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.

New Dean of Armidale announced

“Chris Brennan is to be the next Dean of St Peter’s Cathedral in Armidale.

In every sense of the word Chris’ appointment is a local one having grown up at Enmore and Yarrowyck, being educated in his high school years at The Armidale School (TAS) and only ever having left the north west to study at the University of Southern Queensland, where he obtained a science degree, and later at Moore Theological College in Sydney. …

Chris will be installed as Dean in a special service at St Peter’s Cathedral on 2 March.”

– Read the full announcement from the Diocese of Armidale. (Photo: Glen Innes Anglican.)

Lent 2015 Studies from John Harrower

Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower has written a series of studies for Lent 2015.

Called The God of Life, you can read the details here.

Archbishop of Brisbane ‘blesses statues’

“Three stunning hand-crafted sandstone statues were hoisted into the niches of St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane on Wednesday, January 28, 2015. … The statues cost about $45,000 each … The Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall, Archbishop of Brisbane, blessed the statues before they were raised by crane.”

– from the Diocese of Brisbane.

The Bishop of Bathurst’s journey to Dubbo

“From Sunday February 1 to Saturday February 7, Bishop Ian and Liz Palmer will be making a Pilgrimage Walk from Bathurst to Dubbo.

Bishop Ian has said that the walk will serve several important purposes:

It highlights the decision for the Bishop of Bathurst to move out of Bishopscourt in Bathurst, and to take up residence in the Rectory at Holy Trinity Dubbo. Bishop Ian will also be commissioned as Rector of Dubbo on Saturday evening, February 7;

It symbolises Bishop Ian’s and Liz’ commitment to walk with the people of the diocese on the difficult journey ahead;

It provides an opportunity to walk and talk with people from the parishes along the way;

It gives opportunity to reflect on the changing nature of ministry and mission in the Diocese of Bathurst.

While he is not expecting anyone else to walk the 200-plus kilometres, he will welcome anyone wanting to walk part of the pilgrimage with him…”

– See the itinerary from the Diocese of Bathurst.

Bishop of Bathurst to walk to Dubbo

“As an act of pilgrimage, Anglican Bishop of Bathurst Ian Palmer and his wife Elizabeth will next month walk to their new home in Dubbo.

In recognition of the Diocese of Bathurst’s grave financial position, the Palmers are moving to Dubbo where the bishop will humbly and gratefully take up the role of parish priest…”

– Report from The Western Advocate.

Interview with Bishop Gary Nelson, Diocese of North West Australia

David Ould is at the NSW CMS Summer School this week – as is Bishop Gary Nelson of the Diocese of North West Australia.

David recorded this 15 minute interview with Gary.

Bishop Nelson describes ministry in the North West, and the challenges facing churches in small mining towns with transient populations. He also speaks about his diocesan synod’s decision to declare themselves to be in full communion with the Anglican Church in North America and to recognise them as a member of the Anglican Communion.

Have a listen, and be prompted to pray for the ministry of the churches in that far-flung diocese.

To learn more, you can download the December 2014 issue of The North West Network here as a 750kb PDF file. On page 4 of that newsletter, there’s information on how you can support the ministry in the North West through prayer and finances.

Bathurst Pastoral Letter speaks of significant changes

The Bishop of Bathurst, Ian Palmer, has written to all his parishes to indicate “very significant changes in the structure and ministry” of the diocese. His Pastoral Letter was made public when it was read in every parish of the diocese on Sunday 21st December 2014 –

“On Wednesday after weeks of thought, prayer and preparation the Bishop in Council agreed a budget for 2015. Very simply, they passed a budget that has no increase in the parish assessments for 2015 and shows a small surplus.

The cost of this is great. …

Because of the financial state of the Diocese I cannot continue as your full-time bishop. … At the end of January Liz and I will move out of Bishopscourt and in early February I will be commissioned as the Rector of Dubbo at the same time as remaining Bishop of the Diocese.”

You can read the full Pastoral letter here (PDF file) – and please pray for Bishop Palmer and all involved and for the preaching of Christ in the Bathurst region.

‘Staff cuts and shakeup of region’s Anglican church’

“The debt-ridden Anglican church in western New South Wales is facing staff cuts and a bishop who [will] become a part-time priest. The Anglican Diocese of Bathurst covers almost a third of NSW but it’s in dire straits…”

– Report from ABC News.

Christmas messages 2014

abp-freier-christmas-2014 It’s time for Christian leaders to release their Christmas messages.

Please pray that all will speak clearly and plainly of the saving gospel of Christ.

We’ll post messages as we find them (in no particular order).

Kay Goldsworthy elected Bishop of Gippsland

“Kay Goldsworthy has been elected as the Anglican Bishop of Gippsland.”

– Report from The Gippsland Times. She will be the second woman diocesan bishop in Australia.

Update: David Ould has posted these observations.

Challenge and Choice — Australian Anglican Schools Today

“The book Challenge and Choice – Australian Anglican Schools Today by Dr Ruth Edwards was launched in Brisbane on Wednesday 3 December.

The work represents a significant attempt to not only survey the history of these religious schools but to map something of the future that lies before this sector.”

– See the story from the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn.