transformed by the power of His Spirit, and (all) be used by Him to reach out those who are as yet unsaved.
It is a church that is alive with the Holy Spirit! (x3)
God is honored and is central to everything that is done
I know I'll meet with God when I arrive on a Sunday (x3)
Feeling of actually knowing God
The Worship and the sense of togetherness.
It is a place to experience Jesus and real relationship with other Christians.
It's friendly, lively, Spirit filled and God is moving!
Lots of people genuinely wanting to get to know and love God better and make him better known.
room for the holy spirit
A place the helps me to love God more, and know his love through the word, the Spirit and in community.
Sense of people searching to be closer to God
The fact I can trust the integrity, teaching and faithfulness of our vicar and his team.
It's growing, it's dynamic, and it clearly has a heart for the community in which it’s rooted.

Community (internal and external)

internal family

I love the people! Jesus-focused community is what keeps me there every week!
The sense of togetherness.
When we become a multi-cultural church reaching all the difficult members of the congregation.
It’s multicultural! That’s awesome!
Friendship and fellowship - one big family (x4)
I chose to join the church because it seemed open, real, vibrant, included the youth up-front during services, culturally inclusive
It's full of other people who love and serve Jesus. We also love the loving, relaxed atmosphere, the fantastic worship,
The church is full of people wanting to hear God's words and be filled with the spirit, well done Frog and team, excellent!
its optimism and life as a family
It's Christ-centered and very inclusive
Their passion for God and people.
The people - the community of believers.
People who love God and seek to serve him with their whole heart.
There are many great and inspiring men and women of faith who are a part of the All Saints family.
The youth are great
It is my family and I feel I belong here and I love the reputation it has in the local area
Teaching= friendly. Caring of members
the people....there are some of the most genuine, loving , encouraging, real and honest people that I have found in any church with hearts motivated by love
Meeting lots of friendly, like minded people
That it is community orientated, unpretentious and fun
The sense of community, of welcome, of possibility to grow in my relationship with Jesus
Inclusivity of people, being God seekers together, building God's kingdom locally and together
There is a lot of will! Yes we want to serve Jesus!
The people and the community - you can walk down the street and bump into people you know
Its vibrancy, and when there's a real sense of diversity in leadership and fellowship
Its openness, friendliness
The sense of a diverse family in the morning service and the fact that even though it is a large church it still feels like a church for its immediate community
A vibrant God seeking church with an out looking mindset and some great people
The fact that it is a family and we do look after each other in love.
I love being part of the church family and the body of Christ in Peckham
So many inspirational Christians who are natural in their faith. Supportive, un-judgmental atmosphere. Community-focused yet impressively out-ward looking and evangelistic. Money management courses inspired!
All members are valued and given opportunities to serve the body regardless of ability or status or gender.
Fantastic outward-looking place that loves God, and invests in its members well.
The people and the community that has been built up over time

ii. External focus

Feel it has a real heart to see Jesus made known to the community
Passion for Peckham
That its devoted to serving God in the community
That at times it can be a beacon in the community
I love the community feel and focus; the heart for Peckham is massive.
The friends I have made there and its commitment to Peckham and the variety of "stuff" that goes on here
I love the multi-cultural diversity, the worship and the outward focus on mission in the community
I love the family ethos at All Saints and the fact that the Church is heavily involved in the local community
It engages with the local community and is a safe place where I can be real
I feel at home there, and love the way it looks out to the community
Hodgepodge of people who all LOVE each other and LOVE our community and also brilliant that it’s so mission and community focused.
The sense of God being with us and putting us here in Peckham to meet the needs of the lost.
Our youth work; our increasing work with marginalised people
All saints is Mission focused with great real people, very community focused church which facilitates and releases people to use their gifts.
it doesn't stand still - lots of new ideas about reaching out to the community (x2)
That the church has many members who are as passionate as I am about community, the poor, the world

Fellowship and support

Fellowship with inspiring people
The kind friendly people who support me and the feeling of being part of a great thing.
Home group - I feel very supported and challenged there, and it has helped my Christian life enormously, and given me loads more confidence than I had a few years back
The small group is where I have really good bible study and have built up some fabulous friendships (x2)
How welcoming and supportive people are
The house group I’m involved in is really good, makes me feel involved even though I can't make it on Sunday regularly
My small group: the worship, the prayers.
My brothers and sisters who were there for me in difficult time great small groups
Friendships - both through home group and serving together

Friendly, vibrant, informality

Extremely welcoming, made great friends, vibrant. (x3)
Being part of a vibrant, friendly church family that seeks to worship and serve the Living God
People here are nice, well-mannered and friendly. It's a friendly place
The friendly informal atmosphere - I feel happy bringing people and inviting people to meet God at All Saints - thanks!
The informality and openness to new ideas
The community, slightly chaotic services, a bit random. We're not slick like HTB but a bit more cool and laid back
friendships,
Vibrant, lively church
All Saints is a friendly, lively and great church to be a part of
I love it that there is a really positive and joyful atmosphere, honesty and genuineness
Its passion about the Good News coupled with its warmth and inclusiveness
Leadership/vision

The energy and life within the church and the faith of the leaders to dream large and trust in God's provision.
Frog's preaching and personal style was the reason we joined the church.
.... and Frog's obvious gifting in preaching and leading services
I feel the leadership is a real strength to the church keep it up
vision
I love the fact that it is always on the move, with new vision and it is a growing, thriving place to worship.
Its dynamism in moving forward
I feel the leadership is a real strength to the church keep it up

Children’s work

Excellent children's stuff.
The opportunities given to the children to get closer to Jesus.
children’s' facilities are good
Sunday Club and the children's team
The children's work is fantastic! Esther is the best!

Teaching and worship:

Its friendly, relaxed and good teaching
I love the worship, the inspiring teaching (x4)
Dependable upon for correct evangelical theology.
teaching, the variety of people who preach
Fantastic bible teaching
The charisma in worship. It's a home church for most of us(family)
I love being part of a local church, that sometimes has spirit filled worship and that has a desire to meet the needs of the local community.
Good teaching, worship, atmosphere
Worshipping Jesus together up with music and out in the community
the style of the service, the songs and the sermon
the focus on God, the worship (x6)

2009-02-14T16:18:00.001Z

Frog is re-integrating

2009-02-14T16:11:00.001Z

So is it possible to post a little message accross 3 different networks - blog, facebook status and twitter - we will discover!

All saints

2009-02-03T09:08:00.000Z

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

IMG00051.jpg

2009-02-03T09:03:00.000Z

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A Snow Day

2009-02-02T17:54:00.000Z

It has been 18 years since London saw this much snow. I went for a walk this morning through the parish, dragging my twins behind me in matching sledges, and with Amy bringing the baby, Benji in the pram as well. In the six years of being here I have never seen families all outside playing so happily in such large numbers- it was a little overwhelming to see a spontaneous overflow of joy. Commuting, school, work and housebound parents and carers exist side by side in homes as if existing in parallel planes so beloved of science fiction writers. As londoners we all live 'together-apart' - crammed in actual proximity but usually oblivious of each other. Today it was as if we suddenly saw who we were- and there were children everywhere! Snowball fights and good clean fun, snow angels made in the street, and time suddenly was made available to the busy- there were fathers everywhere.

Meanwhile no bus, train, or travel websites, all cars left in driveways piled foot deep in snow. Most of the world can cope with much more extreme conditions, but a great capital city ceased to be its normal self in a single day- and it was, at least in Peckham, happier.
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One Year in Forever - Vision Sunday

2009-01-12T05:42:00.004Z

I, Frog, set the vision for the year in two sermons at the start of January in All Saints with some reflections on Jude 20-25. 'One year in Forever'

I have two inspirations for 'Vision Sunday' - the first is Mike Breen, of 3Dministries, now in the USA, but once at St Thomas' Church in Sheffield used to do one, and when I was on my placement there, training how to become a Good Anglican Vicar I saw how helpful it can be. the second is Rev T J Gaster who went to glory in 1909, but was the founder of All Saints and preached an 'annual address tto the members of his congregation' every year from 1867 to 1908.

This is my 6th and so far they have proved to be really important for our life here in Peckham.

We have built on this by publishing a diary for the whole year, and for 08/09 this has focussed on our mission activities - you can have a look at the online one here:

http://www.allsaintspeckham.org.uk/uploaded_docs/CALENDAR-web2.pdf

One of the things that struck me from Jude is that evangelism is seen as MERCY - 'show mercy to some, snatching them from the fires of judgement, and rescue them'.

