Bishop Mark Calder and BCA National Director Greg Harris on the latest partnership for Bathurst Diocese

Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder and BCA National Director Greg Harris recent spoke about the opportunities to serve the Lord in West Wyalong, Cowra and Cobar – fully funded in partnership with and thanks to the vision and generosity of the Bush Church Aid Society.

Do pray that the right people will be found to serve in those key towns.

(There’s a longer version of the video here.)

A celebration of uncommon leadership — Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s sermon for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

“Princess Elizabeth was 25 years old and on tour in Kenya on her way to Australia, when she learnt the tragic news of the early death of her father, King George VI.

King George had acceded to the throne only after the unprecedented abdication of his brother King Edward VIII.

It had shaken the nation, and its impact on her father, the royal family and the kingdom is undoubtedly part of the background to Her Majesty’s unswerving devotion to her role.

Her uncle’s reign was the shortest of any British monarch. Her Majesty’s eclipsed that of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, more than six years ago. …”

— Archbishop Kanishka Raffel preached at a special service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney today on the Occasion of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

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.

The Story of the Kriol Preya Buk (2012 — 2021)

The Diocese of the Northern Territory has published this information page – with a link to an encouraging 4 minute video – about the Kriol Preya Buk which was launched at the diocesan Synod last year.

A great encouragement.

“Anglicans, for hundreds of years, have had a very important principle that Christians should worship God in their own language.” – Bishop Greg Anderson.

Bishop Mark Calder speaks at Moore College on The Good Shepherd, John 10:1-18

Last week Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder preached at Moore College and also shared encouraging updates from across the diocese.

A message for Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week

The Rev. Michael Duckett, who leads Macarthur Indigenous Church, has shared a prayer and video message for Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week.

The video could be downloaded for use in church.

“As God’s people, and as his church, we have the responsibility to be ambassadors of reconciliation. So I want to encourage us … that we would be bringing the true message of reconciliation to this country.”

Read and watch at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Geraldton Anglican Cathedral to celebrate Diamond Jubilee

Geraldton Anglican Cathedral is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee Friday 22 – Sun 24 July.

“For 60 years this iconic building has been a centre for Christian ministry. People have rejoiced as the good news of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed and we’ve enjoyed warm fellowship together.

Join us to give thanks to God for these blessings and meet up with old friends.”

Details here.

Passage of the ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying’ legislation — Media Statement

Here is a Media Release from the Anglican Diocese of Sydney:

————-

“Public Statement

The passing of the ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying’ legislation will be a matter of regret for our whole community, not just for people of faith who objected strongly or for the doctors who raised their voices against it.

Thanks are due to those MPs who sought to ensure there would be safeguards protecting vulnerable people, medical practitioners and others who care for those who suffer. Unfortunately, most of the proposed amendments were rejected.

This legislation affects not only those who will choose what is euphemistically called ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying’ but will fundamentally affect our culture and values.

We must be vigilant to maintain an emphasis on palliative care so that people have quality to the end of their lives and are not subject to undue pressure because of a lack of resources to support them in their suffering.

I hope the government will ensure that the scope of the bill and those to whom it is applied, does not broaden in the way it has done overseas, being extended to those who are not terminally ill and who suffer from a broad range of illness or disability.

Finally, pray for those suffering that they may be assured that everything will be done to preserve and promote their quality of life, and for medical staff whose relationship with patients has been fundamentally altered by these laws.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel,

20 May 2022.”

Source.

Religious Discrimination Bill infographic videos

The Institute for Civil Society has produced several infographic videos which might be helpful in thinking about the need for a Religious Discrimination Bill.

For links to the videos, see this page.

Southern Cross May-June 2022 now out

The May-June 2022 issue of Southern Cross (the magazine of the Diocese of Sydney) will be available in churches this week.

You can also download a PDF version here.

Southern Cross will now be published by Anglican Media Sydney every six weeks.

Lots of encouraging reading.

An interview with Archbishop Kanishka Raffel

From SydneyAnglicans.net –

After this week’s debate at General Synod on marriage, we asked Archbishop Kanishka Raffel about the vote and its implications.

Can you explain what you meant, when you told the Synod the refusal of the House of Bishops to pass the statement on marriage leaves the church in a perilous position?

Archbishop Raffel: What we had at the session was a clear affirmation from the majority of people in the room that they continue to hold to the biblical and historically Anglican position on marriage. The houses of Laity and Clergy expressed that very strongly and by a small margin the House of Bishops failed to do it. That leaves us in a position where it is unclear that the leadership of the church is united around a common understanding of Scripture and Anglican formularies. That’s perilous for a church. …”

– Read the whole interview at this link.

Bishop of Newcastle’s pastoral letter on General Synod 2022

Dr Peter Stuart, Bishop of Newcastle, has this afternoon released this Pastoral Letter at the conclusion of General Synod 2022. (PDF file)

Waiter, can I get some more ‘Anglican’ in this activism?

“In what sense is an Anglican school that rejects Anglican teaching in order to keep non-Anglican families happy still an Anglican school?

That’s the question Sydney Anglicans are wrestling with as opposition to Christian teaching on sexuality and gender grows.…”

– James Macpherson at The Spectator Australia responds to reported comments in a recent Sydney Morning Herald article. (Subscription, but several free views allowed for non-subscribers.)

Image: A sketch of Richard Johnson’s schoolhouse in Sydney.

A valuable moment for clarity has been lost

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has tonight released this Public Statement –

Public Statement on the General Synod discussion on marriage

May 11, 2022

I thank God that the Synod discussion of this sensitive personal matter was conducted with deep mutual respect and care. We are conscious that the discussion takes place in some sense ‘in public’, and that there is a risk of some feeling hurt or left out. We rely on, and rest in the sustaining love and grace of Jesus for all.

The doctrine of our church has not changed. The previous Synod carried two separate motions affirming the teaching of Jesus on marriage. Today, the majority of the House affirmed the teaching of Jesus on the subject of marriage and its expression in historic Anglican rites. That is why I am deeply disappointed that a majority of Bishops voted against making a clear statement. A valuable moment for clarity has been lost.

Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.

‘Fundamentally awry’: bishops block move to reject same-sex marriage

“A statement from the evangelical Bishop of Tasmania, Richard Condie, said ‘many people were visibly shocked. There were tears and confusion in the room … a number of orthodox bishops are concerned about the implications for our common life and work in the days ahead.’

Straight after the vote, a shocked [Archbishop Kanishka] Raffel said the failure to support the statement left the church in ‘a perilous position, and no-one should be mistaken about that’…”

– The Sydney Morning Herald’s report by Jordan Baker includes these reactions to the failure of the House of Bishops to uphold clear Biblical standards.

Photo: Richard Condie, Bishop of Tasmania.