Just Shut Up, Archbishop Jensen

He is at it again.
It is reported in the Sydney Morning Herald that last night on TV he said
'As far as I can see … the lifespan of practising gays is significantly shorter than the ordinary so-called heterosexual man … what we need to do is to look at why this may be the case and we need to do it in a compassionate and objective way.''

I hate the way he says  "compassionate".  He is one of the least compassionate people I have ever had the misfortune to meet. The look on his face as he says such a thing makes me want to spew up.

One of the reasons gay men I knew have died is that they committed suicide as they could not reconcile their evangelical upbringing with their gay feelings. They did not even have to be "practising" to die that way.

I will name one.

Rev John Turner was my Rector when I was worshipping at St Thomas, Kingsgrove from about 1966 to 1970.  He was a wonderful holy man but left the parish after being admitted to hospital with a nervous breakdown. That hospital specialised in dealing with problems arising from same sex orientation.  It was largely due to this that I realised that ministry in the Sydney diocese was not for me.  Years later he committed suicide. You could say being a minister in the Sydney Diocese was not good for his health .

I personally know 2 other men who were Anglican and in the Sydney University Evangelical Union with me in the early 60's. They later committed suicide due to the pressure of trying to reconcile their gay feelings with their evangelical teachings.
Yet still today the Rev David Booth who has some role, not clear, at St Matthews in Dunedin uses outdated studies to claim we choose to be homosexual. That is a blatant lie. St Matthews is obviously one church in Dunedin I do not and will never visit and I was even horrified to see an advert for their youth group in our church bulletin.

Fortunately our Diocese is led by a much much wiser bishop and the majority of parishes are inclusive. Bishop Kelvin has a link to my blog from his and is well aware of my views.  My only complaint is that he is more careful in his public statements now that he has become bishop than when he was vicar.

A few months ago I was having coffee after the ordination as deacon of a lady in our church. As I looked across the room to the bishop with whom I had just shaken hands, I shocked some around me by saying that if he was one of the Sydney bishops and walked in that door I would walk out the other door.  I have complete and utter contempt for them and their "compassionate" views.

Jensen, I am only a year younger than you and thank God am reasonably healthy. My major health concern is skin cancers. Now surfing when I was young, that was a health hazard.

Who will rid us of this stupid archbishop?

The columnists who openly admit their atheism or agnosticism have had a field day with ++Jensen's latest address to Synod on the Financial Losses.
Mike Carlton as usual has a satirical article headed The St Jensen's Parish Newsletter

It concludes : The good news is that much of our work will continue. Dean Matthias Jensen would like to remind our menfolk that the Say No To Sodomy Supper will go ahead as planned next Friday. Mrs Hepzibah Jensen, chair of our Women's Subordination Committee, asks ladies to provide a plate for hubby to enjoy and share. More of those curried egg sandwiches, please!

Peter Fitzsimons, after referring to Jensen wondering what God was trying to say to us,  says "Was God, perhaps, punishing them for going up against the Archbishop of Canterbury on the subject of gay priests or even for arrogantly betting the farm on dodgy investmensts and borrowing money to do so?
and finishes "Or perhaps, sir, he is saying that people whose thought processes are locked into this kind of medieval superstition, shouldn't be allowed to vote, let alone be in charge of $200 million"

Our rector, in his sermon, told us that one woman from Anglicans Together had put several motions to the Synod asking that the Standing committee be called to account but they were all defeated. I am afraid I snorted in derision.
Perhaps it was a mistake to allow a woman to put forward such motions, I mean these people think women should be outside preparing the supper and they also think those of us who are "liberal catholics" should just keep quiet. 
They have made Christianity and Anglicanism the laughing stock of Sydney. I think the Archbishop and the rest of the Calvinist Fundies would be better being the ones to keep quiet and they would be more productive and honouring of the gospel if they went and baked some cakes and fed the poor.

