Statement on Sri Lanka attacks
Anglican Diocese of Sydney, Media Release
Archbishop Glenn Davies issued the following statement on Twitter after learning of the attacks on Sri Lankan churches, Easter Day 2019.
Our hearts cry out for our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka. This senseless slaughter is a tragedy of vast proportion, especially as it was carried out on Easter Day, mocking the day of hope and salvation for so many. May God comfort survivors and those who have lost loved ones.
– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.
Around the Anglican Church of Australia – Easter 2019
Here are a few news items of interest from around the Anglican Church of Australia this Easter –
Easter message from Bishop Mark Short, Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. (PDF file)
Easter Message from Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Philip Freier.
North West Ministry program kicks off in Geraldton – Diocese of North West Australia.
Shore School Council Appoints Dr Timothy Petterson as Eighth Headmaster.
Thanking God for the Butlers – Top Centre, Magazine of the Diocese of the Northern Territory. (Issue 19.1. PDF file.)
Jesus and the Moon Landing — Easter Message 2019
“The leader of Australia’s largest Anglican Diocese, the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has recalled the Moon Landing and its 50th anniversary, in his Easter Message this year.
Celebrations are being prepared for July when NASA will lead the anniversary of Neil Armstrong and the Apollo 11 team landing on the surface of the Moon in 1969. …”
– Read the media release and watch the video from Archbishop Davies.
Great for sharing – and you could embed the video on your website.
There’s also a media release.
Looking for a church this Easter?
Malcolm Richards named as new Bishop for International Relations
“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has named Canon Malcolm Richards as the new Bishop for International Relations.
Canon Richards will take over from Bishop Peter Tasker who has held the position since its inauguration ten years ago. Bishop Tasker has represented the Archbishop at consecrations, conferences, and made pastoral visits across the globe since 2009. …
As well … Moore College has announced Canon Richards will take up a parallel appointment as the Director of the Centre for Global Mission.”
– Read the full story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
The Bible is a wilderness, not a garden: Lessons from Donald Robinson
“In 2001, a young West Australian skipped Hebrew class to listen to a slight elderly man dressed in bishop’s purple and a clerical collar teach on the Epistle of James.
The class stood as he entered the room and remained standing while he prayed. They addressed him neither by his name (Donald) nor by the title of his most recent posting (Archbishop), but by the clerical order he occupied through the laying on of hands: ‘Bishop Robinson’.
The whole spectacle struck the young West Australian as otherworldly and exotic, though not inauthentic. Its effect was to lull students into a false sense of security – a security quickly removed as this unassuming figure treated the class to an exegetical tour de force, with original and daring insights thrown at the unsuspecting class with a velocity for which none were prepared. …”
– Rory Shiner writes at GoThereFor.com.
(1982 photo via Ramon Williams.)
Mark Short installed as Canberra/Goulburn Bishop
“A South Sudanese choir burst into impromptu song as newly installed Anglican Bishop of Canberra/Goulburn Dr Mark Short emerged from Saint Saviour’s Cathedral on Saturday. …
In what was thought to be a first, an Aboriginal leader, Bush Church Aid Society indigenous ministry officer The Reverend Neville Naden preached at an Anglican Bishop’s consecration. …”
– It was a big day in Goulburn yesterday. The Goulburn Post has the story and photos. (Photo of Bishops Mark Short and Ray Smith: Goulburn Post.)
New Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn to be consecrated on Saturday (6th April)
Dr. Mark Short, elected last November as Bishop of the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn, will be consecrated and installed at St. Saviour’s Cathedral in Goulburn on Saturday 6th April.
Please do pray for Mark and the continued progress of the gospel in that area.
Related:
Dr Mark Short to be installed as Canberra/Goulburn Bishop – Goulburn Post.
“Dr Short said he was surprised to be approached to consider the role. But in many ways it was a ‘coming home’ to the diocese and the cathedral in which he was ordained a priest and a minister.
Born in Sydney, he lived in the Riverina until age five before his family moved to Sydney’s western suburbs. He attended Saint Andrew’s Anglican School where several teachers inspired him to follow Jesus. …”
Prayer for the election of a Bishop of Bathurst
According to the timeline published in the December 2018 edition of Anglican eNews, the steps to elect a new Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst include:
“Synod Members to be invited to propose names of prospective nominees: late February.
Nominations Open: 1 March.
Nominations Close: 31 March.
