Some Kindle deals worth checking
Tim Challies writes, “Today’s Kindle deals [12 September 2016] include a bunch by Matthias Media! I don’t think I’ve ever seen deals from them before. …
The Trellis and the Vine and The Vine Project by Colin Marshall & Tony Payne; How To Walk Into Church by Tony Payne; The Archer and the Arrow by Philip Jensen & Paul Grimmond.”
These deals generally don’t last long. (Some seem to have disappeared already, so be quick.)
New Vicar for St Jude’s in Melbourne
St. Jude’s Carlton in Melbourne has announced that John Forsyth is to be the new Vicar, with his Induction at the end of January 2017.
John is currently Assistant Minister at St. Swithun’s Pymble, in Sydney. (Richard Condie, who had been Vicar of St. Jude’s, was elected Bishop of Tasmania and began his ministry there in March.)
Announcement here. Photo: St. Swithun’s.
Our Neighbours, the Muslims
“Our local community here in Southwest Sydney has been rocked over the weekend with the news of what looks like another Islamic terror attack. …
I got a call from our local newspaper today asking for a comment. After chatting for a bit with the journalist I realised that what we really needed was a co-ordinated response from our local Anglican churches. …”
– David Ould shares how some are extending the hand of friendship to their Muslim neighbours.
‘Same-sex marriage plebiscite: Churches allege PM made cash pledge’
“A public firestorm has erupted around Malcolm Turnbull over accusations he pledged millions of taxpayer dollars to Australia’s most senior church leaders to fund their campaign against same-sex marriage.
Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies, one of the country’s most senior Anglican leaders, told The Sunday Telegraph the Prime Minister’s offer to fund both sides of the campaign was ‘unambiguous’.
Church leaders fear the PM will renege on the pledge. They want $10 million to fund a ‘No’ campaign, the same amount offered to each side of the republic referendum in 1999, adjusted for inflation. …”
– Report from The Daily Telegraph. (Photo: malcolmturnbull.com.au.)
See also
Same-sex marriage: Turnbull pledged to fund both sides of plebiscite debate, Archbishop says – ABC News.
Commentary from Andrew Bolt in The Herald Sun.
Malcolm Turnbull and churches at odds over funding of marriage equality plebiscite – The Guardian.
“The Australian Christian Lobby boss, Lyle Shelton, tweeted that he was at the February meeting and the archbishop’s recollection was correct.”
Update from Presbyterian Moderator-General, David Cook:
Moderator’s Comments – Posted 16 February 2016 (Republished 11 September 2016)
(In view of the controversy in today’s paper, regarding funding of both sides for the plebiscite, we are republishing these notes from a meeting with the Prime Minister earlier this year, along with my responses. David Cook)
On Friday 12 February, at the invitation of the Australian Christian Lobby, I joined a delegation to meet Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, in his Sydney office. It was agreed that we confine our remarks to the issue of the plebiscite regarding single gender marriage which will be held, in the event of a coalition victory, soon after the next Federal election.
The issues which concerned us were:
- The framing of the question to be answered in the plebiscite. Would we have input into this so that it did not unfairly encourage the preferred response of either side?
- The question of religious freedom both during and after the debate, if the plebiscite is lost.
- If the Commonwealth was to provide funding for campaigns, how would such funding be allocated? The campaign in favour of single sex marriage in Ireland outspent the traditional campaign, 15 to 1.
- When will the proposed Bill to change the Marriage Act and enable the plebiscite, be available?
- Will the PM do all in his power to ensure equal access to media for both sides of the argument?
The PM was warm and engaging and assured us that he was interested in matters of spirituality and, “enjoys a good homily”.
New website for GAFCON UK
GAFCON UK now has a website.
(Thanks to Anglican Mainstream for the tip.)
Leon Morris: ‘The New Testament Scholar from Down Under’
At The Gospel Coalition, Thomas Schreiner introduces a new generation to Leon Morris, with reference to a biography published earlier this year by The Rev. Neil Bach.
“Leon Lamb Morris (1914–2006) stood out in his generation as one of the great evangelical scholars. He wrote 50 books and traveled extensively, speaking all around the world. His book The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, which has sold more than 50,000 copies, was his signature achievement. …”
Related:
Leon Morris and the Cross of Christ: Celebrating the Centenary of Australia’s Foremost Biblical Scholar – Lecture by Neil Bach at Ridley College, March 2014.
