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Ad
Clerum
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June 2005 -
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Ad Clerum - April 2006
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From the CPSA
Newsletter
Senior
version of Jesus Loves Me
A pastor once stated, "I always noticed that its was the
adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the
children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who
sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best."
Here is a new version just for us who have white hair, or no
hair at all. For us over 40 (or even those almost there) and
all you others... Check out this newest version of "Jesus
Loves Me". It is quite cute, so read, sing and
enjoy:"
JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow.
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME...
YES, JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go.
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)
Though I am no longer young,
I have much which He's begun.
Let me serve Christ with a smile,
Go with others the extra mile.
(CHORUS)
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song.
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."
(CHORUS)
When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
(CHORUS)
I love Jesus, does he know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
If you think this is neat, please pass it on.
"Reach out and Touch" a friend or a loved one.
God Bless Us All !!!
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From the Online Publication of the Council of Anglican
Provinces of Africa (CAPA)
Issue No. 010: February 17, 2004
Man kills
grandson “to end his AIDS agony”
As
if to epitomise cruelty or ignorance, a man butchered his
seven-year-old grandson because he suspected the boy was HIV
positive and did not want the burden of caring for him. So he slit
the throat of the crying boy and went on to declare that he had put
him out of misery.
The incident happened in Nyeri about 200 kilometres east of Nairobi,
Kenya. According to police, the boy’s mother died of complications
associated with AIDS and her son was left in the care of his
grandparents, a common feature in Kenya today.
The boy’s recurrent bouts of sickness appear to have pushed the
53-year-old grandfather to the wall and he decided to end the
boy’s life last week.
The killer said the boy was going to die, anyway, and that what he
did was an act of kindness to end further suffering.
HIV/AIDS related stigma, isolation, and
misunderstanding has continued to thrive in Africa in spite of
efforts to minimise it. It is not uncommon for HIV positive people
themselves to take their own lives oblivious that they can live
positively for many years.
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ACNS 3779
| ENGLAND |
12 FEBRUARY 2004
http://lists.sn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/cpsa.chat
General Synod endorses sexuality debate guide
by Michael Craske [managing editor of the Anglican
Communion News Service]
With an overwhelming majority the Church of England's General Synod
yesterday voted to endorse a discussion document issued by the House
of Bishops as a guide to the debate started by its 1991 report 'Some
Issues in Human Sexuality.'
Presented by the Rt Revd Dr Richard Harries, the Bishop of Oxford
– the chairman of the Bishops' Working Group on Issues of Human
Sexuality - the guide led to two hours of debate that was, according
to some Synod
members, surprisingly lower in key than previous synod debates on
the subject, though discussions were dominated by speakers in favour
of a more moderate, liberal attitude towards homosexuals in all
areas of the
church.
Bishop Richard said that the guide did not seek to change the
position of the House of Bishops on homosexuality, bisexuality, or
transgenderism, but sought to set out and analyse each viewpoint in
the light of traditional and current theology and today's cultural
attitudes. He hoped that the guide would encourage a greater
understanding of the debate and would provide a stronger framework
for the debate to move forwards. "Our hope is that
'interpretative charity'...will be an increasing feature of the
debate on this issue," he said, referring to the emotional
nature of previous debates. "In this way we will be led more
deeply into the arguments and therefore more deeply into the mind of
Christ himself." In addition, he urged the synod to commend
'Some Issues in Human Sexuality' to the Church for study and
reflection, a move also adopted at the vote. It is widely believed
that the report’s endorsement by synod signals a coming change in
Church of England's official policy. Under current guidelines from
the House of Bishops, gay clergy are called to celibacy. The report,
however, openly discusses the possibility of blessing gay marriages.
Many speakers following Bishop Richard's opening statement, whilst
welcoming the guide for fairly portraying and examining the
viewpoints of all sides in the debate, inevitably moved onto where
the report may lead the Church of England in the near future. Mr
Brian McHenry, vice-chairman of the House of Laity and of Southwark
diocese, stated that many people outside of the Church viewed its
formal public stance on homosexuality with "profound
distaste" and that it was not in keeping with current values,
though he added that the synod should avoid "going with the
flow" merely to create the appearance of a more inclusive
church.
