Monday 27 - Tuesday 28 February 2017

The Holiday Inn, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne

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Welcome

Welcome to the Jesmond Conference 2017: Reformation in the Nation and Church.

This is the third Jesmond Conference since reconvening in February 2015. Prior

to Synodical Government, Evangelical Anglican clergy met annually for the

Islington Conference, hosted by the vicar of Islington. That, however, was not

unique. For it was the survivor of three such conferences, one of which was the

Jesmond Conference. This, sadly, expired well before my time, having become

theologically liberal. Much has changed since then in the Church of England and

the wider world. A number of factors led me to reconvene the Jesmond

Conference two years ago, but initially as a private invitation conference. First,

the theological requirement for “credibility in our society” (Rowan Williams) rather

than for biblical truth is leading the Church of England to the loss of a truly

prophetic voice. Then, secondly, this theology deprives lay-people in their secular

callings of adequate guidance from our (still) established Church. Many want the

Church’s help in challenging hostile minorities that are seeking to subvert what is

left of the Christian “sacred canopy” that (still) grounds those British Values that

were the subject of our first conference.

Last year our subject was Teaching for Commitment and the range of issues

Christians are facing in schools as teachers, parents and governors. This year, the

500th anniversary of the start of Luther’s Reformation, the subject at the

invitation conference is taking forward needed reform in the nation and

particularly the Church. Once again I pray that it will be helpful to you personally

and to your congregations as you face the challenges of the contemporary world

and Church.

David Holloway

Vicar of Jesmond

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12:30pm Arrival

1:00pm Lunch

2:00pm Bible Reading 1: 2

Kings (Jonathan

Pryke) and Prayer

2:30pm Session 1: The Need

3:30pm Tea and Coffee

4:00pm Session 2: The

Vacuum

5:00pm Tea and Coffee

5:30pm Session 3: Leadership

6:30pm Free Time

7:30pm Dinner

Timetable

Each of the four sessions

includes a 20 minute

introduction by David

Holloway, vicar of Jesmond,

followed by group

discussion and feedback.

Monday 27 February Tuesday 28 February

9:30am

Bible Reading 2:

Luke 11-12

(Jonathan Pryke) and

prayer

10:00am Session 4: The Future

11:00am Tea and coffee

11:30am

Final Session: With

Bishop Martin

Morrison

1:00pm Lunch and Depart

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1. Josiah’s reform is a case study in Godly leadership:

We must not settle for anything less than Christlikeness

2. Josiah’s reform needs to be understood in the context of the divine

assessment framework in 1 and 2 Kings:

We must be self-aware, discerning in relation to others, watchful lest

we fall [SEE THE DIVINE ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK ON THE NEXT PAGE]

3. Josiah’s reform began with himself and moved out to the Temple and

the nation:

We must begin with ourselves, and seek courage to work for the reform

of the church and the nation

Bible Reading 1: Josiah’s Reform 2 Kings 2.1-13 - Jonathan Pryke

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1. THE BASIC BINARY JUDGEMENT:

Whose side are we and others on?

A. Doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord

David is the benchmark (1 Sam 13.14; 1 Ki 15.5)

B. Doing what is evil in the eyes of the Lord

Jeroboam is the benchmark (1 Ki 12.28-31)

2. THE SCALE FROM DOING WHAT IS RIGHT TO DOING WHAT IS EVIL:

Where are we and others on the scale? Jesus calls us to be A1!

A. Doing what is right

1. Initiator of radical reform

Hezekiah (2 Ki 18.3-6), Josiah (2 Ki 22.2, 23.25)

2. Initiator of partial reform

Asa (1 Ki 15.11-14)

3. Follower of reform

Jehoshaphat (1 Ki 22.43), Jehoash (2 Ki 12.2-3)

B. Doing what is evil

4. Follower in idolatry and immorality

Jehu (2 Ki 10.28-31), Hoshea (2 Ki 17.2), Amon (2 Ki 21.20-22)

5. Initiator of idolatry and immorality

Rehoboam (1 Ki 14.22-24)

6. Initiator of extreme idolatry and immorality

Ahab (1 Ki 16.30-33), Manasseh (2 Ki 21.2-6, 16)

3. THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING UP AND DOWN THE SCALE The disturbing example of Solomon (1 Ki 3.2-3, 1 Ki 11.4-6)

Session 1: The Need Bible Reading 1 (cont.) THE DIVINE ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK

