School Chaplains challenged again in High Court

“Scripture Union Queensland (SU QLD) will again defend national school chaplaincy in the High Court of Australia this month, with the first directions hearing to be held in Sydney on 20 September.

Ron Williams, the man behind the High Court Challenge, announced on his Facebook page in August that a Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim had been issued to the Commonwealth of Australia (First Defendant), the Minister for Education (Second Defendant) and SU QLD (Third Defendant). …”

– Report from Bible Society Australia.

And now SU Queensland is seeking support, and you can request an Advocacy kit.

“SU QLD is again being forced to attend the High Court of Australia to defend the vital program of school chaplaincy. This second challenge has the potential to impact the funding of thousands of chaplains across the nation who support and encourage our students every day. Read more

Anglicans appoint first female bishop in UK and Ireland

“Anglicans have appointed the UK and Ireland’s first female bishop. The Rev Pat Storey, rector of St Augustine’s in Derry, has been elected by the Church of Ireland as the new bishop of Meath and Kildare. …”

– from The Guardian. Photo: Church of Ireland.

New Armidale website

The Diocese of Armidale has updated its website – and The Link, the diocesan newspaper, has gone digital.

An Overview of the Anglican Communion Today – From Communion to Coalition

A presentation by Vinay Samuel, last Monday 16th September, at St. Mark’s Battersea Rise in London, to a pre-GAFCON 2 meeting –

“The Anglican Communion as it exists today is not a single communion – it is more a collection of coalitions.

The centre (Lambeth) has no meaning in defining the Communion. Archbishop Justin Welby has inherited a broken communion he cannot heal. The role of Lambeth has enormously diminished. The instruments of communion as the governing centre are irrelevant for dealing with communion matters. People will not accept a communion that promotes things that are heretical. Instead of Lambeth legitimation we need mutual legitimation. This leads to coalitions. …”

– Read it all at Anglican Mainstream. More on the meeting from Andrew Symes.

To boldly go… with the troops

This story by Southern Cross journalist David McIntyre won the ARPA Silver Award for ‘Best Feature Single Author’. It gives a good picture of the life of Australian military chaplains –

“Navy Chaplain Andrew Lewis washes dishes in the scullery on board the transport ship HMAS Success – not because he has to, but because it gives him ‘permission to sit down with the cooking staff at morning tea’.

He then goes up to the bridge to chat to the officers on duty before heading off to a meeting with the commander of the ship. …”

– Read it all at Defence Anglicans.

GAFCON prayer bulletins 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.”

– Downloadable from the GAFCON website.

Greg Thompson elected Bishop of Newcastle

“Bishop Greg Thompson has been elected by the Anglican Synod as the next Bishop of Newcastle.

The synod gathered under Bishop Administrator Dr Peter Stuart on Saturday to consider electing Bishop Thompson, 56, to serve as the 13th bishop of the city.”

– Report from The Newcastle Herald.

Kidnappers release Archbishop Kattey

“After spending about nine days in the kidnappers den, the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger Delta, (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey, was finally released by his captors on Saturday. Sources said Archbishop Kattey walked home alone after he regained his freedom from the unknown gunmen who abducted him last week Friday. …”

– Report from The Osun Defender, Nigeria.

Quiz Worx Appeal 2013

Our friends at Quizworx need your help.

Newcastle Synod meets to elect new Bishop

“The Anglican Diocese of Newcastle is today meeting to vote on a new bishop, after a previous vote failed to reach consensus. Five candidates, including a woman, nominated for the last vote in March, to replace the retired bishop Brian Farran. This time round the Northern Territory bishop Greg Thompson is the only candidate vying for the role. …”

– Report from ABC News.

Back to basics for Anglican Church

“A Hamilton vicar wants to take the Anglican Church back to basics and get leaders preaching from the same song sheet.

Vicar of West Hamilton Anglican Parish, the Rev Michael Hewat, is ‘concerned’ at the fact some church leaders say they do not believe in the resurrection and the virgin birth. …

‘The fact is that if the church is not preaching the Gospel then people are not going to come along,’ Mr Hewat said. He hopes to take the church back to basics today with a day-long seminar Restoring Confidence in the Gospel.”

– Report from the Waikato Times.

St. Aidan’s Windsor, Ontario loses appeal; request prayer

Canon Tom Carman, rector of St Aidan’s in Windsor, Ontario (an Anglican Network in Canada parish), reports:

“In its decision, the Court of Appeal, upheld the conclusions of the trial court judge, Justice Little, on both the matter of St Aidan’s property and the St Aidan’s bequeathment and finance fund. In addition, the Diocese of Huron was awarded partial costs in the amount of $100,000. …”

– More at Anglican Essentials Canada blog.

New Bishop of Durham announced

“The Diocese of Durham has announced this morning on their website the new Bishop of Durham Designate:

‘The announcement by Downing Street this morning confirms that the Bishop of Durham Designate is The Rt Revd Paul Butler … currently Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham…” – Report from EV News.

‘ECUSA has no rule against Dioceses withdrawing’

“We have a decision from the trial court in Quincy: Adams County Circuit Court Judge Thomas J. Ortbal entered on September 9, 2013 his Findings, Opinion and Order following a bench trial that stretched over three weeks last April and May. The opinion is about as thorough an analysis as we have to date of the ‘hierarchical’ polity of ECUSA when it comes to matters involving its member dioceses.”