“Resignation from the Marriage Act”

”I will mail this letter to the Attorney General on the day that the Governor General signs into law the redefinition of marriage. …”

— Hobart Presbyterian Pastor Campbell Markham explains the reasoning behind his decision to relinquish his authority to conduct weddings.

Meet the Nativity

From Glen Scrivener and the team at Speak Life:

“We’re thrilled to announce the release of Meet the Nativity –– a Christmas comedy to share.

It’s been a collaboration between 50 artists, including ?Eastenders actress Vanessa Bailey, Oscar-shortlisted director, Chris Jones, and Speak Life’s director, Glen Scrivener, the creative force behind a sling of viral videos.

WATCH EPISODE 1 HERE.

In the first 24 hours, Episode 1 has been seen 50 000 times across YouTube and Facebook. It tells the story of Will, a hapless boyfriend who tries to charm his way with his girlfriend’s family at Christmas. While nothing works with that family, Will finds a warm welcome from the most unexpected source.

The episodes are being accompanied by “explainer” videos, drawing out the gospel from each mini-film and directing people to follow-up. This follow-up comes in the form of a book –– Glen Scrivener’s best-selling Four Kinds of Christmas –– and a course, Life Explored, a visually sumptuous introduction to the Christian faith.”

Senate votes against same-sex marriage bill amendments

“All five amendments put forward by conservative senators James Paterson and David Fawcett to their Liberal colleague Dean Smith’s private same-sex marriage bill were voted down …

Senators Paterson and Fawcett’s changes sought to:

– Full story from The Daily Telegraph. (subscrip

Advent: the quiet arrival of the Kingdom into the republic

“Christ is the King, as many of us remembered and celebrated this past Sunday. To quote the wonderful Psalm 2, God has installed his Son as sovereign in Zion; the nations are his inheritance, the ends of the earth his possession. That is the reality, and the powers on the earth are warned that the best way to abundant life is to “celebrate his rule” and “take refuge in Him”.

But of course they don’t: the first part of the Psalm gives a vivid picture of how arrogant human authorities “rise up… against the Lord and against his anointed”, wanting what they think is freedom from God’s “chains” and “shackles”. Christ is the King, but they – we – want independence: we want a republic.

The question asked at the beginning of the Psalm: why do human beings do this? Is not answered here, but the rest of the Bible explains. …”

– At Anglican Mainstream, the Rev. Andrew Symes writes about Psalm 2, and Christ Church on the Isle of  Harris.

Advent resources and the PrayerMate app

“Advent is traditionally a time when Christians prepare for the arrival of Jesus Christ?—?remembering his first coming at Christmas, but then also looking ahead to his return. It is a wonderful time of expectancy and hope.

This Advent, PrayerMate is delighted to announce our best ever range of devotional resources that you can subscribe to through the app and follow along daily from 1st December 2017. …”

– Andy Geers announces a range of devotional resources (most of them free). Read the details here.

Dr Peter Stuart elected Bishop of Newcastle

Dr Peter Stuart has been elected the 14th Bishop of Newcastle.

Report from NBN News Newcastle.

Biographical info from the Diocese of Newcastle.

“Bishop Peter came to the Diocese in 2009 after serving in ministry in Tasmania and South Australia. In 2013 he administered the Diocese following Bishop Farran’s retirement. Since December 2016 he has been leading the Diocese on behalf of Bishop Thompson. He became Administrator of the Diocese on 1 June 2017.

Bishop Peter was born in England in 1963 and emigrated to Cabramatta in 1971. He has since lived in Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia before returning to NSW. …”

Update:

The news has now been posted online by the diocese.

And from The Newcastle Herald:

“Bishop Stuart wants to head a diocese that leads on important social justice issues including “supporting Indigenous Australians as they seek fairer representation in Australian decision-making”, speaking up about the treatment of refugees and the impact of fossil fuels on the environment.”

Balancing Religious Freedom Rights is not ‘Discrimination’

“Australia is in the middle of a debate as to the extent to which religious freedom rights should be accommodated in legislation introducing “same sex marriage” (SSM). Those who object to this idea tell us that:

Christian conservatives – following the lead of their counterparts in the United States – seek to use freedom of religion to justify discrimination against members of the LGBTQI community. This agenda is now being pursued under the guise of the debate for a marriage equality bill. (“After the yes vote, let’s not remove one inequality and replace it with another” Anja Hilkemeijer, The Guardian online, 22 Nov 2017)

The word “discrimination” is a notoriously slippery one, and I would like to challenge the view that recognising religion freedom in changing marriage laws amounts to unjustified discrimination. …”

– Associate Professor in Law, Neil Foster, writes at Law and Religion Australia.

