Newcastle election synod set for 14 September
“After failing to reach agreement on a new bishop earlier this year the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle will meet next month to vote again. In March, five candidates were considered to replace retired bishop Brian Farran but none of them received enough votes.
The synod will be considering just one person this time, Northern Territory bishop Greg Thompson. …”
– Report from ABC News.
Diocese of Newcastle election synod page. Photo: Diocese of the Northern Territory.
Australian Bishops welcome new Archbishop
Acting Metropolitan of the Province of NSW and Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Stuart Robinson, says of Archbishop-Elect Davies, “He will, I believe, unify our Province – and be a blessing to the national church”. Dr. Davies will be present at the Goulburn Cathedral Convention in January.
Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Philip Freier –
“On behalf of Melbourne Anglicans I welcome Archbishop Davies’ appointment, and assure him of our prayers and good wishes as he begins this important ministry in Sydney and the Anglican Church of Australia.”
Primate and Brisbane Archbishop Phillip Aspinall also welcomes Sydney’s new Archbishop.
“Glenn is a well known and regarded contributor to the life of the national Church, having served on both the General Synod Standing Committee and the national Doctrine Commission for many years.”
Praying for the other Election
Wondering how to pray for the Federal Election?…
“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, ESV. (Images: Labor and Liberal parties.)
‘Premier wrong to push for same sex marriage’ — NSW Council of Churches
“The NSW Council of Churches today reiterated its call to Premier Barry O’Farrell not to lend support to a push to legalise same sex marriage in New South Wales. …”
– Media release from the NSW Council of Churches.
‘Value Vision’ — Bishop Rick Lewers
“This is NAIDOC Week. Its theme ‘We value the vision’ reflects decisions made in the past that now are captured in legislation.
Better than a vision captured in legislation would of course be a vision captured in the heart. …
Of course, God had a vision in which He would so love this world that He would give His only Son to the world so that all who trusted in Him would not perish but have eternal life.”
– Bishop of Armidale, Rick Lewers, writes on the diocesan website.
Bishop Ian Lambert to be commissioned
Bishop Ian Lambert will be commissioned as Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force on Friday in Canberra.
New Bishop for The Murray
John Ford, currently Bishop of Plymouth in the Diocese of Exeter, has been elected the new Bishop of The Murray.
Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation to purchase Anglican Schools in Dubbo and Orange
The Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation is buying Anglican Schools in Dubbo and Orange –
“this decision of the Bathurst Diocese and the Board of Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation will bring stability to underpin the future operation of these schools…”
Here’s the media release from the Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation –
28 June 2013
Dr Laurie Scandrett, Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation, today has announced that the Corporation has exchanged contracts for the purchase of Macquarie Anglican Grammar School at Dubbo and Orange Anglican Grammar School.
“We are very excited to be able to make this announcement today. Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation has exchanged contracts for the purchase of both of these schools. We expect that the purchases will be completed at the end of September. By including the operation of these schools as part of Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation, we can guarantee to students, parents, staff and each community that the future of these schools is secure. The schools will be able to continue their great work of Christian education with confidence,” said Dr Scandrett.
The announcement follows a competitive expression of interest process resulting from the decision, earlier this year, of the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst to sell these schools. Read more
Tom Frame to resign from St Mark’s
“Professor Tom Frame has announced that he will resign as Director of St Mark’s Theological [Centre in Canberra] before the start of the 2014 academic year.”
– News from the diocese of Canberra & Goulburn.
Presbyterian Principal Profile
The latest issue (June/July 2013) of The Pulse, the magazine of the Presbyterian Church of NSW, has a profile of Moore College graduate Ian Smith, now Principal of their theological college at Burwood.
Pages 9 and 10 of the 4.1MB PDF file.
20,000 New Testaments for Canberra & Goulburn
Parishes in the diocese of Canberra & Goulburn are giving away 20,000 New Testaments to help celebrate the sesquicentenary of their diocese.
Diocese of Tasmania Presidential Address 2013
Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower’s 2013 Presidential address – delivered at the Diocesan Synod today – is now online (PDF file).
“In my 2012 address to Synod I mentioned the approaching “social tsunami” of issues that would be entering public debate. These issues – euthanasia, marriage redefinition and, unexpectedly, abortion, amongst others – speak to the nature of humanity, the characteristics of community, and the fundamental manner in which life is embraced, respected and affirmed in our society…”
From the Bishop of DNWA, June 2013
Bishop of North West Australia, Gary Nelson, shares the latest from his diocese…
BISHOP’S REFLECTIONS
Over recent weeks I have been thinking about being thankful. A friend Peter sees thankfulness as one of the attitudes that can transform our lives. I’ve appreciated his reminder about thankfulness as an essential mark of being Christian. At times it’s easy to take people for granted, or just expect our situation to remain stable and fulfilling. But Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says:
… give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Don’t have to wonder about God’s will for us at this point! Christians should be leading the way in thankfulness. Read more
Tasmanian Abortion Bill update 24 May
Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower has the latest (What is the current status of the proposed changes? What is actually being proposed, as it currently stands? What can I do?) at his blog.
CMS Lasting Hope appeal
Archbishop Peter Jensen, and Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Stuart Robinson have each appeared in videos promoting the CMS NSW & ACT branch end-of-financial-year appeal. (Use them in church!)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…