Interviews, Due-Dilligence and Discernment: April.
Election and Announcement: May.”
Doubtless, all in the diocese would be glad of your continued prayers during this time.
Related:
Sydney helps Bathurst – SydneyAnglicans.net
Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans New Zealand calls for Nominations for their first Bishop
“The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand is a new Diocese in New Zealand.
Because of the rejection of the authority of Scripture by the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia at the 2018 General Synod, a number of parishes and individuals have chosen to disaffiliate from ACANZP and gather together in 12 parishes to form a new expression of Anglicanism.
As a Christ-centred church in the historic Anglican faith and order, we are calling for nominations for our first Bishop. We are seeking a person who has a desire to serve as our Bishop…”
– News from The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand.
The phenomenal impact of Donald Robinson
Last week, on The Pastor’s Heart podcast, Dominic Steele spoke with Rory Shiner about the phenomenal impact of Donald Robinson.
Rory was in Sydney for the launch of Volumes 3 and 4 of the Selected Works of Donald Robinson.
Moore College Graduation 2019 — 107 men and women sent out into the harvest field
“On Monday 11 March, we had the great pleasure of witnessing the graduation of the 107 men and women who most recently completed their courses at Moore College, and who are now serving God in various contexts across the world. …”
– Encouraging news from Moore College.
See Simon Manchester’s address above, on Vimeo.
Tasmanian Parliamentary Year Commencement Sermon 2019
Dr. Richard Condie, Bishop of Tasmania, preached at the Parliamentary Year Commencement Service in St. David’s Cathedral Hobart on Tuesday 19th March 2019.
“The events in the past few days remind us of the importance of the task before us, and particularly the task before the Parliament of this State of Tasmania.
The senseless act of violence and murder last Friday in the peaceful city of Christchurch, where now 50 people, one as young as 2 years of age, lie dead as a result of gun rampage.
It reminds us of the sacred trust given to governments, to work for the safety and well-being of the people whom they serve, to provide protection for the vulnerable.
There is an instruction to Christians in the New Testament about prayer for people in positions of ruling authority …”
You can read his full sermon on the diocesan website.
Archbishop of Sydney: Further statement on Christchurch attack
Here’s a further statement from Archbishop Glenn Davies:
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Public Statement
The horror of the massacre of Muslims, praying in a Christchurch Mosque, has resonated with people of all faiths and of none around the world. That anyone, let alone an Australian, could execute such an atrocity and film it for his heinous gratification, is still hard to believe as the extent of this crime became fully known.
I have conveyed to the leaders of Sydney’s Muslim community our absolute horror and revulsion at these attacks and our determination to stand with them in condemning all acts of violence, especially racially and religiously motivated acts of inhumanity as we have seen. I have also conveyed our condolences to the New Zealand High Commissioner, Dame Annette King, indicating our solidarity with New Zealand.
In St Andrew’s Cathedral today special prayers will be offered for survivors and families of the victims, while a minute’s silence will be observed to commemorate the dead. The NZ Consul General in Sydney, Mr William Dobbie, will be in attendance for this service.
Our hearts cry out to the God of all comfort, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom alone will justice and mercy be found, especially when events such as these overwhelm us.
Archbishop Glenn Davies
17 March, 2019 AD.
– via SydneyAnglicans.net.
Archbishop Glenn Davies’ statement on the Christchurch mosque attacks
“All Christians, as well as people of faith or of none, will be shocked to learn of the mosque attacks in #Christchurch. We long for peace and freedom from violence in our streets, our homes and especially in places of prayer.
Archbishop Glenn Davies, March 15, 2019.”
(Media statement via Twitter.)
(The Archbishop has since contacted Muslim leaders in Sydney to express condolences and support for the Muslim community in Australia and NZ in the face of this atrocity.)
See also:
A statement issued by Bishop Peter Carrell on behalf of the leaders of churches in Christchurch city and Canterbury province – Scoop NZ.
Make a difference in a crisis
“Sunday in Inverell I gathered with people in the Town Hall to pray for rain. Council members and even a Senator joined the gathering and a personal letter from the Prime Minister was read. I was dressed like a civilian and no one knew who I was but everyone knew that people were hurting. With no control of the weather people fell to prayer. Where else does one turn but to God when hope cannot be found in ourselves?…”
– Bishop of Armidale Rick Lewers knows there is something you can do in a crisis.