NSW Presbyterians and the Conversion Practices Ban Act
“The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of NSW has adopted a response to the state’s conversion practices legislation, affirming that biblical Christian ministry is ‘neither harmful nor coercive’, and committing to continue teaching the biblical views on sexuality and gender.
Meeting on Friday, September 26, the Assembly passed guidance to church sessions for navigating the legislation while maintaining confidence in proclaiming biblical teachings on marriage, sexuality and identity. …”
– At AP, the Australian Presbyterian online journal, John McClean, Convenor of the PCNSW Gospel, Society and Culture Committee, shares the NSW Presbyterian Church’s response.
Wales: Discerning the Times
“As this blog reported at the time the appointment of the Rt Revd Cherry Vann as the new Archbishop of Wales has proved very divisive.
Within days, church leaders from across the Anglican Communion made statements decrying the decision, saying the Church in Wales was ‘walking away from the truth’, contradicting ‘the consistent witness of Scripture on sexual ethics and leadership qualifications’, and placing ‘another painful nail in the coffin of Anglican orthodoxy.’
Now a synod has formally joined those voices. …”
– Anglican Futures reports in more responses to the election of Cherry Vann, including that of Sydney.
Lawyers Task Force Leader Honoured
From Gafcon:
“We give thanks to God for the ministry of Dr Robert Tong AM, who continues to serve as the Leader of our Gafcon Lawyers Task Force.
Dr Tong was honoured this week at the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia, as he retires from his formal ministry in their Synod after 55 years of service.
Join us in thanking God for his strategic mind, theological wisdom, extensive knowledge of church law, and the personal example of faith and integrity he has provided throughout his years of service.
We continue to pray for the important ministry of The Gafcon Lawyers Network, as they provide legal and canonical counsel and resources to the Primates, bishops, clergy and other leaders of Gafcon as we seek to live out the Jerusalem Declaration and its implications for our life and ministry together under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the supremacy of the Holy Scriptures.”
– From Gafcon.
ACL members continue to be thankful for Robert’s long term commitment to advancing the reformed and evangelical character of the Anglican Church of Australia, particularly in the Diocese of Sydney, through Anglican Church League, including his continued service as Chairman.
Gafcon thanksgiving point: Charlie Kirk Memorial Service
The latest Prayer update from Gafcon:
“We give thanks to God for the clear proclamation of salvation and forgiveness in Jesus Christ at the Charlie Kirk Memorial Service held this week in Arizona, USA and broadcast globally. The gospel was preached with boldness, and many were stirred to think deeply, ask questions, and respond to the good news. …”
Related:
The Two Narratives at Charlie Kirk’s Memorial Service – Murray Campbell, via The Gospel Coalition Australia.
“Two narratives were present in the memorial service, and it is the second one that I hope shines the brightest and the longest. Charlie Kirk’s pastor Rob McCoy gave a clear presentation of the good news of Jesus …
Erika Kirk then addressed the crowds and uttered the impossible word …”
Vance’s eulogy to Kirk: Better to die young than to sell your soul – Kathy Gyngell at The Conservative Woman.
“What touched me most about the memorial to Charlie Kirk held in Arizona on Sunday – understood to be largest in known history – was the way speakers spoke so openly, eloquently and unaffectedly about their deep Christian faith.
This is something British people of faith find difficult, preferring to keep their faith, and maybe their doubt, private. Or perhaps they are simply not sufficiently versed in it. …”
Trusting God when everything is awful
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“How do you understand God’s sovereignty when your dad is murdered, your family is in poverty, you are living in the most awful slum and your extended family won’t help.
Richmond Wandera’s father was murdered when he was just eight years old, leaving his family destitute in Uganda’s Naguru slum. Initially he wanted revenge. But then he came to know Jesus Christ.
We talk theological reflections on suffering, as well as a challenge for Western comfort-seeking Christianity, and a clear critique of the Prosperity Gospel.
Richmond Wandera leads the Pastors Discipleship Network across East Africa, as well as pastoring at the church where he came to Christ and partnering with Compassion in Uganda.”
What Sydney means to us – and what we mean to Sydney
“The relationship between Uganda and the Sydney Diocese goes back to 1959, and the first visit by Bishop Festo Kivengere.
The strong bonds established then continue to this day. Bishop Alfred Olwa of Lango Diocese, who is also chairman of Uganda Christian University, spoke at Synod to the Rev Dr Simon Gillham. …”
– Encouragement from SydneyAnglicans.net.
“We will obey God”
From SydneyAnglicans.net –
“The Act purports to give churches, schools and parents permission to teach about sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual activity and religion. But, respectfully, we do not need the permission of the government to teach about such things,” said Archbishop Kanishka Raffel, drawing a line in the sand in his opening address to the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney.
