‘A wound that can’t heal’: Church calls for recognition of genocide
“The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne has joined calls for the 1915–1923 Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides to be recognised by the state government.
More than 3 million Armenian, Assyrian/Syriac and Greek Orthodox Christians suffered from the systematic mass murder, expulsion and forced conversion beginning on 24 April 1915.
This population continues to be one of the most persecuted, dispossessed and scattered in the world. …”
– Report from The Melbourne Anglican.
Armidale’s “The Link” – November 2024
The latest edition (November 2024) of The Link, the magazine of the Diocese of Armidale, is now online.
Download a copy for your edification and your prayers.
A reminder of the need for gospel ministry in the country
This was posted on the Diocese of Bathurst Facebook page:
“Molong? Gilgandra? Canowindra? Bathurst? (assistant role at the Cathedral). Where might you come and experience the blessings of regional ministry? Or perhaps somewhere a little further away? West Wyalong? Coonabarabran?
Keen to talk to men and women open to exploring ministry in central and western NSW.
(Also: Coonamble, Condobolin, Bourke-Brewarrina, Nyngan, Warren, Coolah-Dunedoo, Cumnock, Trundle.)”
– see also the Diocesan website.
From the Archives: Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane remembers the beginnings of the SUEU
From our archives:
In 1980, Archbishop of Sydney Sir Marcus Loane (1912 – 2009), addressed the Sydney University Evangelical Union’s End of Term Service.
In his 19 minute address, Sir Marcus recalls the beginnings of the Evangelical Union, fifty years previously.
Photo: Marcus Loane as Vice Principal of Moore College, 1950.
Archbishop of Perth approves changes to Faithfulness in Service
“The Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, has written to members of the diocesan synod to confirm that she has assented to the motion passed earlier this month to approve changes Faithfulness in Service that effectively approve of extra-marital sexual activity.
In her letter she sets our her argument…”
– David Ould has the details.
Photo: Diocese of Perth.
A Tamworth ministry to the local Indigenous community
“In West Tamworth, there is palpable excitement in Glen Street on Wednesdays. Children finish school and go straight to Aunty Lucy Gibbs’ place where they wait for Frontyard Church to begin, filling in the time by running around or jumping on the trampoline.
In the late afternoon, about a dozen people arrive from St Peter’s, South Tamworth, spending the next half hour in the vacant block next door unpacking a shipping container full of chairs, tables and lights, plus a sound system and the all-important barbecues. …”
– SydneyAnglicans.net relays this encouraging story from the Diocese of Armidale.
Bishop of Bathurst’s newsletter — Synod 2024
The Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has released his latest newsletter.
Food for your prayers and a great way to catch up with what is happening across the diocese.
Ridley’s Principal to deliver farewell lecture
“The Reverend Brian Rosner will deliver a public farewell lecture at Ridley College on Wednesday, 16 October, marking the conclusion of his more than 12 years as principal.
The lecture, titled Strengthened by the Gospel: The Purpose of Romans and the Future of Ridley College, will focus on the enduring role of the gospel in Christian life and ministry. …”
– Report and photo from The Melbourne Anglican.
And a good reminder to also pray for the College and for Rhys Bezzant as he takes up the reins in January.
Latest news from the Northern Territory
The latest issue of Top Centre magazine (issue 24.2) from the Diocese of the Northern Territory is available on their website.
2024 Melbourne Synod wrap-up
The Synod of the Diocese of Melbourne has been held the last few days.
The Melbourne Anglican has several stories, as well as the text of Archbishop Philip Freier’s last Synod Presidential Address before his retirement.
Photo by Jenan Taylor / The Melbourne Anglican.
Where is our mission confidence?
“Last week, I enjoyed Xiao Long Bao with the family in a restaurant just behind Bourke Street in Melbourne City. On our way back to the car, we walked past two billboards casting their messages onto the famous Swanston and Flinders Street intersection.
The first billboard was hilarious; it advertised Melbourne’s Fringe Festival by emulating Paris’ Olympic Opening Ceremony with a Last Supper mock-up. Melbourne’s creatives apparently have the comedic and artistic flair of the inside of a vacuum: ‘Let stupidity repeat itself’! (no I’m not offended, except by the boorishness).