I think this is really helpful, as we Christians can tie ourselves up in knots about what should be a natural and merciful part of who we are.

We can all invite, introduce, and enthuse.

Introduce - we have a best friend in Jesus, and it would be impolite not to make an introduction of him to our friends.

Invite - we have a feast laid on, a banquet which is free, and we have the invitation available, but we need to deliver this. The Alpha course is a great way of doig this.

Enthuse - we naturally talk about a great film or book, why not naturally talk about what God has done and is doing in our life?

Can we make this year count in the perspective of eternity - in what we do, in what we spend money and energy and emotion on. May it be a year that really counts in the eyes of God.

Vision Sunday AM

http://www.allsaintspeckham.org.uk/mp3/110109am.mp3

Vision Sunday PM

http://www.allsaintspeckham.org.uk/mp3/110109pm.mp3

As the commuters arrive, the church you can see from the platform gets going for year number 6

2008-12-09T08:15:00.002Z

Peckham rye station, tues 8am!

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Free chocolate coins and letter from the vicar

2008-12-09T08:09:00.001Z

Free chocolate coins and letter from the vicar
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Peckham rye carols

2008-12-09T07:23:00.000Z

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Benjamin Orr-Ewing - welcome

2008-11-17T15:20:00.002Z

Benjamin Orr-Ewing has now come into the world. Born as America voted for Obama on 4th November, but much more important in our household. He was 7lb 9oz and is healthy and wonderful. We thank God for him and for the support and love we have been shown with many congratulations and much help from members of All Saints, family and friends.

IMG00028.jpg

2008-11-15T16:52:00.000Z

Even on paternity leave one cannot escape the desire to achieve something! Benjamin Orr-Ewing has been welcomed with love, flowers and lego towers!
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Modern-day Acts of the Apostles in Burundi…

2008-10-08T15:01:00.001+01:00

The following report comes from Burundi, where an old friend of ours who is a Mission Partner of All Saints is an Evangelist and Missionary. As frog is preaching through Ephesians during this term it seemed even more appropriate:

Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:27:20

PRAYER LETTER NO.56 www.greatlakesoutreach.org

Dear Team,

Are you ready for some weird, wonderful and whacky stories of God at work in Burundi? Some stretch credibility, particularly for a Western mind, although an African wouldn’t blink twice about what I’ll share with you. It’s quite long, but it’ll blow your mind, and is worth the read…

My last letter was asking you to pray for Onesphore and his band of fearless disciples as they piled upcountry into unreached areas to share the love of Jesus in word and deed. Well, as usual, I am beautifully blown away by what happened. If you take a fresh look at the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible, you could almost substitute ‘Antioch’ or ‘Ephesus’ with ‘Burundi’ and it would read in a similar vein. Here’s a sample of what happened:

In Muyinga, a prostitute called Victoria was kidnapped by cannibal witchdoctors who took a bite out of her thigh but found she tasted bitter (it sounds almost comical except that it is true – one of the female members of the team later on asked to see it to verify that she wasn’t lying, and the mouth-shaped wound needed serious medical treatment). So the witchdoctors didn’t eat her. Instead they cursed her and she became dumb. For three weeks she hadn’t said a word when the evangelists arrived. She’d gone to the local administrator to press charges, and he challenged the team: “If you want us to listen to you about your Jesus, then do something for this girl.” They promptly gathered around her, prayed in Jesus’ name, and Victoria began speaking again! The whole community was blown away by this obvious demonstration of God’s power. The administrator promptly offered them land to build a church, and two months on there is a church of a hundred members meeting there. Victoria is now a reformed ex-prostitute.

At Mukabira, a powerful witchdoctor was converted. On the spot he became an evangelist(!), and invited the team to join him in addressing six other witchdoctors. Those six duly gave their lives to Christ. They brought out all their charms, idols and spells, and had a public burning session, at which point the local craftsmen who had made the idols were in uproar (remember what happened in Ephesus?). They complained: “How dare these people come from outside and introduce strange ideas which take away our business?” They complained to the local authorities. Three of the team were arrested and beaten, and held overnight. In the morning, when it was established that they’d done nothing wrong, they were released. As they were sat outside the police station, still talking to several policemen, a tornado flared up. It is generally believed here that a tornado is actually an angry python underground sent by witchdoctors. The policemen fled as the tornado approached, but the three believers stood their ground, at which point the tornado split in two, went around them, and demolished two houses on either side of them. The policemen then returned totally awestruck, asking: “Who are you people? What is your secret?” They replied: “The One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world.” More people were converted.

Another example of Acts-style persecution involved a group being invited into a house under pretense to share Christ. However, once inside, they were beaten with sticks and a hoe. One young lad was seriously wounded in his head and spent three days in hospital. Although they were the ones attacked, the evangelists were the ones arrested. Onesphore drove there immediately, mediated, the aggressors begged forgiveness, and yet more people were touched by the power of God.

Vincent was steeped in witchcraft. He had made a pact with Satan, and for twenty years hadn’t been able to wear clothing, as it felt like pins were pricking him when it contacted his skin. He hadn’t cut his hair in that time either, and looked completely deranged. The whole area around Bubanza submitted to his spiritual leadership and lived in fear of him. He refused to listen to the team’s first attempt to tell him about Jesus, but they persisted and returned. He was delivered, and when he burned all his charms, the community was so astonished that on the spot twenty other people gave their lives to Christ.

There are many more stories, but those are a selection. You get the idea. Our God is a big big God! May He forgive us for keeping Him caged and domesticated.

Various radio stations broadcast multiple testimonies of the events, and the impact has been to stir and challenge the Church to step up to the plate. Numbers aren’t everything, but here is the top-line summary of what happened in just two weeks:

325 young people went out to share Christ in 26 of the least reached areas of Burundi.
46,917 people were spoken to one-on-one.
19,533 people were prayed with to receive Christ.
5,250 people were backslidden and recommitted themselves.
10 new churches were planted. Usually the idea was to work alongside a local church, but in some cases none existed.
74 witchdoctors and 101 Muslims were converted.
15 marriages on the point of divorce were reconciled.
67 recorded healing miracles took place, including 5 paralytics walking, 3 blind people seeing, 8 demon-possessed people exorcised, and more.

Last time I wrote, I mentioned what was said of Dorothy Sayers: “She loved the truth enough to live it.” I found that incredibly stirring and it forced me to ask myself: “Do I love the truth enough to live it?” Taking things one stage further, I’ve been thinking about love, and its opposite. You might think that the opposite of love is hate, but as followers of Jesus, I think the opposite of love is apathy. There is so much apathy in the Body of Christ! These guys above don’t display a shred of it. They love the truth enough to live it. And they challenge me to do the same.

The context for most of us is so very different. We can’t relate necessarily to the above stories. I hope at the very least they help sharpen our prayers and make us understand that even where we are there is so much more going on than meets the eye. The battle is real. The enemy is real. The stakes are high. Prayer is crucial. Yes, we are in a different context, but it’s the same Jesus we believe in, the same gospel, the same urgent message, the same imperative to go and love and serve and change the world in Jesus’ name. Enough apathy! Let’s get out there, fully alive, and be who He is calling us to be!

Amen!
In Him,
Simon Guillebaud
Great Lakes Outreach

Faro - European Churchplanting Network Learning Community

2008-10-02T13:26:00.000+01:00

I (Frog) have been in Portugal this week with many inspiring churchleaders, missionaries and churchplanters from accross Europe: Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Romania, Finland, Denmark, Austria, Germany and elsewhere. The common subject is how we can learn from one another, best practise, and what the Lord has been doing around the world as we are all committed to starting churches in the countries we are called to. Inspiring Christians every one and wonderful moves of God are happening.

An added bonus is spending time with more local churchleaders and leaders of church-based projects accross the UK and dreaming dreams and possibilities together: Holy Trinity Brompton; Eden from Manchester: the Order of Mission; St Thomas, Crookes and St Thomas Philadelphia, both from Sheffield...and many more.

I am reminded of the advice we are given in Hebrews 'do not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing'. When we meet and talk, encourage and are encouraged, support and equip one another, we are all made stronger and bolder.

