Monday 26 October 2009

From Sydney's leading newspaper...

Just before hitting Publish I saw Noble Wolf had already brought this to everyone's attention, but just in case you've missed it here's another link to The St Jensen's Parish Newsletter - a very funny (at least to those of us less than impressed by the Sydney Diocesan leadership) satire published in last Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald by one of Australia's best known journalists. Father Troll must be feeling green with envy ;-)

I can't help but wonder what St. Paul would have made of the diocese's financial hubris and subsequent refusal to act in such a way as to earn public respect - as opposed to public ridicule? Given his concern that churches do nothing which might cause the Gospel to be brought into disgrace it seems highly unlikely he'd have been impressed with recent events. Dare I say Paul would also have advocated repentance on the part of the one in whom has been entrusted ultimate responsibility? And maybe even an apology?

In the absence of which is it any wonder people are laughing at the "servants" who don't even have the humility to say sorry?

7 comments:

Robert said...

This will make the Rev. Dr. Troll insane with jealousy!

Brian R said...

And today's paper has an article about the diocese's property investment woes.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/illfated-building-adds-to-churchs-financial-woes-20091026-hgpn.html
Against protests by locals, the church built a six-level, 10-apartment block with basement parking for 25 cars next door to its historic Darling Point estate of Bishopscourt. Doesn't sound like a great way to witness.

Anonymous said...

It's a shame that the Sydney Anglican Diocese didn't lose all its money, so then Peter Jensen would have to sell Bishop's Court to pay the Jensen family salaries!
Do these people realise that they are employees? Privledged employees but still employees. Sorry, I forgot that they have been appointed by God (or the Anglican Church League)and only they know God's AUTHENTIC word. God's AUTHENTIC word looked pretty frightening the other night on Compass. How much money did Jensen give Akinola to build those churches? I mean it's evident that Anikola has been annointed by God and just sits below Peter Jensen in the whole social order thing outlined by the Sydney Diocese's interpretation of the Holy Trinity! God/Jensen, Nikola/Jesus and right wing evangelical Christians/Holy Spirit.
It was a sight to behold watching those right wing US evangelical bigots, worshipping together and having absolutely no understanding of how Anglicans with a conscience, could no longer live with the guilt of persecuting other human beings for being gay. It's good to know that Jesus is a right wing bigot, despot, Republican and a member of the CIA!

Lapinbizarre said...

Ould's latest at SF - Sydney Synod “embraces ACNA”. A couple of old drunks in search of a supporting lamp-post. The first poster on this thread perceptively notes "Though this member of the ACNA appreciates Sydney’s gesture and fine words, he is nonetheless wary of its embrace. The archdiocese has shown itself as capable of producing “novelties” as TEC".

Alcibiades said...

Thanks Lapin - nice to see David Ould posting in his own name for a change - he's really pulling out all stops in an effort to be Sydney's ambassador to the blogosphere: I wonder if the precarious future of the funding that created his curacy might have anything to do with that?

I was intrigued to see Matt Kennedy weighing in to support Sydney, given that here his wife's priesthood is considered invalid, and there are a significant number of parishes in which she would not be permitted to read the Gospel, let alone preach if men are are present.

The Anglo-Catholics commenting seem more astute - given the Jensens' description of them as "sub-Christian" they've got good reason to be wary...

Nor does this motion have any chance whatsoever of passing through National Synod: it was allowed to get up because the Anglican Church League have long been supporting ACNA, and stands as nothing more than a show of factional muscle.

Brian R said...

Cityrail has done the right thing this year. Last year the trains were not running the week before the annual confirmation visit by +Forsythe and I did not want to miss 2 weeks in a row at St James. This year they chose the same week so I can happily sleep in on Sunday and pray for the confirmees. Just disappointed I will miss All Saints Celebrations but I will play "For all the Saints" on my CDplayer.
When I read this latest Synod motion I realise that I really do not belong in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, they are the antithesis of all I believe.

Alcibiades said...

For the first time ever I'm going to disagree with you Brian - you do belong in Sydney Diocese: it's these divisive and hate-filled gnostics who have no place in the Anglican Communion.

The hypocrisy of their support for ACNA is just breathtaking, given that there is no way many of the clergy in ACNA would have any chance whatsoever of being licensed here, and since Sydney knows they can't keep their assets (or what's left of them) if they go they're not prepared to follow in ACNA's footsteps. So gullible young clergy like Matt Kennedy are encouraged to throw away their vocations and security while the Anglican Church League heavies continue sitting comfortably on the legacy of those who preceded them, but whom were themselves a world away from what Jensenism tries to pretend is "authentic" Anglicanism.