‘Stoush over NSW public school enrolment forms’
“Accusations that Rev Nile asked for the ethics changes in exchange for his support of the government’s power privatisation plans have also emerged, and have been denied by Rev Nile and the Christian Democrats.
While the media has focused on Rev Nile’s request to take ethics classes off the enrolment form, there has been barely a mention that the same request has been made unanimously by faith groups offering Special Religious Education in NSW schools…”
– helpful background from Bible Society Australia to a story that’s in the news.
Sydney Diocese appoints Domestic Violence task force
“The Standing committee of the Diocese of Sydney has voted to appoint a taskforce to develop a diocesan response to domestic violence. …
The taskforce includes a chaplain, a professional counsellor, the Archdeacon for women, Kara Hartley and several other members. …”
– from SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo of Archdeacon Kara Hartley by Sam Law.)
Northwest Network June 2015
The Diocese of North West Australia has issued their latest newsletter. Check it out – and pray for the churches of the North West – 900kb PDF file.
Bishop Peter Lin consecrated
“The Rev Peter Lin was consecrated as Bishop of the George’s River Region by Archbishop Glenn Davies, at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday 30th May.
Mr Lin is one of the youngest bishops in the history of the Diocese and only the second of Chinese descent in Australia…”
– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Related:
SBS News reports on the consecration, and also the appointment of Kanishka Raffel as Dean of Sydney. (video expires 06 June 2015.)
Newcastle Bishopscourt sold
“The Anglican Diocese of Newcastle has sold Bishopscourt on The Hill to a local purchaser…” – report from Property Observer.
Praying for Nungalinya College
Nungalinya, the Combined Churches Training College for Indigenous Australians in Darwin, has posted their 2014 Annual Report online.
Grab the 3.6MB PDF file here. Fuel for prayer.
Update – Schools, Scripture, Banning of Books and Sexual Orthodoxy
“My previous post mentioned that some books used in Special Religious Education (SRE) in NSW had been summarily banned by the Department of Education and Communities, apparently on the grounds that they conveyed classical Christian teaching about sexual morality.
In that post I said:
It is to be hoped that on review the Department will realise both that the way this was done is entirely unacceptable, and also that the content of the books concerned is not as harmful as it has been alleged to be.
One of those hopes has been realised, but the other has not…”
– at Law and Religion Australia, Associate Professor in Law, Neil Foster revisits the SRE ‘book banning’ in NSW. His comments are well worth reading in full – and be sure to follow the links.
Stories you may have missed — 23 May 2015
Here are a few stories you may have missed:
Dr Stuart Piggin spoke on revival in rural Australia at a conference at Goulburn Cathedral. (Link to audio.)
Anglican Priests ‘beaten to stupor’ by agents of the state government in Enugu State, Nigeria, over a land dispute.
Canon Phil Ashey of the American Anglican Council remembers growing up at St. James’ Newport Beach in California and reflects on reports the site is to be sold for $15 million.
Christians flee Aleppo in their thousands after fresh fighting in Syria, and Iraq’s Christians wonder where to flee after Islamic State militants take Ramadi city – reports from Barnabas Fund.
Book ban Reversed
“A ban on two Anglican resources used in Special Religious Education (SRE) has been reversed after talks between Archbishop Glenn Davies and the Education Minister Adrian Piccoli…”
– Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.
More: Minister for Education lifts Christian book ban. Earlier: Schools, Scripture and Book Banning in NSW.
Kanishka Raffel to be new Dean of Sydney
“The Rev Kanishka Raffel has been appointed the new Dean of Sydney, the first person from a non-European background to hold the position.
‘I’m delighted Kanishka has accepted my appointment, which was unanimously agreed to by the Chapter, to become the next Dean of Sydney,’ said Archbishop Glenn Davies…”
– full story from SydneyAnglicans.net. (Image: St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)
‘Men Praying for Moore’ Night
“Parallel to the Prayer Support Group (a group of faithful women that meets regularly and has prayed for the College for over 50 years), Moore has created the opportunity for Christian men to support the College in this way…”
– What a good idea! Monday 18th May 2015.
A road trip to remember
“With the help of some long-suffering friends and wonderful work colleagues, who have joined me on and off over various days, I have read through the Bible across the month of April at every mainland parish in the Sydney Diocese, a few of our retirement villages and two of our theological colleges…
After our Bible readings I spoke about Anglican Aid’s Chappo and Hope Partnership to raise funds for bursaries to train young men and women at Bible colleges and schools across Africa.”
– David Mansfield gives thanks for The Flawless Bible Tour – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Download the Flawless Bible Tour flier, with details of Anglican Aid’s Chappo & Hope Partnership. (1.7MB PDF file.)
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
CEP and SRE publications — further updated
Here’s a statement from Youthworks regarding an inaccurate article in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Update: ‘Three Christian books banned from SRE curriculum in NSW’ – Bible Society.
Update 2, May 8th: Clarification sought on SRE books – SydneyAnglicans.net –
“The Diocese of Sydney has asked for clarification of an Education Department directive on materials in the Special Religious Education curriculum.
This follows a Victorian lobby group’s claim about the publication, Teen Sex by the Book by noted sexual health expert Patricia Weerakoon. …
‘There is significant concern and outrage from within the Anglican Community and the broader Christian community in response to this unprecedented action of the DEC banning SRE books and other Christian resources.’ said the director of the Anglican SRE office Jon Thorpe.
‘The legislation allows approved SRE providers to educate students in the chosen faith of the family.…’.”
Update 3 – Cross-border battle erupts over religious education in school – SBS report, aired May 8th 2015 (video expires May 15.)
Image: SBS.
John Woodhouse on 1 Kings 1 and the Servant King
Former Moore College Principal, Dr. John Woodhouse, was back at college this week, and preached in Chapel for the first time since he retired.
Hear the sermon on 1 Kings 1:1-10 and the Servant King. Most challenging and encouraging.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…