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.”

– Watch or listen.

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). …

– Russell Powell reports.

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.

Book now for the ACL Synod Dinner on Monday 15th September

The Anglican Church League invites all members of Sydney Synod to the 2025 ACL Synod Dinner. (Pre-booking essential.)

Hear our panel of guests speak on Hope from the Coal Face.

The Rev Canon Bruce Morrison has been the Senior Minister at St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Parramatta for over twenty years.

The Rev Jason McPhail is the Assistant Minister at St John’s, Keiraville International Church.

Mrs Wendy Potts is the Anglicare Sydney Learning Consultant – Evangelism.

Jason McPhail and Wendy Potts contributed to the recent Hope for the Illawarra Mission.

Dinner bookings are absolutely essential as space is limited.

Synod members: Please feel free to invite other members of Synod to sign up for the dinner too! All are welcome, members and non-members.

Please book by Wednesday 10 September by pre-paying $34 via PayPal or Credit Card:

 

See also

The Synod Survival Guide – by Dr. Robert Tong.

Gafcon Theological Educators Network meeting

Prayer update from Gafcon (published on Thursday):

“We give thanks for today’s gathering of international theological leaders at Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia, under the leadership of The Revd Canon Dr Bill Salier, coordinator of the Gafcon Theological Educators Network.

The event gathered theological leaders from across the globe, including The Rt Revd Canon Dr Ashley Null (Bishop of North Africa, Wittenberg Center for Reformation Studies), Dr Jake Griesel (George Whitefield College, South Africa), The Revd Canon Dr Mark Thompson and The Revd Dr Mark Earngey (Moore Theological College), The Revd David Clancey (Bishopdale Theological College, New Zealand) and The Revd Peter Blair (London School of Theology), as well as other key members of the Anglican academic world.

Pray that the Lord will bring great fruit from the discussion about the importance of Reformation studies for the good of the Gafcon movement, as together we seek to guard God’s gospel by growing orthodox leaders through the strengthening of seminaries across the world.”

– Source: Gafcon. And a reminder to pray for and support clear, faithful theological education throughout the Anglican Communion.

GSFA Centenary Greeting to Angola

As the Anglican Church in Angola gives thanks on its centenary, Archbishop Dr Justin Badi sends greetings from the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches –

“Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ in the Anglican Church in Angola

Grace and peace to you as you celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Anglican Church in Angola. On behalf of the Primates of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA), we assure you of our prayers on this historic day. …”

– Read his message here.

Donison Down Under Tour — November 2025

A prayer point from Gafcon –

“We pray for the upcoming November visit to Australia and New Zealand by our General Secretary, The Rt Revd Paul Donison, as he presents the ‘Gafcon Global Vision’ events, and visits key leaders in the two countries.

Bishop Paul will be speaking at free evening events this November in Melbourne (Tuesday 18th), Hobart (Wednesday 19th), Perth (Thursday 20th), Adelaide (Friday 21st), Sydney (Wednesday 26th), Brisbane (Friday 28th), and Christchurch (Saturday 29th).

Pray that this two-week visit will energise and inspire Aussies and Kiwis as they hear important updates about our movement, and that it will help grow their Gafcon Global Vision as they hear of the many opportunities to partner with brothers and sisters around the world in generous fellowship.”

– Prayer point and photo: Gafcon. Might be good to pop in your calendar.

More prayer points and stories from Gafcon here.

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