New church plant in Newcastle

The Diocese of Newcastle website reports on the new church plant in Newcastle, headed by Archdeacon Arthur Copeman.

The clear goal… is to reach out to people who are outside the present church and to be able to tell them of God’s love for them in the Lord Jesus.

And from Bishop Brian Farran’s Newcastle Synod Charge in October:

“Archdeacon Copeman is establishing a church plant in Newcastle that will reach out to younger families. … Given the broad sweep of Anglicanism, it is appropriate that there be an Anglican Church in Newcastle City that is of the Anglican Evangelical tradition.”

(Arthur is leading a session at the Provincial Mission Convention in Canberra in January. His topic: ‘Starting from Scratch: Church Planting with a Team of One’.)

Two new assistant bishops for Canberra-Goulburn

Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Stuart Robinson, has followed-through on his stated commitment to appoint a woman bishop in his diocese. Announcement here.

A reminder to pray for DNWA and a new Bishop

Dean of Geraldton and Administrator of the Diocese of North West Australia asks for prayer for the election of a new Bishop (election synod February 10-11), in his first letter to the diocese.

Rick Lewers elected Bishop of Armidale

Rick Lewers, currently Rector of Engadine, and well-known to many in Sydney, has been elected as Bishop of Armidale at this weekend’s Armidale election synod in Moree. Rick will take up the reins after the retirement of Bishop Peter Brain in April.

Please uphold in prayer Rick and his family, the people of Armidale diocese, and the church at Engadine, as they serve the Lord Jesus in the days ahead.

(The Synod began with a short-list of three: Rick Lewers, David Hanger from Woolgoolga, and John Tongue from Ulverstone in Tasmania.)

Update: Here’s a media release from the Diocese of Armidale:   Read more

Hope for Life: Provincial Mission Convention 2012

Archbishop Peter Jensen, Metropolitan of NSW, is calling Anglicans in NSW and the ACT to a mission convention at Canberra Girls Grammar School, January 26 – 29 2012. The Archbishop will give the welcoming address.

Speakers include Canon Phil Potter (Diocese of Liverpool) and the Rev Mike Raiter (most recently Principal of the Melbourne School of Theology). Arthur Copeman (Archdeacon for Ministry Support and Church Planter, Diocese of Newcastle) and Tim Sheuer (Church Army) are among the Workshop leaders.

Early bird registration is until October 30, 2011.

Details from Anglicare Canberra & Goulburn. PDF application form.

 

‘Tasmanian Lower House set to back gay marriage’

From ABC News:

“Tasmania’s Lower House looks likely to become the first in Australia to vote in support of same-sex marriage. Labor has indicated it will support a motion from its state power-sharing partners the Greens, who have tried and failed to introduce state-based same-sex marriage legislation in the past…”

And a Media Release from the Diocese of Tasmania:

BISHOP HARROWER RESPONDS TO GREENS’ MOTION

The Anglican Bishop of Tasmania, the Right Reverend John Harrower has spoken out in response to the motion tabled by Mr. Nick McKim in the House of Assembly today.

Bishop Harrower said, “I call upon the parliament to not support this motion.

“I have consistently upheld the Church’s affirmation of the definition under the Marriage Act that marriage is the union between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others voluntarily entered into for life.  Read more

Thanks and prayer requests from North West Australia

In the latest issue of Northwest Network, Bishop David Mulready begins to say farewell to the diocese where he and Maureen have served for the last eight years –

“This is in some sense a ‘farewell letter’. As Maureen and I prepare to leave the Diocese next month and move to Gerringong, near Wollongong, I write to thank you all for your encouragement and support over nearly eight years.

We regard our time here as a huge privilege, working with a terrific team of Ministry couples and some very fine Church members in this extraordinary patch of Australia.

We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of many of you who have prayed, given and come as partners in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people who live in our region and others who holiday here, often for months at a time.

The challenges facing the Anglican Church in the North West are immense. To mention a few:   Read more

Canberra-Goulburn agrees to structural partnership with Bathurst and Riverina

From the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn:

“The Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn has agreed to be part of a structural “partnership” with three Anglican Dioceses – covering the ACT and most of NSW – in response to a plea for financial assistance from the Diocese of Bathurst.

The agreement will be between the Dioceses of Canberra-Goulburn, Bathurst and Riverina. It covers Anglicare, Diocesan schools, administration and finances but it stops short of a full merger. Parishes from Broken Hill to Bourke to Bega will be covered by the arrangement.  Read more

New BCA videos

The Bush Church Aid Society has released a short promotional video. It runs for 3 minutes and can be seen here.

There’s also an interview with Mike & Chantalle Keith, with BCA at Lightning Ridge. Food for thanksgiving and prayer.

New bishop for Ballarat

Garry Weatherill, currently Bishop of Willochra in South Australia, has been appointed the 10th Anglican Bishop of Ballarat.

Report from Anglican Media Melbourne.

Bishop rejects claim of hardline attitude

“Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn Stuart Robinson has emphatically rejected his diocese is becoming a clone of the hardline, evangelical Diocese of Sydney. …”

– Story from The Canberra Times.

Tasmanian Synod ‘No’ to Euthanasia

The Synod of the Diocese of Tasmania  –

* affirms that all human life is made in the image of God and precious in his sight

* affirms that a just society will seek to protect the weak and vulnerable.

* affirms its opposition to voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide

* calls on the Premier and Prime Minister to oppose any initiative to legislate for voluntary euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide

* calls on State and Federal Governments to provide adequate funding for palliative care services across Tasmania

* calls on all Tasmanian Anglicans to raise these issues with their local members of Parliament

* requests the Bishop to make the substance of this resolution known to the relevant parties.

– from Bishop John Harrower. The Synod met in Launceston on 4 June 2011.

New National Director for BCA

Dr Mark Short, Archdeacon of Wagga Wagga and Rector of St. Paul’s Turvey Park has been announced as the next National Director of The Bush Church Aid Society.

More from Anglican News (PDF), newspaper of the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn. (Photo: Anglican News.)

Bp John Harrower’s Synod Address 2011

The text of Bishop John Harrower’s Presidential Address to the Synod of the Diocese of Tasmania last Saturday is now on the diocesan website (PDF file). His theme: ‘Passionate Spirituality’.

Dr Peter Adam to resign as Ridley Principal

“Canon Dr Peter Adam will resign as Principal of Ridley Melbourne at the end of study and long service leave in January 2012.

In announcing his decision, Board Chair, Claire Rogers, reflected on Dr Adam’s service to Ridley: ‘Peter has exercised significant biblical and theological leadership across Australia and internationally. His distinguished service of the College over several decades includes Board Member, Adjunct Lecturer and most recently as Principal.’…”

– from the Board of Ridley College, Melbourne. (h/t Wayne Schuller.)

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