Bathurst church building destroyed by fire
The St. Barnabas’ Anglican Church building in South Bathurst (map) was destroyed by fire last night. The congregation and Bishop Ian Palmer would value your prayers.
Report from ABC News.
Report and photos from The Western Advocate.
Monday morning update from The Western Advocate.
Photo: Troy Johnson / Twitter via ABC News.
Andrew Cameron to be Director of St Mark’s Canberra
“The Right Reverend Trevor Edwards, President of St Mark’s Council, announced today the appointment of The Reverend Dr Andrew Cameron as Director of St Mark’s National Theological Centre.
The appointment follows a careful, thorough and rigorous selection process by St Mark’s Council and the consent of Bishop in Council. It will be effective from 1st July 2014, and follows the resignation of the Right Reverend Dr Tom Frame…” – news from the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn.
Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Glenn Davies spoke of Dr Cameron as:
“both an accomplished scholar and a faithful servant of Christ. He possess an incisive mind, a firm integrity and a pervasive godliness which he brings to every task he approaches.
St Mark’s Theological Centre has chosen well and I have no doubt that Dr Cameron will continue to bless the Australian Church in his new role.”
And Moore College Principal Dr. Mark Thompson says,
“Andrew is an extraordinarily able ethicist. His contribution to Moore during more than a decade on the faculty has been of the highest quality and the most enduring character.
While we are very sorry that he is leaving us — it is a very significant loss — we are not at all surprised that others have seen the value of Andrew’s ministry and invited him to lead them.”
‘New Anglican bishop promises justice, compassion’
“Newly installed Anglican Bishop of Newcastle Greg Thompson focused on the issues of justice and compassion during his first official sermon at Christ Church Cathedral yesterday. …”
– Report from the Newcastle Herald. (Please also keep in your prayers the Diocese of the Northern Territory as a new Bishop is sought.)
Bishop to attend ‘school’ for new bishops
“Bishop Ian Palmer is heading to the United Kingdom at the end of January to attend a ‘school’ for newly-appointed bishops. …”
– News from Bathurst Diocese.
New Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral Sale
“On Friday November 5, 2013 the Reverend Steve Clarke was inducted and installed as the new Dean of the Cathedral of St Paul and Rector of the parish of Sale.
Steve Clarke began his professional life as a jazz musician in Sydney. Following a ‘chance’ encounter with a traveling preacher, Steve came to faith and felt a strong calling to Christian ministry.”
– News and photo from the Diocese of Gippsland.
Answering the call
“Archbishop Glenn Davies thought he was too old to be appointed to the top job, heading up the Sydney Anglican diocese and becoming Metropolitan of NSW. …
Dr Davies, who has held the role since last June, was the special guest at the Diocese of Canberra/Goulburn’s Bishop’s Convention on Friday and Saturday. It was his first official visit to the city.”
– There’s a profile on Archbishop Glenn Davies in The Goulburn Post.
Open Letter to the Prime Minister regarding South Sudan
Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Stuart Robinson, has written an open letter to Prime Minister Tony Abbott concerning South Sudan.
Prayers in Melbourne for South Sudan
“More than 200 adults and 70 children gathered at the Anglican Church of the Apostles, Sunshine, for a regular thanksgiving service. But because most of those present come from the vicinity of Bor in South Sudan which has seen armed conflict this past week, the prayers reflected the anxiety and concern about relatives back home.”
– from the Diocese of Melbourne. (Map: DFAT.)
Chapter ends for Bathurst’s Anglican News
“After 34 years of publishing, the Anglican News has been printed for the last time. As the Bathurst Diocese of the Anglican Church struggles financially, the 2014 budget adopted by the Synod makes no provision for the production of a diocesan newspaper.”
– from The Western Advocate. (Anglican News Archives.)
Christmas messages 2013
As we spot Christmas messages, we’ll post them here. So far…
From around Australia —
John Harrower, Bishop of Tasmania.
Philip Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne.
John Parkes, Bishop of Wangaratta.
Ian Lambert, Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force.
Stuart Robinson, Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn.
Peter Stuart, Bishop Administrator of Newcastle.
Bill Ray, Bishop of North Queensland.
And from further afield –
Jars of Clay
“Clay speaks the truth that we who are made in the image of God are also made of the dust of the ground. Clay speaks of being in the hands of the master potter who is shaping us to His own ends. It speaks – as it does here – of the homely and ordinary; of the everyday domestic vessels whose myriad shards are scattered across every field in the Middle East.
Why has God made His servants of this clay? The reason is clear: to show that the all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
– Dean of Armidale, Stephen Williams, delivered this address at the funeral of Bishop Peter Chiswell last week, and Peter’s son Graeme gave the Eulogy.
Northwest Network — December 2013
The latest edition of The Northwest Network is now available – grab a copy to help in praying for the people of the North West (660kb PDF, hosted with permission).
Bishop Peter Chiswell 1934–2013
Bishop Peter Chiswell – Bishop of Armidale from 1976 to 1999 – died in Armidale on Friday.
His funeral is to be held at St. Peter’s Cathedral Armidale tomorrow, Thursday 12th December 2013, at 11.00am.
Current Bishop, Rick Lewers, has written this tribute:
“The year I was born, 1958, Peter Chiswell graduated from Moore Theological College in Sydney and was ordained by the Bishop of Armidale, John S. Moyes. Peter’s ministry included appointments in Narrabri, Quirindi, Bingara, and Gunnedah before he was consecrated in Sydney by Archbishop Marcus Loane, then taking his place in Armidale’s St Peter’s Cathedral as Bishop in November, 1976.”
Grafton appointment exposes massive differences in the Anglican Church in Australia
“I wrote last week about the appointment of Rev Dr Sarah Macneil as the new Bishop of Grafton diocese in NSW, Australia. Not only is she due to be Australia’s first female diocesan, but far more troubling she is on the record as holding what many consider to be heterodox views on human sexuality and the atonement. …”
– At his blog, David Ould continues to explore the implications of the election of a new Bishop of the Diocese of Grafton. (Related posts.)
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Media Statement November 28, 2013
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
The Steering Committee for the Sydney Diocesan response to the Royal Commission on Child Sexual Abuse says a file review of material relating to child abuse complaints stretching back to the 1930’s is almost complete.
“The Committee has commissioned a thorough review of all complaints, notifications and files which are relevant to the Royal Commission. This has been done carefully and has involved reviewing a significant amount of material” said Steering Committee spokesman Dr Robert Tong.
“Some media reports have misrepresented evidence given to the Royal Commission by equating the number of files with complaints or current investigations. Some outlets reported that there were 600 current investigations of complaints. This is not correct.” he said. Read more
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…