I have returned to London with renewed courage to face the challenges of transforming our community of Peckham with the love and message of Jesus, and to believe that the church of tomorrow could be larger in England than the church of today.
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Crunch time, tomatoes and boundaries

2008-09-17T20:40:00.004+01:00

It's sometimes hard to get things in perspective.
Amy and I (Frog) returned yesterday from a ministry trip in the USA. We had been hosted by one of the most well-known churches in Charleston, South Carolina, called St Michael's. An old church, founded in the 1700's, and placed at the centre of the old town, with a magnificent steeple, imposing pews and a lively congregation, now pastored by our good friend Rev Al Zadig.

There are three crunches going on which we saw - the culture crunch, the credit crunch and the church crunch.
For those of you reading in the UK America is currently facing a media obsession with Sarah Palin which only the collapse of one of its biggest Banks managed to budge off the front pages and the news headlines on every TV channel.
The crunch of cultures in the 'culture wars' of America are coming to the end of a heady round of bashing, as there are only 50 days to go till the presidential vote.
The credit crunch is putting thousands out of work and nationalising huge companies in USA.
Meanwhile in the Episcopal Church is also crunching - Bishops are about to be deposed not for moral lapses but for holding to historic Christianity and daring to suggest what the rest of the world have been saying for some time that the leaders of the Episcopal church have long lost the Christian plot. (That's the current Bp of Pittsburgh about to be axed by the Presiding Bishop and her cronies.)

And yet as I came home I was excited to see 5 red tomatoes in the garden. Even though the English summer failed to launch they have finally gone red after several months of valiantly clinging to the vine in search of sun - and are now ripe - 2 months late! Thus - a failure of perspective on my part.

On a more serious note, though, that vibrant lively churches such as Falls church are spending countless thousands of dollars fighting court cases foisted upon them by their own Archbishop for control of their own site and buildings, and the sheer energy this drains from great churches should sound a note of unsmug caution in the UK. The legal position of Incumbents (i.e. vicars and rectors) in the UK is alot stronger, but the time may come when orthodox and beleiving Anglican parishes here come under similar pressure. Our usual 'bury the head in the sand' approach to conflict may not serve us particularly well.

The the USA entire dioceses have either already left The Episcopal Church, or are in the process of moving towards this or some other way of staying distinct and many parishes have followed also. Keeping all the structures as they are is not necessarily a sign of real unity. Pragmatism and flexibility are perhaps the hallmarks of Anglican ecclesiology and so adaptability is a sign of life.My hope and prayer is that a blurring of diocesan boundaries might be arrived upon in the UK by the instigation of our own Bishops as a way of keeping the Church of England whole, whilst recognising the deep fissure that currently exists on issues of doctrine and sexuality.

How long should a parish be associated with a diocese and deanery which allows clergy to live with their same-sex partners in civil partnerships? Are boundaries sacrosanct? How do national and international authorities operate in the new globalisation and especially within the church? Our trip to the US, and the opportunity for deep fellowship and encouragement serve to remind us of the essential unity of the body of Christ, which transcends national, structural and even geographic boundaries. The Diocese of South Carolina, and its Bishop are also trying to answer similar questions.

DEEP

2008-09-03T20:51:00.004+01:00

DEEP - the book
Deep came out in the flurry of events over the summer, and is a new Book by Amy and I:
http://www.authenticmedia.co.uk/AuthenticSite/product/9781850788119.htm

Do go to the website and get a copy if you would like to... The blurb is:

The call of Deep Church is not just for theologians and church leaders; it is also about each individual Christian experiencing and knowing that Jesus rescues from the depths and changes them deeply

In this book Frog and Amy Orr-Ewing explore the
concept of Deep Church in a 21st-century context.
They argue that a missionary congregation needs to
be deeply evangelical and evangelistic, deeply reliant
on the power of the Holy Spirit, deeply engaged with
its surrounding culture and community, deeply
realistic about its limitations and temptations, and
deeply convinced of its faith, in the face of all other
worldviews and alternatives.

Deep Church is about restoring the heart of the
Christian faith within a rapidly changing and demanding culture, without lurching from one new methodology to another, rescuing today's church from unnecessary disillusionment, and wholeheartedly embracing Christ and his Kingdom.

Back after a pause...

2008-09-03T20:41:00.003+01:00

Back and ready for a new term after a good break.
Tomorrow Amy is giving a short interview on 'Cross rhythms' radio at 9.30 am UK time.

This Sunday we will be commissioning the new intake of people on the Peckham Urban Mission Placement Scheme. This year 7 new volunteers join the 2 who are staying for a second year. Also 4 starting this week, whether as staff or volunteers, are a group of 3 people working amongst Muslims in South London, a new evangelist, and a pastoral assistant. We are all meeting, sharing and learning together for 2 intensive weeks of training in mission and Peckham life! They will be commissioned this Sunday in church.

Next Tuesday Amy and I will be flying to Charleston for a week of ministry there, followed by a day or so in Washington before flying back to London. Stay posted for our provisional itinerary.

Death or Life?

2008-07-14T05:26:00.001+01:00

Death or Life?

Beware the Undertakers my friends…

Those who bury their own dead

With no thought of resurrection

Those who wrapped with solemn procession

The body of faded Lazarus

And laid him responsibly in the fetid tomb

The careful strips of starched and folded linen

Entwined and overlapped,

Layers of confirming off-white

Methodically arranged by neat hands

Over feet so recently still

And practical Martha mourned and yearned

Quite understandably for life

She ran to meet and enquire

Of the weeping saviour

If there was still a certain hope

And his order came, from loving lips

To roll away the stone of finality and rest

defying well established facts,

And before they could peer in to shadowed stench

He spoke again, but loudly

Lazarus Come out

I hear these words as a whisper in my prayers

To a church bound, entombed

With undertakers busily managing decay

Circling solemnly around

I hear also, secrets of a craft passed down

Body washers, embalmers:

Expertise in rigor, gas and Melancholy.

‘Mortis Eternitas; Amen’

But competition comes

To the business of decline

Through words of life’s authority

And re-envigored bones

Unfurl the banners of death’s defeat

Raise a cry of Praise

For the Lord, the Christ

Has conquered o’er the grave

Stumbling first, now stronger yet

The grave’s stench left behind

Lazarus revived by these

Immortal words of Life

The wind of change, the breath of God

The tears from death, now joy

And heaven’s great reality

Walks barefoot upon soil

Fur flying in the Church of England

2008-07-08T20:38:00.003+01:00

It has been a peculiar time to be a member of the Church of England, and I (Frog) will probably need to blog about it again. A few weeks ago the Global Anglican Future conference happened in Jerusalem. trumpeted by many opponents as being a step to schism, it in fact was harmonious and ended with a statement which even the Archibshop of Cantebury agreed was not revolutionary. I was invited to the conference, but was unable to make it in the end due to no space between previous commitments here in Peckham and in the USA and Oxford last week. The end declaration I fully support, and will write about soon, I hope. In short I fully support the leaders of the Global South and other fellow believers who met there, and wait to see what implications it will have for us.

I was bracing myself for Lambeth Conference next week, but didn't see the Ordination of Women as Bishops coming at all, which happened at General synod last night. Though I am a keen supporter of women's ministry I was incredibly surprised with the vehemence of 'illiberal liberals' who seemed not to mind casting several hundred conscientious objectors out into the cold.

By the way - Evangelicals have always come to two conclusions on the exact nature of women's ministry, basing this on scriptural interpretation issues. The High Church objections are utterly different, based upon tradition and a specific concept of the priesthood which I utterly reject, being convinced of the irrefutable New Testament doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. I was chilled by hearing the comments of one ordained woman last night on Newsnight saying there should be no way to sidestep 'obedience' to a woman Bishop. (I can't recall her exact words, but this was the reason given for making no real legal provision for opposing views) This view of the episcopacy which expects obeisance is a scary vision and one no Christian should ever let themselves be intimidated by it, whether coercion comes from a man or a woman. Tolerance is to 'put up with evil' or that which we disagree with. It is not only an attitude of mind but of policy and politics - liberals should know this, for tolerance is a watch word. Liberals, it seems, are not liberal or tolerant.

Meanwhile my own Bishop, Tom Butler, has gone to press calling the "manifesto emerging from the Gafcon conference of militant fundamentalist evangelical Anglicans. Indeed, the manifesto reads precisely like a student union document from earlier times. [guardian.co.uk,Tuesday July 1, 2008]

He makes great play of 'rogue church-planting evangelicals' - a specific and unique incident I know all about, and which bothers me not one jot. What disturbs me most is the staggering ignorance of calling key African Church leaders "militant fundamentalist evangelical Anglicans".
They are neither militant, nor are they fundamentalist.

