A New and Unending Kind of Life - Fr. Rob Lord+

Brian McLaren at Lambeth

I'm impressed that Brian McLaren was invited to speak at Lambeth on the subject of Evangelism. Here are his reflections about being at Lambeth and a snippet of his presentation.

"What a tremendous honor and pleasure it's been to speak on the subject of evangelism at the Lambeth Conference being held here in Canterbury, England. I know that most people think the "news story" here is about divisive controversies over sexuality, but my sense is that the real news story is very different.

There is a humble spirit here, a loving atmosphere, a deep spirituality centered in Bible study, worship, and prayer, and a strong desire to move beyond internal-institutional matters to substantive mission in our needy world. Most postmodern people don’t relish being far from God, bereft of hope and roots, isolated from loving community, part of the problem rather than the solution. But neither do they want to be religious fanatics, cultists, Us and Them dualists, Church hobbyists, Judgmental fantasists. They need authentic, sane, vibrant faith.

Anglicanism at its best is well placed to provide safe space to grow this:

1. A gospel which prioritizes Jesus and the kingdom more than institutional religion, with a servant concept of ministry

2.A safe platform from which to develop creative fresh expressions of Church

 

3. A multicultural family, with global flexibility

4. A liturgy that at its best exibits mystery, beauty, rootedness, intelligence and clarity, biblical coherence, as opposed either to absolutism or bigoted, mean spirited zealotry.

I find this very hopeful.

With you on the Journey,

Rob+

Some words from Bishop Howe at Lambeth

"This afternoon we had our first plenary session, and once again, the Archbishop spoke to us; very differently from the meditations in retreat. He  outlined four possible futures for the Communion:

1) that we become a loose federation of churches, sharing a common heritage, but increasingly autonomous.

2) that we become a collection of even less connected national churches, each going its own way.

3) that we develop a strong centralized authority that will dictate uniformity in ethics and practice.

He rejected all of these as being "less than a Communion," and put his hope in the fourth:

4) that we become a Communion of "counsel and consent," held together by the bonds of affection and an Anglican Covenant."

The question is this: Will the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church be willing to be directed by the counsel, the consent, and the covenant of the Anglican Communion?

As Rowan Williams has said:

"A failure in leadership is a failure to hope in Christ."

With you on the Journey,

Rob+

+Rowan and the Lambeth Conference

The conference's opening public worship is set for Sunday in Canterbury Cathedral. The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the Anglican spiritual leader, has led a three-day closed-door session this week focused on the role of the bishops as seen through the Gospel.

Williams designed the entire gathering without any votes or resolutions. Instead, starting Monday, the bishops will hold daily Bible study and small group discussions. They plan to release their collective "reflections" on the meeting when it ends Aug. 3.

Join me in daily prayer for Rowan and the Lambeth Conference.

WIth you the Journey,

Rob+

 

Trinity Church Vero Beach FL Celebrates New Beginning

Read the story here: http://centralflorida.anglican.org/news/news08/0708vero.htm

With you on the Journey,

Rob+

New Beginning for Trinity Episcopal Church Vero Beach Florida

Many of my readers will know that my father, The Rev. Canon David Lord, served as Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach, Florida for 14 years. His ministry there was nothing less than a gracious demonstration of the power of the Gospel to renew and restore that parish into a dynamic place of transformation of many lives for Christ. The overflow of that vibrant ministry resulted in the founding of two mission churches that have grown to be solid parishes in their own right. His integrity was without question.

I have many fond memories of observing his ministry there, hearing him preach from the beautiful sanctuary of his day, celebrating a catholic and evangelical expression of the Episcopal church in the Anglican tradition. My son Jonathan was baptized in that sanctuary the week after my ordination to the Diaconate in June of 1980. My brother priest Rick and I preached at his Jubilee anniversary of his ordination, and we shared in the 50th Wedding Anniversary of our Dad and Mom (Julie) at a Eucharist held in the Trinity Chapel. Needless to say, I am deeply proud of them for their faithfulness to Trinity Church and to the Diocese of Central Florida.

