A missed golden opportunity

David Robertson takes a look at Archbishop Welby’s sermon at last week’s Coronation:

“In the grandeur of the setting and the glory of the occasion, it was easy to think that we were being told something profound, but if you stopped to think about it there was little challenge, little to stimulate and little to point us to Christ, rather than Charles. …”

– Read it all here.

Has there ever been a month like this for BCA? Five Field Staff commissioned in six weeks!

BCA’s NSW/ACT Regional Officer Paul Sampson writes,

“Our good God has heard and answered your prayers. What a joy to attend the commissioning of not one but five Field Staff in five different locations in just six Saturdays during late January, February and March 2023. Each of these ministries is a testament to the graciousness of our God and the faithfulness of BCA supporters who have prayed diligently for many years and generously provided financial support for these ministries. …”

In his The Narrow Road newsletter for May 2023, Paul shares news of commissionings at

as well as other encouragements.

Download the PDF file here. (Link via the Bush Church Aid Society Facebook page.)

Love Matters – an introduction and response

Martin Davie in the UK responds to the publication of Love Matters,

“Love Matters is the final report of the Archbishops’ Commission on Families and Households. The purpose of the report is summarised in the following words from its first chapter:

‘In a time of immense uncertainty in everyday life two key questions need to be urgently addressed:

1. How can we best support every individual and every family to flourish in our complex and ever-changing society?

2. What kind of society do we want to live in?

These challenging questions are at the heart of the Commission on Families and Households, established by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in Spring 2021. …

The first thing that has to be said is that there is much that is good in this report …”

– however he identifies four areas of concern:

– Read the response here.

All Souls Coronation Prom – from the Royal Albert Hall

Not many churches have the resources to organise a Coronation Prom at the Royal Albert Hall. Thankfully, All Souls’ Langham Place with All Souls Music, does.

On Saturday night (the evening of the Coronation) this major event was staged and Rico Tice spoke.

Watch from the beginning – or jump straight to Rico’s address.

(The Michael Andrews whom Rico mentions at the start of his talk is Senior Music Minister of All Souls, Langham Place.)

Thanks to Anglican Mainstream for the link!

New life to rural church communities

This report from the ABC highlights various ministries, including Anglican, in central and western NSW.

“The town of Cobar in western NSW now has a minister for the first time in two decades, after getting support from the Bush Church Aid Society.”

Photo: Diocese of Bathurst.

Moore College Open Week 15-19 May 2023

Moore College’s Open Week begins on Monday 15th May.

Details and registration from the College.

New National Director for CEEC

From The Church of England Evangelical Council:

“CEEC has announced the appointment of Rev. Canon John Dunnett as its new National Director. Dunnett succeeds Bishop Keith Sinclair, whose two-year term came to an end at the end of April 2023 and who has now retired.

Dunnett assumed the role of National Director at the beginning of May 2023. He joined the CEEC in 2022 as Director of Strategy and Operations and previously was the General Director of Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS). …”

– More from CEEC.

A theological and missional review of the Coronation – with Mark Earngey, Brett Murphy and Sandy Grant

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“After Queen Elizabeth’s funeral last year, Saturday’s coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla was probably the biggest reaching church service of our lifetimes.

We analyze the service theologically and missionally and compare it with the coronation service of Charles’ Mother Queen Elizabeth II.

Is it in any way better theologically and where is it worse?

– Watch or listen here.

See also:

The true significance of King Charles’ Coronation – Murray Campbell, who writes not only about the Coronation, but about Psalm 2, Nick Cave – and GAFCON.

Southern Cross, May – June 2023 now available

The May – June 2023 issue of Southern Cross, the magazine of the Diocese of Sydney, is now available.

Copies can be picked up at local churches, and you can also download it here.

From Russell Powell:

“Southern Cross this month has all anyone needs to know about GAFCON IV, including the Archbishop writing on Why GAFCON matters, as well as 

Bishop Stuart Bell interviewed on GB News

The Anglican Network in Europe’s recently-consecrated Bishop Stuart Bell spoke with Calvin Robinson on GB News last weekend.

While both attended GAFCON IV, they have differing opinions on the way forward. Bishop Bell spoke of the impending collapse of the Church in Wales.

Sydney Anglicans celebrate the coronation with scones, DIY crowns, bowler hats and a sermon about tax

“At Sydney’s main Anglican cathedral on Sunday morning, the signs of celebration for the King’s coronation were everywhere.

Men mingled outside in bowler hats and Union Jack clothing, children decorated crowns with stickers in the kids’ activity packs, and ushers served scones with jam and cream after the service. …”

– Report from The Sydney Morning Herald.

GAFCON IV and the revolution in world Anglicanism

“Lambeth Palace needs to ‘wake up and smell the coffee.’ As an English Anglican, my experience at GAFCON was deeply sobering. The churches to which the vast majority of Anglicans belong feel completely betrayed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and by the Church of England as their mother church. …”

– Martin Davie writes at Christian Today.

Photo: GAFCON IV.

Key issues in scholarship on 1 Timothy 2:8–15

“In the last few decades, there’s been an enormous amount of scholarship on the meaning and significance of 1 Timothy 2:8–15. The sheer range of interpretations can be bewildering, leading us to throw our arms in the air and declare that it’s all too hard, so we should all just do what is right in our own eyes.

This video is designed to help us to regain some clarity and perspective on the passage by giving a broad overview of the main issues. …”

– Lionel Windsor presented this seminar at the recent Priscilla & Aquila Centre conference at Moore College.

See also:

Claire Smith presented an elective on The household of God in 1 Timothy the next day at the inaugural P&A Research Conference, which is for women.

May 2023 edition of the North West Network

The May 2023 edition of the North West Network is now available for you to download.

It’s a great way to be encouraged to pray for the people and churches of North West Australia.

A brief guide to the Coronation Service

“The Coronation Service for each monarch is put together using set elements, some of which are legally required, and others that can modified or updated over time. The structure of the service draws on the Old Testament, and has developed over many centuries of use in England, and later the UK. The last significant overhaul, especially of the oaths, came for the coronation of William III and Mary II in 1689 …

At the coronation, he does not become king. Rather he is acknowledged as King, not by the state, but by the Church and in the eyes of God. The promises he makes are not that he will rule, but how he will rule. The service is a reminder throughout that he is only King by the will of God and with the consent of the people. He is not our ultimate authority, and he himself is subject to another king, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. …

It is notable that in the Proper Preface, Charles will be referred to as ‘the Defender of thy Faith’, not as he once hoped, ‘Defender of Faiths’.”

– At Church Society’s website, Ros Clarke provides some helpful background to the Coronation coming up this weekend.

See also the Liturgy to be used in the Coronation Service.

Image: Royal.uk.

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