Newcastle 2019 Synod to consider blessings for same sex couples

Apparently taking the lead from Wangaratta diocese, the Newcastle Synod will debate same-sex blessings when it meets on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th October 2019.

The Newcastle diocesan website explains:

“Human Sexuality & Marriage

The Right Reverend Professor Stephen Pickard will be a guest of the Synod and will be assisting the Synod explore its response to discussions about human sexuality and changes in the Marriage Act.

Two Bills (11.1 & 11.2) will be discussed relating to these topics.

The first Bill seeks to remove the potential for discipline against a member of the clergy who offers a blessing to a same sex couple as well as removing the potential for discipline against a member of the clergy who declines to offer a blessing.

It is a complex bill that requires it to be passed, assented to by the Bishop and then for the debate to be held again next Synod with a further occasion of the Bishops assent.

If passed the Bill would also allow a married clergy same sex couple.

The second Bill seeks to propose a form of blessing for people who have been married in a civil service.”

(Formatting and red highlights added.)

See also:

Newcastle Synod to debate same-sex blessings – davidould.net, 22 September 2019.

Melbourne Anglicans vote to express ‘sorrow’ over blessing of same-sex marriages – ACL, 19 October 2019.

Guarding the faith in a changing world – Archbishop Glenn Davies, 14 October 2019.

True Discipleship and The 51st Synod

“He said what?!

By now, most of you would have heard about Archbishop Glenn Davies’ address at the 51st Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney.  It has been quoted and misquoted on social media, the Sydney Morning Herald, and has even reached British shores where I am living, with an article in the Guardian from former Sydney pastor Joel Hollier.

As he has made clear, Archbishop Davies was not calling on those struggling with same-sex attraction to leave the church. We all struggle with sin, which is why the grace and mercy of Christ is such a wonderful message to the world. But there is a difference between struggling with sin, and declaring something not to be a sin. …”

– Tom Habib cuts to the heart of the matter at The Gospel Coalition Australia. Be sure to read it all.

By sad contrast:

“The Bishop of Liverpool [in the Church of England] told the Guardian: ‘I still hope that bishops from Sydney will attend the Lambeth conference next year so that we can all talk together and learn from one another there.

‘Meanwhile, I’m glad that other parts of the Australian church are engaging in dialogue with Sydney and are advocating for a greater inclusion and a wider and more diverse church. It’s good to be in the same communion with all these people.’

Other Church of England bishops declined to comment on Davies’ comments, saying they did not represent mainstream views within the church.”

– from The Guardian.

A Model of Convictional Courage

In his The Briefing podcast for Friday 18 October 2019, Albert Mohler spoke about Archbishop Glenn Davies’ Presidential Address.

“I can only say that I pray for the day that the average evangelical pastor in the United States of America would summon the courage to speak as courageously as the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney on these central and unavoidable issues that are necessary to our understanding of sin and sexuality, but also to gospel and church.”

The segments starts at 09:32 into the programme. Listen or read the transcript.

There’s an integrity problem in the Anglican Church of Australia

“Imagine the marketing director for a major soft drinks company who drank and promoted the competitor’s leading brand of drink at press conferences. They wouldn’t expect to keep their job very long.
If they had any integrity.

Imagine a left-wing politician who only ever advocated for conservative positions. You’d think they’d resign and join another party.
If they had any integrity.

So what about ordained Anglican ministers who promised to defend and promote the church’s teaching from the Bible but instead constantly undermine and attack it while banking their stipend every month. The right thing to do would be to resign and join another group.
If they had any integrity. …”

– David Ould challenges Bishops in the Anglican Church of Australia to act with integrity. See it all at the link.

Melbourne Anglicans vote to express ‘sorrow’ over blessing of same-sex marriages

“Melbourne’s Anglican church has formally voted to record its ‘sorrow’ over a regional Victorian diocese’s decision to bless same-sex marriages.

The nod of approval given by the Wangaratta diocese in August has angered the Melbourne church’s governing body…”

– Story from The Guardian.

Here, we understand, is the motion which was passed at the Melbourne Synod:

“Motion 17: Response to Wangaratta Synod

That this Synod expresses its sorrow to the Bishop and Synod of the Diocese of Wangaratta for their approval of a liturgy that could be used to bless persons in same-sex relationships at their recent Synod meeting (August 30-31).”

Further, a motion concerning the consecration of Bishop Jay Behan was also passed:

“Motion 11 Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa / New Zealand

That this Synod:

a) Welcomes the formation of the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa / New Zealand.

b) Assures the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa / New Zealand and its bishop, Jay Behan, of our love and prayers.

c) prays for God’s blessing on all Anglicans in New Zealand as they seek to proclaim Christ faithfully to New Zealand.”

Jay Behan consecrated in Christchurch

Jay Behan has been consecrated as the first Bishop of the Diocese of the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand this morning in Christchurch.

Bishops from across the Tasman and around the world took part in the service.

ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach and Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council presided, and former Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen preached.

The event was live-streamed, and a recording may be seen via the ConfessingAnglicansNZ Facebook page (a Facebook account is not needed). Audio starts about 12 minutes into the recording, just as the service proper begins.

Archbishop Peter Jensen delivers the sermon. Bishops Peter Lin and Bill Atwood look on.

Archbishop Foley Beach addresses Jay Behan.

Listening to the consecration charge.

