Bishop of Newcastle’s pastoral letter on General Synod 2022
Dr Peter Stuart, Bishop of Newcastle, has this afternoon released this Pastoral Letter at the conclusion of General Synod 2022. (PDF file)
‘Fundamentally awry’: bishops block move to reject same-sex marriage
“A statement from the evangelical Bishop of Tasmania, Richard Condie, said ‘many people were visibly shocked. There were tears and confusion in the room … a number of orthodox bishops are concerned about the implications for our common life and work in the days ahead.’
Straight after the vote, a shocked [Archbishop Kanishka] Raffel said the failure to support the statement left the church in ‘a perilous position, and no-one should be mistaken about that’…”
– The Sydney Morning Herald’s report by Jordan Baker includes these reactions to the failure of the House of Bishops to uphold clear Biblical standards.
Photo: Richard Condie, Bishop of Tasmania.
Increased media interest in the Anglican Church this week
There seems to be quite a bit of media interest in the Anglican Church this week, as well as commentary about that media interest.
Here’s a selection –
The Attack on Sydney Anglicanism – David Robertson at The Australian Presbyterian.
Anglican moderates hit back in same-sex spat – The Australian (subscription)
Australian General Synod opens with Anti-Orthodox Media Campaign – David Ould.
If God is neither male nor female, should we change God’s pronouns? – ABC Religion and Ethics.
Why would you move to Victoria in the middle of a pandemic?
“Why would you move to Victoria in the middle of a pandemic?
Such was the incredulity of our friends basking in the tropical delights of the Northern Territory when we announced we were pulling up stumps and heading south. Indeed, many of our new friends here have asked the same question.
To say it was an interesting start to our new ministry at Christ Church Echuca would be an understatement. …”
– On page 9 of the March 2022 issue of The Spirit monthly from the Diocese of Bendigo, Phil & Leeanne Zamagias share why they moved from Darwin to Echuca.
Women, families and same-sex marriage on the agenda for General Synod
“Gender balance and family violence will be key issues on the agenda at the 18th Anglican General Synod in May, according to agenda documents.
The solemnisation of same sex marriage is also set to be debated by delegates. …
The issue of the blessing of same-sex marriage will also be revisited by delegates at the General Synod.
Two statements with respect to the topic of human sexuality and same-sex marriages were submitted by the Sydney Diocese for discussion on the synod’s first day.”
– Report from The Melbourne Anglican.
General Synod meets from Sunday 8 May to Friday 13 May on the Gold Coast.
Tasmania Celebration with Will Graham — May 2022
From the Diocese of Tasmania –
“The Tasmania Celebration with Will Graham is coming up in Hobart on 21 May and in Launceston from 27-29 May 2022.
Since 1950, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has held Crusades all across the globe for one purpose: to proclaim God’s love to people who need Jesus Christ. Today, Will Graham Celebrations continue this life-changing mission. …”
Livestream for General Synod — for members who are isolating
“The Australian General Synod will be livestreamed for the first time to minimise disruption from COVID-19, allowing delegates to participate in the conference virtually if they are isolating.
Organisers say the decision was a response to the COVID-19 situation, which meant synod delegates might have to isolate at the last minute, possibly even going into isolation during the conference.
A seminar-style livestream will also be available to some people who would normally view the conference but not participate. …
General Synod will run from Sunday 8 May to Friday 13 May.”
– Story from The Melbourne Anglican.
“Easter in a minute” – from the Bishop of Bathurst
Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder has released this one-minute Easter message for 2022.
Also, Bishop Calder has posted several Easter service and sermon videos. If you’re unable to get to church this Easter, you’ll find them a great encouragement.
The latest “TOP CENTRE” from the Northern Territory
The Diocese of the Northern Territory has published the first Top Centre magazine for 2021.
It includes news of several new faces in the diocese.
Bishop Greg Anderson explains why they produce Top Centre:
“This is the fourth edition of Top Centre with Anne Lim as our editor. It seems a good time to say something about Top Centre and its place in the Diocese of the NT, to draw attention to why we commit time, energy and money to producing it, and what value it has. …
Having a diocesan magazine reminds me of the importance of stories. Our Christian faith is based on a story – real, not made-up – comprising events that unfold the work of God in rescuing the world he made and loves, and that reaches its high point in the arrival, death and resurrection of Jesus. At the heart of the work of the diocese is sharing about this rescuing work that the Bible’s narrative recounts.”
– Read it all on page 3 of this edition.
The latest Armidale “Link”
Admittedly we’re a bit late in posting this link to The Link, the magazine of the Diocese of Armidale.
The March 2022 issue is now up on their website.
Fuel for your prayers.
North West Network March 2022
The latest issue of North West Network, the newsletter of the Diocese of Northwest Australia, is now available.
Download your copy and use it as fuel for your prayers for the churches and people of the North West.
National Bishops meeting in Adelaide
The Bishops of the Anglican Church of Australia are meeting in Adelaide Friday 18 – Tuesday 22 March. Due to COVID the last two years, this is their first in-person meeting since 2019.
Please uphold in prayer all who are meeting.
Pray for good and godly discussion as relationships in some quarters have been strained by recent actions relating to the blessing of same sex marriages.
Pray for wisdom for all and that the Lord will be honoured in what is said and done.
(Diocesan crests via the Anglican Church of Australia website.)
New start at Parkes
“The Anglican Parish of Parkes and Peak Hill has welcomed and embraced the Reverend Ben Mackay and his family who moved to Parkes in early January.
Ben’s formal welcome and commissioning will be held at St George’s Parkes tomorrow, 12th March, at 10am. The Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst, Mark Calder will conduct the service …”
– News from The Parkes Phoenix.
Bathurst Anglican e-News — March 2022
The Diocese of Bathurst’s e-News for March 2022 is now up on their website.
It’s a “newsletter for the Anglican Church in Central & Western NSW”, but will be of interest to many who are praying for the eternal good of men and women across that diocese.
In this issue Bishop Mark Calder writes –
Encouraging signs of growth
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind towards each other that Christ Jesus had so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the same mind towards each other that Christ Jesus had; a humility of servanthood and of sacrifice, so that with one voice and one mind we may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 15:5-6)
I’ve been sharing those verses with you since before I began here and I think that under God we are slowly seeing our prayers answered in that regard. …
Read it all on page 2 – and download the whole issue here. (3.7MB PDF file.)
In an e-mail to newsletter recipients Bishop Calder writes:
“Please give thanks with us for the grace of God at work among us and pray that the Lord will raise up more gospel workers for our 16/29 parishes without clergy.”
Diocese of the Northern Territory Prayer Cycle for 2022
From the Diocese of the Northern Territory –
“We covet your prayers for the work of the Gospel in the Diocese of the Northern Territory.
Please keep praying that God will raise up the next generation of leaders in all the parishes here in the Northern Territory, for additional resources for our urban and remote parishes and that we will use the resources that God has given wisely.”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…