NEXUS registration closes tomorrow
Thinking of going to the NEXUS Conference on Monday May 26th?
If so, bear in mind that registration closes on Wednesday May 21st.
‘How Jesus Became God’: A Review
“Ehrman’s core argument is that Jesus was a mere man who gradually, over time, came to be regarded as more and more divine, until he was ultimately (in the fourth century) regarded as the God of the universe.”
– At Reformation21, Mike Kruger (pictured) reviews Bart Ehrman’s latest book, “How Jesus Became God”.
Lord Carey calls for the right to convert from Islam
“Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, has called on leading British Muslims to support the right to convert from Islam to another religion after a court in Sudan sentenced a woman to death for apostasy…”
– Story from The Independent.
The Budget: Being Economical with the Truth
“Did Tony Abbott lie? Did Julia Gillard lie? Do all politicians lie? Do they have to lie in order to run the country? Were John Howard’s non-core promises, lies? Was Bob Hawke’s “no Australian child will be living in poverty”, a lie?
Were these national leaders untruthful or unfaithful? What is the connection between truth and faith or between faith and faithful? …”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen writes in his weekly column for the Cathedral.
Stuart Townend says don’t censor ‘In Christ Alone’
“Liberal Anglicans do not like the reference to the wrath of God being satisfied in the hymn ‘In Christ Alone’, so what do they do? Censor it …”
– Julian Mann (‘Cranmer’s Curate’) writes about that much-loved modern hymn.
With thankgiving for Ailsa Knox
We are sorry to report the death, this afternoon (14 May 2014), of Mrs Ailsa Knox, beloved wife of the late D B Knox who was Principal of Moore College 1959–1985.
Ailsa suffered a stroke on Saturday and did not recover.
Ailsa was born Ailsa Lane in 1924 in Sydney. She first met Broughton at an Inter Varsity Fellowship meeting at Sydney University in 1947. They married at St. Swithun’s Pymble in September 1950. Only six weeks later she travelled with him to England as he began his doctoral studies at Oxford.
Broughton and Ailsa had six children: Margery, Deborah, Jonathan, Stephanie, David and Rosemary.
Moore College students will fondly remember Ailsa for her kindness and hospitality, and also for her beautiful soprano voice (she even gave the occasional public recital). She was a great woman of faith who gently encouraged generations of women at Moore.
After Moore College, Broughton and Ailsa left Sydney in January 1989 to found a new Theological College – George Whitefield College – in South Africa. When they returned to Sydney four years later, they left the College as a going concern.
Ailsa was persistent in prayer, and has been described as the fun-loving lighter side to the Knox family. She loved going to CMS Summer School at Katoomba each January, and last attended in January 2013.
While there is sadness for those left behind to remember Ailsa’s legacy, there is also great rejoicing that she is now with Christ.
Archbishop Dr Glenn Davies reflects –
“Ailsa modelled Christian virtues at so many levels. Her ministry especially among faculty wives and students was a great encouragement and a godly example. I have no doubt that the impact of Broughton Knox upon our Diocese would not have as profound or as significant had he not had the life companion of Ailsa by his side. Precious indeed, in God’s sight, is the death of his saints.”
– More from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Moore College Principal Dr Mark Thompson remembers –
“Among the list of marvellous ministry marriages which have served the cause of Christ and his people in this city so extraordinarily well over the past 225 years, the partnership of Broughton and Ailsa Knox has been and continues to be a cause of great thanksgiving to our loving Heavenly Father.”
“Mrs Knox’s call home is a sadness for all who knew her and were encouraged by her faith in Christ, but for her it will be pure joy as she now knows as she is known”
– See the tribute from Moore College.
And here is a Tribute from George Whitefield College.
(Photo: Mrs Knox in 2005 at a College Supporters Lunch. Thanks to Moore College.)
Andrew Heard on why you should support Moore
Andrew Heard, Moore College graduate, and pastor of EV Church on the Central Coast, talks about why Moore’s theological training is so important for his life and ministry.
“The world desperately needs people who know God in his Word, who understand the gospel, and are committed to proclaiming it. There is the hope for our world.”
Watch the video here. (Andrew is visiting George Whitefield College next week.)
