Blind spots in the evangelical ecosystem – with Mikey Lynch
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“Whether we are the senior pastor, theological college lecturer, missionary, student worker, Christian publisher, or denominational leader – we all work within an evangelical ecosystem. And it’s possible for us to make it harder or easier for our ministry peers to play their part in glorifying God.
Mikey Lynch’s new book The Vine Movement, published by Matthias Media, explores how churches, missionary organisations, evangelical student ministries, chaplains and denominations can all work together best.
Mikey Lynch is a director of Reach Australia, leads the AFES staff team at the University in Hobart and is the editorial director for Gospel Coalition Australia.”
The power and pain of perseverance — CCL event
On 18 October 2023, Moore College Principal Dr Mark Thompson is speaking on “The power and pain of perseverance” at a Centre for Christian Living event.
Watch the 55 second promo video, and register here (it’s free!).
National Police Remembrance Day 2023
Friday 29 September 2023 is National Police Remembrance Day.
It’s a good reminder to pray for all who serve in the police services, and also Christian chaplains to the Police.
in 2018, Archbishop Glenn Davies wrote a prayer for the occasion.
Image: NSW Police Legacy.
US Survey shows mainline denomination church members are much more conservative than their clergy
In today’s The Briefing podcast, Albert Mohler discusses a survey which shows that in US mainline denominations, the clergy are much more liberal than their congregations.
Yes, this is an American context, but it’s a good reminder as to why Biblical theological education is vital.
– The Briefing, Thursday 28 September 2023.
The Gospel Coalition announces The Carson Center for Theological Renewal
At The Gospel Coalition, Collin Hansen writes,
“On behalf of The Gospel Coalition, I’m pleased to announce the launch of a major new initiative: The Carson Center for Theological Renewal.
Around the world today, biblical illiteracy inhibits spiritual depth—not just in the shrinking church of the West but even in the growing churches of the South and East. But there’s no spiritual renewal without returning to Scripture. And while the internet offers unprecedented access to the Bible, many of the most widely used resources for studying God’s Word are unhelpful at best or heretical at worst.
That’s why TGC has started The Carson Center for Theological Renewal, named in honor of TGC cofounder Don Carson. …”
– Read all about the plans here.
New book on the Peter Cameron Presbyterian “Heresy trial”
Many Sydney Anglicans will remember the so-called ‘heresy trial’ of Presbyterian minister Dr Peter Cameron.
It began in 1992 when Dr Cameron, the Principal of St Andrew’s College at the University of Sydney, spoke at a centenary women’s event at Ashfield where he referred to the Bible as ‘sub-Christian’. In response to the apostle Paul teaching about women, he replied, ‘So what?’.
The disciplinary proceedings came about not because Dr Cameron was in favour of women’s ordination (even though most media reports claimed that was the case), but because he dismissed the authority and trustworthiness of Scripture (not just in that sermon, but on other occasions).
The Presbyterian Church had to make a crucial decision. Would they accommodate theological liberalism as did the Uniting Church which they had declined to join fifteen years earlier?
Now, thirty years on, Paul Cooper and David Burke have edited a series of essays exploring what happened and why –
From the back cover of the book:
“In 1992, the Presbyterian Church of Australia through its disciplinary procedures convicted one of its ministers, the Rev Dr Peter Cameron, Principal of St Andrew’s College, of what the newspapers of the time called ‘heresy’. The secular media and commentary were strongly supportive of Cameron and highly critical of the Church.
Cameron, in 1994, published ‘Heretic’ which told the story from his point of view.
This book, Principle & Principal, invites the reader to consider the other side of the Cameron Case. It reflects a different bias to that propagated by Cameron and his supporters. It tells why the Presbyterian Church took this action knowing that it would result in an avalanche of criticism. While over thirty years have passed since the finalisation of the Cameron Case, and the ranks of those involved have thinned, many of the chapters in this book are written by people who participated in these events.”
Campbell Markham at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Hobart has written this review for AP.
– Details and ordering information from Eider Books.
Related:
The Crisis of ’77 – personal reflections by the Rev Bob Thomas on the decision of Presbyterians to ‘continue Presbyterian’.