Remembering Leon Morris on the Centenary of his birth – links to several articles.
Zac Veron to move on from Youthworks
“The Rev Zac Veron has announced his decision to step down as CEO of Anglican Youthworks by the end of 2017 at the latest, pending the recruitment of a new CEO.”
– Read the full announcement at the Youthworks website.
Please uphold Zac and his family as they consider future ministry, and the Youthworks Council as, in due course, they begin the process of seeking a new CEO.
And here’s a statement from Youthworks Council Chairman, Chris Braga:
“The Rev Zac Veron has shared with the Council his intention to finish his time as CEO of Youthworks at the latest by the end of 2017. The Council is thankful to God for Zac’s almost decade long service as the CEO of Youthworks.
Zac has led the organisation through significant challenges, including the impact of the Global Financial Crisis and the resulting reduction in Synod funding, the world-wide decline of traditional publishing and the ongoing secularization of the ministry context in our Diocese.
He has been an advocate for ministry to children and youth in our Diocese and abroad, particularly through the continuing work of SRE. Zac leaves the organisation with certainty about its mission, clarity about its finances and a leadership team united in a common purpose. He has modelled to everyone a deep commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ and the cause of his gospel. We are thankful to God for the unique and important contribution Zac has made to this strategic ministry.
Please pray for Zac and Sheree as they work out where the Lord would have them serve next, and pray for the Youthworks Council and the Archbishop as a search is made for the best possible candidate to lead Youthworks into the future.”
Victorian challenge to religious freedom of faith-based organisations
Here’s an important post from Law and Religion Australia’s Neil Foster:
“On 30 August 2016 the Victorian Attorney-General introduced into the Victorian lower house the Equal Opportunity Amendment (Religious Exceptions) Bill 2016.
The Bill proposes to “amend the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 to modify the religious exceptions in relation to the employment of a person by religious bodies and schools”.
I would like to suggest that, if enacted, it will fundamentally impair the religious freedom of faith-based organisations. In fact, it might also be found to be constitutionally invalid and of no effect. …
The effect of the amendments … is to seriously undercut the religious freedom of many religious schools and charitable organisations, and indeed to undermine the very reason for their existence.”
Thinking about The End — Preaching Matters
In the latest Preaching Matters from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, William Taylor discusses what 2 Peter 3, and other passages, teach about The End.
How does our understanding of The End influence the way we live today?
What does the New Testament’s teaching about The End say to us about where our affections should lie and where we should invest ourselves?
9/11 to be remembered in Sydney
“Former Prime Minister John Howard will join the US ambassador and diplomatic representatives for a special remembrance service on Sunday, September 11 to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the attacks on New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.…
The Dean of Sydney, the Very Rev. Kanishka Raffel, who will lead the service, has issued an open invitation for members of the public to join the congregation for the event.”
– Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.
The church and its mission: visible and invisible
“What is the church for?
In chapter three of his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul reveals his understanding of the purpose of the Church. He doesn’t look at this in sociological terms, from a human perspective, but from a supernatural, spiritual viewpoint.
The primary purpose of the church is to be like a ‘broadcasting tower’, a means of making known to invisible spiritual powers the wisdom of God – wisdom which is described in most familiar translations as ‘manifold’ but which literally means something like ‘multi-faceted’ or ‘variegated’ (Ephesians 3:10).
Ephesians is a contextual theology, explaining the Gospel to people living in a culture very aware of, even fearful of and obsessed by, spiritual powers. Paul, following the rest of the teaching of the Bible and the life of Jesus himself, recognises the existence of these invisible forces, which include angels and demonic spirits…
So it’s not just the church’s traditional position on sexuality which looks totally “weird and odd” (to use Archbishop Justin’s language). The whole project of the Christian faith and the Church is defined in the Bible in ways that are unintelligible to those on the outside, especially with a secular worldview. …”
– At Anglican Mainstream, Andrew Symes reminds us why the church is here.
Archbishop of Canterbury expresses sadness at death of Bishop David Jenkins
“The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has expressed his sadness at the death of the Rt Revd David Jenkins, the former Bishop of Durham. …”
– Report and photo from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s website.
