A prayer for Ukraine
From Archbishop Kanishka Raffel via SydneyAnglicans.net tonight –
The world is dismayed, though perhaps not surprised, to find that Russia has illegally invaded Ukraine in an act of unprovoked and unjustified aggression. We fear that the toll on the brave people of Ukraine will be heartrending and dreadful. The world has had to engage in defensive action to protect the innocent and to contain aggressors in the past.
We must pray for the government and people of Ukraine, the people of Russia who live under an authoritarian regime, for the leaders of the world that they will respond with wisdom and courage and for the restraint of evil and the restoration of peace, with justice.
Psalm 10 says “Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.”
And so we ask –
Sovereign Lord, you observe all those who dwell on earth. Have mercy we pray on those who now suffer the miseries of a war not of their own making. Have compassion on the wounded and dying; comfort the broken-hearted; confound the hatred and madness of those who make war; guide our rulers, bring war to an end, bring peace across the world. Unite us all under the reign of your Son, the Prince of Peace, before whose judgement seat the rulers of the world will give account, and in whose name we pray. Amen.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel,
Sydney, February 24, 2022.
Archbishop of Perth Responds to Concerns over Ordination
“The Archbishop of Perth has today released a statement in response to growing concerns about tonight’s ordination and the appointment of a new precentor at the Cathedral. The statement is reproduced below …
davidould.net understands that conservatives in the diocese are not placated by this message…”
– Read the latest at davidould.net.
Archbishop of Perth Set to Proceed with Ordination that will “Split the Diocese”
“The Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, is set to proceed with an ordination later this week that, according to sources in the diocese, is set to ‘split the diocese’.
On the evening of Thursday 24 February 2022 Archbishop Goldsworthy will preside over the ordination at St George’s Cathedral where four candidates will be made deacon. …”
Photo: Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy, courtesy Diocese of Perth.
Sydney Archbishop Kanishka Raffel on the future
“Sydney Anglican Archbishop Kanishka Raffel spells out the future mission challenges in Sydney and the future of the National Anglican Church in Australia.
We canvass some of the issues Archbishop Raffel might have broached in his first Presidential address, had the ‘Synod in the Greenfields’ (scheduled for this Saturday 26 February 2022) not been postponed due to the Omicron outbreak.
Archbishop Raffel speaks frankly about the Greenfields challenge, indigenous issues, multiculturalism, the national church and the current religious freedom debate. …”
“He had lost control of his life to Jesus Christ”
“When Archbishop Kanishka Raffel came to Australia in 1972 as a small child, his home faith was Buddhism. The story of how he came to believe in Jesus has now been told on video, which is available for playing in churches or to pass on to friends.
The Archbishop’s story has been told in print and on radio, but he was moved to record a video version after a request from Anglican Chinese churches. He talks about how he became interested in studying Buddhism as a teenager and also asked Christians about their faith. …”
– Watch and download this encouraging testimony at SydneyAnglicans.net.
From around the Anglican Church of Australia
A few items of interest from around the Anglican Church of Australia –
The Idea of Duty – Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Mark Short.
“As I write this column people across the world are preparing to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, the seventieth anniversary of her accession to the throne. My only encounter with royalty came at a distance. Our family were in England during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and she came to our city as part of the celebrations. The day of her visit I lined up in on the footpath with our younger son on my shoulders. From that vantage point he saw her: I did but see her lemon-yellow hat passing by. …”
Sesquicentenary of St Stephen’s Fitzgerald’s Valley – Blayney Chronicle.
“Sitting atop a hill in the picturesque Fitzgerald’s Valley between Blayney and Bathurst is an Anglican Church that is unique in the Bathurst parish.
Built in 1871 by the settlers who moved into the valley in the 1800s, St Stephen’s Anglican Church is an operating church that commands one of the best views in the central west. …”
Rod Bower, author of politically charged church billboard, leaves Central Coast – ABC News.
