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.
Opening of The Moore College Learning and Teaching Centre set for 11th February
The new building at Moore College is set to be opened at 2:30pm on Saturday 11th February 2017. Details (so you can RSVP for catering) from the College.
Bishop Geoffrey Smith elected Archbishop of Adelaide
Bishop Geoffrey Smith, assistant bishop and Registrar in the Diocese of Brisbane, has been elected the Archbishop of Adelaide, according to reports.
The Diocese of Brisbane has some background information.
Update: This announcement of the news is now on the website of the Diocese of Adelaide.
Gospel Ministry and Church Politics: What’s the Connection?
Bruce Ballantine-Jones, former President of the Anglican Church League, has this month published his book on the Sydney Diocese: Inside Sydney.
Based on his PhD thesis, the book describes a number of momentous events which have taken place over the last 50 years, many of which he participated in, and others he witnessed.
In this interview with ACL Vice President Lionel Windsor, Bruce explains the place of politics in the church, and why it is a proper and necessary part of diocesan life. Read more
Inside Sydney: An Insider’s view of the changes and politics in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, 1966-2013
The Rev Canon Dr Bruce Ballantine-Jones OAM, former President, and now Emeritus Vice-President, of the Anglican Church League, has published a significant history of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney.
Inside Sydney: An Insider’s view of the changes and politics in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, 1966-2013 is available from The Wandering Bookseller. Click on the image for ordering details.
Here are some Endorsements of the book:
Inside Sydney is an insider’s personal perspective on one of Australia’s truly representative democracies, the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Every democracy has a political dimension and Canon Bruce Ballantine-Jones participated in that democracy at every level for half-a-century. Here are the mature reflections on his experience, an analysis of how the Diocese works and why it does not and cannot work.
A lifelong lover and player of the political game, he must have been tempted, like professional politicians who write their memoirs, to engage in self-justification. But this account transcends that genre. It explains very complex machinery with exceptional clarity and never loses sight of its purpose: to support the proclamation of the gospel and to bring the people of Sydney to the new life in Christ which is the hallmark of his own life and ministry. It is essential reading for all who love the Diocese and also for those who do not love it, but need to understand it.
– Associate Professor Stuart Piggin, Centre for the History of Christian Thought and Experience, Macquarie University.
This is an important book that should be widely read and discussed among those with an interest in the Diocese of Sydney and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Inside Sydney is a substantial study of an important question: How should the considerable resources of the large and complex organisation known as the Anglican Diocese of Sydney be harnessed to serve the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ? It is not the last word on its subject, nor is it indisputable in its conclusions, but it does offer an ‘insider’s’ account of events from 1966 to 2013, through which the author draws his conclusions, both critical and constructive.
Those who know BBJ will not be surprised to find the book honest (at times frankly so), very well informed (the author was directly involved in much of this story), generous (where critical judgements are made there is also a warm recognition of positive qualities and contributions) and engaging. I highly recommend this book.
– Dr John Woodhouse, Former Principal Moore Theological College, Sydney.
Few developments in the Anglican world have been more significant and yet less widely understood than the remarkable growth and expansion of the Sydney diocese over the past half-century. This book offers us an eye-witness account of what has happened and an assessment of what it might mean for the future of the Anglican Church in Australia and in the wider world.
It is to be hoped that the publication of these memoirs will encourage others to share their insights as well, so that friends and observers of the Sydney scene will have a deeper understanding of the many forces at work that have produced this remarkable turn of events.
– Gerald Bray, Director of Research, Latimer Trust, London.
Available from The Wandering Bookseller: Inside Sydney: An Insider’s view of the changes and politics in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, 1966-2013.
See also this interview with Bruce Ballantine-Jones, “Gospel Ministry and Church Politics: What’s the Connection?”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…