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.

Justin Taylor has the story and some useful links here.  (Related posts.)

‘Sydney and Anglican: A Fresh Look at Mission’

A Conference “organised by a small group of like-minded Sydney Anglicans” is set for for Friday June 17th, 2011, at St. Philip’s York Street.

Details here.

‘GAFCON throws down gauntlet to Dr. Williams’

“The tone of the Nairobi statement from the Gafcon archbishops: Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, West Africa, the Southern Cone, Rwanda, Sydney and Archbishop Robert Duncan of the ACNA, speaks to the mounting frustration the reform movement’s leaders feel with the course of events taken by the London-based instruments of the communion, one insider told The Church of England Newspaper.

Given the African church’s historic deference to the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and their cultural predisposition not to air their differences in public, the Nairobi letter was a remarkably frank document, CEN was told…”

– George Conger reports for The Church of England Newspaper.

Presbyterian Church (USA) votes for gay ministers

“After 33 years of debate, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has voted to change its constitution and allow openly gay people in same-sex relationships to be ordained as ministers, elders and deacons…”

– Story from The Sydney Morning Herald.

Press release from the PCUSA.

Albert Mohler writes:

“But even beyond the specific issue of homosexuality, the church faced two of the most fundamental questions of Christian theology — the authority of the Bible and the Lordship of Christ. In making this change, the church clearly affirms that one may submit to the Lordship of Christ without submitting to the clear teachings of Scripture.…”

(Photo: PCUSA.)

Plans announced for GAFCON 2 and London and Africa offices

“GAFCON primates meeting in Africa have announced plans for another international conference as well as opening offices in London and Nairobi.

The council of Anglican leaders was established by the Global Anglican Future Conference in 2008, representing more than 35 million Anglicans.

Now, the Primates are planning for a second GAFCON in 2013 preceded by a leadership conference in New York in 2012. …”

– Read more at the GAFCON website.

Diocese of Montreal: two canons resign from Cathedral Chapter

“Two priests have resigned from the honorary post of canon of the Chapter of Christ Church Cathedral, at least one of them because of disagreement with the appointment a gay man with a partner as the new rector of the cathedral and dean of Montreal.…”

– From page 3 of The Montreal Anglican (3.8MB PDF) – via the Anglican Essentials Canada blog. (Photo: Diocese of Montreal.)

Pope John Paul II set for ‘Beatification’

“John Paul II’s coffin has been carried out of its Vatican resting place ahead of his Beatification ceremony. … The coffin will be brought into Saint Peter’s Basilica on Sunday… A sample of John Paul’s blood… will also be put on show for adoration.”

– Report from The Herald Sun. Related.

(Image: The Vatican.)

Bishop David Mulready to conclude North West ministry in October

The most recent prayer notes from the Diocese of North West Australia have been uploaded to their website, and also a pastoral letter from Bishop David Mulready:

“I wish to let you know that Maureen and I will be ending our ministry amongst you in the middle of October this year … We have thoroughly enjoyed over seven years in the North West … We have a great team of leaders and others are soon to come.“

Bishop Mulready’s letter and the prayer notes are on the DNWA website for your prayers.

Abp Wabukala — new Chairman of GAFCON Primates Council

This statement has been released by Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, on his election as Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council —

GAFCON Primates Council

Statement from the Most Rev’d Eliud Wabukala, Primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya and newly elected Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council:

Praise the Lord! It is a great joy to greet all of you as we celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Christ was an event that changed the course of history for good and as a result, my life and the lives of millions of others have been changed for eternity.   Read more

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