Diocese of North West Australia Pipeline for leadership

“Geraldton student Nathan Hiscock has been appointed the first Ministry Apprentice in the North West Anglican Church, in a major push to raise up homegrown gospel workers.

The position is part of the new 3-stage Ministry Training Pipeline which includes theological studies and a stint as a curate before graduating to lead a church. …”

– Encouraging news from the Diocese of North West Australia (and a reminder to pray for the progress of the gospel in that far-flung diocese).

More Diocesan news here.

Bishop of Newcastle reports from Rome and Canterbury

Earlier this month, Dr Peter Stuart, the Bishop of Newcastle, sent this report from Rome and Canterbury. He was there for the ‘Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission’ –

“Our second summit day has concluded. It has been profound.

We began with the experience of Holy Communion where the Anglicans could not participate. We all experienced the pain. …

Day 4. From Rome.

A special service in the Basilica of St Paul outside the walls.

This evening, Bishop Greg from Lismore and I were commissioned for the work of Christian unity by Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin.

The homilies were based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the call to love.

We were greeted by Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin. …”

– From the Diocese of Newcastle.

Photo via the Diocese of Newcastle.

Archbishop Welby explains why he wears Pope Paul VI’s pastoral ring (October 2021.)

Perth Diocese Anglican Messenger for February 2024 now online

The Anglican Messenger magazine of the Diocese of Perth for February 2024 is now available online.

Included is a feature on the consecration, earlier this month, of the two new Assistant Bishops – David Bassett and Hans Christiansen.

Earlier:

Two new Assistant Bishops for Perth – Sept 2023.

Bishop of Newcastle to attend International Ecumenical Gathering

“The Bishop of Newcastle is packing his bags for a religious journey of the highest order in Rome and Canterbury next week. …”

– Report from The Newcastle Weekly.

Photo: Diocese of Newcastle.

New Year’s message from the Archbishop of Perth

A New Year message from Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy.

A great reminder to pray for Abp Goldsworthy and the Diocese of Perth.

Bathurst Diocese Prayer Diary 2024

Here’s a great resource to help you pray for the progress of the gospel in the Diocese of Bathurst.

Download your copy of the Bathurst Diocese Prayer Diary for 2024. (PDF file)

“Don We Now Our Gay Apparel”

“Is the decline in Christianity among Anglican clergy moving pari passu with the decline in Western civilisation? Good question. Indubitably, is the answer. …

Mosques are crowded, churches are emptying. To have any chance of turning the tide, Christianity needs biblically-based priests. Priests like Glenn Davies; Bishop of the breakaway Diocese of the Southern Cross and former Anglican Archbishop of Sydney.”

– In an opinion-piece at Quadrant Online, contributor Peter Smith takes a hard look at what is happening in many parts of the Anglican Church. His article is supplemented by an excerpt from a well-known episode of “Yes, Prime Minister”.

Image from the website of the Anglican Church of Australia.

Diocese of Bathurst Bishops’ Newsletter — Christmas 2023 edition

The Christmas 2023 edition of the Bishop of Bathurst’s newsletter is now available.

Download your copy (PDF file) to be better informed, so you pray for – and seek to encourage – those who hold out the word of Life in this vast area of NSW.

Is this the man the church needs to stay relevant?

From The Australian:

“The new Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane is wearing black jeans and desert boots, a harbinger of the informal style he plans to bring to the role. Jeremy Greaves may be just the man the churches need to stay relevant in an increasingly challenging world.

Or he could be an agent of their destruction …

Greaves is the personification of a progressive church leader. If asked, he will allow Anglican priests in the sprawling Brisbane Diocese to perform same-sex marriage blessings and he’s in favour of ordaining gay priests.”

– Read here (subscription).

Alternatives:

Churches of the Diocese of the Southern Cross.

Bathurst Christmas Reflection – Bishop Mark Calder on Finding Permanence in a World of Change

Bishop Mark Calder’s Christmas message for 2023:

“In a world where everything bears the label ‘temporary,’ the Christmas season invites us to discover the enduring permanence found in Jesus Christ.

Imagine labelling the items in your life – microwaves, cars, homes – as either ‘temporary’ or ‘permanent.’ The result is confronting: almost everything is temporary, except for Jesus.

