New Moore College faculty member appointed
“The Governing Board of the College has approved the Principal’s nomination of Rev Dr Lionel Windsor to the faculty from 1 January 2015. Dr Windsor is a graduate of the College who is currently serving as Assistant Minister at St Augustine’s Anglican Church, Neutral Bay…”
Archbishop Aspinall to refocus on Brisbane
“In a few weeks my nine year term as Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia will come to an end…
The Board to elect a new Primate will meet in Adelaide on Saturday, June 28. I will then preside over the 16th General Synod from June 29 to July 4, immediately following which I will hand over the reins to the newly elected Primate.”
– Archbishop of Brisbane Phillip Aspinall reflects as he nears the end of his time as Primate – in the June – July 2014 issue of FOCUS from the Diocese of Brisbane. (Page 2, see also page 15ff.)
Thanksgiving service for Margaret Rodgers
It’s been announced that there will be a Thanksgiving service for Deaconess Margaret Rodgers (who died on 31st May) at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney at 2:00pm on Thursday 19th June.
Renovated St Mark’s Library rededicated
“The library of St Mark’s National Theological Centre, Charles Sturt University, was filled to overflowing on Wednesday 4 June with students, friends and staff for its dedication by Bishop Stuart Robinson and the Revd Dr Jane Foulcher with prayer and thanksgiving…”
– from the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn.
VCC Mourns Bishop John McIntyre
An exceedingly sad announcement from the Victorian Council of Churches –
“We stand with our Anglican Community today as we mourn the passing of a beloved, Bishop, Ecumenical companion, family man and friend.”
Please be encouraged to join in prayer for John’s family and friends, and also for the churches of the Diocese of Gippsland.
See also: The Gippsland Times.
Update: David Ould has some information about plans for John’s funeral. (It seems previous information was incorrect.)
Photo: Diocese of Gippsland.
‘When we get it wrong’ — Southern Cross
“Some months ago, the team at Southern Cross started planning to do a cover story on prayer.
They say everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it. With prayer, we don’t talk much about it and do it even less (myself included).
Article complete, we went about trying to illustrate it. It seemed ‘knee fitness’ might be catchy and contemporary. Because we don’t have the funds to stage our own photography, we used a stock image of a woman in fitness gear.
In an effort to focus on the knees to make the theme work, the cover unhelpfully drew attention to other parts of her body and cut off her head, depersonalising the image.
Let me be clear. This was a mistake. With the best of intentions we actually did the opposite of what we were trying to do. …”
– Russell Powell, CEO of Anglican Media Sydney, issues an apology. An exemplary way for Christians to respond.
And you can now download the updated version of Southern Cross – with lots of great content – here as a 5.3MB PDF file.
Prayers urged for Bishop of Gippsland, John McIntyre
We’ve heard from several sources (among them. BCA on FaceBook, and David Ould’s website) that the Bishop of Gippsland, John McIntyre, is very ill. Please be encouraged to uphold John and his family in prayer at this time.
Sad news: VCC Mourns Bishop John McIntyre.
Vale Margaret Rodgers
Readers will be saddened to hear of the death of Deaconess Margaret Rodgers early this morning (31 May 2014).
Margaret was a well-known figure in Sydney Diocese over many years.
Most notably, she served as Principal of Deaconess House (now Mary Andrews College) 1975–85. As well, she was Research Officer, General Synod, 1985–1993, CEO of the Anglican Media Council 1994–2003 and the Archbishop of Sydney’s Media Officer 2004–2007.
Margaret also served on a variety of key boards and committees within and outside Sydney Diocese.
In the 2014 Australia Day Honours List, Deaconess Rodgers was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Kara Hartley, Archdeacon for Women in Sydney Diocese, writes:
“Margaret was passionate for women to be mobilised for ministry. As Principal of Deaconess House, and through her involvement in the Diocese and national church, she was tireless in her support & encouragement of women seeking to serve The Lord. The deaconesses have lost a dear friend and sister.”
Moore College Principal Dr Mark Thompson writes:
“Moore College owes a considerable debt to Deaconess Rodgers who, as Principal of Deaconess House, gave lectures in church history and participated in the life of the faculty, and of the College more generally, in a variety of ways. The College has lost a very dear friend.”
Archbishop Dr Glenn Davies writes:
“A warrior for Christ, not ashamed of the gospel and not afraid to confront those with whom she disagreed, but always with a winsome smile and a heartfelt desire to see Christ honoured in all areas of life. She will long be remembered, but greatly missed.” (More here.)
Jane Tooher, Director of The Priscilla & Aquila Centre at Moore College, adds:
“I last spoke to Margaret a couple of months ago when I invited her to speak at a conference. Although she was unable to be involved because of her precarious health, the conversation with her was remarkable. She encouraged me and her wonderful sense of humour left me in hysterical laughter at points. All who knew her, and especially those of us at Moore College, have very good reasons to thank God for the life of this faithful servant.”
John Sandeman of Eternity Newspaper has this tribute:
“Most Australian Christians will complain about how the mass media deals with their church, or Christianity itself. It’s rare to see someone set out to deal with this problem and even rarer to see someone succeed, not just once but many times. Margaret Rodgers, who ran media relations for the Sydney Anglicans for a decade and a half, fitted the third category exactly.”
