Animals blessed at Melbourne Cathedral
“Archbishop Philip Freier and the Dean of Melbourne, the Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe, hosted one of their more unusual congregations at St Paul’s Cathedral on 10 October when the threat of inclement weather forced the first Blessing of the Animals service indoors.
The service, celebrating St Francis of Assisi, had been intended for Federation Square but Cathedral authorities opted for their wet-weather option with Melbourne’s spring weather at its most fickle as the 5.10pm starting time approached.
Timmy the Dorset cross sheep, Miss Chief the goat and six Labrador puppies, in training with Customs and Border Protection, had places of prominence as representatives of the animal kingdom…”
– Story from Anglican Media Melbourne.
(Lots of similar services around the country last weekend and this week.)
Financial woes leave Bathurst Diocese in a “very difficult place”
“I am unable to see clearly what the diocese may look like in the future,” [Bishop Palmer] said in a letter read out to parishes across the diocese. … [The debt] is large and we cannot repay the bank in full.”
– Report from The Western Advocate.
This is a good reminder to pray for Bishop Palmer and the people of the Diocese of Bathurst.
‘Anglicans in Perth vote to recognise same sex relationships in synod decision’
“Anglicans in Perth have voted to have same sex relationships recognised. The church synod has voted by a two thirds majority to call for legal acknowledgment of civil unions between people of the same sex. …”
– Report from ABC News.
And another report, from WA Today –
“Father Chris said the aim of the policy was to counteract negative and hurtful comments about same-sex couples by other Christian groups, particularly the Australian Christians Lobby.
‘When they come out and say things like ‘it’s unnatural to be gay’ or ‘it’s against the bible’ or ‘all Christians reject homosexual behaviour’ … we want to say ‘that’s not the case’,’ he said.”
Bishop of Tasmania – Pastoral Letter on Euthanasia
“Today I sent the following Pastoral Letter to all Anglican Parishes in Tasmania asking that the letter and attachments be made available to Parishioners.…
Pastoral Letter – Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2013
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
You will have learned recently that the Hon. Lara Giddings and the Hon. Nick McKim, Members for Franklin have recently introduced the “Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2013” to the Tasmanian parliament.
This Bill would allow those who meet certain eligibility criteria to be prescribed and receive a lethal injection. This Bill is a direct threat to the lives of Tasmanians, particularly the sick and elderly. This Bill embraces a philosophy of human value defined by convenience and personal capacity. It stands against the responsibility of societies and governments to implement compassionate, timely, and effective care for those who are unwell or disabled in some way. …”
– Read it all at Bishop Harrower’s blog.
Related: Belgian helped to die after three sex change operations (BBC News).
“A transsexual has been helped to die by doctors in Belgium, after a series of failed sex-change operations. Nathan Verhelst, born a girl, asked for help to end his life on grounds of psychological suffering. He died in a Brussels hospital on Monday. Two doctors concluded the 44-year-old did not have temporary depression. …
Belgium legalised euthanasia in 2002. There were 52 cases of euthanasia on psychological grounds last year. … There were 1,432 recorded cases of euthanasia in Belgium in 2012; a 25% increase on the previous year’s figure.”
Defence Sunday 2013
Here’s a heads up from the Defence Anglicans website –
“Defence Sunday is held annually on the Sunday nearest to Remembrance Day (11 November).
We use the day to:
- Draw attention to the spiritual needs and wellbeing of those who serve in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as sailors, soldiers or airmen and airwomen.
- Foster prayer support within Churches for those who serve the nation through ADF service.
- Encourage clergy to consider service as full or part-time Australian Defence Force Chaplains.
- Build bridges of cooperative partnership between the Anglican ministry to the Australian Defence Force and diocese and parish churches across Australia.”
– Details, prayers, and other resources you can use on the day here.
Goulburn area Business ministry launched
“Gunning priest, Archdeacon John Barnes, has launched a new mission and ministry initiative to support the business community of Goulburn and surrounding communities. …”
– News from the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn.
Archbishop Davies interviewed on ABC Sunday Nights
Archbishop Glenn Davies was interviewed by Noel Debien on Sunday Nights on ABC Radio last night.
