“Hate speech” and religious freedom: Recent developments in Australia
“Recently there have been a number of legislative moves or proposals attempting to deal with issues around the area of ‘hate speech’. The term of course is problematic – we will try to unpack it shortly.
But the context, in Australia at least, is the shocking rise in the number of anti-semitic slogans and actual violence being seen in the last few months. Insults have been daubed on buildings and cars, fires lit at buildings associated with the Jewish community. And more recently…”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster looks at what is happening in terms of Federal, NSW and Victorian legislation.
Stories of encouragement from Anglican Aid
Anglican Aid in Sydney has published several stories showing how aid from Australia is helping in Africa and India. Food for our prayers, and encouragement for generosity.
Living in Love and Faith — A way forward which holds us together?
Anglican Futures has been providing daily summaries of the General Synod of the Church of England, meeting in London. From Day 4 (Thursday):
“Next was the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) update, led by Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow. He asked Synod to imagine a future together,
‘One church, with all our differences, or are we resigned to going our separate ways, mirroring society, where each person chooses their own truth?’
This is an extraordinary claim – a total reversal of reality. Surely, it is because some are choosing their own truth, rather than remaining under God’s truth, as revealed by the Apostles, that there is a need for separation?
He continued,
‘What we are offering is a possible way forward which holds us together, and it starts in the imagination, not the detail…’”
– Read it here.
Image from an October 2024 (now deleted) video by Bishop Snow.
Conservative bishops can ban same-sex blessings in their dioceses – they need to start doing this
“The Church of England’s turmoil over same-sex marriage continues.
With the resignation in November of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the latest development in the long-running saga is another delay by the bishops in bringing in standalone services to bless same-sex couples – services that will closely resemble same-sex weddings.
How did we get here?…”
– Writing in Christian Today, Dr Will Jones, a trustee of Anglican Mainstream, argues that conservative Church of England bishops have been poorly advised by some to believe that they can’t stop same-sex blessings in their dioceses.
Image: Bishop of York Stephen Cottrell, speaking at the Church of England’s General Synod this week.
Kristie Higgs wins as Court of Appeal rules dismissal for free speech is illegal
Here’s a Press Release from Christian Concern in the UK –
“In a seminal judgment for Christian freedom and free speech, the Court of Appeal has reversed a ruling which defended the dismissal of Kristie Higgs from Farmor’s School in Gloucestershire for raising concern on Facebook about extreme sex education and transgender ideology being taught in her son’s Church of England primary school.
The groundbreaking decision, handed down this morning by Lord Justice Underhill, Lord Justice Bean and Lady Justice Falk, re-examines and re-shapes England’s law on religious discrimination. (see legal analysis in notes to editors.)
The dramatic six-year legal battle has been supported by the Christian Legal Centre from the beginning. Mrs Higgs, 48, was represented in court by barrister, Mr Richard O’Dair.
The ruling confirms that the Equality Act protects traditional Christian beliefs on social issues, such as opposition to the ideas of transgenderism and ‘gender-fluidity’ and opposition to same-sex marriage.
The authoritative judgment re-shapes the law on freedom of religion in the workplace. For the first time in employment law, the judgment has effectively established a legal presumption that any dismissal for an expression or manifestation of Christian faith is illegal. …”
– Read it all at Christian Concern.
See also:
Kristie Higgs wins as Court of Appeal rules dismissal for free speech is illegal – Christian Concern.
Courage and Truth – Archbishop Justin Badi in Oxford
This 5 minute video recorded in Oxford by Archbishop Justin Badi, Chairman of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches, is a reminder of the need to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Getting up to speed for the CofE General Synod meeting tonight
The Church of England’s General Synod continues to meet tonight, Australian time.
Anglican Futures gives a taste as to what to expect:
“Synod members have received thousands of pages of reports to read in advance of this week’s meeting of the Church of England’s General Synod and millions of words will, I am sure be written, over the coming days. But for those who have other things to think about – here is a quick summary of what to look out for…”
They cover –
1) Will the Archbishop of York get ‘cancelled’? [Update from Anglican.ink – no.]
2) What more can be said about the Makin Report?
3) Will General Synod vote for ‘greater’ independence of safeguarding?
4) Can the Church of England become less middle class?
5) What can be said about Living in Love and Faith in an hour?
6) Can synod fix the way bishops are chosen?
7) How can poorer dioceses avoid bankruptcy?
Related:
The problem with the C of E: An open letter to Stephen Cottrell (Archbishop of York) – Ian Paul at Psephizo.
Pain, anguish and anger to be expected at the General Synod this week
“The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell has given two interviews to the press this weekend, on the eve of the General Synod. the church’s parliament.
In an interview with the Church Times editor, Sarah Meyrick, he said the church was facing deep systemic challenges and he expected there would be a lot of pain, anguish and anger expressed at the synod, but hoped to focus on change. He also revealed that at a recent bishops’ meeting, there were “tears and penitence and a deep sharing with each other”, adding that there was also pain and a sense of the whole Church being humbled.
Speaking to Kaya Burgess at The Times, he said the general public is disgusted by the Church of England and its deeply shameful failures to tackle abusers in its ranks. …”
– The Religion Media Centre in the UK provides a summary of current religious news stories, including the continuing woes of the Church of England. Here’s their summary for 10 February 2025.