This coming Sunday, July 6th will be a special Sunday for Trinity as they begin a new season of ministry with their interim Rector, Dean Rick Lobs, ( former Dean of St. Luke's Cathedral in Orlando) and Bishop Howe, leading the service. My father, the Rector Emeritus will be among them and in the procession. I wish I could be there.

Dad, you built your ministry at Trinity upon the foundation of the Apostles, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. That foundation, has endured the test of fire. Congratulations to all the members of Trinity. May they  bear a continuing witness as a faithful Episcopal parish in the Diocese of Central Florida. I am proud to be your son Dad and Mom, and to be member of this Diocese and friend of Trinity Church.

With you on the Journey,

Rob+

 

  

 

 

Bishop N.T. Wright on GAFCON

Executive Summary

 

GAFCON was a great celebration of the gospel of the love and transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The church needs this energy and vision. But this doesn’t mean the GAFCON proposals can be accepted without question. The proposed ‘Primates’ Council’ is a strange body, just as the ‘Declaration’ is an odd document which leaves many ambiguities. It gives far too many hostages to fortune, inviting us to trust an unformed and unaccountable body to make major decisions and giving licence to all kinds of unhelpful activities. It isn’t so much that GAFCON should invite people to sign up to its blank cheque. Rather, GAFCON itself should be invited to bring its Christian vision and exuberance to the larger party where the rest of us are working for the same gospel, the same biblical wisdom, the same Lord.

 

Read it all here: http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_After_GAFCON.htm

 

 

Archbishop of Canterbury responds to Gafcon: "The Risks Entailed"

ABC Rowan Williams has issued an authoritative response to the GAFCON'S Jerusalem Declaration.

"Despite the claims of some, the conviction of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as Lord and God and the absolute imperative of evangelism are not in dispute in the common life of the Communion.

However, GAFCON'S proposals for the way ahead are problematic in all sorts of ways, and I urge those who have outlined these to think very carefully about the risks entailed."

Read it all at this Link

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2008/6/30/ACNS4417

With you on the Journey,

Rob+

Grandpa and Andrew Robert

Its been a great joy for me to have my daughter Jenni and our grandchildren visiting.

Needless to say, it is one of lifes greatest joys to hold a grandson.

WIth you on the Journey,

Rob+

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Cruicible of Ministry

It has been my good fortune to know Ruth Haley Barton and to experience her ministry at the Transforming Center. Next to Dallas Willard, she has been one of the most helpful spiritual guides to me in the practice of ministry.

Her new book is a must read for any one in vocational ministry today. This is a book about the soul. Jesus indicated that it is possible to gain the whole world but lose your own soul. She raises the question that if Jesus were talking to Christian leaders today, he might point out that it is possible to gain the world of ministry success and lose your own soul in the midst of it all. He might remind us that it is possible to find your own soul, after so much seeking, only to lose it again.

The soul-full leader is faithful to the one thing he can do - create the conditions that set us up for an encounter with God in the places where we need it the most. To continually and tenaciously seek God in the crucible of ministry no matter how hard it gets.

As Ruth says, the best thing we have to bring to our leadership is our own transforming self, and that transformation comes as we are strengthened in the inner being by the presence of God.

With you on the Journey,

Rob+

Beneath the Surface

“Beneath the surface of everyone’s life, especially the more mature, is an ache that will not go away. It can be ignored, disguised, mislabeled, or submerged by a torrent of activity, but it will not disappear. We were designed to enjoy a better world than this. And until that better world comes along, we will groan for what we do not have. An aching soul is evidence not of neurosis or spiritual immaturity, but of realism.” Larry Crabb

The Christian journey must be rooted in reality not escapism. The appeal is strong to provide our own relief, but it is only God himself that can bring us rest for the soul. Its not even about relief! It is about transformation, of becoming God's beloved.

With you on the Journey,

Rob+