Archbishop of Sydney welcomes new Premier
Public Statement on the election of Gladys Berejiklian as the 45th Premier of NSW
I welcome the uncontested election of Gladys Berejiklian as Leader of the Liberal Party and thus Premier of NSW.
I have known Ms Berejiklian since she entered Parliament and became my local member when I lived in her electorate. She is a well respected local member who has managed her ministerial portfolios with industry and competence.
While a member of the Armenian Church, she has been a strong supporter of Anglican ministry and never missed a service marking the commencement of ministry of new Anglican rectors in her electorate.
All our Anglican churches pray for those who govern us, and as we have prayed for Mike Baird we shall now pray for Gladys Berejiklian that she might exercise this new responsibility with wisdom and grace, for the good of all citizens and the glory of God.
Archbishop Glenn Davies
23rd January, 2017. (From SydneyAnglicans.net. Photo from the NSW Liberal Party.)
Archbishop of Sydney’s Statement on resignation of Premier Mike Baird
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney, 19th January, 2017. Public Statement on the resignation of Premier Mike Baird.
With the unexpected resignation of Mike Baird as Premier, the State has lost an outstanding leader.
A man of principle and of mature Christian faith, Mike Baird has ‘made the difference’ that he intended to make when he entered politics a decade ago.
His bold agenda for improving the infrastructure of our cities and our transport networks will stand the State in good stead for the next half century. His willingness to eschew short term political gain in order to do the right thing for the citizens of NSW is a model for political leaders from all sides.
Yet leadership of this calibre naturally attracts its critics, especially when powerful minorities are challenged and chastened as to their genuine concern for the common good, rather than their own sectional interests.
For Mike Baird, his commitment to his family is both serious and important, not a smokescreen for a resignation due to other reasons. Mike Baird is trustworthy and while I am personally sorry to see him leave the office of Premier, I thank God for the impact he has made over the past ten years, and especially the last three years as Premier.
May God raise up more leaders like Mike, a person of transparency and genuine concern for the long term good of the citizens of NSW.
Archbishop Glenn Davies.
– Media Release. See also this story from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Tribute to Dr Mike Ovey by Archbishop Glenn Davies
Here’s a Public Statement released by Archbishop Glenn Davies on the death of Dr Mike Ovey, Principal of Oak Hill College:
“Dr Mike Ovey was a gifted student of God’s word whose ability to convey the truths of Holy Scripture and their contemporary application was outstanding.
Mike’s scholarly analysis of current trends in philosophy and theology was astute and penetrating, always with a view to strengthening the Christian’s understanding of the nature of God’s kingdom and his sovereign rule over our lives. A gracious and godly leader, Mike’s presence and counsel will be sorely missed not only at Oak Hill College, where he served as Principal for a decade, but throughout England and the world.
We in Sydney have lost a true friend whose frequent trips to our city will be sadly missed.”
via SydneyAnglicans.net.
With thanks for Broughton Knox on the Centenary of his birth
David Broughton Knox was born on Boxing Day, 1916.
Today is a good day to give thanks to the Lord he loved. Here are two tributes, written at the time of his death in 1994, by two men who knew him well:
David Broughton Knox – What we owe to him – by Archbishop Donald Robinson.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus – tribute to Broughton Knox – by Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane.
See also:
- Propositional Revelation, the Only Revelation – by Canon D.B. Knox
- Kept by the Power of God – by Canon D.B. Knox
Sydney Diocese — some summer reading
It’s a quieter time of year, with the possibility of catching up on reading. Recently published is Dr Bruce Ballantine-Jones’ Inside Sydney. (We understand there will be copies available at the bookshop during NSW CMS Summer School – as well as lots of other reading.)
See also this interview with Bruce Ballantine-Jones, “Gospel Ministry and Church Politics: What’s the Connection?”
