Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation to purchase Anglican Schools in Dubbo and Orange
The Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation is buying Anglican Schools in Dubbo and Orange –
“this decision of the Bathurst Diocese and the Board of Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation will bring stability to underpin the future operation of these schools…”
Here’s the media release from the Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation –
28 June 2013
Dr Laurie Scandrett, Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation, today has announced that the Corporation has exchanged contracts for the purchase of Macquarie Anglican Grammar School at Dubbo and Orange Anglican Grammar School.
“We are very excited to be able to make this announcement today. Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation has exchanged contracts for the purchase of both of these schools. We expect that the purchases will be completed at the end of September. By including the operation of these schools as part of Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation, we can guarantee to students, parents, staff and each community that the future of these schools is secure. The schools will be able to continue their great work of Christian education with confidence,” said Dr Scandrett.
The announcement follows a competitive expression of interest process resulting from the decision, earlier this year, of the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst to sell these schools. Read more
Call for prayer for Egypt
“The situation in Egypt is very serious. I do not know where this situation will take us. I feel that Egypt is at the verge of violent demonstrations, another revolution, or civil war. We do not know what is going to happen, but we know that we are at the edge of something drastic.”
– Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa, Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis, appeals for prayers for Egypt and the people of Egypt ahead of demonstrations expected this weekend.
‘Don’t retreat’, says Archbishop
“Archbishop Peter Jensen, in one of his final addresses, has urged Christians to engage in public discussion and ‘not to be put off by those who say we should stop trying to impose our values on others’.…”
– Russell Powell reports on last night’s Centre for Christian Living gathering at Broadway.
You can hear the talk (93MB mp3 file) and see the outline at the CCL website.
And the Bible Society has a report.
“Waiting for the Other Shoe” — The Supreme Court rules on Same-Sex Marriage
“On the last day of its term, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today on two same-sex marriage cases. Both are important cases, and both will go far in redefining the most basic institution of human civilization…
Even though the Court did not rule today that all states must legally recognize and allow for same-sex marriages, the handwriting is on the wall. Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion implicitly invites any citizen who resides in a state that does not allow for same-sex marriage to claim that his or her constitutional rights are violated on the basis of the Court’s opinion handed down today.”
– Albert Mohler writes on today’s big news in the USA.
TEC National Cathedral special service to cheer gay marriage
“The National Cathedral is pealing its church bells, along with some other Washington churches, to celebrate the Supreme Court’s decisions on gay marriage.” – CBS News.
“Dean Hall has also issued an invitation to all LGBT couples and families to attend a special service tonight, Wednesday, June 26, at 7 p.m. A diverse group of faith leaders will speak out in support of marriage equality at a press conference preceding the prayer service at 5 p.m.”
– Washington National Cathedral. (Image: Washington National Cathedral.)
New full-time Director for Reform
“The chairman of the Anglican evangelical campaigning network Reform today announced the appointment of Reform’s first full-time director, Mrs Susie Leafe…”
– from Reform.
A vision for 21st century Anglicans — Church Society Conference audio
Church Society held a half-day conference on 1st June – the topic: Reformed Foundations, Reforming Future: A vision for 21st century Anglicans.
Audio files are now available – direct links to mp3 files.
Guest speaker was Peter Adam. His topic was Trusting our Saviour and Reforming the Church Today. Very encouraging talk.
“It is fatal to trust Christ for the invisible Church, and not to trust him for the visible Church… God has already appointed his Messiah – we need not apply for the job.”
Church Society Director Lee Gatiss also spoke, on
‘Confessional’ Anglicanism and the 39 Articles.
SPCKA winter newsletter 2013
The latest SPCKA newsletter is now out.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Dr Megan Best, palliative care doctor and ethicist, was recently interviewed by Justine Toh on some of the moral issues facing our nation. It’s a two-part interview (9:25 and 5:38) here.
And see her book, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Ethics and the Beginning of Human Life, from Matthias Media.
Governed by Addiction
“Even in a fallen world there is great joy in living. God has created a wonderful world in which his pleasures seem prodigal in their distribution. At every turn there are more things to enjoy. While sin mars and distorts our joys, it does not seem to overcome them.
Amongst the pleasures of this world are eating and drinking. …”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen writes about alcohol in this week’s column.
Conscience Clause deleted by the Reformed Church of America
“The General Synod of the Reformed Church of America (RCA) has removed the “conscience clause” from its the Book of Church Order (BCO), ending the right of its clergy to object to the ordination of women. …”
– Report from Anglican Ink.
John Shelby Spong on the Gospel of John — the same old
“[John Shelby] Spong claims … that The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic is the result of an ‘intensive five-year-long study’ of the Gospel of John and of Johannine scholarship. ‘I have now read almost every recognized major commentary on John’s gospel that is available in English from the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries’ (Fourth Gospel, 8). Unfortunately, it doesn’t show …”
– Rob Bowman at Reclaiming the Mind reviews Jack Spong’s latest offering.
Related: See this lecture by Peter Williams on “New Evidences the Gospels were Based on Eyewitness Accounts” (Lanier Theological Library.)
Christian Voices in the Public Square
The next Moore College Centre for Christian Living open night is at St. Barnabas’ Broadway on Wednesday 26th June.
Archbishop Peter Jensen is speaking on ‘Christian Voices in the Public Square’.
Bookings essential. Website & booking here. Flyer here.
Exodus International closes down
“A day after apologizing for its existence, the board of directors of Exodus International announced they were throwing in the towel and giving in to the culture:
‘Exodus International, the oldest and largest Christian ministry dealing with faith and homosexuality announced tonight that it’s closing its doors after three-plus decades of ministry. The Board of Directors reached a decision after a year of dialogue and prayer about the organization’s place in a changing culture…’ ”
– from Stand Firm, who also have a link to Robert Gagnon’s response.
Student Reading for the Summer
“I am still convinced that one of the major weaknesses in modern preaching is our failure to have a theology of preaching. That is why so many sermons can end up as either lectures or conversations or stand-up routines.”
– In mentioning books he recommends for students, Carl Trueman gives a plug for Speaking God’s Words by Peter Adam.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…