Is the future for the Church of England’s General Synod… Dan Andrews?
“The readiness of the English middle classes to sacrifice democracy on the altar of political correctness was evident at last week’s meeting of the Church of England’s General Synod.
It was during a debate on the dry subject of the CofE’s governance structures that the growing anti-democratic spirit on this largely democratically elected body asserted itself. …”
– At Anglican Ink, Julian Mann looks at some disturbing moves in the Church of England’s General Synod.
Archbishop Janani Luwum — martyr for Christ — remembered
Forty-five years ago today, Archbishop Janani Luwum, Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire, was assassinated, apparently on the orders of Ugandan President Idi Amin.
The event was a turning point – both for Uganda and for the Church.
Read about Archbishop Luwum at the Church of Uganda website and give thanks for his courage in the face of death as well as for the resulting preaching of the gospel.
Photo of Archbishop Luwum with President Idi Amin (right) via this article at Taarifa Rwanda –
“The Archbishop was separated from his bishops. As he was taken away Archbishop Luwum turned to his brother bishops and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I see God’s hand in this.’
The next morning it was announced that Archbishop Luwum had been killed in a car crash.
His body was placed in a sealed coffin and sent to his native village for burial there.
However, the villagers opened the coffin and discovered the bullet holes.”
The story of the Bible in Australasia, 1788-1850
Dr Meredith Lake, author of The Bible in Australia: a cultural history, is speaking on “The story of the Bible in Australasia, 1788-1850” on Wednesday 6th April at Moore College.
– Details here.
Church Society podcast — Reading the Bible Better
Here’s the latest podcast from Church Society in the UK –
“In this week’s episode, Chris Moore and Lee Gatiss discuss how we can read the Bible more and better. They talk about different Bible translations, how to establish a good routine, listening to audio Bibles, using devotional resources, singing and saying the Scriptures aloud. …”
– Listen here.
No Shortcut to Success
In a recent episode of the Pastors Talk podcast from 9Marks, Jonathan Leeman and Mark Dever commend the book “No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions”. They also chat with the author, Matt Rhodes.
While primarily on the topic of missions, it’s an encouragement for those labouring at home.
Bible Gateway removes The Passion Translation
“A Bible version designed to ‘recapture the emotion of God’s Word’ was removed from Bible Gateway last week. The Passion Translation (TPT) is listed as ‘no longer available’ among the site’s 90 English-language Bible offerings.
First released as a New Testament in 2017, The Passion Translation includes additions that do not appear in the source manuscripts, phrases meant to draw out God’s ‘tone’ and ’heart’ in each passage. …”
– Story from Christianity Today.
Related:
Burning Scripture with Passion: A Review of The Psalms (The Passion Translation) – Andrew Shead, April 2018.
“Brian Simmons has made a new translation of the Psalms (and now the whole New Testament) which aims to ‘re-introduce the passion and fire of the Bible to the English reader.’ He achieves this by abandoning all interest in textual accuracy, playing fast and loose with the original languages, and inserting so much new material into the text that it is at least 50% longer than the original.”
The Passion “Translation” of Romans: Problems and questions – Lionel Windsor, November 2017.
Dual Citizens podcast
David Ould has recently started a podcast which many will find of interest –
Dual Citizens is “a podcast analysing current affairs, informed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Covering various topics weekly, Dual Citizens explains how Christianity holds an important sense of relevancy in contemporary society, and how all Christians are ‘dual citizens’ belonging to two places; their country, and Jesus’ heavenly kingdom.”
Down Under Theology podcast
“Down Under Theology” is a relatively new podcast featuring two lecturers from Christ College at Burwood.
In Season 1 they explored the Westminster Confession of Faith.
Season 2 has just begun and sees them walking through each book of the Bible, “bringing out the big ideas, themes, and implications for the life and mission of the church”.
Worth checking out. Listen here.
A small step forward for religious freedom – with Bishop Michael Stead
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“Religious Freedom will be debated in the Australian Parliament this week.
Two parliamentary reports were released late on Friday afternoon. MP’s and Senators have spent the weekend reading them.
The reports show the Coalition and Labor broadly in support of introducing improved protections for people of Faith.
The reports recommendations are set to go to the party rooms on Tuesday morning, and the House of Representatives as early as Tuesday afternoon.
Anglican Bishop Michael Stead is the new chair of Freedom for Faith.”
– Watch or listen at The Pastor’s Heart.
