2021 Census shows changes in Australia’s religious diversity
“The 2021 Census has revealed increasing diversity in the religions Australians identified, reflecting continuing changes in our social attitudes and belief systems.
Christianity is the most common religion in Australia, with over 40 per cent (43.9 per cent) identifying as Christian. This has reduced from over 50 per cent (52.1 per cent) in 2016 and from over 60 per cent (61.1 per cent) in 2011. As in earlier Censuses, the largest Christian denominations are Catholic (20.0 per cent of the population) and Anglican (9.8 per cent). …”
– The latest media release from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reminds us that there is plenty of scope to share the saving message of Jesus Christ.
ACT Discrimination Law Reforms Narrow Religious Freedom
“The Australian Capital Territory government has released an Exposure Draft of a Bill to amend that jurisdiction’s Discrimination Act 1991 (“DA”). They have invited public comment by 1 July 2022.
As key protections for religious freedom in Australia are often found in “balancing clauses” in discrimination legislation, it is always worth keeping an eye on reforms to these laws.
Sadly, these proposed reforms will significantly narrow religious freedom protections in the ACT. …”
– Associate Professor Neil Foster takes a look at proposed law reforms in the ACT.
GAFCON Sunday message from Archbishop Ben Kwashi
“This Gafcon Sunday (26 June 2022) will mark 14 years of faithfully proclaiming the unchanging word of God to a lost and desperate world.”
Statement on Supreme Court Dobbs decision by TEC Bishop Michael Curry
“Today the Supreme Court released its decision in the case of Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The court has overturned the constitutional right to abortion that was recognized in the seminal 1973 case Roe v. Wade.
While I, like many, anticipated this decision, I am deeply grieved by it. …
The church holds that ‘reproductive health procedures should be treated as all other medical procedures, and not singled out or omitted by or because of gender’ (2018-D032). …”
– From The Episcopal Church.
What will happen at Lambeth 2022?
“The Lambeth Conference which is set to take place from 26 July to 6 August, last met with all Anglican bishops in attendance in 1998 – 24 years ago. …”
– At Anglican Mainstream Canon Chris Sugden in the UK gives some background to the coming Lambeth Conference.
He points out the reason some provinces will not be attending: “The Africans’ boycott is the consequence not the cause of disunity.”
Related:
Lambeth speaks plainly (that was then) – Dr Stephen Noll.
Don’t forget GAFCON Sunday
“Churches around the Anglican Communion are being urged to mark Sunday, June 26th as GAFCON Sunday, as the Global Anglican Future Conference enters its 14th year.”
– A reminder from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Religious Freedom Challenges for Theological Colleges in Australia
Associate Professor Neil Foster writes at Law and Religion Australia:
“I am presenting a paper to a seminar for senior leaders in Australian theological colleges, dealing with religious freedom challenges.
I comment briefly on some of the current protections provided, but also how those protections have been eroded recently, especially in Victoria (where amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) which I previously commented on have now commenced.)
A copy of the paper can be downloaded here.”
(Image: Diocese of Sydney.)
African Primates chide the Archbishop of Canterbury and his Secretary General
“We note Your Grace’s statement that ‘Canterbury, or to be clear, the Church of England has not in any way changed its teaching on marriage or the place of sexual relations’. We doubt if this claim can be justified by trends and moves by the Church of England in regard to blessing of same-sex marriages. …
Right from the earliest Council in Acts 15, and other instances from the Epistles where there were reports of lifestyle in direct opposition to Scripture, there was no place where Christians were enjoined to continue to fellowship with the disobedient members of the Church. The admonition is to ‘Come out of them’ and ‘Do not be unequally yoked together’ (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).”
– In response to the letter from Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Secretary General of the Anglican Communion Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, to three African Primates about their non-attendance at the coming Lambeth Conference, the three Primates have replied in clear and straightforward language. Read their reply at Anglican Ink.
Photo: Justin Welby and Josiah Idowu-Fearon.
Archbishop Welby denounces as un-biblical the decision of African Primates to skip the Lambeth Conference
“The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has written to the Primates of Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda to tell them that his invitation to bishops from their provinces to attend the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops remains open.
In a joint letter with the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Archbishop Justin said: ‘God calls us to unity and not to conflict so that the world may know he came from the Father. That is the very purpose of the church globally.‘…”
– Published last week by Anglican Ink.
See Archbishop Welby’s letter here (PDF file).
The Archbishop of Canterbury states that “the Church of England, has not in any way changed its teaching on marriage or the place of sexual relations”.
However, Archbishop Welby, who promised in his consecration vows to be “ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God’s Word; and both privately and openly to call upon and encourage others to the same” has invited several bishops who are in same-sex marriages to the Lambeth Conference.
Honoured for fostering love
“North Shore couple Carolyn and David Stedman, who have fostered 74 children, are among several Sydney Anglicans honoured in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours…”
– SydneyAnglicans.net has the story.
Image: Seven’s Sunrise via Anglican Media Sydney.
GAFCON Sunday 2022
GAFCON Sunday 2022 is coming up on June 26.
Quiz Worx would be glad of your support
Quiz Worx is running their 2022 End-of-Financial-Year Appeal – to help them share Jesus with kids everywhere – using puppetry, music, drama, stories and fun. They have been such a blessing to so many.
See their website to learn more of what Quiz Worx does.
Click the image above for a larger version.
Download their appeal video from this link.
African church leader to address GAFCON Australasia
“A national church gathering of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) Australasia will hear from international leaders including GAFCON General Secretary, Archbishop Ben Kwashi. …”
– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net gives a preview of the conference.
Photo: Archbishop Kwashi with Archbishop Peter Jensen in Jerusalem in 2018.
The anatomy of an Anglican service
From The Australian Church Record:
“Today we begin a new series of five articles on the elements that make up an Anglican service.
These pieces by the Moore College student orientation team were developed in 2022 to help new students understand the theological logic behind the Anglican services – based on the Book of Common Prayer – that are followed in Moore College chapel.
We’re sharing these because they help to demonstrate how and why Anglicans do what we do in church, for the encouragement and building up of the saints to maturity in Jesus Christ. We hope that you find them beneficial!”
Published so far –
More to come at The Australian Church Record.
Portrait of Thomas Cranmer by Gerlach Flicke.
A message for Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week
The Rev. Michael Duckett, who leads Macarthur Indigenous Church, has shared a prayer and video message for Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week.
The video could be downloaded for use in church.
“As God’s people, and as his church, we have the responsibility to be ambassadors of reconciliation. So I want to encourage us … that we would be bringing the true message of reconciliation to this country.”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…