Jensen Jetaways

I have just learned, thanks to Grandmere Mimi, that Peter Jensen who styles himself Anglican Archbishop of Sydney will be at a conference in London on July 6. It is only a few weeks since I read he was stirring up trouble while speaking in Ireland, I do not know if he has been back in the meantime or is just enjoying the English Spring. We know he was gallivanting around Jerusalem and the United Kingdom although avoiding Lambeth last (Australian) winter. Must be a nice job. Guess he does not want to spend too much time on mundane Diocesan matters, I do not believe he ever ran a parish so pastoral care is not his forte.

However it sickens me to think that the cost of all his jaunts are being paid by Diocesan funds which are supported by the dues from my parish and therefore my weekly offerings. The thought that just one cent of my church donation could be used to pay for the jet travel of this hate filled little man to meet his homophobic mates and support him while he works to destroy the Anglican communion makes me want to retch. I think I will put an empty envelope in the plate in future and direct my money in other ways. Maithri's work of love in Swaziland and Medecins Sans Frontiers or perhaps the work of Red Cross in Sri Lanka are obvious alternatives. I stopped donating to Anglicare (Sydney) when Jensen became President of that organisation and wrote to tell them so. That money now goes to Anglicoord in Melbourne.
If Jensen is so fond of his travels, why doesn't he resign and concentrate on running the FOCAS or whatever they now call themselves and stop embarrassing the real Anglicans of Sydney he pretends to lead. Unfortunately most of his henchmen who are running the diocese in his absence are worse than him if you can believe it.

A dear friend who is a deacon (no women priests in Sydney though she would love to be one and would be excellent in that position) last week told us that she spent a year at Moore Theological College in 1966 and has spent over 40 years since studying theology to wipe away what she learned at that time. Jensen, spent most of his time from the late 60's until 2001 there as student, teacher then principal so would need aeons to destroy the viruses implanted.

Proud??? of the Sydney Diocese

A day or so ago I was gobsmacked to see a comment on a Madpriest joke. The joke was about Rabbits and Mixomatosis so was completely lost on the Americans. We Australians are very much aware of how mixomatosis was used to rid us of the rabbit scourge in the 50's at least until they developed genetic resistance to it.

Fr Gwilym Henry-Edwards commented on the joke and to show his location mentioned he came from Australia and was proud to be in the Diocese of Sydney.

At first I thought one of the local fundie priests was visiting Madpriest then commonsense prevailed that none of them would use the honorific 'Fr'.
Then it clicked that he is rector of St Luke's Enmore, one of the few anglo-catholic parishes in the diocese and a parish that I know to be gay inclusive.

Fr Gwilyam came from the Diocese of Adelaide to minister to the anglo-catholic deprived worshippers of Sydney.

I understand, as with my own rector, that it is wise in that position not to be too openly scathing of those in power within the Diocese but that Fr Gwilyam should freely add the comment 'proud' amazes me.

There is very little to be proud of about the Diocese of Sydney. I know there are many good people worshipping and doing good works here but the leadership can only give us cause to cringe. Like others I have learnt when visiting Anglican churches overseas to say "I come from Sydney BUT I worship at St James, King Street" and watch the change in facial expression of the priest (usually) to whom I am speaking.

Peter Jensen (I refuse to give him any Anglican titles now, his behaviour is completely unAnglican) is again on a jaunt to London as Secretary of GAFCON. It is amusing to see references to the 7 Primates and Archbishop Jensen. He has a snowball's chance in hell of becoming Primate of Australia so thinks he gains kudos by mixing with the Gafcon primates.
The fact that he continues to side with Akinola and Orombi who are actively persecuting gay people in their respective countries makes Jensen NOT my archbishop BUT my enemy. If Jensen were to make some of the statements attributed to Akinola here in Australia, I would be queueing up to lodge a complaint against him under the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act. Some radio jocks have been convicted for similar. Nothing would give me greater pleasure.
As Jensen seems to regard Akinola and Orombi as close friends, I regard him with absolute contempt.