They are not militant:
We are talking about entire provinces with Bishops and archibishops here of self-supporting and self-governing national churches with as much legitimacy, if not mroe so, than the church of England. All of them hold to the founding documents, the scriptures and the canons of the Anglican Communion.

They are not fundamentalist:
In the UK context 'fundamentalist' has zero positive connotations, and is solely a vehement term of abuse which should be beneath a Bishop. It is also academically sloppy and lazy polemic - the two terms having been separated by none other than J I Packer in the 1950's who expressly argued along with John Stott and others in the 1950's that Evangelicals were not fundamentalists at all.

They are Anglican Evangelicals however: read Orombi's article
What is Anglicanism - by Henry Orombi

Read the statement for yourself below and find the 'manifesto of militant fundamentalist dogma' if you possibly can. My feeling is, that if you think this is so inflammatory then the situation really is as grave as we might fear...

STATEMENT ON THE GLOBAL ANGLICAN FUTURE

Praise the LORD!
It is good to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. (Psalm 147:1-2)

Brothers and Sisters in Christ: We, the participants in the Global Anglican Future Conference, send you greetings from Jerusalem!

Introduction

The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), which was held in Jerusalem from 22-29 June 2008, is a spiritual movement to preserve and promote the truth and power of the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ as we Anglicans have received it. The movement is global: it has mobilised Anglicans from around the world. We are Anglican: 1148 lay and clergy participants, including 291 bishops representing millions of faithful Anglican Christians. We cherish our Anglican heritage and the Anglican Communion and have no intention of departing from it. And we believe that, in God’s providence, Anglicanism has a bright future in obedience to our Lord’s Great Commission to make disciples of all nations and to build up the church on the foundation of biblical truth (Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 2:20).

GAFCON is not just a moment in time, but a movement in the Spirit, and we hereby:

launch the GAFCON movement as a fellowship of confessing Anglicans
publish the Jerusalem Declaration as the basis of the fellowship
encourage GAFCON Primates to form a Council.

The Global Anglican Context

The future of the Anglican Communion is but a piece of the wider scenario of opportunities and challenges for the gospel in 21st century global culture. We rejoice in the way God has opened doors for gospel mission among many peoples, but we grieve for the spiritual decline in the most economically developed nations, where the forces of militant secularism and pluralism are eating away the fabric of society and churches are compromised and enfeebled in their witness. The vacuum left by them is readily filled by other faiths and deceptive cults. To meet these challenges will require Christians to work together to understand and oppose these forces and to liberate those under their sway. It will entail the planting of new churches among unreached peoples and also committed action to restore authentic Christianity to compromised churches.

The Anglican Communion, present in six continents, is well positioned to address this challenge, but currently it is divided and distracted. The Global Anglican Future Conference emerged in response to a crisis within the Anglican Communion, a crisis involving three undeniable facts concerning world Anglicanism.

The first fact is the acceptance and promotion within the provinces of the Anglican Communion of a different ‘gospel’ (cf. Galatians 1:6-8) which is contrary to the apostolic gospel. This false gospel undermines the authority of God’s Word written and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as the author of salvation from sin, death and judgement. Many of its proponents claim that all religions offer equal access to God and that Jesus is only a way, not the way, the truth and the life. It promotes a variety of sexual preferences and immoral behaviour as a universal human right. It claims God’s blessing for same-sex unions over against the biblical teaching on holy matrimony. In 2003 this false gospel led to the consecration of a bishop living in a homosexual relationship.

The second fact is the declaration by provincial bodies in the Global South that they are out of communion with bishops and churches that promote this false gospel. These declarations have resulted in a realignment whereby faithful Anglican Christians have left existing territorial parishes, dioceses and provinces in certain Western churches and become members of other dioceses and provinces, all within the Anglican Communion. These actions have also led to the appointment of new Anglican bishops set over geographic areas already occupied by other Anglican bishops. A major realignment has occurred and will continue to unfold.

The third fact is the manifest failure of the Communion Instruments to exercise discipline in the face of overt heterodoxy. The Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada, in proclaiming this false gospel, have consistently defied the 1998 Lambeth statement of biblical moral principle (Resolution 1.10). Despite numerous meetings and reports to and from the ‘Instruments of Unity,’ no effective action has been taken, and the bishops of these unrepentant churches are welcomed to Lambeth 2008. To make matters worse, there has been a failure to honour promises of discipline, the authority of the Primates’ Meeting has been undermined and the Lambeth Conference has been structured so as to avoid any hard decisions. We can only come to the devastating conclusion that ‘we are a global Communion with a colonial structure’.

Sadly, this crisis has torn the fabric of the Communion in such a way that it cannot simply be patched back together. At the same time, it has brought together many Anglicans across the globe into personal and pastoral relationships in a fellowship which is faithful to biblical teaching, more representative of the demographic distribution of global Anglicanism today and stronger as an instrument of effective mission, ministry and social involvement.

A Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans

We, the participants in the Global Anglican Future Conference, are a fellowship of confessing Anglicans for the benefit of the Church and the furtherance of its mission. We are a fellowship of people united in the communion (koinonia) of the one Spirit and committed to work and pray together in the common mission of Christ. It is a confessing fellowship in that its members confess the faith of Christ crucified, stand firm for the gospel in the global and Anglican context, and affirm a contemporary rule, the Jerusalem Declaration, to guide the movement for the future. We are a fellowship of Anglicans, including provinces, dioceses, churches, missionary jurisdictions, para-church organisations and individual Anglican Christians whose goal is to reform, heal and revitalise the Anglican Communion and expand its mission to the world.

Our fellowship is not breaking away from the Anglican Communion. We, together with many other faithful Anglicans throughout the world, believe the doctrinal foundation of Anglicanism, which defines our core identity as Anglicans, is expressed in these words: The doctrine of the Church is grounded in the Holy Scriptures and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the said Scriptures. In particular, such doctrine is to be found in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer and the Ordinal. We intend to remain faithful to this standard, and we call on others in the Communion to reaffirm and return to it. While acknowledging the nature of Canterbury as an historic see, we do not accept that Anglican identity is determined necessarily through recognition by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Building on the above doctrinal foundation of Anglican identity, we hereby publish the Jerusalem Declaration as the basis of our fellowship.

The Jerusalem Declaration

In the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit:

We, the participants in the Global Anglican Future Conference, have met in the land of Jesus’ birth. We express our loyalty as disciples to the King of kings, the Lord Jesus. We joyfully embrace his command to proclaim the reality of his kingdom which he first announced in this land. The gospel of the kingdom is the good news of salvation, liberation and transformation for all. In light of the above, we agree to chart a way forward together that promotes and protects the biblical gospel and mission to the world, solemnly declaring the following tenets of orthodoxy which underpin our Anglican identity.

We rejoice in the gospel of God through which we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because God first loved us, we love him and as believers bring forth fruits of love, ongoing repentance, lively hope and thanksgiving to God in all things.
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God written and to contain all things necessary for salvation. The Bible is to be translated, read, preached, taught and obeyed in its plain and canonical sense, respectful of the church’s historic and consensual reading.
We uphold the four Ecumenical Councils and the three historic Creeds as expressing the rule of faith of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We uphold the Thirty-nine Articles as containing the true doctrine of the Church agreeing with God’s Word and as authoritative for Anglicans today.
We gladly proclaim and submit to the unique and universal Lordship of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, humanity’s only Saviour from sin, judgement and hell, who lived the life we could not live and died the death that we deserve. By his atoning death and glorious resurrection, he secured the redemption of all who come to him in repentance and faith.
We rejoice in our Anglican sacramental and liturgical heritage as an expression of the gospel, and we uphold the 1662 Book of Common Prayer as a true and authoritative standard of worship and prayer, to be translated and locally adapted for each culture.
We recognise that God has called and gifted bishops, priests and deacons in historic succession to equip all the people of God for their ministry in the world. We uphold the classic Anglican Ordinal as an authoritative standard of clerical orders.
We acknowledge God’s creation of humankind as male and female and the unchangeable standard of Christian marriage between one man and one woman as the proper place for sexual intimacy and the basis of the family. We repent of our failures to maintain this standard and call for a renewed commitment to lifelong fidelity in marriage and abstinence for those who are not married.
We gladly accept the Great Commission of the risen Lord to make disciples of all nations, to seek those who do not know Christ and to baptise, teach and bring new believers to maturity.
We are mindful of our responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation, to uphold and advocate justice in society, and to seek relief and empowerment of the poor and needy.
We are committed to the unity of all those who know and love Christ and to building authentic ecumenical relationships. We recognise the orders and jurisdiction of those Anglicans who uphold orthodox faith and practice, and we encourage them to join us in this declaration.
We celebrate the God-given diversity among us which enriches our global fellowship, and we acknowledge freedom in secondary matters. We pledge to work together to seek the mind of Christ on issues that divide us.
We reject the authority of those churches and leaders who have denied the orthodox faith in word or deed. We pray for them and call on them to repent and return to the Lord.
We rejoice at the prospect of Jesus’ coming again in glory, and while we await this final event of history, we praise him for the way he builds up his church through his Spirit by miraculously changing lives.