“Father Bower is moving onto his new role as Director of Mission for the Diocese of Newcastle, based at Lake Macquarie, where he will shape and ‘pass the baton of social justice”’ onto the next generation of priests. …”
Eighteen ordained at St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney
“From twenty-something college graduates to an experienced Aboriginal Pastor, the 18 candidates for ordination at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday, Feb 19, 2022, shared both excitement and a sense of privilege and responsibility as they made their vows…”
– Encouraging news from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
The washup from lockdown: What can we pray for our churches?
From The Australian Church Record:
“We don’t need to talk to too many church pastors to see that the last two years have been extraordinarily difficult. Of course, there have also been many blessings – and we know that God is always at work for his glory and the good of his people. So as our churches begin their third year under COVID, the ACR thought it would be helpful for us to begin the year by praying for one another.
The Sydney Anglican Diocese is a fellowship of churches partnering together in the gospel for the glory and Kingdom of our great God. There are many ways in which we can and should express this fellowship, and one great way is by praying for one another.
Over the next few weeks, the ACR will be sharing prayer points from various church pastors from within the Sydney Anglican Diocese. Will you join me in praying for these churches? What better way to express our fellowship as churches than by mimicking Paul in his relationship with the Philippian church, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer (Phil 1:3-5).”
– The ACR has begun publishing prayer requests – so far, from St. Peter’s Cooks River and St Stephen’s, Willoughby.
Five ordained as Deacons at Bathurst Cathedral
“The Anglican Diocese of Bathurst ordained five new deacons at a special service at the All Saints Anglican Cathedral on Saturday.
Mark Calder, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst, was on hand to ordain Ben Mackay, Roger and Sally Phelps, Bec Choi and James Daymond into the church. …
Bishop Calder said the ordination service is one of the largest in recent times.
‘It’s one of the largest ordinations in recent times but the other significant thing is that they’re younger then people who have typical been ordained in recent years’…”
– Encouraging news from The Central Western Daily – and a great reminder to pray for the continued progress of the saving news of Jesus in the Diocese of Bathurst.
New Archdeacon takes on new role
“Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has announced a newly-created position to assist him as he further settles into the office to which he was elected last May.
The Reverend Canon Simon Flinders is to become Archdeacon to the Archbishop. …”
– Story from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Bible Gateway removes The Passion Translation
“A Bible version designed to ‘recapture the emotion of God’s Word’ was removed from Bible Gateway last week. The Passion Translation (TPT) is listed as ‘no longer available’ among the site’s 90 English-language Bible offerings.
First released as a New Testament in 2017, The Passion Translation includes additions that do not appear in the source manuscripts, phrases meant to draw out God’s ‘tone’ and ’heart’ in each passage. …”
– Story from Christianity Today.
Related:
Burning Scripture with Passion: A Review of The Psalms (The Passion Translation) – Andrew Shead, April 2018.
“Brian Simmons has made a new translation of the Psalms (and now the whole New Testament) which aims to ‘re-introduce the passion and fire of the Bible to the English reader.’ He achieves this by abandoning all interest in textual accuracy, playing fast and loose with the original languages, and inserting so much new material into the text that it is at least 50% longer than the original.”
The Passion “Translation” of Romans: Problems and questions – Lionel Windsor, November 2017.
Religious Discrimination Bill stalled by hasty amendments — Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney Media Statement
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Media Statement
Religious Discrimination Bill stalled by hasty amendments
We are deeply disappointed that the passage of the Religious Discrimination Bill has been stalled. People of faith have been waiting for this since 2018, and there seems to be broad agreement on both sides of the House that legal protection against discrimination on the basis of religious belief is necessary and long overdue.
It is regrettable that the passage of the Religious Discrimination Bill – which is about Religious Discrimination, and Religious Discrimination only – is being held hostage to rushed changes to the Sex Discrimination Act relating to students.