And how Fr Gwilym Henry-Edwards can claim to be proud of the Diocese of Sydney is beyond me.

Archbishops??? of Sydney

As I have noted before, Sydney is particularly cursed in its Archbishops, both Catholic and Anglican.
Cardinal Pell naturally agreed with the Pope in an interview at Easter and as reported by David Marr in Pell rides papal bandwagon of death
"They encourage promiscuity," the cardinal told Sky Television. "The idea that you can solve a great spiritual and health crisis like AIDS with a few mechanical contraptions like condoms is ridiculous."

It's hardly news but in the face of this ridicule it has to be said again: Australia waged the world's most effective war on AIDS by ignoring the Catholic Church. We did not heed the demands of John Paul II and his successor, Benedict XVI. We encouraged people to use condoms, we distributed clean syringes and we saved thousands of lives.

Of course there has been plenty of criticism from people who actually know what they are talking about like medical practitioners especially those dealing with AIDS patients.

Archbishop Jensen has not been so controversial this year but one does cringe when the TV news shows him preaching on Easter Day from the Cathedral pulpit in a coat and tie. If he is ashamed to wear the vestments of an Anglican bishop he could just resign from the Anglican Communion and make us all very happy, he would not be missed.

His brother the Dean, however, who is an even bigger twit (and was when I knew him at university in the 60's) managed to comment on the same matter by admitting Anglicans are not opposed to condoms but blaming the whole thing on Virginia Woolf who apparently brought all the evils of the sexual revolution upon us.

"In terms of adultery, in terms of divorce, in terms of grandchildren [???], yes we are in big trouble as a society because of the sexual revolution," he said.

"It came out of Virginia Woolf and that crowd (in England in the early 20th century)."

Apparently such things did not happen before then.

Have to tell that to my Great Grandmother who in 1857 at age 17 gave birth to my grandfather (Father Unknown). Of course it is all her fault that I am having trouble finding my ancestors. Apparently this was a common problem at the time long before Virginia Woolf.

I see next Sunday the preacher at St James, King Street is to be the Very Reverend Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark Cathedral. I googled him and found an interview on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission, our national broadcaster) in 2005 at the time of the furore over Canon Jeffery John.

Some of his comments are delightful.

"I think his (Archbishop Jensen) role in particular has been really quite reprehensible because for any Archbishop anywhere, to interfere in the affairs of another province, or as he did, in the affairs of another diocese, namely the diocese of Oxford, is completely out of order.

The association of independent provinces, the 38 of them around the world, has always depended upon mutual trust and freedom of action and for people from around the world, and the Archbishop of Sydney isn't the only one to have done so, to get involved in another country's activities is actually breaking with Anglican tradition and very un-Anglican. ........

the Sydney diocese is well renowned around the world as being a very maverick place where the Archbishop can appoint his own brother as dean, where he can extend his own tenure, where all sorts of strange things can happen that haven't happened anywhere else in the world."

I look forward to his sermon but guess he will not actually criticise Jensen while preaching in the Sydney Diocese, more's the pity.

However Peter Jensen is quite capable of making a fool of himself as seen in the following:

Jensen thinks Sex can be fun but not for the Gays.

Today's Sydney Morning Herald has an article 'God said go forth, multiply - but have fun, too' It is about a committed Christian but sex therapist Patricia Weerakoon.

Part states "God could have made it (sex) such that it was only for reproduction. But he made it so we could have fun. Christians love it when I tell them that. It's liberating but it's also informative."
At the end it finishes:
She even has the conservative Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, in her corner. She was recently invited to his home for dinner and says he recognises that sex is part of being a Christian.

"Just because the church speaks out against homosexual priests and says we would like our young people to keep their lovemaking for marriage, it doesn't mean that they are Victorian or asexual. The church is no longer like that. Sex is good, sex can be fun, and sex continues to be wonderful, even with the one person."