The Road Ahead

We believe the Holy Spirit has led us during this week in Jerusalem to begin a new work. There are many important decisions for the development of this fellowship which will take more time, prayer and deliberation. Among other matters, we shall seek to expand participation in this fellowship beyond those who have come to Jerusalem, including cooperation with the Global South and the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa. We can, however, discern certain milestones on the road ahead.

Primates’ Council

We, the participants in the Global Anglican Future Conference, do hereby acknowledge the participating Primates of GAFCON who have called us together, and encourage them to form the initial Council of the GAFCON movement. We look forward to the enlargement of the Council and entreat the Primates to organise and expand the fellowship of confessing Anglicans.

We urge the Primates’ Council to authenticate and recognise confessing Anglican jurisdictions, clergy and congregations and to encourage all Anglicans to promote the gospel and defend the faith.

We recognise the desirability of territorial jurisdiction for provinces and dioceses of the Anglican Communion, except in those areas where churches and leaders are denying the orthodox faith or are preventing its spread, and in a few areas for which overlapping jurisdictions are beneficial for historical or cultural reasons.

We thank God for the courageous actions of those Primates and provinces who have offered orthodox oversight to churches under false leadership, especially in North and South America. The actions of these Primates have been a positive response to pastoral necessities and mission opportunities. We believe that such actions will continue to be necessary and we support them in offering help around the world.

We believe this is a critical moment when the Primates’ Council will need to put in place structures to lead and support the church. In particular, we believe the time is now ripe for the formation of a province in North America for the federation currently known as Common Cause Partnership to be recognised by the Primates’ Council.

Conclusion: Message from Jerusalem

We, the participants in the Global Anglican Future Conference, were summoned by the Primates’ leadership team to Jerusalem in June 2008 to deliberate on the crisis that has divided the Anglican Communion for the past decade and to seek direction for the future. We have visited holy sites, prayed together, listened to God’s Word preached and expounded, learned from various speakers and teachers, and shared our thoughts and hopes with each other.

The meeting in Jerusalem this week was called in a sense of urgency that a false gospel has so paralysed the Anglican Communion that this crisis must be addressed. The chief threat of this dispute involves the compromising of the integrity of the church’s worldwide mission. The primary reason we have come to Jerusalem and issued this declaration is to free our churches to give clear and certain witness to Jesus Christ.

It is our hope that this Statement on the Global Anglican Future will be received with comfort and joy by many Anglicans around the world who have been distressed about the direction of the Communion. We believe the Anglican Communion should and will be reformed around the biblical gospel and mandate to go into all the world and present Christ to the nations.

Jerusalem
Feast of St Peter and St Paul
29 June 2008

Inter-Varsity Press: But is it real? - Amy Orr-Ewing

2008-07-08T20:21:00.001+01:00

Read or pre-order Amy's New Book - But is it real?

In the USA this will be published as 'Is belief in God Irrational'?

But is it real?

Answers to 10 common objections to the Christian faith

Amy Orr-Ewing

Your relationship with God is just a psychological crutch

Belief in God is dangerous

I used to believe, but I've given it all up

Is God real? Is it possible to know anything, let alone know him? Why do bad things happen to people who worship this God? What about the spiritual experiences of other faiths?

All of these accusations, objections and questions have come directly from real-life situations. Amy Says, 'I hope that the thoughts offered here will help you see what the Christian faith has to say amid all the pain, confusion and complexity of life.'

'This book challenges the spirit of lazy secularism that is so prevalent in our society.' Jane Williams

'Amy takes you on a journey where the soul is at home, with the hungers of the mind and heart fulfilled.' Ravi Zacharias

A provocative, informed and challenging book.' Alister McGrath

'Brilliant... Defends the truths of Christianity with grace and intelligence.' Beth Redman

Amy Orr-Ewing is Training Director for RZIM Zacharias Trust and Director of Programmes for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. A popular speaker at conferences and author of Why Trust the Bible?, she lives in London with her husband and twin sons.

2008512115212_DSC_0331.jpg (PNG Image, 752x500 pixels)

2008-07-08T19:54:00.000+01:00

2008512115212_DSC_0331.jpg (PNG Image, 752x500 pixels)

Frog looking studious next to Hazel Blears, MP and member of the Cabinet at Gordon Brown's No10 Downing Street reception for the Global day of Prayer in May. The reception was an extraordinary moment of prayer in such a prestigious place, and our Prime Minister was on fine form. In the left hand side foreground are Roger and Faith Forster, and other key London Church leaders.

New York New York

2008-06-23T02:56:00.002+01:00

Amy finished off the Wheaton Summer conference on Friday with a session on the Passionate Apologist, and then we travelled to New York where we met up with our good friend Yong Yeow Yoh.
This morning our Sunday plans changed slightly, and we found ourselves with some unexpected flexibility. Amy went to Redeemer (Presbyterian church led by Tim Keller) and heard an excellent sermon on 'humility' and Phillipians 2. I went with Bill Donoghue, the worship pastor of All Saints to Brooklyn Tabernacle, and was kindly welcomed by Pastor Jim Cymbala. (read Fresh Wind Fresh fire for starters; and Carol's book on Worship).
http://store.brooklyntabernacle.org/bookstore/

We had an extraordinary morning, with quite incredible and unique sense of the presence of God during both services. It was a great to be able to be there on a rare Sunday not at All Saints in Peckham, and Amy and I have been comparing notes all afternoon as we took the boys to the zoo in Central Park. Severine and Bill and Sally - who are here too - have so enjoyed our visit together here.

Many thanks for all you who have prayed for this trip, and for those who have posted on facebook as well! Londoners - see you this week!

Thinking in the Shadow of Billy G

2008-06-20T00:33:00.002+01:00

So - a few days since the last post, and we have been kept pretty busy at the RZIM summer school. We've met such a wonderful variety of people from all over the USA- united in their desire to learn more and be equipped and refreshed. The teaching team have included a professor from Wheaton (Chris Mitchell ) and, I kid you not, an Englishman, and Irishman and a Scotsman! The English are the Orr-Ewing duo and Os Guinness; the Irishman is Dr John Lennox - who recently debated Richard Dawkins and is about to take on Christopher Hitchins at the Edinburgh Festival, the Scotsman is Stuart McAllister - RZIM team and culture vulture and ex-jailbird from doing ministry behind the iron curtain. Also the insight of Dr John Dixon from Australia who flew in, demolished the New Atheists view of history and flew back - mission accomplished! I am off to hear Os Guinness later this evening.

The audience includes jet pilots, soccer moms, lecturers, pastors, Holy wood actors,teachers, high school students and university students, businessmen and women and committed retired grandparents!

Amy and I have spoken on God and Academics; God and the arts, Evangelism and the Ego; and spiritual warfare. Amy closes the conference tomorrow with 'the passionate apologist'. We have also recorded 7 radio programmes with Moody Radio and another independent producer.

Meanwhile, in a break from the serious, the boys are progressing well with pottytraining (but not quite well enough for us not to be kept on our toes!) They have broken into hymns in Wal-Mart ('you are the highest, you are the greatest') and gorged themselves quite happily on Baskin Robins Ice cream.

The Lord has been at work, and all under the shadow of an enormous Billy Graham Centre and Museum - charting the life and ministry of this extraordinary evangelist, who preached the gospel to 200 million people and saw 10's of thousands accept Jesus Christ. There are pictures of the 1989 outdoor stadium event in Budapest- the first after the fall of the Iron curtain - which Amy attended as a child, as well as Birmingham and London which Amy and I went to. An inspiring reminder of Who it is we know and love and Who we commend to our generation.