Resignations in the Scottish Episcopal Church

“Following the selection and appointment by four Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church of the Reverend Canon Anne Dyer as Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney on 9 November, there are now serious questions being asked about the process.

Following the appointment, the Rector of St Margaret’s, Aberdeen, the Very Reverend Dr Emsley Nimmo … on account of his duty of care for the diocese, immediately resigned from his role as Dean of the Diocese.

The Revd Canon Ian Ferguson, Rector of Westhill Community Church also resigned from the Cathedral Chapter on Wednesday. …”

– News from The Scottish Anglican Network.

Mary Kassian on The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

“Brothers, we need you. We need you to be the men God created you to be. We need you to be the protectors and champions of women and children. We need you to be good fathers. Good leaders. Good shepherds. …”

– At Desiring God, Mary Kassian speaks plainly about what is needed.

Collect for use in the ‘present’ crises

“ALMIGHTY GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, hear, we beseech thee, for his sake, who is our Great High Priest, the prayer of thy servants on behalf of our reformed Church…”

– Church Society has republished a Prayer for the Church. Whether you modernise the language or not, it’s so important to pray for Christ’s Church.

Remote Scottish church accepts oversight from Bishop Andy Lines

“The people of Christ Church, [on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides], announced today that they can no longer remain under the oversight of the bishop of Argyll and the Isles, the Right Reverend Kevin Pearson. This follows his decision to support the change to the canons of the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) which introduced the innovation of same-sex marriage.

At a meeting with Bishop Pearson, … [t]he bishop insisted that the SEC would retain all assets.

In response the congregation made it clear that they would walk away rather than submit to a decision which departs from scripture, tradition and the teaching of Jesus Christ…”

– Read the full story from The Scottish Anglican Network.

(Map courtesy Google Maps. Photo: The Rev. Daniel Davies and the vestry of Christ Church, Harris.)

Anglican Bishop fears loss of religious freedom

“Prominent ‘No’ campaigner and the Anglican Bishop for South Sydney, Michael Stead explains how his religious freedom is being threatened by the Bill. …”

– Report from ABC Radio’s AM.

How to influence your conscience (before someone else does)

“What was the first music you owned? For me it was a CD by Blink 182, The Mark, Tom and Travis Show. Well, when I say owned I mean permanently ‘borrowed’ from my brother when I was 10 years old. I enjoyed it so much that it became the only CD I listened to. ‘Enjoyed’ is really an understatement too. I listened to it and sang myself to sleep every night for six years—much to the annoyance of my brothers.

Wanting to relive the nostalgia of my youth, I went to sing a song from this CD at a karaoke night with Korean friends from my church. After displaying a rather remarkable range in pitch of which I was rather proud, my ballad was cut short as the sexually explicit content of the song I was singing became apparent. …”

– At GoThereFor.com, Mike Taylor writes to encourage you to be aware of what shapes your thoughts.

Contracts exchanged for purchase of All Saints’ College

“On Friday November 24, The Presbyterian Church in NSW and the All Saints’ College Council exchanged contracts for the purchase of All Saints’ College by the Presbyterian Church. …”

– The latest from the Diocese of Bathurst.

Mr Eternity: The Story of Arthur Stace, launched in Sydney

The long-awaited biography of Arthur Stace, ‘Mr. Eternity’, was launched by Bible Society Australia in Sydney yesterday.

Appropriately, the launch was held in Darlinghurst, at the Eternity Playhouse, formerly the Burton Street Baptist Tabernacle. It was there, in 1932, that Arthur Stace heard evangelist John Ridley, and felt called to write Eternity on the streets of Sydney – something he did for the next 34 years. (Stace had become a Christian at St. Barnabas’ Broadway two years earlier, saved from a life of despair and alcohol.)

‘Mr. Eternity: The story of Arthur Stace’ is the fulfilment of a long-term project by Elizabeth Meyers, daughter of the Rev. Lisle Thompson, Minister of Burton Street Tabernacle 1951 – 1964. She was joined by Roy Williams (author of ‘In God They Trust’) who continued her research to help complete the book. The pair uncovered previously unpublished details of Arthur’s life and background.

Roy Williams introduces the book. Photo by Trevor Dallen.

To coincide with the publication, Lisle Thompson’s 1956 tract, ‘The Crooked Made Straight’, has been updated and reissued.

Photo: At the launch, Elizabeth Meyers, with Fairfax photographer Trevor Dallen, who took several iconic photos of Arthur Stace in 1963.

The book, published by Acorn Press, is available from these sellers.

Companion material has also been published here.

Unfamiliar with the story of Arthur Stace? You can read our earlier potted version here and related posts.

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