For some background about Bishop Jenkins, see also:
“Anglican sets off a Theology storm”, The New York Times, 28 October 1984.
“A new theological storm brewed in the Church of England today after the new Bishop of Durham, Dr. David Jenkins, compared the Resurrection of Jesus to a ‘conjuring trick with bones.’…
There was no immediate reaction from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, spiritual leader of the 65-million member Anglican Communion.”
and “July 9, 1984: Wrath of God the prime suspect as lightning bolt sparks York Minster blaze”, BT.
“On this day in 1984, a lightning bolt set fire to York Minster’s south transept, destroying its roof and causing £2.25 million worth of damage. …
Some believed that the lightning bolt was nothing less than fiery retribution for the installation, on July 6, of controversial clergyman David Jenkins as Bishop of Durham under the very roof which now lay in ruins.”
What is distinctive about Preaching?
“People read their Bibles at home. People go to Bible studies. Children and young people are taught the Bible. So members of churches are hearing the words of God all the time. What is different about the Sunday sermon? What is distinctive about the Sunday sermon is that is addressed to the church?
It is the one time in the week when…
- God’s people hear God’s words collectively, as a body.
- God addresses the corporate life, the shared common life, of his people.
- The people of God gather around the word of God, and
- God is present among his people to speak to them about their common life.
The Sunday sermon is therefore the moment in the week when the people of God together meet the word of God and and so the role of preachers of God’s word to God’s people is one of immense worth and unique importance. In our weekly sermon God’s people gather around God and hear him speak to them through his Spirit-inspired Scriptures. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Dr. Peter Adam asks, “What is distinctive about preaching, and how does it differ from other ministries of the Word?”
Read Part 1 and Part 2. (Image via St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)
First Church of England Bishop ‘to declare he is in gay relationship’
“The bishop of Grantham has become the first Church of England bishop to publicly declare that he is gay and in a relationship. …
Nicholas Chamberlain said there had been no secret about his long-term – albeit celibate – relationship with his partner. …
In a statement, [Archbishop of Canterbury Justin] Welby said: ‘I am and have been fully aware of Bishop Nick’s long-term, committed relationship. His appointment as bishop of Grantham was made on the basis of his skills and calling to serve the church in the diocese of Lincoln. He lives within the bishops’ guidelines and his sexuality is completely irrelevant to his office.’…”
– Story from The Guardian. Photo: Diocese of Lincoln.
See also: GAFCON Statement on the Appointment of the Bishop of Grantham.
“We note with prayerful concern the revelation that Nicholas Chamberlain, Bishop of Grantham, is in a same sex relationship.
Our understanding is that the nature of his relationship conforms to the guidelines set out by the Bishops, and that he has not been campaigning publicly for a change in the church’s teaching on sex and marriage. We do not doubt that he has many gifts as a leader and pastor.
However there are aspects of this appointment which are a serious cause for concern for biblically orthodox Anglicans around the world, and therefore we believe that this appointment is a major error.
In 2003, Jeffrey John’s candidacy for the post of Bishop of Reading caused deep divisions within the Diocese of Oxford and beyond, and this news about Nicholas Chamberlain will exacerbate the same divisions within the Church of England and throughout the wider Anglican Communion.
In this case the element of secrecy in the appointment to the episcopacy of a man in a same sex relationship gives the impression that it has been arranged with the aim of presenting the church with a ‘fait accompli’, rather than engaging with possible opposition in the spirit of the ‘shared conversations’.
We remain opposed to the guidelines for clergy and Bishops, permitting them to be in same sex relationships as long as they publicly declare that the relationship is not sexual. This creates confusion in terms of the church’s teaching on the nature of sex and marriage, and it is not modelling a helpful way to live, given the reality of our humanity, and temptation to sexual sin.
The Most Rev. Peter Jensen
General Secretary of Gafcon Global.”
and also: Gay bishop: Appointment of Nicholas Chamberlain ‘major error’ says Gafcon. BBC report.
Persevering with the Desperate
Simon Manchester’s exposition on 1 Kings 19 at the recent Evangelical Ministry Assembly in London is a great encouragement to all in pastoral ministry.
(The theme of this year’s EMA was ‘Leaders who last’.)
(He also spoke on Persevering with the disobedient, Exodus 34; and Persevering with the dull, Mark 6.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…