Sarah Macneil to resign as Bishop of Grafton
“The Anglican Bishop of Grafton, the Right Reverend Dr Sarah Macneil, has resigned, effective from March 3 next year. She announced her decision in a pastoral letter to her diocese, saying she had hoped to remain until 2020, when she turned 65, but questions of health had forced an early departure. …”
– News via Archbishop Philip Freier’s website.
A Statement Concerning the Consecration of Rev Dr Sarah Macneil in the Anglican Diocese of Grafton
Here’s a Statement from ACL President, The Rev. Gavin Poole:
“On 1 March 2014 the Anglican diocese of Grafton will consecrate its new Bishop. The consecration will be hailed as ‘historic’ as she will be the first female diocesan Bishop in the Anglican Church of Australia.
The fact that the diocesan Bishop will be a woman is of concern, especially considering there has been no publicly available provision by the Grafton diocese for those who cannot in good conscience accept her episcopal ministry. The matters raised in this document however are of more grave concern. …”
Read the full text – or download it – below – Read more
You might have missed — 8th March 2014
Here are a few items from the last week you might have missed –
- Christ Church Cathedral Newcastle film festival during Lent with Bishop Greg Thompson.
- A Statement Concerning the Consecration of Rev Dr Sarah Macneil in the Anglican Diocese of Grafton.
- Clarification on the Church of Uganda’s Relationship with the Church of England.
- 31 Days of Purity – from Tim Challies.
- New Moore Distance Courses – new options from MTC.
Around the Anglican Church of Australia — March 2nd 2014
Here are a few items of interest from around the Anglican Church of Australia –
- Melbourne Diocese has released some resources for Lent.
- New Bishop of The Murray, John Ford, introduces “Taking the plunge together” mission programme beginning in Lent 2014.
- Canberra & Goulburn Bishop Stuart Robinson to carry a cross in Cootamundra next Saturday.
- The Vicar of Gosford in Newcastle Diocese takes part in the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and proclaims – “I don’t really believe in Heaven and Hell at least not in the traditional sense.”
- NBN TV Newcastle reports on the consecration of Grafton Bishop Sarah Macneil.
- The Diocese of the Northern Territory is in the process of seeking a new Bishop. Doubtless they would appreciate your prayers in this task.
Grafton appointment exposes massive differences in the Anglican Church in Australia
“I wrote last week about the appointment of Rev Dr Sarah Macneil as the new Bishop of Grafton diocese in NSW, Australia. Not only is she due to be Australia’s first female diocesan, but far more troubling she is on the record as holding what many consider to be heterodox views on human sexuality and the atonement. …”
– At his blog, David Ould continues to explore the implications of the election of a new Bishop of the Diocese of Grafton. (Related posts.)
Does the Cross save?
At Stand Firm, David Ould asks what the Bishop-elect of the Diocese of Grafton believes about salvation – and about what she describes as a “rather mechanistic and grim understanding of atonement” (among other things).
Grafton elects new Bishop
Dr Sarah Macneil (former Dean of Adelaide and archdeacon in Canberra-Goulburn) has been elected to the Diocese of Grafton – the first woman to be elected as an Australian diocesan bishop.
Taking a crack at the stained glass ceiling
Church history will be made this weekend if Canberra’s Dr Sarah Macneil is elected the 10th Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn.
… only four remained from an original field of five nominees when the electoral synod began meeting yesterday in Goulburn. … Others nominated are Assistant Bishop and Vicar General of the diocese, Allan Ewing; Assistant Bishop and rector of the parish of St Matthew, Wanniassa, Trevor Edwards; and the rector of the parish of St Paul, Chatswood, Stuart Robinson.
– Report from The Canberra Times. (emphasis added)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…