Why so many churches hear so little of the Bible
“It is well and good for the preacher to base his sermon on the Bible, but he better get to something relevant pretty quickly, or we start mentally to check out.” That stunningly clear sentence reflects one of the most amazing, tragic, and lamentable characteristics of contemporary Christianity: an impatience with the Word of God.
The sentence above comes from Mark Galli, senior managing editor of Christianity Today in an essay entitled, “Yawning at the Word.” In just a few hundred words, he captures the tragedy of a church increasingly impatient with and resistant to the reading and preaching of the Bible. We may wince when we read him relate his recent experiences, but we also recognize the ring of truth. …
– Albert Mohler writes on the famine of hearing the Word of God.
Same-Gender blessings: NZ General Synod votes
The Anglican Church of New Zealand claims it upholds “the traditional doctrine of marriage”… by moving to bless same-gender relationships —
“General Synod today passed a resolution that will create a pathway towards the blessing of same-gender relationships – while upholding the traditional doctrine of marriage.
It will appoint a working group to report to the 2016 General Synod on “a process and structure” that would allow those clergy who wish to bless same-gender relationships – using a yet-to-be developed liturgy – to do so. …
Synod has therefore upheld the traditional doctrine of marriage – but also moved to find ways to respond to committed relationships between two people, regardless of gender. In effect, it has also established a four-year timeline for change to take effect…”
See also The Archbishops’ Pastoral Letter:
“the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia is both affirming the traditional doctrine of marriage, exploring the recognition of those presently in life-long monogamous same-gender relationships, and seeking a process and structure to enable the possibility of a rite for blessing life-long monogamous same-gender relationships for those who wish to offer this rite.
We also are apologising unreservedly to the LGBT community where the church has not acted in a loving way.”
New Zealand: Ma Whea? debate to continue into third day
“General Synod continues wrestling with the questions about same-sex ordination and blessing. But there are signs that the debate is drawing to a conclusion.
A nine-person working party is working on a draft proposal, which will be brought before the whole synod to consider tomorrow, with a vote to follow. …”
– Report on the New Zealand General Synod’s deliberations from Anglican Taonga.
Investigating Paul’s backstory
“Paul Barnett, a leading historian of early Christianity, investigates the period sometimes labelled the ‘unknown years’ of Paul’s ministry (i.e. the 14 years between his Damascus Road experience and first missionary journey), in order to provide a foundation for interpreting Galatians. He convincingly accounts for Paul’s activities during that span, and offers a compelling interpretation of sections of Galatians based on his reconstruction…”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Moore College’s Philip Kern reviews Paul Barnett’s new book, Paul in Syria: The Background to Galatians. (Published by Paternoster in the UK, the book does not seem to be widely available just yet, but will be worth getting when it is. The ISBN is 9781842278536.)
St. Helen’s looks back with thanksgiving
On Thursday 11th May 1961, the Rev. Richard Charles (Dick) Lucas was inducted to the parish of St. Helen, Bishopsgate, in London.
Many in Sydney can join with the congregation at St. Helen’s in giving thanks and praying for future growth.
Here’s a nicely-done 12 minute video released for the anniversary.
Oz and NZ News 11 May 2014
Here are a few items from around Australia and New Zealand…
- Anglican News, the newspaper of the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn – May 2014, PDF.
- Keep Good Friday a holy day and holiday – Bishop Philip Huggins in Melbourne.
- The Diocese of Willochra, Bishop John Stead’s Synod address 2014 – PDF.
- NZ General Synod – Archbishop’s charge to be given over three days.
- Anglican hierarchy urged to approve same sex marriage – TVNZ – and video report.
Willful blindness vs social media traction
“Now, the story which has been almost completely ignored for the last two weeks is beginning to gain traction in the media.
It’s not because the mainstream media have suddenly gotten either religion or conscience, it is because every day crowds of demonstrators are marching in front of media outlets and government offices carrying placards in places like Lagos, Abuja, and London that say things that read, “Our girls are not for sale,” and “Bring them home.”
– Bishop Bill Atwood writes at The American Anglican Council.
(GAFCON photo: Russell Powell.)
From The Dean’s Wife
“Peter tells husbands to live with their wives understanding her physical hardships in life, as one with whom we share an inheritance (1 Peter 3:7). Here is an edited version of an article on the topic that my wife, Helen wrote some years ago for the Equal But Different Journal.”
– Phillip Jensen introduces this article by Helen.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…