Bishop Ken Short obituary in SMH
“Bishop Ken Short had a number of significant roles in his lifetime and made a deep impact in each of them. He served as Dean of Sydney and Bishop of Wollongong and Parramatta, but was probably best known as Chaplain-General of the army and first bishop to the armed forces, which he became in 1979.
Despite his name, Kenneth Herbert Short was a tall man with a big smile, handshake and voice…”
– The Sydney Morning Herald has published this Obituary for Bishop Ken Short, written by Simon Manchester. (Photo: Ramon Williams.)
Simon Gillham to be Head of Mission at Moore College
“The Governing Board of the College has approved the Principal’s nomination of Rev Simon Gillham to join the faculty as Head of Department of Mission from 1 January 2016. Simon is a graduate of the College who is currently serving with CMS as Acting Principal of Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary (NETS)…”
– Read the full announcement from Moore College. And SydneyAnglicans.net.
Chappo’s contribution to the Anglican Diocese of Armidale
“This weekend (8/11/2014) the good people of the Anglican Diocese of Armidale are celebrating their centenary.
Before 1914, the Armidale Diocese existed as the Diocese of Grafton and Armidale, which covered a huge amount of New South Wales from 1867 till 1914. Over the past 100 years the Diocese has undergone massive change, and as part of my 4th year program at Moore Theological College I had the opportunity to do a large research project on the diocese.
Specifically, I wanted to look into Chappo’s time in the diocese as I had hardly heard anything about his work there. What I found was deeply encouraging for my life and ministry. As the Armidale Diocese celebrates this weekend, feel free to get acquainted with our brothers and sisters of the north…”
– Tim Stevens writes on someone close to the heart of many in Australia and around the world.
Tears and Hope 2014
The annual ‘Tears And Hope’ service of healing for survivors of abuse is to be held at St John’s Darlinghurst, next Monday, November 3rd at 7:00pm.
Download a 1.3MB PDF flier to share with others, and pray that the service may help to bring comfort and healing.
The Briefing: The end of the beginning
“Back in issue #1 of The Briefing, in 1988, the feature article was entitled ‘Have Evangelicals lost their way?’ With this being our final edition ever, readers may be wondering: ‘Has The Briefing lost its way? Is there nothing left to say?’
To quote Romans 3:10, ‘By no means!’…”
– Sam Freney and Tony Payne on winding up The Briefing. What’s next?
Senator encourages involvement in Solidarity Sunday
Senator David Fawcett spoke yesterday about the persecution of religious minorities, particularly Christians, under ISIL, and informed the Senate of Solidarity Sunday. (YouTube.)
Armidale Centenary
“Sydney Archbishop Glenn Davies will be the keynote speaker at a special service in Armidale next month to commemorate the centenary of the Anglican Diocese of Armidale…”
– from The Armidale Independent. See also the Diocese of Armidale’s Centenary page, history publication (‘I Will Build My Church’), and upcoming events.
Mission 2020 — To see Christ honoured as Lord and Saviour
The Synod of Sydney Diocese last week, in committing itself to Mission 2020, adopted these statements –
Our Vision – To see Christ honoured as Lord and Saviour in every community.
Our Mission – We commit ourselves afresh, in prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit, to glorify God and love our neighbour by proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ, calling people to repent and living lives worthy of him.
See the full statement of Vision, Mission and Values here (PDF file).
And see also SydneyAnglicans.net: Synod recommits to Mission.
Societas 2014 now available
It’s a highlight of the diocesan calendar — Societas, the Moore College Students’ magazine, has been released for 2014.
You can download the 16.8MB PDF file – or read it online.
Mark Fairfull at Moore writes: “Hard copies can be ordered from the College. There is no longer a charge to purchase the magazine, but the College is inviting people to make a voluntary donation to help cover the publication and postage & handling costs if they wish to do so.”
Grab your copy now, be informed, and be moved to pray for the College.
