Anglican Heroes: John Stott — Church Society Podcast

From Church Society –

“Mark Meynell talks to Ros Clarke about ‘Uncle John’, his life, ministry and ongoing legacy around the world.”

– Listen here – with links to various resources.

Photo: Langham Partnership.

Richard Johnson: Laying the foundation stone of the Australian evangelical church

“When we think of the great evangelical movements of the late eighteenth century, our minds often turn to the Clapham Sect, those remarkable men and women whose faith reshaped British public life and whose influence extended around the world.

Figures such as William Wilberforce, Henry Thornton and Hannah More loom large in this story. Richard Johnson, the first evangelical chaplain to Australia, does not.

Johnson was never formally part of the Clapham Sect, nor was he a central figure in the closely related Eclectic Society, a small, but influential gathering of evangelical clergy and laypeople committed to deep theological reflection and gospel advance. And yet, without these two groups—and the prayerful vision that animated them—Richard Johnson would almost certainly never have set foot on Australian soil. …”

– Moore College Principal Mark Thompson reminds us of the legacy of Richard Johnson.

James Valentine, Euthanasia and How Christians Should Speak of Death

This week at The Pastor’s Heart, Dominic Steele introduces a topic which is “delicate, important, and pastorally urgent” –

“How should Christians respond when voluntary assisted dying is publicly framed as dignified, compassionate and courageous?

James Valentine has been rightly honoured as a much-loved broadcaster in the wake of his death last week.  But alongside the tributes there’s been significant reflection on his choice to use voluntary assisted dying in the language of control, dignity, generosity and dying ‘his way’.

How do we honour and grieve a much-loved public figure, while still asking serious ethical and pastoral questions about voluntary assisted dying? Has the public conversation shifted from VAD as a last resort to VAD as a normal end-of-life choice?

As we think carefully about death, autonomy, compassion, medicine, conscience and Christian hope we are joined by:

Dr Megan Best, senior researcher and professor of bioethics at the Institute of Ethics & Society at the University of Notre Dame Australia & Director of Ethicenter and

Emeritus Professor Michael Quinlan of the University of Notre Dame. Michael is also on the board of Freedom for Faith and Ethical End of Life Care.”

– A very sobering and important topic.  Watch or listen here.

David McDonald to be The Gospel Coalition Australia National Director

News from The Gospel Coalition Australia –

 The Council and Board of The Gospel Coalition Australia are delighted to announce the appointment of David McDonald as the National Director of TGCA. …”

– Read here.

Judging the Unrighteous — Exclusion from the kingdom of heaven

From Phillip Jensen –

“If ever there is a passage of the Bible that has caused controversy and division today, it is 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

There is not much doubt as to what the passage says or means, yet the application of this passage in the church and in society has led to great conflict.

In today’s episode, Peter outlines something of the background of the conflict within the Anglican Communion over the last two decades, before we turn to the real pastoral importance of this passage in the lives of the leaders.”

– Peter and Phillip Jensen discuss this very sobering topic at Two Ways News.

The Reality of Biological Sex in Law — one step closer

“One of the deeply contested issues in Western societies at the moment is whether the law recognises the reality of biological sex. This is not only a question for faith groups, but it is one that most religious traditions regard as crucial – that there is a difference between men and women, and this difference can matter in some important contexts. But the question is also important for others in society, as this fundamental feature of humanity comes under challenge from those who claim that sex (or gender) is changeable.

The decision of Moshinsky J in the Federal Court of Australia, in Lesbian Action Group Inc v Australian Human Rights Commission [2026] FCA 432 (15 April 2026), arguably moves the law of Australia one step closer to acknowledging biological reality. …”

– Neil Foster shares his opinion on the latest developments – at Law and Religion Australia.

Photo: Associate Professor Neil Foster speaking at a Diocese of Sydney Safe Ministry conference.

The Dawn has broken

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

There is an African Proverb that says, “However, long the night, the dawn will break.”

On this glorious day, Christians across every tongue, tribe, and nation gather together to proclaim the most world-changing truth in all of human history: the tomb is empty, death is defeated, and Jesus Christ reigns as Lord.

Easter is not just a symbol or a season. It is a fact — the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the first-fruits of a new creation.

Because He lives, we live. Because He has conquered sin and death, there is no corner of this earth, no depth of suffering, no weight of grief that stands beyond the reach of His resurrection power and endless love.

To our brothers and sisters around the world — in seasons of joy and in seasons of persecution — we say with one voice: Hold fast in the hope of the resurrection. The risen Christ holds you, He sees you, and He hears your prayers.

He who walked out of the grave on the third day is the same Lord who walks with you today. And as we joyfully proclaim every week in our services, Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. 

This Easter, may the living hope of the resurrection fill your hearts, strengthen your faith, and send you out as witnesses to the world that Jesus Christ is alive — and that His Kingdom shall have no end.

Let us pray together:

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may, by your life-giving Spirit, be delivered from sin and raised from death; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Grace and peace,

The Most Revd Dr Laurent Mbanda
Chairman of the Global Anglican Council
Easter Day, 5th April, 2026

Global Anglican Council official list

From John Sandeman at The Other Cheek –

“The official list of the Global Anglican Council, set up to lead in a reset Anglican Communion, was released by the Gafcon General Secretary, Paul Donison, overnight. It differs from the list published by The Other Cheek recently – which included people who are likely to join the council but have not yet. The Other Cheek apologises for this error.

It includes …”

– See the list here.

Photo: Image: In the livestream from the Advent Cable Network Nigeria, Gafcon General Secretary Paul Denison announces the Global Anglican Council.

