Egypt — a call for prayer
“As I write these words, our St. Saviour’s Anglican Church in Suez is under heavy attack …
Please pray that the situation will calm down, for wisdom and tact for the police and the army, for the safety of all churches and congregations, and that all in Egypt would be safe.”
– A call for prayer from Archbishop Mouneer Anis.
Update from the ACNS.
Ugandan primate calls for GAFCON support
“The primate of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali has likened GAFCON/FCA (Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans) to the East African Revival and called for believers to back the Nairobi conference to be held in October. …”
– from the GAFCON website.
Backlash in Western Sydney
“Islamic and Christian leaders in western Sydney have warned of a backlash against Labor following Kevin Rudd’s reversal of his views on gay marriage and his pledge to bring forward a bill to legalise it within 100 days of the election. …
In the marginal Labor seat of Greenway, held by Michelle Rowland, Geoff Bates of Quakers Hill Anglican Church said in the view of his 800-strong congregation, Mr Rudd was ‘walking away from the very people who put him in’. …”
– Report from The Australian.
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.
“A non-theistic Christian”
“I describe myself as a non-theistic Christian.”
– Mark Tooley at The American Spectator takes a look at the new Dean of The Episcopal Church’s National Cathedral in Washington, DC.
(Photo: Washington National Cathedral.)
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.”
The GAFCON Chairman on Nairobi 2013
In this video, on the GAFCON website, the Chairman of GAFCON, Archbishop Eliud Wabakula, discusses the upcoming GAFCON 2013 in Nairobi. He speaks about why he believes its a significant gathering – and about the history behind the conference location.
2013 Annual General Meeting reminder
The ACL invites ACL Members to attend
The 2013 Annual General Meeting
6.00 pm, Thursday 15th August, 2013
St. Andrew’s Cathedral Chapter House.
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.)
Appeals Court returns Recife church property to diocese
“The Pernambuco Court of Appeal … has stayed a lower court decision giving ownership of church properties in the state to the minority faction loyal to the national Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (IEAB). The effect of last week’s decision is to return custody of the church properties to the Diocese of Recife and its bishop, the Rt. Rev. Miguel Uchôa, while the court conducts a de novo review of the dispute.”
– Story from George Conger at Anglican Ink. (Earlier stories on Recife here.)
First GAFCON 2013 prayer bulletin available
“A series of prayer bulletins is being issued in the weeks leading up to the October conference.
This allows provinces, churches, organisations and individuals to read about the preparations and to uphold GAFCON in prayer.”
– Download the first one from this page.
‘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.
Key UK conference planned for November
Reform and the Anglican Mission in England are organising a conference for Anglican evangelical leaders in November.
“ReNew will be a two day conference with the aim of advancing Anglican Evangelical ministries for the salvation of England.”
Speakers include Hugh Palmer, William Taylor, Richard Coekin, Mike Ovey and John Richardson. Details here.
Anglican Mainstream response to legalisation of same-sex marriage in England & Wales
“With other marriage advocates, we at Anglican Mainstream are distressed but not entirely surprised by the passage of last week’s legislation. …
Of course the entire social fabric will not collapse overnight. Social mores do not function like that. … But SSM will have unintended and for some unforeseen consequences. …”
– Read it here.
Same-sex marriage bill granted Royal Assent
“The Daily Telegraph and BBC reported yesterday afternoon that royal assent has been given to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Billl, paving the way for the first same-sex weddings next spring in England and Wales.
The Queen, who is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, gave her formal approval to the Bill yesterday afternoon.” – from Evangelicals.org.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…