Nexus Conference 2020 postponed

Here’s an e-mail from the organisers of the Nexus Conference:

Dear Nexus friends

It will perhaps not come as a surprise to you that we have decided to postpone next Monday’s Nexus Conference (set down for March 23).

Our committee has been talking and praying about the issue over the past week, and keeping a close eye on the developing situation. In view of the government’s latest advice and requirements about non-essential gatherings, we feel that postponing the conference is the best way forward in the circumstances.

We have tentatively rescheduled the 2020 Nexus conference for Monday, September 14 or 21. We are still working to finalise the exact date, timing and venue, and will be back in touch very soon with those details.

For those who have already registered for Nexus20, there are two options available:

You can do nothing, and your current registration will remain valid for the rescheduled conference in September. In the weeks leading up to the rescheduled conference, we will email you to remind you of your registration. If you wish (for any reason) to pull out at that point, or if the conference is unable to go ahead, you will receive a full refund.
If you wish to receive a refund on your tickets now or anytime over the coming months, just let us know … and we will make that happen.

We are disappointed of course not to be able to proceed with Nexus next Monday, as I’m sure you are. But we are only engaged in gospel ministry (including running conferences like this) because we believe in the infinite goodness and power of God, and in his unstoppable purposes in Jesus Christ. We know he will work for the good of those who love him in all things, including the current chaotic circumstances.

With warmest regards in Christ

The Nexus Committee

(Tony Payne, Adrian Russell, Sarah Vigar, Dominic Steele, Carl Matthei, Chris Braga)

Men Meeting the Challenge Conference postponed

Richard Bolton, Convenor of the Men Meeting the Challenge Conference, has announced the postponement of this year’s conference –

“As you will be aware the Prime Minister and the Chief Medical Officer have made announcements regarding responses to the COVID19 pandemic.

In response, the Men Meeting the Challenge conference committee has met this afternoon, and following prayerful consideration, and out of loving Christian concern for our community, we have made the difficult decision to not proceed with the Men Meeting the Challenge Conference as scheduled for 28 March 2020.

We wanted to get this information to you as soon as possible. We will make a further announcement next week about rescheduling and refund requests for pre purchased tickets.”

In the meantime, talks from previous years are available on their website.

Coronavirus Update on large gatherings — Archbishop Glenn Davies

Statement from Archbishop Davies regarding the Prime Minister’s announcement on Coronavirus:

“We accept the Commonwealth Government’s health advice that gatherings above 500 people should be restricted from next week.

We are in contact with the NSW Health Department and will pass on their advice to ministers of churches where decisions will be made locally.

We expect smaller gatherings to go ahead with the safeguards already advised, including precautions relating to personal contact, holy communion and food service.

I call on Christians to continue to trust in God’s goodness and mercy, to pray that the global spread of this disease may slow, and to show Christ’s love to those affected.

13 March, 2020.”

– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.

Thanksgiving Service for Bishop Ivan Lee planned for Saturday 28th March

It’s been announced that a Thanksgiving Service for Bishop Ivan Lee will be held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney on Saturday 28th March 2020 at 10:00am, followed by refreshments.

Bishop Lee was called home to be with the Lord on Wednesday evening.

(2015 photo courtesy Anglican Media Sydney.)

Coronavirus precautions for churches updated

“Archbishop Glenn Davies has issued new recommendations for the Diocese of Sydney on procedures for ministry in the light of the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The advice updates the initial circular to churches in late January. It covers Holy Communion, Children’s ministry and food service, as well as general advice for personal interactions at church. …”

– The latest from SydneyAnglicans.net.

With thanksgiving for Bishop Ivan Lee. ACL President’s tribute

The Anglican Church League notes with sadness the passing of Bishop Ivan Lee last night and will continue to uphold Virginia and the family in prayer for the consolation that can only come from our great shepherd Jesus in this difficult time.

Ivan was elected an Emeritus Vice President of the ACL due to his longstanding commitment to gospel work and the Evangelical cause within the Diocese of Sydney. His passion for reaching out to the lost, including his willingness to try new means of connecting with those outside the churches, was evident in every conversation with him.