Another speaker, Sister Rosemary of the Community of the Holy Name,
used her maiden speech to the synod to plea for a more liberal and
loving attitude to gay and lesbian church members. Speaking of the
'profound loneliness' that current church attitudes created for gays
and lesbians - who inevitably felt a conflict between their own form
of love and the teaching of the church, she said it was time to
learn from gay and lesbian experiences of Christianity. "It is
time to find out what God is doing with our gay and lesbian brothers
and sisters," she said, adding that "the current Anglican
position, that of forced celibacy, is a cruelty equal to that of
forced marriage."
The debate however, was dominated by the testimony of the Revd Paul
Collier of Southwark Diocese, who openly stated that he was gay and
that he had been in ministry for ten years. He criticised the
working group's guide for not adequately representing the views of
gay and lesbian Christians as they had not been sufficiently
consulted as it was being drawn up. He said that future publications
should show that the Church had "talked with us, not about
us," adding that it had failed to take account of gays and
lesbians as Christians.
Mr Collier also urged the synod to adopt amendments to the Bishop of
Oxford's proposals. The amendments would have endorsed the
"study and reflection" of the guide's findings in
"all parish, deanery, and diocesan councils and synods,"
clearing the way for openly gay andlesbian Christians to talk about
their experience of God at the localChurch level. The amendments
were defeated, leaving Bishop Richard's more general proposal for
the Church to study and reflect on its findings intact. One synod
member said that the defeat might indicate a return to fiercer
opposition in the future if the Church of England's current policy
is altered.
More cautious opinions were also heard, with Mr Jonathan Redden of
the Sheffield Diocese stating that whilst the report was to be
welcomed, before taking the debate further, "advocates for the
gay lifestyle must show that homosexuality does not have an
unhealthy aspect for those who practise it."
Additionally, the Revd David Banting of Chelmsford said that gay and
lesbian church members sought to change the Church's position. The
debate should be viewed through the "Anglican basis of
Scripture and not disregard the Biblical meanings," he said,
adding that the assertiveness of gays and lesbians had "led to
widespread disturbance and schism in the Anglican Church around the
world." He added that people who practised a homosexual
lifestyle and worshipped as Christians were ignoring Biblical rules
out of convenience.
The debate was followed by broader discussions on the subject of
cohabitation, and whether a Church recognition of a contractual
relationship - other than marriage - was socially desirable.
On Tuesday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan
Williams, received a 8,500 signature petition at Church House in
London from a new organisation, InclusiveChurch, which was set up
shortly after the withdrawal of Canon Jeffrey John from the
candidacy for the Bishop of Reading in the diocese of Oxford of last
year. Handing over the petition, the group's chairman the Revd Giles
Fraser, said that the people of the United Kingdom would not
tolerate "a homophobic church."
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Ordination
of Homosexual Priests
"Dear Doctor Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding Gods law.
I’ve learnt a great deal from your show and I try to share
my knowledge with a many people as I can. When someone tries to
defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them
that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it would be an abomination. End
of debate. However, I do need some advice from you regarding some
specific biblical laws and how best to follow them. Specifically,
when I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, it may create a
pleasing odour to the Lord (Lev 1:9),
but the problem is my neighbours claim the odour is not
pleasing to them, should I smite them? I would like to sell my
daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Ex 21:7. In this day and
age, what do you think would be a fair price for my daughter? Lev
25: 44 states that I may possess slaves provided they are purchased
from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims this applies to
Mexicans but not Canadians. Can you clarify, why can’t I own
Canadians? I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath.
Ex 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally
obligated to kill him myself ? A friend of mine feels that even
though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev 11:10) it is a lesser
abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree - can you settle
this? Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I
have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading
glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20 or is there some
flexibility here? Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed
including the hair around their temples, even though this is highly
forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die? I know that Lev 11:6-8
says that touching the skin a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I
still play football if I wear gloves? My uncle has a farm and he
violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same
field, and his wife wears garments made of two kinds of
thread, namely polyester and cotton. They also tend to curse and
blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the
trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev
24:10-16) or can’t we just burn them to death at a private family
affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev
20:14)
I
know you’ve studied these things extensively so I am confident you
can help. That you again for reminding us that God’s word is
eternal and unchanging.
Your devoted
disciple and adoring fan"
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St
Michael and All Angels