Topics included: Relationships with the Roman Catholic Church, liturgy, clerical dress, education, the Archbishop’s election process, women in Christian leadership, ‘lay presidency’, ‘homophobia’ and more. The 39 minute programme can now be downloaded from the ABC website.
Anglican Aid seeks help for three urgent causes
The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid is seeking donations for three key causes:
1. Emergency Appeal for Anglicans in Peshawar
2. Helping Tanzanian Bishops and Leaders go to GAFCON2
3. Emergency Appeal for Syrian Refugees being cared for in Egypt
See the Anglican Aid website and donation page for more.
ACL Synod Dinner bookings open soon
This year’s ACL Synod Dinner will be held in the St. Andrew’s Cathedral Chapter House on Monday 14th October from 5:30pm (or when Synod rises). Dr Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore College will be our over-dinner speaker. We’ll open bookings soon, but in the meantime, you might want to note the date!
A ‘real leader’ who ‘wore out’
“A packed Memorial Service has been told Bishop Dudley Foord was a ‘real leader’ who will continue to shape the Diocese of Sydney in years to come…”
– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net reports on today’s memorial service for Bishop Dudley Foord.
To boldly go… with the troops
This story by Southern Cross journalist David McIntyre won the ARPA Silver Award for ‘Best Feature Single Author’. It gives a good picture of the life of Australian military chaplains –
“Navy Chaplain Andrew Lewis washes dishes in the scullery on board the transport ship HMAS Success – not because he has to, but because it gives him ‘permission to sit down with the cooking staff at morning tea’.
He then goes up to the bridge to chat to the officers on duty before heading off to a meeting with the commander of the ship. …”
– Read it all at Defence Anglicans.
Two new Faculty members for Moore College
“The Governing Board of the College has approved the principal’s nomination of two new faculty members to join the College community in July 2014. …
The Rev Ed Loane (aged 34) is a graduate of the College … Senior Student in 2007. After leaving College with a first class honours degree, he served as the assistant minister at Moorebank Anglican Church and then moved to Cambridge where he has been undertaking doctoral research in William Temple’s thinking about church unity. …
Mr Will Timmins (aged 41) is an Englishman with an honours degree in theology from the University of Cambridge who attended the Cornhill Training Course and has worked in Eden Baptist Church, for the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship in the UK, at George Whitfield College, Beeston Free Church in Nottingham, and Christ Church Cambridge. He is currently completing a PhD in New Testament at Cambridge, studying the identity of the ‘I’ in Romans 7.”
– Read the full announcement at the Moore College website.
New Registrar for Sydney Diocese
“Doug Marr has been named as the Registrar of the Diocese of Sydney.
Archbishop Glenn Davies announced to Standing Committee that he had invited Mr Marr to succeed Dr Philip Selden who is retiring at the end of October 2013.”
– Details from SydneyAnglicans.net.
‘We are bereft of a great saint’ (update 2)
Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has released this statement on the death of Bishop Dudley Foord – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Update from SydneyAnglicans.net: “A special memorial service for Bishop Foord will be held at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Wednesday the 18th of September, from 2pm. Currently, it is understood the service will be led by Archbishop Dr Glenn Davies, while former Archbishop Dr Peter Jensen will preach.”
And Moore College gives thanks –
“… Dudley trained at Moore when Marcus Loane was principal, between 1956 and 1958 and took out the London BD in 1959. His studies continued and he received Th. Schol. in 1968 and a D Min from Fuller Seminary in 1983. He lectured at the College for seven years and served as Dean of Students. … In every sphere of ministry in which Dudley served there are stories of growth and encouragement and godly leadership. At Moore College we especially remember his commitment to the Bible and his determination to help men and women exercise a faithful, fruitful and enduring Christian ministry.”
Photo: Ramon Williams, Worldwide Photos.
With much thanks for Dudley Foord
We are very sad to hear that our dear brother Dudley Foord has died in Sydney. And yet, in the midst of our sadness we rejoice that to be with Christ “is far better” (Philippians 1:23).
Until his death, Bishop Foord remained an Emeritus Vice-President of the Anglican Church League, reflecting his commitment to the work of the League and the esteem of our members for him.
There are tributes at The Briefing and SydneyAnglicans.net.
In 1988, Dudley gave this address to the ACL’s Annual General Meeting – Reaching Out In Difficult Situations.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…