Reformation Rally at Moore College, Saturday 18th March
Launch of Rocky Hill Church
“Sunday, February 26 saw the first public Christian gathering in East Goulburn in more than 40 years. The day saw the launch of Rocky Hill Church under the leadership of the Reverends Brian and Alison Champness. Brian and Ali are part of the growing ‘F5’ Anglican network in Goulburn.
The network was started by Bishop Stuart Robinson and his wife Jane in 2012.”
– News from The Goulburn Post.
119 Graduates sent out Into All The World at Moore’s Graduation 2017
“119 graduates were given their awards from the College at the Graduation held at City Recital Hall, Angel Place this evening. Hundreds of guests who were family and friends of the graduates, along with current students, faculty, staff and friends of the College came to celebrate this special occasion together. …”
– News from Moore College.
Mike Ovey thanksgiving service — screening at St Thomas’ North Sydney tonight
Moore College Principal Mark Thompson shares:
“The memorial service is being held in London on Monday 13 March at 2:30pm GMT [i.e. early Tuesday morning, Australian time]. We are going to show it at St Thomas’ North Sydney on Tuesday 14 March at 7:30pm. …
those who would like to gather with Ana Ovey at St Thomas’ and participate in the service in this delayed fashion (sing the hymns, pray the prayers, and listen to the sermon by Peter Jensen) would be more than welcome.
There will be a light supper provided (though we have little idea of how many people will be able to come, we will try to provide enough). We would like to send a photograph to Heather Ovey of those gathered if all are willing. Parking is available at St Thomas’.”
Moore College Graduation 2017
This year’s Moore College Graduation is this coming Monday, 13th March.
Details at the College website.
If you can’t be there, this is a good reminder to pray for the College.
From Strength to Strength — A Life of Marcus Loane — reviewed
In the Autumn 2017 issue of Australian Presbyterian, Bruce Murray briefly reviews From Strength to Strength – A Life of Marcus Loane, by ACL Emeritus Vice-President Canon Allan M. Blanch.
“Together with a good supply of appropriate photographs, this book gives an excellent coverage not only to Loane’s life but also to the history of the Anglican Church in Australia.”
It’s on page 21 of this 7MB PDF file.
The book was launched in October 2015. Copies are available through the publisher.
Newtown building hides manuscripts more than 500 years old
“When Reverend Mark Thompson was helping design what would become Moore Theological College’s new learning and teaching centre, he asked for two things.
Glass, to show ‘we’ve got nothing to hide’ and sandstone, ‘to say we’re not something that’s just emerged yesterday’, Dr Thompson said.…”
– Story in the Sydney Daily Telegraph.
Good news about preaching
“In the middle of last year I had an eye operation that left me unable to read for some time. Instead I began to analyse Sydney sermons, since so many churches now record the preacher and have sermons available on their websites. In just a few months I listened to about 40 sermons. …
For the sake of analysis I used the time-honoured technique of asking myself about matter, method and manner. I also checked things such as Bible passages used, length, fairness to the text and exhortation.
Here is what I have found so far …”
– Originally published in the Diocese of Sydney’s Southern Cross, Dr Peter Jensen, former Archbishop of Sydney, and now General Secretary of GAFCON, takes a look at Sydney sermons.
News from the Top End
The latest issue of Top Centre, the newsletter for the Diocese of the Northern Territory, February 2017, is up on their website.
Please be encouraged to use it to inform your prayers.
New Deacons for Sydney
SydneyAnglicans.net has published a list of those ordained as deacons on Saturday, 18th February, 2017. Good to pray for them all.
Update: Photo of the Ordination, courtesy of SydneyAnglicans.net.
New Moore College website
Moore College has a new website.
Anglican Bishop acts over report into sexual abuse claims
“The Anglican Bishop of Tasmania has launched an investigation into the response of former church leader Bishop Philip Newell to complaints of sexual abuse by clergy. …”
– Report from The Mercury.
New Moore College building offically opened
“Amid record hot weather not seen since the days of the original benefactor, Thomas Moore, Moore Theological College has entered a new era with the opening of its ultra-modern Learning and Teaching Centre.
The 33 million dollar centre was dedicated by Archbishop Glenn Davies and officially opened by the Governor of New South Wales, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) before a crowd of 500 in the main assembly room, Marcus Loane Hall. …”
– Russell Powell reports at SydneyAnglicans.net.
And there’s also a report at the Moore College website.
Stories you might have missed — January 2017
Here are some key posts you may have missed this last month. Each link opens in a new window.
- Is GAFCON the problem? – Dr. Peter Jensen responds to criticism of GAFCON by the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion.
- The Grace of God – or the World of the West? – we featured this challenging address at GAFCON II by Dr. Mike Ovey, who went home to be with the Lord on 7th January.
- Dick Lucas on Mark’s Gospel – a wonderful resource from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.
- Remnant in Scotland finding hope through GAFCON – The Rector of St. Thomas’ Church in Edinburgh shares something of the crisis which has hit the Scottish Episcopal Church through its accommodation to secular culture.
- Dr Gavin Ashenden resigns as Chaplain to the Queen – This story has gained some traction in the secular press.
- New Women’s Ministry Stream at Moore College – Jane Tooher outlines Moore College’s new women’s ministry study stream.
- Proposed bill ‘doesn’t protect religious freedom’ – The Diocese of Sydney has told a Senate Inquiry the proposed bill on same-sex marriage does not sufficiently protect freedom of religion.
Proposed bill ‘doesn’t protect religious freedom’
“The Diocese of Sydney has told a Senate Inquiry the proposed bill on same-sex marriage does not sufficiently protect freedom of religion.
The Senate inquiry into the exposure draft of the legislation allowing same-sex marriage has been holding public hearings in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra this week. The government has vowed the issue must be put to a plebiscite first, although a bill to enable a public vote was defeated the first time it was introduced into the Senate.
However, the committee is still examining enabling legislation which would be introduced, if a plebiscite were to result in a vote in favour of same-sex marriage.
The Diocese of Sydney made a submission to the public inquiry [PDF download], and the Chair of the Religious Freedom Reference Group, the Bishop of South Sydney Michael Stead, appeared at the inquiry. Bishop Stead was called alongside the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. …”
– Read the full report by Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Update: The Australian Christian Lobby also has a report, with a copy of their submission.