The train is leaving the station
In his The Briefing for Wednesday September 20, 2023, Dr Albert Mohler examines the trajectory of a well-known US pastor and his church –
When a Conference is More Than a Conference: The Trajectory of Andy Stanley and the “Unconditional” Conference
and in his remarks, he gives some background to, and reads from, his current article in World Magazine – The train is leaving the station:
Andy Stanley, one of the most influential pastors in the United States, has been moving in this direction for years, often by suggestion and assertion but clouded by confusion and the deliberate avoidance of clarity. Back in 2018, he called for the church to be “unhitched” from the Old Testament, arguing that the Old Testament should not be understood as the “go-to source regarding any behavior in the church.” There goes “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22). But, in truth, there goes the entire Old Testament. …
Reframing the social justice discussion – with Ed Loane, Tim Swan and Berthier Lainirina
This week on The Pastor’s Heart:
“Social Justice is a fiercely contested concept among Christians. Often discussions about caring for the poor have not been grounded in a biblical vision for gospel ministry..
Evangelicals have been criticized for appearing to be weak on social justice. The charge is that we have been so focussed on gospel ministry that the poor and disadvantaged have been neglected. How does caring for the poor fit with the mission of Jesus church?
Tim Swan is the CEO of Sydney’s Anglican Aid, which hosted an important conference last weekend ‘Reframing Social Justice.’
Ed Loane is Warden at St Paul’s College in Sydney and lectures in Church History part time at Moore Theological College.
Berthier Lainirina is Principal of St Patrick’s Theological College Madagascar.”
Love Sydney’s Walk for Life — Saturday 23rd September
Love Sydney’s Walk for Life is on again this Saturday.
“Our role is simple – to stand in the gap and be a voice for the voiceless, as we cover Sydney in prayer and love.”
– Details at their TryBooking page
We are Repaganizing
“Christians have always been unusually vehement in their disapproval of the killing of infants, whether born or unborn, and their legal regime prevailed until the mid-twentieth century when we experienced a religious shift that will probably be understood by future historians as a Second Reformation. …”
– Several Christian bloggers have linked to this thoughtful article at First Things by Louise Perry.
Tim Charlie’s writes, “This article is not written by a Christian but still shares an interesting perspective on what society will lose as it turns from its Christian roots back to paganism.”
Caring for missionaries when they are not doing so well
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“We send out missionaries. But sometimes it doesn’t work out. There’s a forced return home. Dashed hopes. And all sorts of understanding and support – from the mission agency, supporter churches, pastor friends and others.”
If your church supports missionaries, this will be very helpful in caring for them, under whatever circumstances they may return.
ACR Journal for Synod 2023
A special issue of ACR Journal – from The Australian Church Record – is out in time for Sydney Synod.
Download your copy from the Church Record’s website.
2023 ACL Synod Dinner Address — Archdeacon Simon Flinders on The Importance of the Local Church
Archdeacon Simon Flinders gave the address at tonight’s ACL Synod Dinner in Sydney.
His topic? The Importance of the Local Church.
Take the time to listen to his most encouraging address:
or download the audio by right-clicking here.
The transcript is available as a PDF file.
This would be great to share with members of your church.
Related:
The Robinson-Knox view of Church — Interview with Chase Kuhn.
Scams… and how to avoid the worst sort
“Have you ever received an SMS telling you to urgently pay a toll?
An email informing you of an incredible investment opportunity?
An unsolicited telephone call apparently from a reputable organisation asking for your personal details?
Or a Facebook friend request from someone whose name you don’t know and whose somewhat provocative profile photo you suspect is probably not a photo of them at all?
If so, you have almost definitely been the target of a scam. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition of Australia, Stephen Liggins wants Christians to avoid the most dangerous scams of all.
Resources for Sydney Synod members 2023
Sydney Synod meets this month. Here are three resources from the Anglican Church League for Synod members. The updated Synod Survival Guide will be especially helpful for new Synod members.
- The Synod Survival Guide by Dr Robert Tong, updated – free download.
- The ACL Synod Dinner – Hear Simon Flinders’ encouraging address.
- The ACL Synod Briefing Podcast – now online!
Latest posts below.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…