Personally, having served on a number of committees with Ivan, I can testify that he could always be relied on to bring a considered and unique perspective to any issue, a perspective that caused us to reflect upon whether we had understood the challenges correctly and whether there were other more creative options open to us to progress the task at hand.

Ivan’s commitment to ‘be at work in his Master’s field’ during the difficult times of his illness was a great encouragement to those who worked with him, and was a reflection of his passion for the gospel and indeed the network of the Diocese of Sydney as a key and effective means of reaching the lost for Christ.

He will be greatly missed – but he is with our Lord, which is better by far.

Andrew Bruce
President of the Anglican Church League.

(Photo: Bishop Ivan Lee at Sydney Synod, October 2019. Courtesy Anglican Media Sydney.)

“We have lost a great champion for the gospel”

“Long-serving Sydney Bishop, Ivan Lee, has passed away more than four years after being diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer.

Bishop Lee died last night (4th March) at Greenwich Hospital, where he had been receiving palliative care. …”

– Members of the Anglican Church League (of which Bishop Lee was a Vice-President) are deeply saddened to receive this news, but rejoice that Ivan is now with Christ.

Archbishop Glenn Davies writes:

“Our hearts ache for Virginia and her three daughters in their grief. They have cared for him so well and for so long, and since he entered hospital at the end of January, he has never been alone. May God comfort them in their sorrow.”

And in an e-mail today, Archbishop Davies writes,

“Sad news, yet we do not grieve as others do, who have no hope.
Ps 116:15.”

There will be a private funeral next week, followed by a public memorial service at St Andrew’s Cathedral on a date to be announced.

An Appreciation of Archbishop Glenn Davies

“In his recent and final Presidential address to the third ordinary session of the 51st Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, Archbishop Glenn Davies remarked that his primary responsibility was to be a guardian of “the faith that was delivered once for all to the saints” (Jude 3).

The Australian Church Record wishes to thank Glenn Davies for faithfully serving in this, and myriad other ways – especially through the proclamation of the gospel and prayer for gospel ministry – over the past seven years. …”

– Many will echo the words of this appreciation which was first published in the Australian Church Record’s Journal for Summer 2019.

Ordinations in Sydney

Twenty-two men and women were ordained as deacons at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney today.

“The ordinands will disperse to ministries all over Sydney including parish postings, multicultural work and Hospital, Defence Force and School Chaplaincy. …”

– Russell Powell has this story at SydneyAnglicans.net.

(Photo: Archbishop Glenn Davies, The Rev Stephen Gibbons, and Archdeacon Kevin Russell.)

Archbishop calls for prayer about coronavirus

“Churches have been urged to pray about the Coronavirus outbreak and to take sensible precautions as the World Health Organisation declares a public health emergency.

Archbishop Glenn Davies has written to clergy, asking churches to pray for victims, health care workers and authorities. …”

– Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.

Thank-you Fireys as Sydney prays

“Sustained applause greeted Rural Fire Service Senior Assistant Commissioner Bruce MacDonald as he was introduced at a Prayer service at Sydney’s St Andrew’s Cathedral on Sunday 19th January for those affected by the bushfires. …”

– Russell Powell has the story of Sunday’s service at the Cathedral for everyone affected by the bushfires. At SydneyAnglicans.net.

A Service of Prayer for those affected by the Bushfires

St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney is holding a service of prayer for all affected by the Bushfires.

It’s this coming Sunday, 19th January 2020 at 10:30am.

(The Cathedral is located at the corner of George and Bathurst Streets in Sydney.)

The Recruitment Problem

“While I was training at Moore Theological College (2012- 2015) the constant rhetoric was that the Sydney Anglican Diocese was oversupplied with full-time gospel workers. We were warned from the very beginning of the need to be creative in funding our own Sydney Anglican positions if we were to stay in Sydney.

From one perspective, this was a great win for the Kingdom! It forced many people to consider full-time gospel ministry outside Sydney and caused those who wanted to stay in Sydney to consider the cost of staying. …”

– The Australian Church Record has republished this article by Mike Leite in the ACR’s Journal for Summer 2019.

Photo: Moore College, 1956.