College Principal’s Trial in Australia
The Principal of St Andrew’s College at the University of Sydney, Rev. Peter Cameron, was found guilty by the Sydney Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Australia of undermining that Church’s stance on the authority of the Bible and, in particular, the inerrancy of Holy Scripture. According to the American Magazine “Christian Observer” he also disputed the Bible’s stance on homosexuality. His appeal to the State Assembly was due to be heard in July. It will also be further open to him if he loses this appeal to appeal to the Federal General Assembly in 1994.
Dr Cameron is a minister of the Church of Scotland and a former lecturer at New College, Edinburgh. His case received unprecedented media coverage in Australia. He claimed that the procedure was flawed and that public exposure would warn the lay members of the church that a fundamentalist movement was gaining ground in the church. Two articles in the June issue of the Church of Scotland Magazine are devoted to the case. As might well be expected both are highly critical of the Presbytery. One is by Rev. John MacIntyre, a former Principal of New College, Edinburgh. He speaks of the trial as a crude form of character assassination, nonetheless crude for being draped in a tattered theology. It is not surprising that the former Principal would speak in this way when he once presided over a College in which the cardinal sin would be to be a fundamentalist.
Dr Cameron warns the Church of Scotland to beware of the rise of fundamentalism. His view was that it might take years before the Church in Australia could be purged of what he called this “demonic” phenomenon. A similar take over of the Church of Scotland was possible and he went on to say that “collectively fundamentalism is becoming a demonic force to be reckoned with”. He ought to beware lest he attribute to the work of the devil what may be in effect the work of the Holy Spirit.
Death of “Father” Antony Ross
Antony or Ian Ross was for a time the Roman Catholic chaplain to Edinburgh University and was later elected Rector of the University. He was baptised, we understand, in the Free Presbyterian Church but while studying at Edinburgh University perverted to the Roman Catholic Church. He was elected the head of the British Dominican Order in 1983. He was very influential among the young and gave tremendous support to the Roman Catholic Church by his literary and other work. No doubt he led many along the path he himself had trodden from the light of the truth to the darkness of popery. Although he suffered several strokes in 1983, eventually he recovered his speech sufficiently to celebrate mass. His obituary in the Scotsman gives an outline of his life’s work. But the question may be asked — Where is he now? According to the tenets of the Church of Rome, he is now in purgatory, waiting until the prayers of those on earth will merit him release from his purgatorial pains and open the door of heaven for him. According to the Word of God things are very different. If he died in the beliefs of the Church of Rome, it is very clear from the Bible that he is now a lost soul in outer darkness. Such must be the awful end of all who obey not the gospel of God but believe a lie. What a warning this should be to all who forsake the truth!
Bishop of Edinburgh’s View of the Bible
Rev. Richard Holloway, Primus of the Episcopal Church of Scotland has been airing his view of the Bible and its teachings in an article in the Glasgow Evening News in order to support the ordaining of women to the Christian ministry. He says that for centuries women have been denied access to the Christian ministry. The Bible, he says, is the big problem. He goes on to show how he is to cut the Gordian knot? His answer is that we have to admit that the Bible contains as much dross as gold, as much out-of-date nonsense as enduring wisdom, and we must find the courage to reject the bits of the Bible that are not of God and commit ourselves passionately to the bits that are. In the Bishop’s view the subordination of women is clearly wrong and reflects, not God’s will, but a Middle Eastern social system of 2000 years ago. What a sad reflection is all this blasphemous outpouring on the Episcopal Church and the one who is supposed to occupy the leading place within her bounds. What an account such men will have to give in the day of judgment when they appear before the bar of God!
Rejection of Euthanasia by B.M.A.
It is heartening to read that the British Medical Association Conference voted by a margin of four to one to categorically reject the legalisation of euthanasia. Those opposed to euthanasia warned that legalisation would undermine patients’ trust in their doctor. It is to be hoped that the B.M.A. will continue resolute in this matter in opposition to what is said to be the prevailing tide of public opinion.
Resignation of the Bishop of Durham
There will be no tears among evangelicals when Dr Jenkins, the Bishop of Durham, resigns next year after ten years in office. His questioning the literal truth of the resurrection and the Virgin Birth, both fundamental tenets of the Christian Faith, provoked widespread concern and condemnation. It is to be hoped that a suitable replacement can be found for him who will seek to undo the nefarious work of the unbelieving Bishop. What need there is for men like Bishop Ryle to be raised up in the Church of England to proclaim the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace.
Sabbath Trading in Scotland
According to Home Office Minister of State, Earl Ferrars, the Government have no intention of bringing in any legislation for regulating Sabbath trading in Scotland. He said to Lord Campbell of Croy: “I agree with you that Scotland does not wish to be regulated,” and he quoted a recent poll which claimed that only 8 per cent of people in Scotland wanted Sabbath Trading regulated. There is, however, to be brought before Parliament a Bill offering various options for England and Wales. Scotland’s plight is a sad one as the Sabbath is trampled under the feet of men. The God of heaven takes notice of it as He did in connection with Israel of old. For this sin the land was to enjoy her Sabbaths for seventy years when the land was to lie desolate during the captivity of the children of Israel. It is certain that the Lord will deal with Scotland for her broken Sabbaths, if she does not repent and return to the Lord.
(Since the above note was written the media have reported that the Prime Minister and Home Secretary have indicated that they are in favour of total deregulation in England and Wales).