Peter Brain at Latimer Fellowship NZ

Bishop of Armidale, Peter Brain, will be speaking at the Latimer Fellowship NZ’s Retreat in August 2011.

Details and info on other events in NZ here.

(Photo: Russell Powell.)

Real Marriage — Dr Peter Jensen

Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, has spoken about the pressures to redefine marriage, and how Christians should respond.

“Should the Marriage Act allow two people of the same sex to be married?

Over the years, I’ve said little about same?sex relationships. My opposition is known but I hope I put my views with respect. I have supported legislation to register relationships and to extend economic rights. I condemn violence against homosexual people. Like most Australians, I prefer to live and let live. Furthermore, I am all too aware how close to home this is for a number of us, either personally or through family members and I appreciate that this discussion can be painful.

Nonetheless, since change is being actively advocated we need to be clear that what is at stake is not simply an extension of marriage ‘rights’ but a change to the definition of marriage itself. …”

First published in the June 2011 Southern Cross magazine, the article, “Real Marriage”, is available here as a PDF file, and deserves wide distribution.

Queen’s Birthday Convention IV

The Queen’s Birthday Convention is on at St. Andrew’s Cathedral on Monday (June 13) – with Phillip Jensen and Greg Clarke speaking.

Watch the stirring video promo here.

Prayers for Defence Chaplains

Recent deaths and injuries among Australian military serving overseas are a reminder to pray for the defence chaplains and those to whom they minister.

Recent posts on the Defence Anglicans website include a poem reflecting the sadness of loss, by Army Chaplain Jim Cosgrove, and also a reflection on “Is it right for a Christian to serve in the military?” by Archdeacon Kevin Russell.

New National Director for BCA

Dr Mark Short, Archdeacon of Wagga Wagga and Rector of St. Paul’s Turvey Park has been announced as the next National Director of The Bush Church Aid Society.

More from Anglican News (PDF), newspaper of the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn. (Photo: Anglican News.)

Bp John Harrower’s Synod Address 2011

The text of Bishop John Harrower’s Presidential Address to the Synod of the Diocese of Tasmania last Saturday is now on the diocesan website (PDF file). His theme: ‘Passionate Spirituality’.

2011 Moore College Library Lecture

“Simplicity and Integrity : the King James Version of the Bible in the church and the world” is the theme of this year’s Moore College Library Lecture. Thursday July 7th 2011, 9.30am – 4:00pm at Moore College in Newtown.

Details and a registration form here.

Thinking helpfully about the Muslim billboards

John Dickson and the Muslim billboard campaign organiser Diaa Mohamed will speak with Leigh Hatcher on Sunday night (June 5th) at 8:00pm on “Open House”, on Hope 103.2FM in Sydney and on other stations across Australia.

Related: ‘Why the Muslim billboards are good for Jesus’, John Bales in this story from Eternity newspaper.

“Ask people: ‘Have you seen the billboards? What did you think about it? Do you know who Jesus really is? Have you read the gospels?’ And so rather than react negatively to it we can take it as an opportunity for sharing our faith.”

The Sydney Family Album — 6

“Thomas Moore came to Australia from England at the age of thirty. Until recently, little was known of Moore’s origins.…”

– In a guest post at Theological Theology, Peter Bolt introduces us to Thomas Moore, after whom Moore College is named.

Request: Help for the church in Broome

Bishop of North West Australia, David Mulready, is urgently seeking help for the church in Broome. Opportunities abound, but finance is lacking –

“We urgently need generous partners who might catch the vision to have a significant and specialist Indigenous ministry in Broome.”

Read all the details in this PDF file.

Unity from division: A personal account of the crisis in The Episcopal Church

The School of Christian Studies at Robert Menzies College is hosting an evening talk and discussion with the Rev. David Sandifer on the current situation in the Anglican churches of the United States, entitled Unity from division: A personal account of the crisis in The Episcopal Church.

Tuesday, May 31st at 7:30pm, with a discussion chaired by Bishop Glenn Davies. Details from the SOCS website.

‘Doomsdayers put faith in Apocalypse now redux’

“If you have seen the billboards while driving to work, then you will know tomorrow is Judgment Day – well, that’s according to US evangelical broadcaster Harold Camping. …

But Centre for Public Christianity director John Dickson is unfazed by Camping’s warning, saying he will be enjoying a glass of wine with his wife on Saturday, and preaching a sermon on Sunday morning. And though he is relaxed about his own fate, Dr Dickson is critical of such predictions because they can cause a crisis of faith for some Christians.…”

– Story at ABC News. (Image: Family Radio.)

Egyptian Church: update

Bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower, has links to the latest from Egypt at his blog. Food for prayer.

A prophetic word to the PCUSA

In 2010 an Orthodox Arch-priest from Belarus, Siarhei Hardun, spoke plainly to the PCUSA General Assembly as they debated gay marriage and ordination. Worth watching, even if the advice was not heeded.