The second billboard stands outside St Paul’s Cathedral. This gothic lookalike sits on the busiest intersection in Melbourne’s CBD. It is a favourite spot for news reporters, city workers, protesters, and more. In every direction a tram is clicketing with passengers heading to the MCG or to theatre shows and the symphony.
With this kind of amazing frontage, which is probably unbeatable anywhere else in all of Melbourne, what message would you like to convey to the 100,000s people who pass by every day?…”
– Murray Campbell in Melbourne has some important observations for all churches.
Here’s another message, posted by private individuals, across from St. Paul’s Cathedral several years ago:
Bishop Darrell Parker’s Presidential Address to the Diocese of North West Australia
“The life saving and life transforming ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ continues steadily across the North West of Western Australia.
I’m deeply conscious that first and foremost, before we say anything concerning the details of that ministry, we must thank God for his mercies in what has been achieved. He surely is the one who makes this happen and empowers it by his Spirit, so it’s in sincere thanks, gratitude, and praise that I begin this Presidential Report to our Diocesan Synod.
If we together have achieved anything of eternal significance in this last year, our first instinct must be to humble ourselves before our Creator, Saviour, and King, and say ‘thank you’. I say this because ‘our’ works in gospel ministry are firstly ’The Lord’s’ works in gospel ministry. Our gospel acts of service belong to him well and truly before we undertake or even conceive of them. Paul reminds us of this truth in Ephesians 2:10,
…. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
This address is classified into three parts:
(1) Our Ministry Environment
(2) Diocesan Ministry Initiatives and Change
(3) Some Episcopal Observations …”
– Read it all here. A great reminder to pray for ministry in the North West.
Archbishop to Decide as Perth Synod Weakens Faithfulness in Service
“The Synod of the Diocese of Perth met this last weekend amid ever-growing concern about the direction that the Diocese is heading under the leadership of Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy.
The matter which davidould.net has received most correspondence about is the proposed changes to Faithfulness in Service to effectively weaken moral requirements for church workers.
We’ll come to that in a moment but, perhaps to set the scene of what is happening in Perth, here is a fascinating set of answers to questions. All documentation for this article comes from photos provided by attendees at the synod since the Diocese of Perth no longer publishes any of their synod documentation online (including the Presidential Address). …”
– Do read the latest at davidould.net.
Photo: Diocese of Perth.
Christian sexual ethics and the abuse of adolescents: Lessons from the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle
“I encourage everyone interested in law and religion issues to read this challenging piece published on the Australian Broadcasting Commission website from Emeritus Professor Patrick Parkinson: “Christian sexual ethics and the abuse of adolescents: Lessons from the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle” (24 September 2024). …”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster commends some important, but sobering, reading.
(Image: Assoc. Professor Neil Foster speaks at a Diocese of Sydney Safe Ministry training event.)
Bathurst Synod 2024 Presidential Address
Bishop Mark Calder this morning delivered his Presidential Address to the Synod of the Diocese of Bathurst. Click the image above to watch.
Or read the text (PDF file).
“I only have one agenda.
His name is Jesus.
I want everyone in our churches to know Jesus, love Jesus, trust Jesus, serve Jesus and share Jesus.
And I want everyone not currently in our churches to hear of Jesus, turn to Jesus, revel in Jesus as Saviour and serve Jesus as Lord.
I was elected by the Bishop’s election board in 2019 for that agenda.
The board made it clear that they wanted change. Not just any change, but Gospel-shaped, Jesus- focused change.
Of course, I am not suggesting that Jesus wasn’t on the agenda prior to my appointment. However, the reality of the prior years, is that there were many other distressing and distracting issues which needed to be addressed.
I have now been here five years, and under our ordinances, I have three more.
So I want to share with you five lessons I’ve learnt in five years and three prayers I will continue praying in my last three years. …”
– Whether you watch or read, be encouraged to share the link to this page so that others can pray, and help in other ways.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…