Back in 2012, Dr Mark Thompson (now Principal of Moore College) wrote a series of articles on the theological convictions which undergird Sydney Diocese. We hope you will be encouraged by revisiting those posts below, and ask you to pray that, in 2017, we will cling to Christ more closely, finding our joy in Him –
- Sydney Anglicans I. Biblically confessional
- Sydney Anglicans II. The congregation as the centre
- Sydney Anglicans III. Complementarian ministry
- Sydney Anglicans IV: The Primacy of the Word
- Sydney Anglicans V: A commitment to mission
- Sydney Anglicans VI: An evangelical episcopate
- Sydney Anglicans VII: The value of theological education
Ministry moves — new Rector for St. Alban’s Epping
From the parish of St. Alban’s Epping:
“The Archbishop of Sydney, Glenn Davies, has appointed the Right Reverend Ross Nicholson to be the Rector of the parish. …
Ross and Jennifer Nicholson are returning to Sydney, where they both grew up, Jenny actually in Epping. … It is anticipated that Bishop Ross will begin in the parish at a date in March to be determined.”
Melbourne Anglicans grateful that terror plot was foiled
Here’s a media release from The Diocese of Melbourne:
“December 23, 2016
Anglicans grateful that terror plot was foiled
Melbourne Anglicans are grateful and relieved that a planned terrorist attack on St Paul’s Cathedral, Federation Square and Flinders Street Station on Christmas Day has been neutralised, the Dean of St Paul’s, Dr Andreas Loewe, said today. Read more
Putting the ‘Christmas’ back into ‘Merry Christmas’ – Archbishop Davies on 2GB
Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, joins Chris Smith about the lack of the phrase “Merry Christmas” around this Christmas – interviewed this morning (23 December 2016) on Sydney radio 2GB.
Listen here. A great interview.
Related: Archbishop has blasted inner city grinches – Daily Telegraph (subscription)
Changes at Matthias Media and Youthworks
In Sydney news, Ian Carmichael is taking on the role of CEO of Matthias Media while Tony Payne works on his PhD; and Zac Veron, who is resigning as Youthworks CEO in March, is heading to St David’s Arncliffe.
The Archbishop’s Christmas message 2016
“From politics to personal life, what more do we want for Christmas than people who will tell us the truth?”
Here is the text of Archbishop Davies’ message: Read more
From around the Anglican Church of Australia — 16 December 2016
Here are a few items from around the Anglican Church of Australia this week.
- Christmas Pastoral Letter from the Stuart Robinson, Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn.
- Archbishop of Perth not returning to his duties before retiring early.
- Archbishop of Melbourne releases video message for Christmas.
- New book on Samuel Marsden by David Pettett launched in Sydney.
- Moore College offers new Women’s ministry study option.
(Image courtesy Anglican Church of Australia.)
A Tentmaker for Derby? And other news from the Northwest
“Are you equipped for a tentmaking ministry and keen to see the gospel move forward in the Kimberley region of the North West?
The town of Derby, about a two-and-a-half hour drive north of Broome, is an opportunity waiting for someone to take hold of with both hands. It is the third largest town in the Kimberley, but we haven’t had any significant Anglican ministry there for a good number of years. …”
– Read the details on the last page of the December 2016 edition of Northwest Network (600kb PDF file), from the Diocese of North West Australia. Plenty of food for prayer.
The Parish of Peakhurst / Lugarno – a snapshot from 1974
This 1974 newsreel about the Anglican Parish of Peakhurst – Lugarno will bring back memories for many of our readers.
Standing above the Pack
“As I opened my computer this morning this article was on the work list for completion.
Writing is a lot of fun but it is not always easy to come up with material every week. So as the computer sparked into action and another google picture filled my screen I actually had a bit of a laugh along with a thought for what you now read. …”
– Bishop of Armidale, Rick Lewers, shares a Christmas message.
New Advanced Diploma of Bible, Mission and Ministry from Moore College
“For many years Moore College has offered both a Diploma of Bible and Missions and a Diploma of Bible and Ministry alongside its degree programs.
Now these courses have been improved, upgraded into an advanced diploma and combined in the new Diploma of Bible, Mission and Ministry, commencing in Semester 1, 2017. …”
– News from Moore College.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…