Land of Moody

2008-06-16T19:36:00.002+01:00

We are in the land of Moody. Moody the person, Moody the Bible Institute, Moody the Church, but thankfully not Moody the personality trait. After a good flight on friday, we arrived and settled in to our hotel in the glories of American suburbia in Carol Stream, just outside Wheaton, and about 45 minutes from Chicago.

Moody has always inspired both Amy and I since we read John Pollock's great biography- 'Moody without Sankey' which tells the story of his early ministry in Chicago, as well as the impact of his role as an evangelist in Britain in the closing years of the nineteenth century. On a personal note, the Orr-Ewing family owe part of our spiritual heritage to him. Moody came in Edinburgh on a mission, and greatly impacted an ancestor 'Archibald Orr-Ewing' who was converted under his ministry, and also invited him to preach on family estate near Glasgow. Some time later Archibald inherited a stupendous fortune from purple dye, and joined Hudson Taylor in the fledgeling CIM (Chinese Inland Mission), where he distinguished himself in the Shansi region, prayering and walking everywhere, taking part in a revival, a daring rescue of other missionaries stuck in the mountains during the Boxer revolution, and earning himself the Chinese Nickname 'Gloryface'. When he died in 1930 Archibald's biography was written where it was revealed for the first time thathe had all along been the primary benefactor of pioneer mission in inland China, building schools and sponsoring other missionaries secretly through his now depleted wealth.

So we drove to the centre of Chicago to visit the Moody church, originally planted out of the inner city sunday school ministry of Dwight L Moody, who later went on to lead Archibald to Jesus, an introduction which took 'Gloryface' all around the world. Though Moody is well known throughout the USA, especially through the influence of Moody radio and publishing, for the European this history is still largely unknown. The building is huge and magnificent, with incredible facilities for childrens ministries, and we were treated to a fine Father's day sermon on what made Jesus a real man. It is obvious that the transforming good news still lies at the heart of the living stones, even as the bricks leave a visible reminder to one of Chicago's most eminent sons. Then through torrential rain and blistering heat in equal measure walked along Lincoln park and into a splendid zoo. The children, who had by yesterday still not recovered from Jetlag rallied quickly to the sight of baboons, Huge gorrillas and sleeping lions, and we then sat in 2 hours of traffic on our way home as other parts of America cleared up after flooding and storms left 36,000 homeless.

The summer school has now begun in the beauty of Wheaton's Campus, and we are meeting in the Billy Graham centre. Amy and I have already renewed frendships and re making new ones, and their is an air of hungr expectation in the students who have come for an intensive learning experience! It is unique for a European to be in a place which exists with a continuing passion for the Gospel, and yet in this century rather than previous ones! The Evangelical heyday of Britain is past, though may be rising again, but in the USA the Evangelical community is still vast and well resourced. At the summer school in Wheaton we are sharing a common love and common cause which crosses the boundaries of nation and time: How can we share the hope we have in Jesus, and meet the and answer the questions of sceptics? May God forge new Gloryfaces and Moodys for our contemporary task.

Tonight Amy speaks on 'God and Acdemics' after dinner.
Tomorrow (Wed) we are both speaking on 'Communing with God', after lunch.

For those following the blog in UK - the boys slept properly last night, and Severine, our au-pair wasn't woken at 2am like the last 2 days!

Is nostalgia a spiritual gift?

2008-06-09T14:20:00.005+01:00

Is nostalgia a spiritual gift?
In Europe we seldom worship in church buildings we have built, and so often wade through old hymn books, newsletters written by people we do not know, and dusty bibles whose archaic language fails to resonate with the young people in our church. When is something old something good, when should we retain, and when should we discard?

I (Frog) preached on 'Companions along the way' last night, and we read a section from the Pilgrims progress, as Christian is way-laid by Obstinate, Pliable and Mr Worldlywise, and finds himself swerving from the route shown to him by Evangelist. Once the Pilgrims progress was in every American and English house, the most translated book after the Bible in the known world. Victorian literature is littered with its references, sermons with allusions to this allegory. As we read this potent story in Church last night it was fresh and new - few had any idea of it any more.

Have you ever heard the whispers of a previous generation 'glimpses of notes like the catch of a song' . Reading old hymn books or old devotional books can be like this, we can get the sing song cadences, even if the tune is not known to us, and a clear sense of churches and believers singing these songs in previous generations. For us in London, who often worship in churches planned, built and maintained for several generations before we are born, this seldom escapes us.

Another old hymn's words have stirred me [this is part of No. 442 in Redemption Songs] and has some of this answer - whatever changes (and the church should appear radically different in every culture and generation) Jesus remains the same today, saving souls along the way:

(3) Have you heard of Jesus
Praying in Gethsemane?
And the ever-thrilling story
How he died upon the tree;
Cruel thorns his forehead piercing
As his Spirit passed away?
This he did for you my brother,
And he's just the same today

He is just the same today
He is just the same today
Seeking those who are astray
Saving souls along the way;
Thank God, He's just the same today

Jesus himself remains dynamically constant, and freshly dependable - he is the 'ancient now'; the I AM, who is before Abraham was. Only in Jesus himself, not in forms of religion, will we find this lively and interesting discovery of the unchangeable relevant! He will be our 'companion on the way' into an uncharted future for us, as individuals and as a church, as we face the challenges of mission and discipleship in our era and for the generations to come.

McLaren: Losing Grip on certainty and misrepresenting Doctrine

2008-04-26T09:06:00.003+01:00

I am about to post an article below concerning some recent statements by Brian McLaren - an author popular in many circles for some questioning books about Evangelicalism, and much esteemed by some Emerging Church writers and thinkers. Amy and I are more circumspect, having concerns less about the criticisms he makes of some churches in the USA which may or may not be true, but more about the new alternative he proposes. In his new book his alternative becomes clearer, and shows the slide away from Historic Christianity which we spotted in his earlier writings.

Though he did not specify at Willow Creek which traditional doctrines need revision, McLaren wrote in his 2007 book "Everything Must Change" that the doctrine of hell needs radical rethinking. He argues that people who believe in hell may be inclined to dominate and take advantage of other people, rather than help them.

"Many of us have been increasingly critical in recent years of popular American eschatology in general, and conventional views of hell in particular," he wrote. "Simply put, if we believe that God will ultimately enforce his will by forceful domination, and will eternally torture all who resist that domination, then torture and domination become not only permissible but in some way godly."

The orthodox understanding that Jesus will return at a future date and forcefully conquer all His enemies also needs rethinking, according to McLaren.

"This eschatological understanding of a violent second coming leads us to believe (as we've said before) that in the end, even God finds it impossible to fix the world apart from violence and coercion; no one should be surprised when those shaped by this theology behave accordingly," McLaren wrote.

The book of Revelation does not actually teach that there will be a new heaven and a new earth, he wrote, but that a new way of living is possible within this universe if humans will follow Jesus' example.

By going to the cross, McLaren argued in his book, Jesus committed an act similar to the Chinese student at Tiananmen Square in the late 1980s -- he placed himself in harm's way to demonstrate the injustice of a society that would harm a peaceful and godly man.

These four key doctrines under discussion - Hell, the Last Judgement, the New Heaven and New Earth and the Cross - are first misrepresented and then an unsatisfactory old alternative is proposed.

What is concerning is the understanding of the cross as mere 'moral example'; as if we humans needed more proof that people can be nasty to other people. McLaren does not compare like with like: The man dying in the Square in China reminds us of the oppressive regime in that country, but the cross is the pivotal event of world history, when God himself dies so we can live, and took the punishment, pollution, and power of sin onto his own body so we could be free, not just now but also in eternity.

Lastly, there is no evidence that those who believe in Hell and the Last Judgement behave in a violent coercive or oppressive way. In fact, as the suffering church in China shows us, those who believe that God is the judge of all, are able to suffer courageously and work for peace in the face of great coercion and oppression. Believing in Hell and Judgement allows you not to believe in revenge or vendettas, and to pray for those who persecute you.

McLaren speaks a lot of nonsense.

Lessen focus on eternity, McLaren says at Willow Creek student ministries conference

Posted on Apr 18, 2008 | by David Roach SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. (BP)--The emphasis Christians place on the traditional Christian doctrines of hell and the second coming of Jesus inhibits believers from living effective lives of service in this world, according to speaker and author Brian McLaren.