And please pray about the expected vote this afternoon (Tuesday 8th February).
See also:
Submission to the Senate Legal Affairs Committee on the Religious Discrimination Bill – Freedom for Faith.
Men Meeting the Challenge conference online Saturday 26th March 2022
The organisers of the Men Meeting the Challenge conference on Saturday 26th March 2022 have announced that this year it will be online.
“The aim of this conference is to allow God’s mighty word to transform men from the inside out as we hear the Bible taught. Our prayer and our goal is to see men equipped for the service of God, his people and the world through knowing Jesus and understanding what it is to be a man who belongs to Him in this world. Our desire is for men to know and to proclaim the true gospel message that is faithfully recorded in the Scriptures.”
See the details and register at menforchrist.asn.au.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Today marks 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II acceeded to the throne, on the death of her father King George VI.
Her Majesty has gone on to reign longer than any other British Monarch in history, and to become a beloved figure around the world – one who is unashamed to speak of the Lord Jesus.
Whatever your view of the British Monarchy, do be encouraged to pray for her, and to give thanks for her long, stable reign. As the Apostle Paul exhorts us,
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-6.
Photo:
Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with Bishop Jack Dain outside St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, on 13 March 1977. Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane is at the Queen’s side, and Bishop John Reid is at centre. At right, Dean of the Cathedral, Lance Shilton, stands with Prince Philip. Photo courtesy Ramon Williams.
In his biography of Archbishop Loane, “From Strength to Strength”, ACL Emeritus Vice-President Allan M. Blanch writes, on page 317,
At a special cathedral service on 13 March, the Archbishop preached from Revelation 21 about the City of God. He referred to Augustine of North Africa who, in the fifth century, ‘with the destroyers rapidly approaching the city … gave himself to contemplation of the City of God’.
Loane spoke of the citizens of that heavenly city: ‘They will suffer neither from poverty nor misery, from pain nor vice, from sorrow nor crying … There will be no room for a permissive society, or an alternate culture, or a wealthy elite, or a down-trodden minority; there will be no place for political intrigue, or public wrangling, or partisan interests, or power struggles’.
He concluded by saying, ‘Therefore let us pray that the Silver Jubilee of an earthly reign will enlarge our vision of all that lies beyond the frontiers of earth and time, and will strengthen our resolve to live our lives for the glory of Jesus Himself who reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords for ever and ever. Amen.’ [Emphasis added.]
St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney is marking the anniversary at its services today.
Three Reasons to Read the Letters of John Newton
“Over the course of 2021, I slowly worked my way through Letters of John Newton. Some of us may know that name, and if not the name, most of us will know the lyrics he penned in the song Amazing Grace.
As the near year begins, I would like to encourage you to read the Letters of John Newton. Here are three reasons I would commend the letters of this brother of old to you. …”
– Here’s some encouragement from Sean Sheeran at The Gospel Coalition, Canadian edition.
Related: The John Newton Project.
Advance Australia Fair?
“Watching the Australia Day celebrations whilst on holiday was much more interesting and revealing than I had anticipated. Normally I am bored to tears by these kinds of events however I have to say that I was impressed, and I learned a great deal. It was like a cross between the BBC’s Children in Need, celebrating the good that charities and volunteers do, and BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay show – a bit kitsch and cliched, but nonetheless something that makes you glad to be Scottish – or in this case, Australian.
The wonderful work done by Australians throughout the country was highlighted and the music was… not bad.The fireworks and setting in Sydney harbour (as well as the 12 Apostles and other spectacular Aussie scenery) made one thankful to be an Australian – or in the case of yours truly – a guest in this wonderful country.
But the whole show also revealed something deeply disturbing. …”
– Sometimes it takes a visitor to our country to point out what we might otherwise miss. David Robertson writes at AP.
‘Red light’ ministry conversations – the who, when and how?
From The Pastor’s Heart –
“How to have the hard conversation with someone who is enthusiastic about why they shouldn’t go into professional Christian ministry?
How do you make the decision to raise a ‘Red light’ or an ‘Orange light’?”
– Paul Grimmond and Rowan Kemp discuss with Dominic Steele questions of discernment and wisdom.
Southern Cross magazine, February 2022
Anglican Media Sydney has just released Southern Cross magazine for February 2022.
Printed copies will be available in parishes from this weekend, but you can download a PDF version now at magazine.sydneyanglicans.net.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…