“I want to state clearly and publicly to you all – that ‘I will stand by any clergyperson or church worker who finds themselves brought before a tribunal or court because of this poorly conceived law. We must not be silenced or intimidated from teaching God’s good plan for human sexuality and relationships. We will insist on the freedom to do so, respectfully but without fear.’ We will obey God”
The act being referred to was the NSW Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 which Premier Chris Minns promised would not restrict churches in prayer or preaching. That pledge has now been undercut by Anti-Discrimination New South Wales (ADNSW). …
Kanishka Raffel and the Sydney Anglican Synod promise to stand with Christians over conversion practices laws
John Sandeman reports on Monday night’s gathering of the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney –
“Clergy, church workers, and any Christian taken before a tribunal when accused of breaching the Conversion Practices Ban Act in NSW have been assured by Archbishop Kanishka Raffel and the Sydney Anglican Synod that they will be supported. ‘I concluded by saying, and I want to say this clearly and publicly to you all, that I will stand by any clergy person or church worker who finds themselves brought before a tribunal or court because of this poorly conceived law,’ the Archbishop declared in his presidential address to the Synod, repeating an assurance he had sent to his clergy as the new law began to operate.
‘We must not be silenced’, he added. ‘We must not be silenced or intimidated from teaching God’s good plan for human sexuality and relationships. We will insist on the freedom to do so respectfully, but without fear, we will obey God. We can do nothing less.’ During the debate, Raffel made it clear his support extended to lay people caught up in tribunal hearings as well. …”
– Do read it all on this important issue.
Related:
Living Faith website.
“Living Faith is a Sydney Anglican ministry to Christian persons who experience attraction to the same sex and/or gender incongruence.”
Image: Archbishop Raffel during his Presidential Address.
Gafcon Solemn Summons to Global Bishops
“Dear Brothers and Sisters of Gafcon,
Greetings to you in the name of Jesus, our rock and our redeemer!
The next six months are crucial for our global Anglican church.
This is why the Gafcon Primates have summoned the world’s orthodox Anglican bishops to gather in Abuja, Nigeria, from 3 to 6 March, 2026.
This may be the most important assembly of authentic Anglicans since Gafcon reset the Communion at Jerusalem in 2008. …”
– Read the full message from Archbishop Dr Laurent Mbanda, Chairman of the Gafcon Primates Council.
Do Christians have freedom to pray?
“Before the last election, Christians and other people of faith were assured that ‘an individual of their own consent seeking guidance through prayer will not be banned’.
Now, this promise in relation to the Conversion Practices Ban Act, appears to have been breached by guidelines surrounding the act from Anti Discrimination NSW (ADNSW). …”
– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net has this important update.
Do watch the embedded video.
Freedom for Faith conference 2025
A reminder from Associate Professor Neil Foster with a reminder of the upcoming conference –
“Freedom for Faith is holding its annual conference on religious freedom and the law on September 27th, and is offering a student ticket discount. There is a great line-up of speakers- do come along!
The conference will be held on Saturday September 27th, 10am-3:30pm, at Village Church Annandale (Sydney) and the Student price: is $45.
Speakers include Prof Patrick Parkinson and Ass Prof Alex Deagon – both of whom will be launching books – as well as Monica Doumit, the head of public affairs for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.
There will also be a conversation between Julian Leeser MP, the Federal Liberal Member for Berowra and Shadow Attorney General, and Dr Hugh McDermott, the NSW Labor Member for Prospect and Parliamentary Secretary (Assistant Minister) to the NSW Attorney General. …”
– Details here.
Are You Willing to Walk for the Unborn?
“I often talk to people who question why it took the Christian church so long to abolish slavery. They then quickly add that if they had been alive back then, then they would have definitely stood up and said something.
But I often wonder whether they really would …”
– Mark Powell shares details of the next Love Sydney Walk for Life – at AP, the online Presbyterian journal.
Rwanda Centenary Celebration
“Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We give thanks to God with the people of Rwanda as they mark a momentous milestone: the centenary of gospel proclamation in the Anglican Church of Rwanda.
For one hundred years, the good news of Jesus Christ has been faithfully preached in Rwanda, taking deep root in its communities, transforming countless lives, and shaping the spiritual foundation of an entire nation.
An event to mark this centenary was held last week in Gahini, Rwanda, as we gathered with over 10,000 people on the same hill where the East African Revival began. …”
– Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison writes at the Gafcon website.
Double Vision
“What should we be asking God to do in Australia over the next ten-to-twenty years?
A few weeks back TGCA got together about forty people to give the better part of a day to thinking and praying about that question. We asked what, if anything, we might be able to achieve by working together that would not be possible apart. It was a stimulating day and the ideas that have begun to emerge are, I believe, exciting.
I want to share one of them with you here. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Rory Shiner shares an ‘ambitious but modest’ idea which emerged from the meeting.
Wales: Will they learn?
Commentary from Anglican Futures –
“ ‘Every failure teaches a man something, if he will learn.’ So, says Charles Dicken’s character, Daniel Doyce.
The Church in Wales has been beset by problems for many years.
In 2008, the Bishop of St David’s stepped down after leaving his wife amid speculation about ‘a scandalous’ relationship with a married member of his staff.
In 2021, after the Rt Revd Richard Pain resigned, an Independent Review into the Diocese of Monmouth found, ‘a culture of entitlement’ and that several witnesses commented on,‘[T]he prevalence of swearing and an excessive intake of alcohol among bishops and senior clergy.’
In 2022 …”
– Read it all at Anglican Futures.
Archival image from The Church in Wales website.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…