McLaren explained his views April 9-10 at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., as a featured speaker during the Willow Creek Association's annual Shift student ministries conference. During the conference's opening session, Bo Boshers, executive director of student ministries for the Willow Creek Association, said he does not agree with all McLaren's views but that all youth ministers should consider his thoughts.

In his most recent book, "Everything Must Change" (Thomas Nelson), McLaren commends Willow Creek pastor Bill Hybels as one of only a handful of evangelical leaders properly addressing global poverty and equity for the world's population.

"Some of us came from a religious tradition or a religious background where our main role was to recruit kids to go to heaven," said McLaren, a controversial leader within the emerging church movement. "And that's a good thing. Mortality rates are still pretty high, and we all have to face that decision. But I'm here to challenge you to think bigger and deeper and in more layers and dimensions about your role."

In a later conference breakout session, McLaren elaborated, "There are some ideas that are not truly ideas of the Gospel but are ideas of the modern understanding of the Gospel. The problem isn't the Bible. The problem is modern rings that we put around the Bible. And what we need to do -- some of us in our thinking -- is to find the courage to snip the ring so that our faith ... can really have a future."

McLaren's views break harshly from traditional Christian theology that Jesus died on the cross as substitute for sinful humanity, taking the punishment that men and women deserved for their sin. Traditional Christian theology also contends that those who do not trust Jesus for their salvation will be punished in hell eternally for their sins and that Jesus will return at a future date to conquer all evil.

At Willow Creek, McLaren outlined some of the world's most pressing problems and explained how humanity is facing several serious crises.

The "prosperity crisis" refers to the fact that humans have turned the quest for prosperity into a religion that exalts possession and consumption at unsustainable levels, he said. The "equity crisis" refers to the growing gap between the world's ultra-rich and its extremely poor, which prompts the poor to resent and even hate the rich minority, while the "security crisis" refers to the danger of war and violence arising from intensifying resentment and fear among people at the opposite ends of the economic spectrum, he said.

In attempts to solve these problems, humans often have resorted to imperialism, revolution, scapegoating and isolation, McLaren said. But Jesus offered an alternative strategy that offers people the prosperity, equity and security they seek, he said.

Jesus told people, "Listen everybody, I want you to stop believing those other stories," McLaren said. "That's in part what the word 'repent' means. I want you to think again about what's going on here. I want you to have a fresh vision of what's going on in this world.

"Repent doesn't just mean feel guilty. That's certainly part of it, but repent means something much bigger than that. It means realize that your entire way of seeing things is misguided and wrong."

The world's hope consists in believing Jesus' teaching that a life of care for others and stewardship of resources is ultimately more fulfilling than a life of seeking wealth and security at the expense of caring for the needy, according to McLaren.

"Jesus is saying that switching sides -- choosing to serve the needs of the poor instead of working the system that favors the rich -- is a way of 'laying up treasure in heaven,' of working for a higher spiritual economy rather than the 'unclean' imperial economy," McLaren wrote.

Citing the Lord's Prayer, he told conference attendees that youth ministers must shift their thinking and teach teens that involvement in earthly matters is more pressing than focus on eternal matters.

"As youth workers, a shift is happening and a shift is needed," he said, "that you become agents of recruiting people, young people, to consider devoting their entire lives to living not just for themselves and their own selfish interests, not just for their nation and their own national interests, but to work as agents of the Kingdom of God, joining with Jesus Christ in His good news of the Kingdom of God."

In the breakout session, McLaren said the world is moving from an era of modern thinking to an era of postmodern thinking and youth ministers must transition their teaching accordingly.

While modern thinking emphasizes analysis, postmodern thinking moves beyond reason and analysis to a focus on larger realities, he said.

"We're in a period of profound shift in our world today," he said. "And what has been familiar to us and our churches is in some ways shaking and crumbling and being reconfigured."

Youth ministry in the postmodern world must stop pointing out to teens the faults of non-Christian religions, McLaren said, because postmodern people do not view critiques positively.

"The kids walk out thinking, 'Man, I don't want to be a Christian because Christians are always attacking everybody else,'" he said. "So you end up giving the opposite message you intended to give because they're living in a world where to be critical seems like it's dangerous because they're worried that people are going to kill each other and blow each other up. We've got to realize the storm is occurring and the landscape is changing."

Though older Christian ministers may be able to remain in the bubble of modern thinking, youth pastors must trust God through this time of transition and make a change to new ways of thinking, he said.

"We're going through this kind of deep shift," he said, "and the non-youth pastors, many of them, feel they can afford to not have to face this because they will get older as their congregation gets older, and their congregation will live in the bubble of modernity as it passes from this scene. But youth pastors don't have that luxury."
--30--
David Roach is a writer for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Baptist Press correspondent.

Voting

2008-04-24T11:11:00.002+01:00

For us Londoners there are some crucial votes coming up for the mayoral elections. The two main candidates going neck and neck. I have recently spoken to Christians of many persuasions. one said she knew the current guy was 'allegedly' corrupt (Ken) and definitely filled his administration with cronies, another couldn't bring herself to vote for a buffoon (Boris). This year there are also surprise support for a new Christian Candidate of Alan Craig, with J John, Roger Forster and many other Christian leaders in the capital backing him. Boris has been a big supporter of XLP, a Christian youthwork charity, some people like the Oyster cards of Ken. Though I am a hearty voter, and so is Amy, with views on most things ! At present I don't feel it is my place as a clergyman to belong to a political party member, or to suggest how people should vote.

So for the moment, then just a few comments:

If you are a Londoner - vote.
If you are a Londoner - watch out - the voting cards are fiendishly difficult and complicated, if you fill it in wrong the ballot is null and void.
If you are a Londoner and Christian, then your views do matter, your priorities do matter. Democracy only works well if we all vote with conscience about the things which concern us. We should scrutinise the manifestos, the characters of those standing for Mayor and for the assembly and vote responsibly.
I do think, for example, we deserve a Mayor who is not corrupt and I am concerned about the embrace of militant Islamic leaders by the elected leader of a city still grieving from suicide bombs. This might give you a sense of who I am not voting for.

Amy on the radio defending the bodily resurrection

2008-03-22T17:12:00.001Z

Listen to Radio 4 on Easter Monday at 4.30pm UK time. Or online at bbc website on listen again.
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Christ Has died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again. Hallelujah.

2008-03-18T21:08:00.002Z

Dear All Saints and visitors

It seems that in an era when many journalists, commentators and even the odd scientist seem to be arguing and suggesting that God is a delusion and that the resurrection did not happen, Britons are not convinced. This week a UK Poll has been published showing from the sample that 57% of people in the UK believe that Jesus rose from the dead 2000 years ago, most of whom also believe that he died for our sins.

There is something that will not go away – the story of the empty grave. The alternative explanations, which disagree with the resurrection of Jesus, seem to require a much bigger mental leap, a more irrational faith commitment, and a greater ignorance of the facts than anything that Christians have ever suggested.

We believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ for a number of sound, intelligent and convincing reasons. Among them the evidence from the empty tomb, the eye witnesses to the resurrection and the birth of the church, the transformation of the disciples from frightened cowards to public announcers of the resurrection in only a few days. The accounts we have in the 4 gospels are reliably passed down to us in scriptures that have not been tampered with. Added to this we have the opportunity to meet with the risen Lord Jesus in prayer and worship, of personally experiencing his ministry, leading and comfort in our lives. The sick are healed, sins are forgiven and real lives are really changed by his influence and action.

Easter Day 2008 will be a day ingrained in the hearts and lives of our baptism candidates, the day they publicly declare that they will follow the risen Lord, the day they turn from their sins, and accept His offer of forgiveness. It is emotional but entirely intelligent and rational. It is a day for rejoicing seriously!

Happy Easter to you all, and to anyone visiting us over this wonderful season.

Rev Frog Orr-Ewing

Vicar

Update on resurrection - British poll

2008-03-18T08:25:00.000Z

Over half of Britons believe Jesus rose from the dead

Posted: Monday, March 17, 2008, 9:41 (GMT)
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/over.half.of.britons.believe.jesus.rose.from.the.dead/17383.htm

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A scene from the BBC's Passion: Peter (DARREN MORFITT), right, at the empty tomb with Mary Magdalene (PALOMA BAEZA) and John (JAMIE SIVES) at Jesus's tomb
(BBC)

Over half of Britons believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, according to new research published over the weekend by Theos, the public theology think tank.