Bible Society in the UK withdraws The Quiet Revival report

Paul Williams, Chief Executive Officer of The Bible Society in the UK has published a statement explaining that the YouGov data used to inform Bible Society’s The Quiet Revival report was faulty –

“Earlier this month YouGov informed Bible Society that the 2024 survey sample on which our report The Quiet Revival was based was faulty, and it can no longer be regarded as a reliable source of information about the spiritual landscape in Britain.

We recognise that this news may feel discouraging and we share that sense of disappointment.

Over a 15-month period, Bible Society repeatedly sought and received assurances from YouGov, regarding both the robustness of the methodology and the reliability of the report’s conclusions. It was only at the beginning of March that YouGov confirmed that it failed to activate key quality control technologies that protect the sample from a wide range of errors and this undermines the reliability of the results.

We are therefore deeply disappointed that YouGov not only made an error but also that it only discovered this so recently. …”

– Read the full statement and see his video message.

See also:

The Quiet Revival: FAQs – What went wrong with The Quiet Revival research?

and

The Quiet Revival one year on: what’s the story? – where you can download their new report, The Quiet Revival one year on: what’s the story? (scroll down on that page.)

Despite the statistical problems identified, it remains true that many churches in the UK – and in Sydney – are seeing increased numbers of younger men seeking answers about Jesus.

Related:

The Pastor’s Heart – Riding the young adult revival – November 2025.

MISSING: Twelve Primates – The Real Story of the Installation

From Anglican Futures –

“The Anglican Communion is made up of forty-two autonomous provinces who are meant to work together. They are aided in this by four ‘Instruments of Communion’, of which the Archbishop of Canterbury is one. It is no secret that for decades the Anglican Communion has been riven with disagreement over the authority of the Scriptures and the inability of the Instruments of Communion to maintain discipline and uphold Anglican doctrine.

Today, at the Installation of the Most Revd Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, the extent and seriousness of that division was laid bare. All the pomp and ceremony could not hide the fact that the leaders of twelve of those forty-two provinces had refused to attend the service.

More importantly, those twelve provinces represented the leadership of the vast majority of Gafcon and the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans (GSFA) and by any reckoning the majority of the world’s Anglicans. Those who stayed away were…”

– Anglican Futures points out that most of the world’s Anglicans were not represented. Indeed, many of the world’s Anglicans may be unaware of the increasingly irrelevant event in Canterbury.

Related:

All Gafcon and at least most GSFA Primates passed the test of staying away from Archbishop of Canterbury consecration – John Sandeman at The Other Cheek.

Photo: Neil Turner / Lambeth Palace.

Installation Sermon by Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally

Sarah Mullally has been installed as the latest Archbishop of Canterbury. Her sermon has been published on her website –

“‘For nothing will be impossible with God’. (Luke 1.37)

May I speak in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I am delighted to be with you today. Over the last week I have walked the ancient pilgrim path from St Paul’s Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral. Each day my heart and spirits were lifted immeasurably by the people young and old we encountered, even though my aching feet and limbs tell a different story. …”

– Read it here. Most interesting to see what is not the focus.

And from our Presbyterian friends –

The Essence of Christianity – David Burke.

“Every now and then someone pops up on media and declares the essence of Christianity to be …. (fill in the blanks with your favourite cliché).

We don’t need to guess at the essence of Christianity. The Bible tells us.

Writing to Corinth, Paul reminds readers of the gospel which they had believed and by which they were being saved if they stuck with it:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures … (1 Cor 15:3-4, ESV). …”

See also:

The Installation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, brought to you by… – Anglican Futures.

Photo courtesy Lambeth Palace.

Explainer: Anglican re-ordering and Gafcon in Abuja

From SydneyAnglicans.net, a very helpful article to read and share –

“In early March 2026, headlines lit up around the world about the re-ordering of what’s known as the Anglican Communion – the grouping of Anglican churches around the world which emerged from the English missionary efforts of the 18th and 19th centuries and later.

The Global Anglican Future Conference, which has drawn together the majority of the largest churches in the communion, held a meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.

Here are the answers to some key questions …”

These are the questions asked and answered –

What happened in Abuja?

What are the issues?

What does this mean for my local parish?

I’m concerned about talk of schism and division – why can’t we all just get along?

What happens to the Archbishop of Canterbury?

What does this mean for Sydney Anglicans and the Archbishop of Canterbury?

What does this mean for Sydney Anglicans and the Anglican Church of Australia?

– Read it all here.

The Global Anglican Communion, Abuja and the Australian Anglican Church — with Archbishop Kanishka Raffel

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“What does the reordering of the Anglican Communion actually mean for Christians in the Australian Church?

Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel on what it means for Anglican churches, clergy and church members in Australia.

We explore what ‘principled disengagement’ from the Canterbury Instruments will mean for Australian leaders and other Global Anglican Communion leaders.

Plus an update on implementing the Sydney Diocean goal of seeing five percent saved through conversion growth each year.

And Archbishop Raffel responds to criticism over his comments on Pauline Hanson, ‘We must reject hateful words and threats of violence.’”

– Watch or listen here.

A video report on the Global Anglican Communion to play in church on Sunday

From The Pastor’s Heart, here’s a video report on the Global Anglican Communion you could play in church on Sunday – with a bit of explanation beforehand as to what it’s all about.

– Watch here.

The Global Anglican — Church Society Podcast

From Church Society –

“Peter Jensen and Kirsten Birkett discuss The Global Anglican theological journal, and Peter shares his thoughts on the state of global Anglicanism more broadly.”

– Listen here. Recorded just before G26 met.

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