Oh great, Peter is happy for everyone to have sex with the one person as long as that person is of the opposite sex. Nice of him.

Being a bit mistrustful of newspaper articles I googled Ms Weerakoon and discovered her husband (I am guessing, there cannot be many Weerakoons in the Sydney telephone book) is a student at Moore College so that is why she has been invited to dinner with the Bish. Of course he would be toeing the line as we know Jensen does not invite those who do not agree with him to supper.

Then I found this little gem in an article by Ms Weerakoon.

A key aspect of the Christian response is to
see the complexities of gender as a symptom of
a world where the perfect pattern of creation is
marred by human sin. This does not mean that
each individual’s gender and sexuality issues are
inevitably a result of their own sin. That may
or may not be the case; such blanket statements
cannot be made. However, in a broader
theological framework, the difficulties and
problems of human sexuality arise because of
the primary problem of a broken relationship
between God and humanity. Without this
underlying theological truth, there is no
strength to the Christian response.
Pastorally, a Christian starts from the
position of informed compassion and a belief
that God’s love extends to all individuals,
regardless of gender and sexuality. But with
the underlying theological truth that we are
all corrupted by sin, this may sometimes
mean a movement towards change where it is
possible.

Oh thank you Ms Weerakoon, I am probably not responsible for my sin of homosexuality but just chosen by God to suffer more than others from the general corruption of mankind. Not the sort of God I believe in.

Having been brought up in this kind of religion spouted by Jensen and Weerakoon I remember praying "I hate you God for making me a homosexual" Thankfully God in Love and Grace showed me there was a place in Creation for homosexuality and God's creation is good.

So Ms Weerakoon and Peter Jensen, I am glad you see sex is good and can be fun but I know it can also be good and fun for those who are same sex attracted and yes you are Victorian.

On this rock the Jensens build a church

Only a half truth but one does not know whether to laugh or cry.

Scene: St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney. The stained glass windows have been boarded up, the altar table pushed into a corner, and the choir stalls broken up for scrap. A team of qualified demolition experts are using specialist heritage-sensitive tools (a jackhammer and two wrecking bars) to prise the last pipes out of the organ for scrap.Peter Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney (enters, looks round): All the Gothic business means the acoustics are rubbish, but this will do until I can bulldoze it and build something modern.
Read the rest
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/on-this-rock-the-jensens-build-a-church/2008/09/11/1220857739151.html

Musings on Jensen and Gafcon

I have been following all the discussion on GAFCON but we still do not seem to know what is going on behind closed doors. I am surprised that our local city paper, the Sydney Morning Herald, has gone quiet on the issue, considering our Archbishop, Peter Jensen, seems to have taken the running in preventing Akinola and his mates from making complete fools of themselves. As Jensen is obviously not a fool, I wonder that he has got himself linked up with these thugs. Perhaps he has begun to realise some truths about them. He seems to be backpedalling from making a complete break with the Anglican communion. Is he finally realising that his view of the church is completely different to theirs?
Did he see them in all their liturgical finery?
Did he realise they are really in favour of stoning gays and do not object to the murder of a few moslems?
Or did he mention lay presidency to them over coffee and get a sharp rebuke?

Sydney Diocese has nothing in common with these people except their hatred of homosexuals. Many of the bishops with whom he is fraternising have ordained women to the priesthood, something he regards with horror. He has apparently now stated that GAFCON 'is a coalition of people who would not necessarily work together'. I could have told him that months ago. He has stated it is not possible for the Sydney Diocese to secede from the Australian Province so what is he hoping to achieve?

