Australian Bishops welcome new Archbishop

Bishop Stuart Robinson 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.

The Archbishop of Canterbury on a coming royal birth

“When this baby is old, it will be the 22nd Century. Yet he or she will be able to tell children about a great grandmother… who served in the Second World War.

By then, the 1940s will be as far away as the Crimean War and the charge of the Light Brigade is today.”

– Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby reflects on the hope a new baby brings. In Mail Online.

‘Irreconcilable’ understandings of the nature of God

John Richardson in the UK writes,

“There aren’t many things that qualify in my view as ‘must read’ articles, but this from Colin Coward, Director of Changing Attitude, is one of them. Here is a taster:

“The Church of England knows it has a crisis on its hands. It thinks the crisis might be solved by gently persuading enough conservatives to overcome their convictions and vote yes for women bishops. I am convinced the problem is far deeper than that. I think we hold dramatically different understandings about the nature of God and they are irreconcilable.”

For a rather different perspective from that of Changing Attitude: Rosaria Champagne Butterfield on DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) and the Rock.

‘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.

July pastoral message from Archbishop Eliud Wabukala

A Pastoral Message from Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, Chairman of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans –

“Here in Nairobi we are preparing with great anticipation for our second Global Anglican Future Conference, GAFCON 2013, and this is the first of what I intend to be monthly pastoral messages as we move forward together in the unfolding purposes of God.

I am confident that this great gathering of over 1,300 delegates will touch the lives of you all, whether or not you are able to be present, and will be a decisive moment in a movement which will shape the future of the Anglican Communion for generations to come.”

Read it all at the GAFCON website.