The publication of the research coincides with the launch of The Passion, the major new drama for Easter on BBC One which begins this Sunday. The series - which unusually deals in detail with Jesus' resurrection - will inevitably raise questions as to whether he really did rise from the dead. The survey suggests that, for the majority of the population, this question has already been answered.

57% of people questioned in the ComRes poll said they believe that Jesus was executed by crucifixion, buried and rose from the dead, with over half of those (30% of the total sample) accepting the traditional Christian belief in the bodily resurrection of Christ and the rest (27%) believing that Jesus rose in spirit form.

This widespread belief clearly informs people’s more general attitude to life after death. Over half of people said they believe in some kind of existence after death, although most of those (44% of the total) believe that 'your spirit lives on after death'. Only 9% said they believe in a personal physical resurrection.

The Theos research also examined who people thought Jesus was. Two in five (40%) said they believe that Jesus was the son of God and nearly half (47%) that he was a holy prophet. When asked whether they thought Jesus was a good man and wise teacher, 66% of people agreed. Only 11% disagreed.

Surprisingly, 13% of people claim that Jesus never existed, despite the fact that respected historians unanimously agree that he did.

On the question of Easter’s significance today, 43% of the public believe that the Easter story is about Jesus dying for the sins of the world while only 26% think that the Easter story has no meaning today. Only 1% think the story shows that violence can only be defeated through violence.

The opinions of atheists are especially interesting. 23% of respondents identified themselves as such, but 14% of these think Easter was about Jesus dying for the sins of the world, 12% believe he rose again from the dead, and, remarkably, 7% think he was son of God.

Radio Resurrection

2008-03-10T10:36:00.001Z

On Thursday Amy went to Manchester to record a discussion for BBC radio 4, due to be aired on Easter Monday. The programme, 'Beyond Belief' is the foremost religion discussion programme on radio nationally. The topic was the resurrection, Amy arguing for the Christian view against a Jewish Scholar, a theologian and a retired Anglican Bishop.

The recording was lively... Tune in or visit online in a couple of weeks.
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2008-03-09T09:39:00.000Z

Prayer mountain top
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Raymond Grace Immaculate Ronnie Bruce Shallone

2008-03-09T09:38:00.001Z

14 seats from Arua, over the Nile

2008-03-09T09:37:00.001Z

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Final Uganda report

2008-03-07T07:48:00.001Z

I left Kampala yesterday afternoon, laden down with gifts: shirt, a dress (for Amy) calendars, even two pineapples and some groundnuts.

After a mad dash around the city, picking me up from Entebbe airport, Aaron, who drove me brilliantly all week, dropped me at the British High Commission where I said hi to a sister of a congregation member, then back to Kyambogo for a final prayer of commission with those I have selected - a great bunch, ill post their details later. The picture below is them, plus Aaron, Moses, Medad and Ebed. I also said goodbye to Regina my kind hostess whose cooking and tea with fresh honey from Hoima has kept me going.

I had wanted to have a final lunch with the church but time would not allow. Besides a small riot had broken out that morning, and there were skuffles with the police. For the duration of my stay the staff were on strike, and though it ended yesterday emotions were running high. By the time I got to the campus all was quiet again.

By the summer part of the move of God in St Kakumba will hit Peckham with a bang. I also pray that the team would experience a new fruitfulness in ministry in these coming months and raise up others to take their place.

So much has happened in only 5 nights in the country, I can only thank God for his favour and kindness.
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2008-03-06T12:50:00.000Z

The kakumba team with frog
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2008-03-05T18:40:00.000Z

Frog on the mountain of prayer
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2008-03-05T18:39:00.000Z

Archbishop Henry Orombi on prayer mountain, Nebbi
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Update

2008-03-05T07:38:00.000Z

I am tapping out this news, standing on the airfield of Arua in north west Uganda, waiting for my lift... Now the lift has arrived and we are going along the border with the DRCongo. I will be spending the day as the guest of the Archbishop Henry Orombi. He is a highly respected and godly man, with a passion for mission... I'm really looking forward to it.

Yesterday I preached twice at Kakumba chapel, met Bp Zac (asst Bp of Kampa) to explore ministry exchange.
Both service went very well and were well attended. The lunchtime was the CU meeting- I spoke on worship and revival; the evening was the lent course with lots of teenage girls- I spoke on Acts 8.

The joy in the congregation has been tangible, worshipful and with powerful times of prayer.

After chapel I had dinner with the Zaramba family which was a feast worthy of the Kabaka (king of the baganda tribe). The rost pork was out of this world.

Tomorrow, after my visit I will fly back to kampala, address the core team of Kakumba chapel and then fly home.

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Monday update

2008-03-03T17:39:00.000Z

Thanks for all your prayers. Another fine day. The weather has been fantastic, hot and a bit sticky but not a drop of rain in site to quench the dusty streets, especially in the slum by the university. For a sun starved vicar it has created an added dimension to ministry.

I interviewed 9 yes 9 candidates today. Fine men and women, all of them full of passion and evident gifts. It has been so important to interview them in the context of the work of God in this congregation, and humbling to see the incredibly high levels of commitment from these students. Most I interviewed are senior leaders here who will be hugely missed if they come and I have been allowed to interview them only if they come back equipped!

In the afternoon had another great meal and then returned to the Chapel to teach the 'leadership club' lessons in leadership from nehemiah, thenb had half an hour of questions followed by prayer and equipping. The quality of vision here is great - if only a slice comes to pass the enemy will be quaking!

Tomorrow I meet the asst. Bishop of Kampala, possibly go to the high commission, have a lunchtime and an evening service. Also book a flight to Nebi for wednesday where the Archbishop Henry Orombi has kindly says he will meet me.
Can those who are following this report pray for wisdom for this precious meeting, and for me to make wise and discerning decisions on the applicants for the pump scheme.
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Sunday update 2 march

2008-03-02T20:53:00.001Z

The previous posts give you some sense of what has been going on. I preached 3 times this morning on 'look at the lamb' based on Jn 1:29. In the first 2 services I took pictures on my phone as the congregation shouted "good morning London" in reply to my 'good morning Kampala'. There was an amazing response for salvation over the 3 services (14,54,4) with others coming for prayer as well.

The worship team were fantastic, great song choice, they looked fabulous with faces full of light an matching blue uniforms. They have worked so hard on their technical as well as spiritual skills, and I was thrilled to be a part of it.

I feasted like a king for lunch, which was good as I was starving. I had stewed tilapi ( a meaty fish found in Lk Victoria and 50% lethal bones shaped like hooks) millet bread, matoke, 2 ugandan spinaches, rice, potatoes, groundnuts.

More food at tea time. For an english vicar the constant tea breaks are a bit like home. Here however there is choice of bread and bananas at every turn, as well as chai made with hot milk with lots of sugar. I'm entering in to it like a english builder.

Still, met with a new cell group being launched in a smarter part of town, with government ministers past and present and people from a smattering of a few tribal royal families. This is a side of kampala I have never seen before. It was a good time of fellowship with members of All Saints cathedral. I spoke of our wonderful Irene at All Saints who used to play a huge part in the childrens ministry there and is sorely missed. I suspect I will be sent back with g'nuts for her.

I have such a sense of treasure people in these churches, quality people with evident gifts, and am excited about Monday's interviews with candidates to come to the UK as missionaries with us. They have already had selections here and have been whittled down!

This evening was billed as "baptism of the Holy Spirit- come you will never be the same again. There is much confusion on this issue which has often been seen as the domain of the pentecostal churches. Todays main newspaper the 'sunday vision' has 3 pages devoted to the disagreements between denominations on this. Medad asked be to teach on the biblical and theological arguments for the filling of the Holy Spirit. The evening- the first evening service ever here- was attended by 200 hungry people. After the teaching the power of the HS was felt deeply, many touched and changed in a way that they WILL never be the same again. Passion, tears and finally wonderful dancing and celebration. About 70 came forward for prayer and I prayed personally for about 5. God is so good, because truly, prayer like this leaves one powerless if God is not in it.

So a great day, and God is showing himself faithful.
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2008-03-02T08:49:00.000Z

Some of the 52+ people who came to Jesus in the 9 30 service. Lots of teenage girls and students
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9 30 service kakumba

2008-03-02T08:47:00.002Z

Hello london
St Kakumba Chapel greet All Saints Peckham

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2008-03-02T08:47:00.000Z

Hello london
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2008-03-02T06:34:00.000Z

Greeting from kampala 7 30 service
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