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 This Great Commission, so aptly named, has not been superseded.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.
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!
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…