What Happened on Reformation Day?

“On October 31, much of the culture will be focussed on candy and things that go bump in the night. Protestants, however, have something far more significant to celebrate on October 31.

It’s Reformation day, which commemorates what was perhaps the greatest move of God’s Spirit since the days of the Apostles.

But what is the significance of Reformation Day, and how should we consider the events it commemorates? …”

– At Ligonier Ministries, Robert Rothwell writes about the significance of Reformation Day.

Image: Martin Luther in 1532, by Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Help! The wrong type of person is turning up at church!

“The wrong type of people are turning up at our churches. The wrong type of non-Christian people.

Not convinced? Let me explain.

The quiet revival – in which young men in particular are turning up at churches – is presenting something of a problem for evangelical churches of a certain stripe. And the recent death of Charlie Kirk has cast this problem into sharper relief.

What’s the problem? I hear you ask. Well it’s this:

Many of our more middle class, evangelical churches – especially in urban areas –  have been prepping themselves for a certain type of non-Christian to come through their doors. Yet in the wake of Kirk’s murder they are less prepped for another type of non-Christian altogether – the type that actually is coming through their doors!

It’s not as simple as ‘the wrong type’ of inquirer coming to our churches. There’s no such thing.

But our evangelical churches, especially in our big cities, are more unsure about what to do with a Jordan Peterson reading/Charlie Kirk socials-watching young bloke turning up, than they are about a gender-fluid university student with all the progressive boxes ticked, turning up. …

Why have we been caught out by this surprising turn of events? Because the culture has been caught out by this surprising turn of events. And we have followed the culture’s lead. …”

– Many churches are seeing this ‘quiet revival’. Stephen McAlpine writes with encouragement to engage.

Global South Missions Consultation in Uganda

“The second Global South Mission Consultation Roundtable (MCR 02) with Mission Partners has today officially opened at Lweza Training and Conference Centre in Uganda, bringing together mission representatives and partners from across the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) to strengthen collaboration in advancing the Gospel. …

… Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, emphasized that the Church’s vitality depends on its commitment to Mission.

‘The Church survives or dies because of its focus or lack of focus on mission. We are called to make disciples of all nations. We can’t do that if we remain in our Provinces. We must spread our wings, learn best practices from others, and seek like-minded partners to evangelize the world.’ Archbishop Kaziimba said. …”

– Read it all here.

Betrayed by my King

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“Marcus Loane said no. The King said yes.

For the first time in more than 800 years, an English monarch has prayed publicly with the Pope.

King Charles III — the Supreme Governor of the Church of England — joined Pope Leo XIV in the Sistine Chapel in a highly choreographed moment of unity. But for many Protestants, this was not a moment to celebrate, but to grieve.

The Reformation was born out of deep conviction that Rome had departed from the apostolic gospel — that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Those convictions have not changed. And yet, the sight of a Protestant king kneeling in prayer beside the Pope suggests that they believe these dividing lines no longer matter, that the Reformation is no longer relevant.

Half a century ago, in 1970, when Pope Paul VI visited Australia, Sydney Anglican Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane — refused to pray with the Pope, saying shared prayer implied shared faith, and that the great truths of the Reformation still mattered: salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Loane’s grandson, Dr Stephen Tong, joins Rachel Ciano, Lecturer in Church History at Sydney Missionary and Bible College, and Dominic Steele on The Pastor’s Heart to discuss what’s happened in Rome this week – as the leaders of the Roman Catholic and Church of England Churches downplay the Reformation’s significance.”

– Watch or listen here.

Family Likeness — Who do you think you are?

From Phillip Jensen:

Welcome again to Two Ways News. Working with my brother makes it a bit of a family concern.

The last episode of the older brother killing the younger reminds us of the mixed blessing of family life. In this episode, we follow through the family of Cain. It’s not a pleasant story, though in the midst of evil there are great achievements.

Don’t forget to tell others of Two Ways News.

– Listen at Two Ways News.

The Growing Threat to Religious Freedom

“I have long been an admirer of Professor Patrick Parkinson and his work. The Emeritus Professor of Law and former Dean of the University of Queensland, has been outspoken in his Christian faith, his defence of religious liberty as well as his academic critique of The Safe Schools program. And so my interest was significantly piqued when I heard about his new book Unshaken Allegiance: Living wisely as Christians with diminishing religious freedoms (St Matthias, 2025). …”

– At AP, Mark Powell reviews Unshaken Allegiance by Professor Patrick Parkinson.

Image from Mark Powell’s recent interview with Professor Parkinson.

The Book of James — Church Society podcast

From Church Society:

“Lee Gatiss talks to Daniel Eng, author of a new commentary on the book of James, about the book’s key themes and practical applications.”

– Listen here.

A valuable perspective on the problems ACNA is facing

Anglican Theologian Martin Davie commends and re-posts an article by The Very Revd Bryan Hollon, Dean and President of Trinity Anglican Seminary in Ambridge, Pennsylvania –

“What does a faithful church look like?

For those of us in the Anglican tradition, it means children and adult converts are being baptized and confirmed, faithful lay Christians are centered increasingly on Jesus Christ through Word and Sacrament – grounded in the biblically saturated liturgies of the Book of Common Prayer. It entails an appreciation for the apostolic faith guarded and transmitted over centuries and received through the English Reformation. It means leaders we can trust – bishops, priests, and deacons who serve under the authority of Scripture and take holiness seriously, bound by the doctrine set forth in the Thirty-Nine Articles and the canons of the Church. We expect to see all of this, but most importantly, we expect to meet Jesus in the breaking of bread, in the reading of Scripture, and in the prayers and fellowship of the faithful (Acts 2:42).

What, then, should we think when the church has to discipline its own leaders?