(Link via Anglican Mainstream.)
Report: Ashley Null elected Bishop of the Diocese North Africa
“The Episcopal/Anglican Diocese of North Africa is delighted to announce that The Revd Canon Dr Ashley Null has been elected as the next bishop of North Africa. The Electoral Synod met on 4 February in N’Djamena, Chad, in the context of a Diocesan Synod that will continue until 6 February.
If the Synod of the Province of Alexandria confirms this election Dr Null will become the second, and first elected, bishop of the Diocese of North Africa, covering five countries (Algeria, Chad, Libya, Mauritania and Tunisia) and including the territory of the see of St Augustine of Hippo.
Dr Null holds research degrees from Yale and the University of Cambridge. He has received numerous awards for his work, including Fulbright, National Endowment for the Humanities and Guggenheim fellowships as well as being elected fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries in London. He currently holds a research post funded by the German Research Council at Humboldt University of Berlin and is a visiting fellow at the Divinity Faculty of Cambridge University and St. John’s College, Durham University. His project is editing the private theological notebooks of Thomas Cranmer,
Commenting on the election the current bishop, the Rt Revd Anthony Ball, said ‘I am delighted that Canon Ashley offered, and has been chosen to share, his varied experience and renowned gifts as a pastor and theologian in the service of this wonderful diocese. As the Chair of the Board of The Alexandria School of Theology he is already familiar with the Diocese. He will now have the chance to broaden and enhance the work he has done for many years to promote and encourage Christian witness in this cradle of Christianity. I look forward to working with him and wish him every blessing as he prepares to assume his new role.’ ”
– Report from The Jerusalem and the Middle East Church Association in the UK.
A bit more background on Bishop Anthony Ball, who is quoted above –
“On 30 November 2021, shortly after the Province of Alexandria was recognized as a new Anglian Communion province, Ball was consecrated as an assistant bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Egypt. He held this role on a part-time basis while remaining resident at Westminster Abbey. In January 2024, at a service in N’Djamena, Ball was installed as the first diocesan bishop of North Africa—which covers Algeria, Chad, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia—while retaining his appointments at Westminster.” – Source, Wikipedia.
Photo of Ashley Null: Gafcon.
Next-generation Bishops to gather in March
Gafcon Primates Council Chairman Archbishop Dr. Laurent Mbanda writes:
“It is with great joy that I share with you news about an important gathering of Gafcon leaders this March, to be held in the United States in Plano, Texas.
The G25 Mini Conference has a special focus upon the next generation of global bishops, with a selection of those consecrated in the past five years receiving a special invitation.
This event comes at a very important time in the life of our movement …”
– see the full letter from Gafcon.
Advancing Indigenous Ministry
“In a boost for ministry to Indigenous peoples, Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has announced the landmark appointment of the Rev Michael Duckett as the first Director of Indigenous Ministry in the Sydney Diocese.
Synod last year voted overwhelmingly to create the position after a recommendation from the Sydney Anglican Indigenous Peoples Ministry Committee (SAIPMC) that it would greatly impact the growth and oversight of ministry by, among and for Indigenous people in Sydney and the Illawarra. …”
– Good news from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Photo: Michael Duckett thanks to SydneyAnglicans.nrt.
Religious faith, medical procedures and minors
“One of the most difficult areas to navigate in the intersection between law and religion is the dilemma that is faced by a court when asked to adjudicate on differing opinions about medical treatment of young people, when objections to medical treatment are based on religious views. This is an area where a court, when asked to adjudicate, will have to weigh up different interests of the minor- bodily health, and being able to make decisions in accordance wth their faith.
Many such cases have arisen in based on objections to blood transfusions by Jehovah’s Witnesses. But in this post I want to note a careful decision on the issues which was handed down early last year, where the young person involved was from a ‘mainstream’ Protestant church, and was strongly of the view that they had been healed miraculously and that no further treatment was needed. …”
– Associate Professor Neil Foster writes at Law and Religion Australia.
Back to school in East Africa
“As kids are heading back to school in Australia, the school year is also beginning in East Africa where there are over 2000 children in schools and education programs supported by Anglican Aid.
We praise God that Tarime Girls Secondary School in Tanzania is due to open this week. …”
– Anglican Aid has this news for your encouragement and prayers.
Gafcon: Welcome to the Newest Primates
“It has been an honour to gather this month with leaders of the Anglican Communion to celebrate the installation of the Most Rev. Enrique Lago Zugadi as new Primate of Chile, and the Most Rev. Vicente Msosa as new Primate of Mozambique and Angola.
The Lord is raising up leaders who long to see the Bible at the heart of the Anglican Communion, and who seek to lead their provinces in faithful obedience to God’s word…”
– Read more from Gafcon General Secretary Paul Donison.
Photo: Archbishop Vicente Msosa, Primate of Mozambique and Angola, with Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison.
Latest Issue of Australian Journal of Law and Religion
“I’m very pleased to note that the latest online issue of the Australian Journal of Law and Religion (2024, vol 5) has just become available (free to download) …”
– Neil Foster at Law and Religion Australia writes , and draws attention to two articles in the current issue.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…