As we celebrate his birth, we’re not just commemorating God stepping into our world as one of us; we’re affirming the timeless reign of a permanent King. Jesus is the exception in a world of transience, offering reliability, dependability, and lasting hope.

This Christmas, amidst the chaos of life, run to Jesus. In him, find not only help but a source of unwavering hope, strength, and inner transformation. Amidst the temporary, Jesus stands as the permanent promise of a Kingdom that never ends.

May this Christmas be a reminder that, in Jesus, we discover hope and help and strength in the face of our world – and our lives – which are often confusing and uncertain.

Bishop Mark Calder
Anglican Diocese of Bathurst, covering central and western NSW.”

See the video version here.

This remote town feels like heaven to some, but it has a great gospel need

“Photographs of Exmouth show endless clear blue-water beaches, with expansive horizons.

The nearby Ningaloo Coast is world heritage listed. It is known for its reef, for whale sharks, sea turtles, rays, humpback whales, and a network of underground caves.

The town is gateway to the reef, where people dive and swim.

It’s in a 6504 square kilometre municipality, but most people live in Exmouth itself, a town of 2800.

Its population swells in winter, as people visit during the cooler months. Many people in town spend their spare time fishing, or just enjoying the environment.

Exmouth residents, the Venerable Simon Roberts and Alison Roberts, can see much lostness, just as anywhere. Some people are escaping difficulties, others just living for the enjoyment of life, a hedonistic lifestyle in a beautiful location.

Mr and Mrs Roberts are there for neither. Instead, they hope to bring people something that will satisfy more deeply than either escape or enjoyment: a relationship with God.

They moved to Exmouth around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, Mr Roberts is rector of Exmouth and Onslow Anglican Church and archdeacon of the Pilbara. …”

– The Melbourne Anglican has this story on Simon and Alison Roberts and the churches in Exmouth and Onslow. Food for prayer.

Map: Diocese of North West Australia. Exmouth and Onslow circled.

Archbishop of Perth set to push on with controversial Ordination

From David Ould:

“The Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, will proceed with the ordination to the priesthood of a man who is openly living in a relationship with another man on Thursday evening despite a large growing protest in the Diocese.

I understand that more than 700 signatories have been received on a letter of protest. These 700 signatories represent close to 15% of regular church attendance in the Diocese and do not include members from one large church, St Matthew’s Shenton Park, which is organising its own response and will effectively double the number protesting. This leaves easily one quarter of regular church goers in the Diocese now protesting against an ordination. …”

– Read here.

Photo: Diocese of Perth.

Bathurst Diocese Advent Newsletter 2023

The Bathurst Diocese Newsletter for Advent 2023 is now available here as a PDF file.

Great to use to pray for the churches of the diocese and the people they seek to serve with the gospel.

Bishop Mark Calder writes:

Dear friends,

My guess is that most of us are well and truly getting into Christmas planning and shopping.

Some of you may have purchased an Advent calendar which are increasingly popular. However, the secular version seems to be all about helping kids countdown to Christmas. That is not actually what Advent is about!

Advent is about preparing for Christ’s second coming! In Advent we look forward to Christ’s second coming and then celebrate his first coming at Christmas because it marks the beginning of God’s plans to save the world through his Son Jesus.

My Advent sermon series this year is called “On that Day” and arises from a song by CityAlight.

We will be reminded that when Jesus returns, we will rise; we will see him; we will know him, and we will keep on singing!

The season of Advent is meant to lift our eyes from all the disaster which surrounds us – to see the glorious nature of the future which awaits. To see that there will one day, be an end to the mess. To understand that that Jesus has conquered all evil and even death! We’re reminded that Christians are people of hope and expectation. We are people who know that on that day – when Jesus returns – we will rise as Jesus rose!

May Advent be a time of recapturing our Christian Hope and rejoicing in all that is yet to come!

Mark.

Calling recently-retired clergy

From the Diocese of Bathurst Facebook page:

“Bishop David Robinson has graciously been helping in Coonamble as a locum. Such a blessing to that church.

If you’re recently retired and keen to serve in the Diocese this way next year, very flexible terms and conditions can be discussed. (eg;. Bishop David has served two weeks on, two weeks off, just 2.5 days a week each visit.) Please contact Bishop Mark Calder.”