For many in the Anglican Church in North America, these aren’t theoretical questions. …”

– Read it here. ACNA (the Anglican Church in North America) is facing several serious challenges and it would be good to pray for all involved.

A ransom to reckon with

“No Australian with a pulse could have been anything but deeply moved by the story of Australian doctor Ken Elliott and his wife Jocelyn, who were kidnapped in Burkina Faso by al-Qaeda-linked jihadists.

While Jocelyn was released after three weeks, Ken was held captive for seven years, enduring the most frightening conditions that would have sorely tested the health and resilience of any human being half or even a third of his age. He was 82 when he was captured and 88 when he was released. …”

– At SydneyAnglicans.net, David Mansfield reminds us of the most important ransom.

Celebrating the Nicene Creed

At AP, the Presbyterian journal, Campbell Markham at Scots’ Church Fremantle begins a four-part series on the Nicene Creed.

“Christians confess their faith in God as He Is.

This year (2025) marks seventeen centuries since the writing of the Nicene Creed which is, with the Apostles’ Creed, one of the two most important extra-biblical documents that the Christian church possesses.

Creed derives from the Latin credo, ‘I believe.’ It is the first word of the Nicene Creed and identifies it as a statement of Christian belief.

In this article I look at the history of the Nicene Creed and why it is critical that Christians confess right belief in Christ. In the following three articles I plan to look in turn at the three main sections of the Nicene Creed, focussing especially on its Christology: its definition of the person and work of Jesus Christ. …”

– So he begins part 1.

And part 2:

“God the Father and the Person of God the Son

I was fifteen when I first saw those creepy life-size models of famous people, hands and faces of painted wax. Too often people handle Jesus Christ as a wax mannequin, to be reshaped and adjusted to suit their own ideas and desires.

Anti-theologian Barbara Thiering taught that Jesus was the natural child of Joseph and Mary and that he did not die on the cross but rather swooned and was revived to consciousness in the tomb.

Sixteen centuries prior the heresiarch Arius taught that Jesus was not the self-existent and eternal Creator of all, but was himself created in time.

There has been no end to this wretched remodelling.

About 300 bishops at the Council of Nicaea in 325 refused to do this. They recognised Jesus as a true and historical person described in the Bible with all the depth and complexity that God wanted us to know and own. …”

Answering the Skeptic’s Hardest Questions

From The Gospel Coalition:

“In this live recording from TGC25, Rebecca McLaughlin and Sam Chan discuss strategies for answering skeptics’ questions about Christianity, then they answer questions posed by the audience. They model how to talk with skeptics about difficult issues like abortion, suffering, hell, mental health, and sexuality.”

– Watch here. Very helpful.

Cash Chapel Repointing Works 2025

“When Peter Jensen left Moore College in 2001 as Principal to become the Archbishop of the Sydney Diocese he left clear instructions to Neil Ferguson who was the Property Manager at the time and my boss to ‘Look after the Cash Chapel’. …”

– Jon Telfer, the current Property Manager at Moore College, shares what’s being done to preserve the John Francis Cash Memorial Chapel.

2025 Global Vision Tour with Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison

A few months ago, we noted that Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison would be speaking at events across Australia and in New Zealand in November.

Details are now available – via the Gafcon Australia website.

“Hear about Gafcon’s Global vision – challenges and opportunities from Bishop Paul Donison and your local Gafcon leaders.

The 90-minute presentation will provide an opportunity to deepen your understanding of Gafcon and connect with others.

Admission to this public event is FREE, and a light supper will be served at the conclusion.”

November 2025

Melbourne
Tuesday 18th  7.30 pm Ridley College, 170 The Avenue, Parkville

Hobart
Wednesday 19th  7.30 pm Wellspring Anglican, 43-47 Grosvenor St, Sandy Bay

Perth
Thursday 20th  6 pm Dalkeith Anglican, 56 Viking Rd, Dalkeith

Adelaide
Friday 21st  7.30 pm St Bart’s Norwood, 77 Beulah Rd, Norwood

Sydney
Wednesday 26th 7.30 pm Moore College, 1 King St, Newtown

Brisbane
Friday 28th 7.30 pm St Phil’s Rochedale, 270 Rochedale Rd, Rochedale

Christchurch, NZ
Saturday 29th November Trinity Church

See also this message from The Rev. Peter Smith, Chair of Gafcon Australia.

The Clapham Sect and their Influence on Sydney

Videos from the 2025 Donald Robinson Library Lectures at Moore Theological College – The Clapham Sect and their Influence on Sydney:

“Held on 8 October 2025, the Library Day Lectures explored the remarkable legacy of the Clapham Sect — a network of evangelical reformers whose faith and friendships shaped British society and left a lasting mark on early Australia.

Through eight talks by Moore College faculty and guest scholars, the event traced their impact on mission, education, social reform, and the formation of Sydney’s evangelical heritage.”

– See all the lectures in this YouTube playlist from Moore College.

Key Gafcon stories from the last week

In case you missed them, here are some key posts related to last week’s Gafcon announcement. Each will open in a new window  –

The Future Has Arrived — Gafcon Communique 16 October 2025.

Enough’s Enough! — A Bible-Centred Reordering of Global Anglicanism — The Pastor’s Heart with Archbishop Laurent Mbanda.

A Long Awaited Future – Dr Mark Thompson.

The Anglican future is here – SydneyAnglicans.net with a Media Release from Bishop Peter Hayward, Commissary for the Archbishop of Sydney.

Gafcon Reboots the Communion – Anglican Unscripted.

The patience of Gafcon – some historical background.

The Future of Anglicanism Has Arrived: What GAFCON’s Statement Means for Evangelicals – Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison.

Sydney Standing Committee welcomes Gafcon announcement – SydneyAnglicans.net.

Gafcon photo.

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