Dr Laurent Mbanda, Primate of Uganda and Vice-Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council, reads one of the Consecration questions while Archbishop Foley Beach (left) and Bishop Julian Dobbs (right) look on.

The laying on of hands.

“There’s much for us to do. This world is full of darkness and we know the One who is the Light of the World. … We’ve got to preach and proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Jay Behan speaking after his consecration.

(Images from the live-stream video.)

Marriage motions passed as General Synod support questioned

“If we abandon God’s Word we have nothing to offer the world. That is why this motion is before you tonight,” said the Dean of Sydney Kanishka Raffel as he introduced one of the key motions of the 2019 Synod, one which he said he moved ‘with a heavy heart’.

“My heaviness of heart is because the motion before you addresses not a departure from God’s word in the laws of the land but a departure from God’s word that is being promoted by Bishops and Synods in our Church.” Dean Raffel said. “There is one God and Father of us all, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism – but Bishops and Synods in our church nationally, risk rending the fabric of our fellowship by promoting a theology of marriage that is contrary to Scripture.”

The motion followed the Archbishop’s Presidential Address where he spoke of at least two Dioceses pushing to bless same-sex relationships. A ten-point motion, seconded by Bishop Michael Stead, reaffirmed man/woman marriage as the doctrine of scripture and of the Anglican Church, declared that blessings or affirmations of same-sex marriage are contrary to scripture and called for action where the doctrine was not being upheld.…

– Read the full report by Russell Powell at Anglican Media Sydney.

My words were for the bishops and I stand by them — Archbishop Glenn Davies


“Every year at about this time I am asked, ‘Why don’t you update what you believe – it doesn’t fit with modern Australia.’ The subject lately has been same-sex marriage, but it has been a kaleidoscope of issues over the years.

When representatives of our churches meet at our annual Synod, we do so publicly. Our churches are open to all people in the suburbs of Sydney, the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains, so our governing body is public as well. We do not hide our beliefs, nor are we ashamed of them. People know what we believe and are free to comment on what we do and what we believe. …”

– Archbishop Glenn Davies has written this opinion-piece for The Sydney Morning Herald, regarding reporting of what he said in his Synod Presidential Address on Monday 14th October.

Archbishop Davies was also interviewed on Sydney’s Radio 2GB by Ben Fordham.

Jay Behan’s consecration to be live-streamed

GAFCON advises that Jay Behan’s consecration service will be live-streamed from Christchurch on the Gafcon Facebook page @gafconference. Here’s when to watch it live in your timezone:

Australian Eastern Daylight Time:
7:30am Saturday 19 October.
UK BST: 9:30pm 18 Friday October.
USA ET: 4:30pm Friday 18 October.
USA PT: 1:30pm Friday 18 October.

A Facebook account is not needed to see the live-stream on the Facebook page.

(Photo from Sydney Synod: Anglican Media Sydney.)

The heart of a bishop, as a new Anglican Diocese is born – with New Zealand’s Jay Behan

At this week’s The Pastor’s Heart podcast, Dominic Steele speaks with Jay Behan, to be consecrated on Saturday as the first bishop of the Diocese of the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Watch above, or at The Pastor’s Heart.

Video of Archbishop Glenn Davies’ 2019 Presidential Address

Courtesy of Anglican Media Sydney, watch the full 2019 Presidential Address to Sydney Synod by Archbishop Glenn Davies. Delivered on Monday 14th October. Watch it all. Link to Vimeo. Full text here (PDF file).

Archbishop Davies received a standing ovation from the Synod at the conclusion of his address (as well as sustained applause, at 26:20, after his remarks about bishops who abandon the plain teaching of Scripture).

See also: My words were for the bishops and I stand by them.

ACL Synod Dinner Address 2019

Jay Behan Bishop-elect of the Diocese of the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand, spoke to a packed gathering at the Anglican Church League’s Synod Dinner in Sydney on Monday 14th October.

Jay will be consecrated on Saturday in Christchurch.

Synod members will look forward to next year’s ACL Synod Dinner.

A friendly welcome!

Jay Behan addresses a capacity crowd.

Guarding the faith in a changing world – Archbishop Glenn Davies

“Archbishop Glenn Davies has spoken of the challenges to Christian faith within the Anglican Church in his final Presidential Address to the 2019 Synod of the Diocese of Sydney.

Taking his inspiration from the Pastoral Epistles, which he said had been a regular source of comfort throughout his ministry, Dr Davies said ‘The first priority of the Archbishop of Sydney is to be a guardian of ‘the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints’ (Jude 3). This is true of all those who hold office as a bishop in the church of God.’…”

– Russell Powell has the story on Archbishop Glenn Davies’ Presidential Address.

Read the full text here (PDF file). Well worth reading in full.

or watch the address, courtesy of Anglican Media Sydney.

Diocese of Perth updates “Faithfulness in Service”

“At its annual synod, meeting this last weekend, the Diocese of Perth has approved changes to Faithfulness in Service (the Anglican Church of Australia’s national code of conduct) that remove the expectation for clergy and church workers to refrain from sex outside marriage.

The amended text provided to synod, showing the effect of the change, was as follows…”

– Story from David Ould.

Moore College Spring Carnival, Saturday 26 October

“A day to come along and check out the College, get an insight into Moore’s in-depth theological training, tour our new building, plus have all your questions answered by faculty and students. A presentation overviewing the College is followed by a tour of the new building with lunch to follow. Meals are our shout, but RSVP is essential for catering purposes.”

– Details from Moore College.

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