Friday, October 30, 2009

Why New Zealand is so much better than Sydney

 From Newstalk ZB in Auckland via Madpriest although I do not understand his humour at times.

Anglicans debating gay issue

30/10/2009 7:04:01
A Maori Anglican Church report will be recommending the ordination of gay leaders at the church's two-yearly conference being held Auckland over the weekend.
Bishop Te Kitohi Pikaahu says the Commission on Human Sexuality believes sexual orientation is no barrier to ordination.
He admits there is opposition to gay ordination in the Anglican Church worldwide, but says what is important is that the issue is being talked about.
"The Anglican Maori Church is beginning to wrestle with this issue in an open way, in an open forum."
Bishop Pikaahu says there is opposition to gays being ordained worldwide and there is a long way to go before the church reaches a view it can act on, but what is important is that the conversation is even happening.

I may be wrong but I always thought the opposition to gay ordination in NZ came from the Maori Tikanga. If so, that seems to be changing, Praise God.

Meanwhile thanks to Lapinbizarre commenting at Caliban's Dream I learn that


On the final night of the 2009 Synod, the Anglican Diocese of Sydney has passed a resolution embracing the new Anglican province, the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
In the words of the resolution “Synod welcomes the creation of the Province of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) under the leadership of Archbishop Bob Duncan and notes the GAFCON Primates’ Council recognition of the ACNA as genuinely Anglican and its recommendation that Anglican Provinces affirm full communion with the ACNA. Synod therefore expresses its desire to be in full communion with the ACNA.’

My house is on the market, I have had one offer which I rejected as too low and I really do not want to move out before Christmas but other than that the sooner the better to be out of the Sydney Diocese.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Brian
The Sydney Anglican Diocese thrives on its opposition leaving. That's how its become so right wing. Ridicule and isolate opposition so that they leave. You do belong to Sydney but you're just not mean and nasty like those who have hi-jacked the church

Sydney sider

motheramelia said...

I do hope you find a good buyer for your house (but not before the first of the year). I can understand the pull of New Zealand. It must be so hard to go year after year in Sydney even in a supportive parish like you have.

Brian R said...

Thanks Sydney sider. As I get older the prospect of travelling 80km to church becomes more difficult and one cannot really become very involved at that distance.
Thanks also Amelia, In Australia there is usually a 4-5 week gap between exchanging contracts and final settlement of sale so late November/early December would be nice.

toujoursdan said...

Well there was that Maori Anglican Bishop who wanted to see all gays eliminated. The Maori stream of the Church is by far the most conservative, but they are probably still liberal by Sydney standards.

The Pakeha (White) stream of the Church is moderate to liberal. You'll fit in great.

toujoursdan said...

And I don't know if you have ever seen this site, but it gives some humourous insight into the way NZer think.

Kiwianarama

The "Positive Identity Reinforcement" and "Putting NZ on the Map" are brilliant (and have such Canadian parallels.)

June Butler said...

Prayers for a good offer on your house, Brian. 80km is a long way to go to church as one ages. I am blessed to be 5 minutes away from my church. You've heard of the old ladies who drive only to church and to buy groceries? That will be me in a few years.