The talk now is not of a schism but of forming a “church within a church”. This may be okay for conservative parishes within liberal dioceses but what about those of us forced to live and worship within the Diocese of Sydney but feeling completely alienated from it. Will Jensen allow us to form a “church within a church”?
I doubt it.
I have been interested in the discussion on Father Jake's site, that occurred while I was travelling, between my good friend Alcibiades and another person from Sydney who calls himself Obadiah Slope. Having read 'Barchester Chronicles' once and seen the TV series several times, that is not a name I would choose for myself, hardly an example of a godly cleric.
Obadiah seems to think that if wealthy parishes like St James, King Street were able to take their allegiance elsewhere, they would be balanced by evangelical parishes from other dioceses. I cannot imagine Sydney allowing the trade to be both ways.
I am fearful every time an anglo-catholic parish falls vacant. St Luke's Mosman has just had their vacancy filled by Canon Bruce McAteer. He was general secretary of the Australian General Synod but I cannot find anything else about his background. Nearby St Peter's, Cremorne is vacant and they are losing Rev Dr Erica Mathieson who is getting married and is to be inducted into the parish at Hackett (Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn). Sydney born, Erica was priested in Melbourne but I believe had to return to Sydney for family reasons where she has had to work as a deacon in both St Luke's and St Peter's while retired men have been needed to temporarily run the parishes. Good luck to her, Sydney's loss is Canberra's gain.
Now I hear Father James McPherson has moved from St Mark's Granville to Maryborough (where I worshipped last September) in the Diocese of Brisbane. They advertise themselves as the only high church in the Western region of Sydney. Will they remain so?
Obadiah tells me the Sydney bishops want to maintain the few anglo-catholic parishes for those who want to worship in them. St Mark's Granville will be a test.
He refers to St Paul's Burwood in his own local area. That also happens to be the area in which I grew up and worshipped (was also youth leader and occasional preacher in later years) at Holy Trinity Concord West. It was evangelical but Anglican. The rector criticised me for not regularly attending Holy Communion even though I spent most of Sunday at the church but like most young people did not want to get up early. Today their website advertises 'meetings', one is 'traditional' whatever that means. I cannot tell when there is a service of Holy Communion.
My parents were married in St Anne's, Strathfield and my sister wanted to be married there. We therefore attended the Eucharist every sunday for 6 months prior to the wedding and as a 17 year old, it was my first introduction to an anglo-catholic liturgy. My sister still jokes at the look on my face when I was first given a piece of paper (wafer) instead of bread at communion. This church has now joined the ranks of the evangelicals.
I do not know about St Paul's Burwood (I cannot find a website). Nearby St Luke's Concord is special to me as the church where we farewelled my mother. The rector will be retiring in November and I doubt it will remain a moderately high church let alone the centre for meetings of MOW (Movement for the Ordination of Women).

No, I cannot see the Diocese of Sydney allowing liberal and/or anglo-catholic parishes to flourish within its boundaries in exchange for being able to establish elsewhere, history has shown otherwise. I guess I will continue to be ashamed when travelling to say that I am an Anglican from Sydney.
As Father Jake said in the discussion on his blog
What is clear is that the group gathered in Jerusalem is not representative of Anglicanism. Their leaders consist of Abps. who plunder congregations from other Anglican Provinces, speak out against civil rights for Muslims, teach a literal interpretation of scripture, advocate for lay presiders at the Eucharist, and believe the rape and torture of gays and lesbians in their backyards is a cultural matter which is none of their concern.

If this is the future of Anglicanism, I don't want anything to do with it.

More on the the letter to +Jensen

In case you are one of the few who might read here and not visit Caliban's Dream, please go visit. His report on what is happening regarding this letter in an ordinary Sydney parish has cheered me up immensely. I know my sister has spread it around many friends, good Anglican ladies who are keen to have a copy and send it individually. My sister may be slightly biased with her younger brother, but these ladies do not know my deep dark secret. My mother loved me unconditionally but she had a silly idea that my sexuality might be her fault and she would rather her friends did not know. (She was 96 when she died 18 months ago). I always respected her wishes and have only become more public since her death. Hopefully the Jensenites will find that their hard-line stand is not as accepted as they believe even in their own diocese. It is certainly becoming clear that they are a very small grouping in the Worldwide Anglican Communion.