In 2007, Margaret was farewelled on her retirement. “Media Officer’s brilliant career.”
In 2011, the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney took time to specially thank Margaret.
(Photo: Mary Andrews College.)
ChristChurch Cathedral to be ‘deconstructed’
“An order preventing deconstruction of ChristChurch Cathedral has just been lifted by the High Court…”
– Report from The NZ Herald. (Photo: The Cathedral before the earthquake.)
NZ Vicar leaves Anglican Church over same-sex blessings
Charlie Hughes, the Vicar of St Michael’s Henderson, in West Auckland, has left the Anglican Church over its decision to move to bless same-sex relationships.
“Two-thirds of St Michael’s board had also resigned as had half the staff…”, according to this report from the New Zealand Herald. (Photo: St Michael’s Henderson.)
Morning Tea for Moore
Work in the City?
This Wednesday (28th May 2014) there’s an opportunity to learn about Moore College over morning tea.
Vice Principal Bill Salier, and faculty members Jane Tooher and Peter Orr, will be on hand to chat about the College and to answer questions. In the QVB Tea Room, 10:00–11:00am – details here.
Presidential Address — Tasmanian Synod 2014
Bishop John Harrower’s Presidential Address from the 2014 Synod of the Missionary Diocese of Tasmania:
“The Aurora over the landscape of Tasmania draws from within me a deep longing that the Light of the World, our Lord Jesus Christ, will break into our lives and ministry in powerful and transforming ways. We yearn for His radiance to be fully known, that His rule and Kingdom will be on earth as it is in heaven.
Our State, Tasmania, needs the Church, our Anglican Church, and every Christian man, woman, boy and girl to fulfil our biblical mandate to proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom and to declare the purpose of God in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. …
Let me focus you – Do you still love Jesus?
Yes, I know! It is the question you have heard from me on many occasions. It is the question I ask the clergy. But on this occasion let me ask this of each one of us? Yes, each one of us gathered here on this occasion: Do you still love Jesus? Is this the focus of your life? Is your love for Jesus your inspiration, comfort and yearning? …”
Newcastle to renew Tri Diocesan Covenant
The ‘Tri Diocesan Covenant’ signed in 2008 by the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle and the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Maitland-Newcastle and Broken Bay will be renewed at a service in East Maitland next week, according to the Diocese of Newcastle website.
With thankgiving for Ailsa Knox
We are sorry to report the death, this afternoon (14 May 2014), of Mrs Ailsa Knox, beloved wife of the late D B Knox who was Principal of Moore College 1959–1985.
Ailsa suffered a stroke on Saturday and did not recover.
Ailsa was born Ailsa Lane in 1924 in Sydney. She first met Broughton at an Inter Varsity Fellowship meeting at Sydney University in 1947. They married at St. Swithun’s Pymble in September 1950. Only six weeks later she travelled with him to England as he began his doctoral studies at Oxford.
Broughton and Ailsa had six children: Margery, Deborah, Jonathan, Stephanie, David and Rosemary.
Moore College students will fondly remember Ailsa for her kindness and hospitality, and also for her beautiful soprano voice (she even gave the occasional public recital). She was a great woman of faith who gently encouraged generations of women at Moore.
After Moore College, Broughton and Ailsa left Sydney in January 1989 to found a new Theological College – George Whitefield College – in South Africa. When they returned to Sydney four years later, they left the College as a going concern.
Ailsa was persistent in prayer, and has been described as the fun-loving lighter side to the Knox family. She loved going to CMS Summer School at Katoomba each January, and last attended in January 2013.
While there is sadness for those left behind to remember Ailsa’s legacy, there is also great rejoicing that she is now with Christ.
Archbishop Dr Glenn Davies reflects –
“Ailsa modelled Christian virtues at so many levels. Her ministry especially among faculty wives and students was a great encouragement and a godly example. I have no doubt that the impact of Broughton Knox upon our Diocese would not have as profound or as significant had he not had the life companion of Ailsa by his side. Precious indeed, in God’s sight, is the death of his saints.”
– More from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Moore College Principal Dr Mark Thompson remembers –
“Among the list of marvellous ministry marriages which have served the cause of Christ and his people in this city so extraordinarily well over the past 225 years, the partnership of Broughton and Ailsa Knox has been and continues to be a cause of great thanksgiving to our loving Heavenly Father.”
“Mrs Knox’s call home is a sadness for all who knew her and were encouraged by her faith in Christ, but for her it will be pure joy as she now knows as she is known”
– See the tribute from Moore College.
And here is a Tribute from George Whitefield College.
(Photo: Mrs Knox in 2005 at a College Supporters Lunch. Thanks to Moore College.)
Andrew Heard on why you should support Moore
Andrew Heard, Moore College graduate, and pastor of EV Church on the Central Coast, talks about why Moore’s theological training is so important for his life and ministry.
“The world desperately needs people who know God in his Word, who understand the gospel, and are committed to proclaiming it. There is the hope for our world.”
Watch the video here. (Andrew is visiting George Whitefield College next week.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…