Toongabbie Anglican Church Blog

Weekly Blurb The hand of fellowship

The hand of fellowship

Sunday 15 October, 2006 · Posted by Philip Bassett

Our parish council on Thursday decided to extend the hand of fellowship to the New Life Indonesian Community Church (NLICC). and invite them to meet in our buildings on Sunday afternoons from mid November until the end of January.

NLICC has been meeting at the Uniting Church in Wentworthville but in their words “the Uniting Church’s decision to approve the ordination of homosexual ministers has caused irreconcilable differences with our theological views on leadership and sexuality in ministry. As a result we have made the decision to end our ties with the UCA.”

The pastor and elders of the NLICC have spoken to Bishop Ivan Lee and at his recommendation have approached us in their search for a new home. The initial invitation is until the end of January to meet their immediate need and during that time we will negotiate the detail of an ongoing relationship.

We have offered them the use of the church from 1pm to 4pm and the FEC from 1pm to 6pm. We hope that these times will minimize any impact on our present programmes.

NLICC will be making a financial contribution to our church.

This event highlights the real problems in the Uniting Church. which is also a problem in sections of the Anglican Church, over the issue of homosexuality. At present the world-wide Anglican Communion is under great strain following the decision of ECUSA (the Episcoalian Church of the USA) to consecrate a practicing homosexual bishop and for the Anglican church in Canada to recognize same sex unions.

The liberal elements within the Anglican Church, who constantly proclaim tolerance, are anything but tolerant to those within the church who hold to the clear biblical teaching on the issue of homosexuality. My reading of the turmoil that is going on in the Anglican Communion at present is that a major split between evangelicals and liberals is highly possible and fairly imminent. What this would mean to the Anglican Church of Australia is difficult to predict.

Please pray:

  • giving thanks for the clear biblical teaching in Sydney Diocese
  • for repentance by those who are following the path of liberalism
  • for our Indonesian brothers and sisters in Christ as they suffer the upheaval of relocation
  • That we will make them welcome and not resent the disturbance to our comfortable routines.

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