Bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower, announces intention to retire
From Bishop Harrower’s blog –
“Today, I have communicated the following to the Diocese of Tasmania. I ask for your prayers for our Anglican Family of Tasmania as we bring a season of leadership to a close and toward a new season. Read more
New Assistant Bishop for Canberra & Goulburn
News from Canberra & Goulburn Diocese –
“Archdeacon Dr Matt Brain was appointed as a new Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn following a meeting of Bishop in Council earlier today…”
And “Assistant Bishop Trevor Edwards will become the bishop responsible for the development of ministry in the Diocese’s western and coastal regions following a meeting of Bishop in Council today…”
‘Newcastle Anglicans join the Bishopscourt sell-off trend’
“The Anglican Diocese of Newcastle has put its Bishopscourt estate for 11 May Walkom Real Estate tender…”
Archbishop of Melbourne’s Easter Message 2015
This year’s Easter message from Dr Philip Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne, can be seen here.
The ACL celebrates the launch of FCA Australia
The Anglican Church League sponsored the launch of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA), Australia at Scot’s church, Melbourne on 26 March 2015.
“The establishment of FCA Australia is recognition that we are not immune to the challenges of the wider communion. The ACL celebrates this launch and joins with you in praying for the newly formed FCA Australia board.”
The ACL’s President, Gav Poole, spoke at the launch reception —
“The ACL is a grassroots movement made up of lay and clergy members. We promote ministry that is reformed, protestant and evangelical.
By reformed we mean ministry that has its genesis in the sixteenth century reformers who recaptured the Biblical faith that we are saved through faith in Christ alone and that God is sovereign in life and salvation.
By protestant, we protest Biblical aberrations, name and warn against false teaching. Our unity is in the gospel, not structure and institution.
By evangelical, we fully trust in the powerful gospel of Jesus Christ which provides the only solution to human rebellion. The gospel is not just one of many messages but our only one.
This week, as we seek solutions to our many struggles, please be encouraged that faithful, clear and bold proclamation of the gospel along with earnest prayer to the Lord of the harvest is always rewarded.
One of the goals of the ACL is to promote the evangelical character of the Sydney diocese. Like it or not, the Sydney diocese is what it is today largely due to the work of the ACL.
It is a testimony to the fact that we can achieve far more together than apart.
Is a privilege to sponsor tonight’s event. The establishment of FCA Australia is recognition that we are not immune to the challenges of the wider communion.
The ACL celebrates this launch and joins with you in praying for the newly formed FCA Australia board.
Thank you for the opportunity to sponsor this event.”
Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Australia launched
“An Australian branch of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans has been launched in Melbourne, watched by delegates from across Australasia at the Anglican Future Conference…”
– Russell Powell has this report at SydneyAnglicans.net.
And the GAFCON website has the text of Archbishop Eliud Wabukala’s address:
“… it is my prayer that FCA Australia will be powerfully used by God as an instrument of renewal and reform in the Anglican Church here. I long to see all orthodox Anglicans united in a common commitment to pioneering a new wave of evangelism which will have a deep and lasting impact on this nation.
However, I also want to encourage you to look beyond Australia. As you come together in this Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, commit to becoming even stronger partners with orthodox Anglicans throughout the world.…”
Related: Today David Ould published interviews he has recorded with Archbishop Eliud Wabukala and Dr. Ashley Null at the conference.
Anglican Future Conference opens in Melbourne
“The Anglican Future conference has opened in Melbourne with a call for faithfulness and clarity in proclaiming the Gospel in Australasia.
More than 400 delegates have gathered in Melbourne, from all over Australia and New Zealand…”
– Russell Powell has this report at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Around the Anglican Church of Australia — 25 March 2015
The Anglican Future Conference is getting under way in Melbourne today (March 25-27 2015). Please pray for all attendees, and for a renewed gospel vision for Australia to come out of this significant gathering.
In other news from around the country –
“Roof-wetting a milestone” – The Anglicare Women’s Hostel at Toowong celebrates milestone with a roof-wetting and blessing by Archbishop Dr Phillip Aspinall.
“Parishes rallying to pay Anglican Diocese of Bathurst’s legal bills” – Daily Liberal, Dubbo.
“Conversation with the Archbishop: Economics for a sustainable future” – Diocese of Melbourne.
“Pilgrims’ Service & Chrism Mass”, theme of “Called and Sent: a year of discipleship and apostleship” – Diocese of Ballarat.
St. Alban’s Cathedral in Griffith to celebrate 60 years – Diocese of Riverina.
Easter encouragement from Bishop Stuart Robinson – Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn.
Is there a Future for Confessional Anglicanism? — conference audio
On Saturday 21st March 2015, the Anglican Church League held the “Is there a Future for Confessional Anglicanism?” conference in the Chapter House of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney.
Those present considered our Anglican inheritance, our current challenges and our potential future under God.
Glenn Davies, Archbishop of Sydney; Ashley Null, authority on Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation; and Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore Theological College, were the speakers.