There have been claims that religious schools are harming trans and gay students and further claims that they want the legal right to do so. This is the opposite of what happens. Religious schools provide exceptional pastoral care to all students (which is one of the reasons why parents choose to send their children to these schools).
Many MPs seem to have given scant regard to how to protect those of religious faith and the positive contribution of individuals, churches and religious organisations to the community. Instead, the central intent of the bill has been overshadowed and derailed by the discussion of the exemptions section of s38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Act.
As we have seen from hasty amendments made in the middle of last night, this issue is complex, which is why it was referred to the Australian Law Reform Commission to address. Nevertheless, if the removal of s.38(3) is the only means by which the Bill can progress, we call on the government and opposition to work together to resolve the technical issues and bring this matter to a resolution before the next Federal election.
People of religious faith in Australia, of all beliefs and backgrounds, deserve the equal protection that such a bill was intended to give. The benevolent religious organisations they have established and maintain also need the stability that well-considered legislation would provide. There is goodwill on our part to proceed and we call for a bipartisan approach that would progress this very important Bill.
Bishop Michael Stead, Chair, Religious Freedom Reference Group and Bishop of South Sydney
February 10, 2022.
Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Today marks 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II acceeded to the throne, on the death of her father King George VI.
Her Majesty has gone on to reign longer than any other British Monarch in history, and to become a beloved figure around the world – one who is unashamed to speak of the Lord Jesus.
Whatever your view of the British Monarchy, do be encouraged to pray for her, and to give thanks for her long, stable reign. As the Apostle Paul exhorts us,
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-6.
Photo:
Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with Bishop Jack Dain outside St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, on 13 March 1977. Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane is at the Queen’s side, and Bishop John Reid is at centre. At right, Dean of the Cathedral, Lance Shilton, stands with Prince Philip. Photo courtesy Ramon Williams.
In his biography of Archbishop Loane, “From Strength to Strength”, ACL Emeritus Vice-President Allan M. Blanch writes, on page 317,
At a special cathedral service on 13 March, the Archbishop preached from Revelation 21 about the City of God. He referred to Augustine of North Africa who, in the fifth century, ‘with the destroyers rapidly approaching the city … gave himself to contemplation of the City of God’.
Loane spoke of the citizens of that heavenly city: ‘They will suffer neither from poverty nor misery, from pain nor vice, from sorrow nor crying … There will be no room for a permissive society, or an alternate culture, or a wealthy elite, or a down-trodden minority; there will be no place for political intrigue, or public wrangling, or partisan interests, or power struggles’.
He concluded by saying, ‘Therefore let us pray that the Silver Jubilee of an earthly reign will enlarge our vision of all that lies beyond the frontiers of earth and time, and will strengthen our resolve to live our lives for the glory of Jesus Himself who reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords for ever and ever. Amen.’ [Emphasis added.]
St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney is marking the anniversary at its services today.
Pastoral video from the Bishop of Bathurst, 5th February 2022
The Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has today released this Pastoral Video.
The planned diocesan Synod has not been able to take place, due to COVID, so this partly replaces what Bishop Calder had hoped to say at the meeting, however it will be of wider interest and encouragement.
The video includes an interview with Archbishop Kanishka Raffel who was to have spoken at the Bathurst Synod – plus lots of great news from around the Diocese of Bathurst.
New year, old virus, eternal home
“The new year has arrived, but the pandemic is not going away anytime soon. The ABC’s Dr Norman Swan has suggested that new variants are virtually certain and they may be more severe than any of the variants we have experienced so far.
For many, the summer break was disrupted by needing to isolate as a close contact, or by testing positive for the virus. Some experienced severe symptoms and others required hospitalisation. We should not neglect to remember that many have died and many have been left behind to grieve. Families are also bracing themselves for the possibility of further disruption to schooling.
In such challenging circumstances, how should Christians approach a new year? …”
– Encouragement from Archbishop Kanishka Raffel.
(Also published in Southern Cross, February 2022.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…