Bathurst Synod this weekend
“The annual meeting of the Synod… of the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst will meet in Bathurst this weekend (November 8-10).
Originally scheduled for September, the meeting had to be postponed to allow preparation of up-to-date financial information following the sale of Orange Anglican Grammar School and Macquarie Anglican Grammar School. The sales were finalised at the end of September.
This will be Bishop Ian Palmer’s first Synod as Bishop of Bathurst, and will involve some difficult decisions as the diocese faces very daunting financial challenges. …”
– from The Diocese of Bathurst.
Our friends in Bathurst would be glad of your prayers. Please pray that the outcome of the decisions made will glorify Christ and that many more in the region will find saving faith in him.
The Sydney Family Album — 9, T. C. Hammond
“One of the most important of Howard Mowll’s many influential appointments was that of Thomas Chatterton (T. C.) Hammond as principal of Moore College.
Appointed at a time when the College seemed to be shifting its theological position, Hammond, who already had a worldwide reputation as an evangelical preacher, teacher and apologist, would be, it was hoped, precisely the kind of leader who would strengthen the College and set its course firmly in the mainstream of evangelical Anglican theology. He would meet all of these expectations and surpass them. …”
– Moore College Principal Dr. Mark Thompson makes a welcome addition to his series on those who, under God, shaped Sydney Diocese.
See the earlier posts in this series at Theological Theology.
Melbourne focus on mission
The Diocese of Melbourne is working to help parishes be more focussed on their mission.
This report outlines what they’re doing, and the response so far.
‘For the Feast of the Reformation’ — at the Cathedral
They’re doing something a little different at St. Andrew’s Cathedral for Reformation Day –
JS Bach — Cantata no.79 ‘For the Feast of the Reformation’
“In an Australian first – a performance of Bach’s magnificent Cantata 79: “God is our Sun & Shield”, within the context of our Sunday Service on October 27th at 10:30am.
Bach wrote this cantata for the Sunday morning service celebrating Reformation Day at St. Thomas’ Church in Leipzig in October 1725. His own choir of boys and men was almost the same size and age as the Choir of St. Andrew’s, making this the first time in Australia that the piece has been performed in the same context and with the forces that Bach would have heard it in 1725!
The Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, will be speaking on the Reformation festival itself; a celebration of the very heart of the Christian faith, and the congregation will be invited to join heartily with Martin Luther’s hymns that will frame the service, just as they did in Bach’s day.”
It’s at 10:30am on Sunday 27th October at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Download a 600kb PDF flier.
Archbishop calls for prayer on bushfire crisis
“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has called on Sydney Anglicans to pray for Rural Fire Service members, emergency service workers and for people and families still in the path of bushfires in Sydney and its surrounds.
‘Our hearts go out to those who have already lost homes and for those weary firefighters who have already been stretched to the limit’ Dr Davies said. …”
– Read the full Media release from Anglican Media Sydney.
Related: Anglican Aid launches Bushfire appeal.
Ballarat Synod votes for Women Priests
“The Anglican Diocese of Ballarat has approved the ordination of women priests during its synod held today.
At least two thirds of the approximately 100 people in the synod voted in favour of allowing women to become priests. …”
– from The Ballarat Courier.
Anglican Aid launches Bushfire appeal
From Eternity Newspaper –
“One of the worst hit areas was Springwood-Winmalee, a normally peaceful area in the lower Blue Mountains. Eternity spoke to Senior Pastor at Springwood Anglican Church, Steve Young, who said they were still in the thick of it.
‘There are scores of houses that are burnt down in the community and whole sections like Yellow Rock where there are very few houses left. We know of 10 church families that have lost their houses.‘…”
SydneyAnglicans.net has more.
In response to the fires, the Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid has launched an emergency appeal –
Anglican Aid has launched an urgent appeal to respond to the needs of people in Sydney affected by the fires. The distribution of funds will be overseen by the Bishop of Western Sydney, Ivan Lee. Working through established networks, Anglican Aid and Bishop Lee will be able to identify and respond to the urgent needs of many.