Letter to Archbishop Jensen

Thankfully something is happening at Anglicans Together.

They have composed a letter to be presented in sympathetic parishes regarding the refusal of Sydney Bishops to attend Lambeth.
It is much more polite than anything I would compose, however I am publishing it here for the the many Anglicans in the Diocese of Sydney who may attend unsympathetic parishes or where the Rector is unwilling to put his neck on the line. They may like to copy and sign it individually and send to the Archbishop.

The Archbishop’s address is
PO Box Q 190
QVB Post Office 1230.

PARISHIONERS’ LETTER TO THE ARCHBISHOP

Dear Archbishop Peter,

We - the undersigned parishioners of ............................................................. – respect your sole authority to decide whether to attend the 2008 Lambeth Conference or not. We write to say that we are profoundly disappointed at your decision, as announced Saturday 2 February. We would like you to reconsider your decision, prayerfully, on the following grounds:

. this decision has clearly alienated you from most of Australia’s Anglican bishops, including this Province of which you are Metropolitan;
. your decision, in conjunction with your decision to take a prominent role in the Global Anglican Future Conference, appears to many to be at variance with your professed claims of commitment to and prayers for the Anglican Communion;


. the grounds given for your decision – standing for Biblical truth – impugn the integrity of many parishes and parishioners of this Diocese, who conscientiously seek to take the Bible with absolute seriousness in their Christian discipleship and evangelism, yet maintain different interpretations;
. the grounds of your decision suggest that authentic Christian belief and discipleship are inseparable from the most stringent interpretation of all biblical texts, which detracts from justification by faith alone;
. you and the other bishops have much to contribute and much to gain from Lambeth, with its rich, complex, and diverse engagement with fellow bishops, and its focus on equipping bishops to fulfil their leadership role in God’s mission;
. our experience is that bishops who have attended Lambeth Conferences in the past have returned with new energy and enthusiasm which they have then imparted to their dioceses, so we believe the Diocese of Sydney will be impoverished by your absence.

We therefore respectfully ask you again to reconsider your decision.

If you decide that you personally cannot attend, we ask that at least one of the Assistant Bishops attend, so we of the Diocese can benefit accordingly.

In His name,

Replies re Jensen's boycott

Today's Sydney Morning Herald has letters to the editor. They did not publish mine which focussed on the point made by Jensen that the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson had made it difficult for the African Anglicans living amongst Muslims.
I wrote:
"If Archbishop Jensen is so worried about the opinions of Muslims, perhaps he will demand Anglican women wear the chador in future. Nothing would surprise me. He does not speak for the Anglican church. So far no other Diocesan Bishop in Australia agrees with him let alone the rest of the world. There are many of us forced to live and worship in Sydney who would like to request alternative oversight from the Bishop Newcastle, Dr Farran who represents true Anglican inclusiveness and diversity."
Five letters were published
I can ignore Rev. Scott Blackwell who is Anglican Chaplain to Macquarie University and comes from Christchurch, St Ives, a hotbed of fundamentalism and also Dr Peter Barnes who is a Presbyterian minister in Sydney so probably also indoctrinated at Moore College.
I did give Jensen his full title of Archbishop (although not in my blog, I admit) but Blackwell could not extend the same courtesy to Archbishop Aspinall, Anglican Primate of Australia. His origins are displayed in his snide comments regarding incense.
Archdeacon Ian Palmer is in the Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn but apparently recently moved from Newcastle (Australia). While he criticises Jensen for his 'holier than thou' attitude and lack of courageous leadership, he also criticises the US Episcopal church for flouting the moral authority of Lambeth. I would remind him that 1968 Lambeth did not recommend women being ordained as priests but had changed its mind by 1978 AFTER TEC, Canada and New Zealand had followed Hong Kong(pre '68) in the ordination of women to the priesthood. If we always waited for Lambeth to act, very little would be achieved.
The two letters from apparent lay persons ridicule the obvious inconsistencies in upholding the infallibility of the Bible. I liked George Pugh's reference to "the Anglican evangelical wing's unhealthy excitement about homosexuals in the church."

"Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?"

No, I do not expect any men to turn out with swords but I do wish we could be rid of the Jensens and all their cronies. After reading yesterday that Akinola claimed the Sydney bishops would not be attending Lambeth, I searched for the evidence without success. I need not have wasted my time as the first news this morning had me jumping out of bed quivering with rage. It took a while to settle myself to my regular scripture reading. Yes, although a gay Anglo-catholic, I read my Bible every morning.
Sydney's bishops to snub summit.
The online photo is different from the one in the paper version. (above)
I do not know which one is more accurate. The online one shows him in collar and tie, apparently ashamed of his status as a bishop. The one in the paper while taken on one of those few occasions when he was wearing episcopal robes illustrates his viewpoint that he knows everything, how dare you think otherwise. (Why does it remind me of Phelps?)
I am adding some of the comments from Thinking Anglicans that display my views.
Oh well, never mind.
Posted by: Wilf

Yes, because, of course, the worst possible way to heal divisions in an organization is to gather and talk with those you may disagree with. The best way is to meet only with those who agree with you in another place and make plans to form a separate organization.

Yes, that's the way to healing.
Posted by: Pat O'Neill

It's probably very true to say that their presence wouldn't help heal the divisions within the communion
Posted by: James Rigney

Will they now stop going to the annual Australian bishops' conference as well? Please?
Posted by: Mrs Barlow

How childish can you get? "I'm not coming to your party!!"

I'll second the general thrust of Pat O'Neill's sarcastic comments too.
Posted by: Tim


... have decided not to attend the Lambeth Conference ...

... remain fully committed to the Anglican Communion ...

??????????????????????????????????????????
Posted by: Mark Bennet

God be praised. I would always appreciate from people of Jensen's 'heart' to stay home instead, wishing they knew more about people's sex lives or whatever ticks them off...
Posted by: Leonel

This IS good news! Now, perhaps Sydney will do Australian Anglicans a favor too, and stay away from their General Synod. GOOD RIDDANCE, I say!
Posted by: Kurt

>>the Archbishop and Bishops of the Diocese of Sydney ... remain fully committed to the Anglican Communion ... but sense that attending the Conference at this time will not help heal its divisions.

And exactly what is it, oh wise Australian Sydney bishops, that will help heal divisions?

Can't say I'm surprised, on one level, part of me can't say I'm bothered. From what I know of the Australian Church, there are plenty of people there that would much rather the Sydney diocese and its leadership would stay at home more often.

On another level, very sad that anyone decides they do not wish to be there this Summer - regardless of their churchmanship. It's another nail in the coffin of Anglican unity because some of those who are considered (at least by those who appointed them) to be our great and good, who are supposed to show leadership, humility, wisdom, faith and love by example to the rest of us, decide they'd much rather take their ball home and act like children than play with someone who might actually share a different opinion to their own.
Posted by: David

Well, as Jed Bartlet used to say "Decisions are made by those who show up". You don't show up, you don't get to complain about the decisions.

Sorted.
Posted by: Justin Lewis-Anthony

Oh the humanity. Jensen is speaking for himself and the other five bishops in the Diocese of Sydney. His title "Archbishop" derives purely from the fact that he is the bishop of Sydney. Sydney is a part of the Province of New South Wales of which he is metropolitan which means little as far as telling bishops what to do.

Appearances are not what they seem. I wonder if Akinola knows he's running with small fry, or if he's instead taking advantage of the difficulty in making these distinctions.
Posted by: John B. Chilton



and they should have added...