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The need for a new Reformation in the year of the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation in response to what is happening in the wider world and the Church 1) The World

a) modernity and pluralism

b) the “Naked Public Square” c) 1989, Fukuyama and Huntington

2) Islam and the Church a) 9/11, Shadi Hamid and the real Islam b) religious growth outside Europe and secular decline c) biblical church growth, liberal church decline

3) Luther

a) his life b) his recovery of the doctrine of God and God’s forgiving righteousness c) The Bondage of the Will (with the Packer and Johnston introduction)

Session 1: The Need

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Notes

Discussion Questions

1. What problems need to be addressed? 2. What can be done practically now or in the very near future?

Consider this from both the Church’s and the world’s point of view.

3. What longer term goals do we need to be working towards to solve any problems?

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The cultural and spiritual vacuum in the West requiring in Britain, the catholic, western, English Reformed tradition that is the Church of England as defined by Canon A5 1) The cultural and spiritual vacuum

a) Trump and Brexit

b) moral chaos c) natural law and nationalism needs the gospel

2) The Catholic, Western, English Reformed tradition a) “Catholic” – councils and creeds b) “Reformed” – English, between Luther and Calvin c) 39 Articles not Westminster Confession

3) What is the Church of England

a) not the synods b) Sharpe v the Worcester Diocese c) Worship and Doctrine Measure 1974 and Canon A5

Session 2: The Vacuum

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Notes

Discussion Questions

1. What problems need to be addressed? 2. What can be done practically now or in the very near future?

Consider this from both the Church’s and the world’s point of view.

3. What longer term goals do we need to be working towards to solve any problems?

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The Crisis in governance and leadership in the State and the Church of England and necessary action 1) Agreed agenda

a) Wycliffe’s threefold Pastoral Office

b) determined by Canon A5 c) Canon A5 for today

2) Competent leadership? a) pluralistic peace-making with no leading b) good disagreement not good c) the need for discipline (1 Corinthians 5.9-11)

3) The way ahead

a) new leaders not to be “hired hands” (John 10.11-13) b) servant hearted (Mark 10.42-25; Colossians 1.28-29) c) bishops guaranteed peace-makers – the appointments’ system!

Session 3: Leadership

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Notes

Discussion Questions

1. What problems need to be addressed? 2. What can be done practically now or in the very near future?

Consider this from both the Church’s and the world’s point of view.

3. What longer term goals do we need to be working towards to solve any problems?

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Introduction: The hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the lawyers (11.37-41) 1. Understanding hypocrisy (11.42-54) Six woes: 1. Superficial obedience but deep disobedience 2. Valuing status above God’s word 3. Superficial attractiveness but corruption under the surface 4. Demanding an impossible obedience of others while living

in disobedience 5. Superficially honouring the prophets and the apostles but in practice rejecting what they taught

6. Denying those under your influence the knowledge of the love of God through faith in Jesus

2. Beware hypocrisy in others and in ourselves (12.1-3) 1. It spreads dangerously 2. It will be exposed completely

3. Fear no-one but God (12.4-7) The key to avoiding hypocrisy: 1. Do not fear men 2. Fear God 3. Then you need not fear

Bible Reading 2: Jesus’ Warning Luke 11.37-12.7 – Jonathan Pryke

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7th century lessons from the North East for the evangelization of Britain in

the 21st century and the way ahead

1) 7th century evangelization

a) Augustine’s Roman mission in the South - failed

b) The Celtic mission of Aidan - succeeded c) Celtic v. Roman missions, John Finney and Whitby

2) 21st century new Celtic missions a) Parish system creaking b) Chad, Northumbrian bishop – saintly life and character c) Chad, flexible, regular and irregular episcopacy

3) A mixed economy

a) Rowan Williams’ very “messy church” b) Canon A5 church planting, “inside and out” c) Deep Change needed (cf. Robert Quinn) and Hebrews 13.4-6

Session 4: The Future

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Notes

Discussion Questions

1. What problems need to be addressed? 2. What can be done practically now or in the very near future?

Consider this from both the Church’s and the world’s point of view.

3. What longer term goals do we need to be working towards to solve any problems?

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Final Session: With Bishop Martin Morrison

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Jesmond Parish Church Eskdale Terrace

Jesmond Newcastle upon Tyne

NE2 4DJ

alice.caisley@church.org.uk 0191 212 5123