Colin Bale to be Moore College Vice-Principal
“Rev Dr Colin Bale has been appointed Moore College’s new Vice Principal. Colin has been a member of the College faculty since 1999 and its Academic Dean since 2009. The two roles will be joined from 1 January 2015…”
– Grab the details from the Moore College website.
Sydney Synod gives thanks for Bishop Ken Short
Sydney Synod paid tribute to the late Bishop Ken Short today, adopting these words brought to the Synod by Bishop Peter Tasker –
“This Synod notes with great sorrow the death of Bishop Ken Short last Sunday evening.
We give thanks to God for the extraordinary ministry of Ken, who has faithfully served his Lord and Saviour throughout his life and has been a blessing to others In his various ministries as an elder statesman of the Diocese of Sydney, missionary in Tanganyika evangelist, parish rector, military chaplain, regional bishop, Dean of Sydney and Bishop of the Defence Forces.
We pray for his widow Gloria and the family as they grieve their loss, yet rejoice with them in the sure and certain knowledge that our brother Ken is now ‘at home with the Lord’.”
Bishop Short’s funeral service will be held, with military honours, at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, on Monday 27th October at 2:00pm. We understand the service will be streamed live for those who can’t attend.
(Photo: Ramon Williams.)
Anglican Aid’s Inaugural Festival of Just Ideas
Anglican Aid’s Inaugural Festival of Just Ideas is on this coming Saturday (25th October 2014) at Broadway. It’s not too late to book in.
Sydney Synod resolution on Global Anglicanism
The Synod of the Diocese of Sydney has passed a resolution, encouraging GAFCON to continue and expand its work. Here is the complete text:
“9.23 Global Anglicanism
Synod –
(a) gives God thanks for the success of GAFCON 2013 (Global Anglican Future Conference) being made up of 1358 delegates from 39 countries including the 99 delegates from Australia,
(b) recognises that GAFCON is an emerging instrument of communion when others have failed to provide the well needed leadership at a time of growing liberalism within Anglicanism, aggressive secularism, militant Islamism and seductive syncretism,
(c) encourages and supports GAFCON/FCA (Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans) in its desire to expand its membership, develop networks, authorise and affirm those who have been excluded by their dioceses or provinces,
(d) recognising Synod’s desire to be in full communion with the ACNA (Synod resolution 46/09), Synod congratulates the Most Reverend Foley Beach on his consecration as Archbishop to the ACNA (Anglican Church of North America),
(e) encourages the development of FCA Australia and its inaugural conference, “The Anglican Future Conference” to be held in Melbourne next year,
(f) looks forward to the next GAFCON as a principle gathering of leaders in the Anglican Communion, and
(g) requests the Secretary to write to The FCA Primates’ Council, The ACNA and FCA Australia informing them of this.
(The Rev Gavin Poole/The Rev Dr Michael Stead).”
– via the GAFCON website. Emphasis added.
Bishop Ken Short: ‘faithful pastor, gracious leader, elder statesman’
“Bishop Ken Short AO, former missionary, military chaplain, Dean of Sydney and Bishop of Wollongong, Parramatta and the Defence Forces, has died at the age of 87…
A funeral service is expected to be held at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney, early next week. Details are yet to be confirmed. ”
– more from SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo: Ramon Williams.)
Update: It’s been announced the service will be held at 2:00pm on Monday 27 October at the Cathedral.
Report: Bp of Newcastle appoints Rod Bower as Archdeacon of the Central Coast
Rod Bower, the Gosford Anglican priest made famous by signs such as “Dear Christians, Some people are gay. Get over it. Love, God”, has reportedly been appointed by Bishop of Newcastle Greg Thompson to be Archdeacon of the Central Coast.
We understand the report to be correct, and he will be collated on Saturday 24th October, though the matter is not yet on the Newcastle diocesan website.
See also David Ould on the Rev. Mr. Bower’s previous public statements – on heaven and hell – and that Jesus did not die for our sins.
Related: Just before General Synod met recently, Sandy Grant considered the Prayer Book’s call to “drive away all false and strange doctrines that are contrary to God’s word”.
(Photo: Gosford Anglican Church.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…