" And we shall be signing lay presidency into action shortly after Lambeth, which will rock the Angllican Communion to the core.
So we do not want to sign up to any wishy washy Covenant that infringes our jurisdictional independence, and stops that legitimate Biblical development, freeing Anglicanism from the last vestiges of priestcraft. "
Posted by: Robert Ian Williams

Broad tent Anglicans still live in Sydney. Do not underestimate Australians’ stoicism. The harder souls attempt to suppress and oppress Aussies, the greater their commitment to freedom and their determination increases inside their cores (we're very Jewish, in that sense).

There are still many examples of broad tent Christianity in Sydney. Many members and leaders of various faith communities are doing excellent work at peace making, revering Creation, offering hospitality, nurturing the poor, allowing souls to develop and manifest their gifts (including females). Secular leaders have continued to show more awe of God than some religious leaders.

The current communion is being divided, into those who abhor violence and desire peace, and those who crave power and vilification.
Posted by: Cheryl Va. Clough


Perhaps TEC and the AngChurchAustralia can compare notes?

E.g.,
* How to restart a diocese (San Joaquin, Fort Worth, Pittsburgh)
* How to restart an Archdiocese (Sydney).


The important thing: as the wonderful people of "Remain Episcopal" (San Joaquin) have taught us, how BLESSED it is when the Anglican faith is FREE to be practiced again!

Better times in Sydney ARE coming. Alleluia! :-D

[Lord have mercy on the Brothers Jensen---and on us all.]
Posted by: JCF

When I was young we used to make fun of the "double speak" of the soviets, now I live under a president in the US who has done nothing but double speak for seven years. How sad an archbishop of my church must speak this disingenuous language as well.
Posted by: Canon G

I only wish it were possible for the comments of JCF to be true. Sadly there seems to be little objection from within the Diocese. I understand the unwillingness of priests to put their heads on the line but would like more laypeople to speak out. Very little comes from Anglicans Together. I have heard nothing since the dinner last October. Must we leave it to those like Muriel Porter from Melbourne.
I see the Rev Robert Wheeler at St Peter's Cremorne is retiring this month. Hope they can find a suitable replacement but almost has to be from outside the Diocese and who of integrity would want to come and work in Sydney at the moment?
I will have to post again soon, I could not stand to have that creepy photo on the first page for too long.

Jensens and music

I am grateful to Madpriest for the following link.
How does he keep up with it all? He (living in Northern England) has posted titbits from the Sydney Morning Herald before I have even collected it from the front lawn.

Archbishop of Sydney 'vandalising' Anglican culture.

In case you do not read him, Peter Phillips, Director of the Tallis Scholars, has written an article accusing the Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, and his brother Philip, the Dean of St Andrew's Cathedral, of vandalising Anglican music and culture in their city.

I would not even bother visiting the cathedral anymore. I believe the numbers are falling. Across the city at St James, King Street music is a very important part of worship. During January and continuing next week there has been a series of orchestral masses (yes the word mass in an Anglican church within the Sydney Diocese) by Charpentier, Haydn and Rheinberger. The church is always packed for such events even during the holiday season downunder.

Jensen was on TV during the week visiting St James for the annual Law service. It was a surprise to see him in his Bishop's robes, well what has always passed for bishop's robes here in Sydney, no cope or mitre here. Guess he would have felt a bit dowdy in his usual suit, tie and academic gown when all the judges were wearing red gowns and full wigs.
I do wonder what goes through his mind as he observes the crucifix on the wall behind the pulpit. A comment on Madpriest's blog referred to the altar in St Andrew's cathedral. Tut, tut, there is no altar in Sydney's cathedral. The communion table on wheels is only brought out when necessary. We do not want anything sacramental to be on display. Really communion is so unimportant we can leave it to the laity. I mean, give the women a job where they feel important, it is only like serving at tables anyway. Allow the men to do the real job of pontificating from the pulpit. And they still call themselves Anglican?????