The Archbishop has said “I am grateful for Anglican Aid launching this appeal. While there are many calls upon our resources and many good causes seeking funds, I commend to your prayerful consideration this urgent appeal in the light of the loss of so many homes in Sydney and NSW on account of these horrific bushfires.”
Please feel free to pass on the link! (Photo: Smoke blankets western Sydney, 17 October 2013.)
Archbishop Freier to Melbourne Synod 2013
Archbishop Dr Philip Freier addressed the 51st Synod of Melbourne Diocese as it began yesterday – his remarks are now available on the Diocese of Melbourne website. (Photo: Kit Haselden.)
Ballarat Synod to vote on women priests
“Ballarat’s Anglican synod meets this week to determine whether the diocese will accept the ordination of women as priests. …”
– The Ballarat Courier. Ballarat synod papers here.
Newcastle Bishop-elect ‘keen to build community”
“Newly elected Anglican bishop Greg Thompson has vowed to use his appointment to strengthen trust between the church and the Hunter community, while encouraging more open discussion on hot-button issues including child sexual abuse, same sex partnerships and indigenous affairs.
Muswellbrook-raised Mr Thompson was elected the 13th bishop of the city at a September synod meeting, with his installation planned for February 2 next year.”
– Story from The Newcastle Herald.
Reaching a lost city for Christ
Principal of Moore Theological College, Dr. Mark Thompson, delivered this address at the ACL Synod Dinner on October 14.
In his talk he gave three compelling reasons why we must never give in to the pressure to move evangelism down the list.
“At last count (2011 Census) the population of Sydney was 4.3 million. Even if you took out all the regular churchgoers — Protestant and Catholic — there would still be more than 4 million people who are lost. At the end of the Book of Jonah God reminded the prophet of the mass of lost people in the city — ‘more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left’ (Jon. 4.11). Imagine what he’d say about a population more than 33 times the size!”
Read the full text below, or download the PDF file. … Read more
Watch Archbishop Davies’ Presidential Address
“Our Saviour left a final command to his apostles: to make disciples of all nations. This Great Commission, so aptly named, has not been superseded. It has not run its course, nor lost its energy or its urgency.”
– Watch the entire Presidential Address, delivered by Archbishop Glenn Davies at Sydney Synod, 14th October 2013.
Audio available here (mp3).
With thanks to SydneyAnglicans.net for making it available.
Archbishop Davies says ‘refresh and sharpen’ our mission
“Archbishop Glenn Davies has delivered his first address as President of the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, covering areas such as the next diocesan mission, regionalism, the Royal Commission into child abuse and ethical challenges faced by Christians in Australia.
The 2013 Synod of the Diocese of Sydney meets from Monday 14th until Wednesday 16th October at the Wesley Theatre in Sydney, and Archbishop Davies, in the role for just two months, gave his address on the first afternoon.”
– Russell Powell has this report at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Download the Archbishop’s Presidential Address here (PDF).
“Significant responsibilities are placed upon us in this assembly, as we come together as representatives of the parishes and organisations of the Diocese to make decisions, either by ordinance to pass legislation, or by resolution to express opinion. Yet we do not make these decisions in secret but openly and within full view of the public eye. More importantly, we make these decisions in the presence of God. It is to him that we must give account of our stewardship of time, resources and gifts that he has bestowed upon us. As our mission is gospel-focussed and Christ-honouring, so our deliberations in this house ought to be gospel-focused and Christ-honouring. May his Spirit so direct us in our thoughts, words and deeds that what we do here over the next three days might be pleasing in his sight.”
New church plant in Adelaide
“An Anglican Church in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs is so packed to the rafters it’s spawned the need for a new church nearby — in a bowling club.
Regulars at St Matthew’s Church Sunday morning congregation in Kensington began to find it increasingly hard to find a seat, prompting the radical move to transform a local sporting mecca…”
– from The Adelaide Advertiser. St. Matthew’s Kensington.
Anglican sale a blessing
“The Orange Anglican Grammar School is counting its blessings after the sale of the school by the Bathurst Anglican diocese was finalised before news of the bank closing in on the church’s debts broke. … The sale of the Orange school to the Sydney Anglican School Corporation went through last week and principal Len Elliott is excited to get capital works programs off the ground.”
– report and picture from The Central Western Daily.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…