Listen to the talks via these links:
Archbishop Dr. Glenn Davies:
The State of Play in the Anglican Church of Australia.
27MB mp3 file and 100kb PDF file outline.
“The ACL’s role in Sydney is to keep the Diocese evangelical. That’s our role. Our role is to be ever vigilant … What one generation fights for, the next generation accepts and the third one forgets. … The stronger ACL is, the stronger the Diocese of Sydney is; the stronger the Diocese of Sydney is, the better the national church will be.”
Dr. Ashley Null:
Our Inheritance.
“The very heart of Cranmer’s understanding of the mission of the church is to proclaim the gospel … to renew the hearts and minds and lives of the English people.”
Dr. Mark D. Thompson:
Where next for confessional Anglicanism?
17MB mp3 file or 160kb PDF file.
“I am an Anglican – not just by historical accident but by conviction. I am convinced that here is a good – more than good, something that has proven to be powerfully effective over almost five hundred years — expression of gospel principles and gospel priorities … Yet to be true to that heritage I must be a gospel man first.”
Photo by Scott Blackwell.
North West Network March 2015
Keep up with happenings in (and pray for) the churches of the Diocese of Northwest Australia through their latest North West Network newsletter, March 2015.
Download it here as a 900kb PDF file.
Newcastle Bishopscourt sale gets green light
“A resolution to sell the Newcastle Anglican Diocesan’s historic Bishopscourt was passed by an overwhelming majority of the Diocesan Council on Thursday…”
– story and photo from The Newcastle Herald.
The Bishop who walks with the cross
“The Right Reverend Stuart Robinson will visit a number of rural centres across south western New South Wales carrying a large wood cross as Anglicans get ready to celebrate Good Friday on 3 April 2015 …
‘I meet too many people who feel overwhelmed by their pain and powerless when confronted by the suffering of the world. The Good News is that the light has overcome the darkness and life can swallow up death because Jesus died and rose again.’
– Story from the Canberra & Goulburn diocese website.
Towns on the itinerary are Holbrook, Tumbarumba, Tumut, Gundagai, Wagga Wagga, Cooma including Berridale and Snowy Mountains, Queanbeyan and Goulburn.
Photo courtesy Alex Rea at The Braidwood Times.
Prayers for Bishop Ian Palmer
From the Diocese of Bathurst:
“The Anglican Bishop of Bathurst, Ian Palmer, is in Orange Base Hospital undergoing tests after experiencing chest pains while at a meeting on Saturday morning.
He has been pain-free since Saturday afternoon and is in good spirits. …
Your continuing prayers for Bishop Ian and Liz will be greatly appreciated.”
And further from their Facebook page (h/t David Ould):
“We would ask for your prayers for our Bishop Ian Palmer. Bishop Ian is recovering in Orange Base Hospital after having a stent inserted following an angiogram on Monday…”
Tribute to Barbara Darling by Archbishop Glenn Davies
Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies has released this Public Statement, paying tribute to Bishop Barbara Darling –
“It was with great sadness that we heard the news of the death of Bishop Barbara Darling on Sunday 15th February, after suffering a stroke some eight days earlier.
Barbara Darling was a pioneer of extraordinary gifts and talents. Originally from Sydney, after some years spent as a teacher in NSW, Barbara moved to Melbourne and pursued theological studies at Ridley College under Dr Leon Morris. Her intellect and gracious disposition combined with both passion and giftedness for teaching were quickly recognised by Dr Morris, as she was offered a teaching contract at Ridley upon her graduation, and later became the first tenured female lecturer at Ridley College.
Barbara was a pioneer for women’s ordination, having been in the first cohort of women to be made deacon in Melbourne in 1986, and six years later among the first to be ordained priest, and then Barbara became the first woman to be consecrated bishop in the Diocese of Melbourne in 2008.
Yet Barbara never displayed a militant advocacy for the ordination of women. Her first joy was to serve her Saviour in whatever capacity he called to her to. A committed Evangelical, Barbara was able to maintain good relationships with those who held different views from her own. Winsome, godly and gracious it was always a joy to meet her and to hear of the work of God in her life and ministry. She will be sorely missed not only by the Diocese of Melbourne but by the national church as well.
‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints’ (Ps 116:15).
Archbishop Glenn Davies.”
Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.
Melbourne’s Bishop Barbara Darling dies
Very sad news in an e-mail from the office of the Archbishop of Melbourne:
“The Right Reverend Barbara Darling has died this morning at 11.20am in hospital after suffering a stroke on Saturday 7 February. Family and friends were with her when she died. …
Her sudden and untimely death has shocked and saddened all who knew her and enjoyed her loving pastoral support, friendship and encouragement, within the diocese of Melbourne, with her fellow Bishops, amongst the staff of the diocese and throughout Australian Anglicans.
We mourn her death and pray for her family and friends as they grieve her loss.”
We also hear that Bishop Darling’s funeral will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne, next Sunday 22 February at 5:00pm.
Related: Melbourne’s first Anglican female bishop dies – The Age.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…