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.)
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.
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.
‘Mandating public funds to end the lives of unborn children is merciless, unjustified and simply wrong.’ Public Statement on ALP announcement on abortion funding
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney Media Release
Public Statement on ALP announcement on abortion funding
“The rights of the unborn child are completely obscured by this policy.
We need to care for and support women who fall pregnant and do not wish to keep their child for whatever reason. But we must do that without jeopardising the life of the child.
A pregnancy is a life given by God. A pregnancy that is unwanted represents not a health problem but a responsibility for the whole society. Mandating public funds to end the lives of unborn children is merciless, unjustified and simply wrong.
We need policies which support the lives of children to be enhanced and nurtured so as to enrich our society.
Archbishop Glenn Davies
6 March 2019.”
– Source: Anglican Media Sydney.
Background:
Labor pledges to tie hospital funding to abortion services – Sydney Morning Herald.
“Public hospital systems would need to provide abortion services to qualify for federal funding under a wide-ranging new Labor plan… ”
Donald Robinson’s Selected Works Book Launch
Coming up at Moore College on Saturday 16th March 2019.
Details and RSVP at the College website.
(Please RSVP for catering purposes by Friday 8th March.)
Anglican Diocese of Sydney: Public Statement on the verdict in the case of Cardinal Pell
“Like many Australians, I am shocked and appalled by this verdict. I am unable to comment on the specifics of the case as the legal process must continue to take its course.
Any abuse of a child is abhorrent and must always be condemned whenever and wherever it occurs. Churches should be at the forefront of protecting children and providing a safe and loving environment.
The Anglican Church in Sydney is committed to zero tolerance of child abuse and we are grateful for the work of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse which has helped churches expose and deal with this scourge in our midst.
Archbishop Glenn Davies
26 February 2019.”
– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.
One Among Our Cloud of Witness
“We are fortunate in this diocese that, although a relative new comer in the history of Christianity, God has granted us so many examples of faithful obedience to his word. One servant who was called home on 7 September 2018, was the former Archbishop of Sydney, Donald Robinson. His impact on Anglicanism in Australia and wider evangelicalism was profound. …”
– Dr. Ed Loane shares the latest on the publication of Donald Robinson’s Selected Works.
The two new volumes will be launched at Moore College on Saturday 16th March 2019.
28 new Deacons ordained in Sydney
“There were too many smiles to count as the ordinands of 2019 filed into a packed St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney to be made deacons by the Archbishop of Sydney. …”
– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Ordinands 2019
Over at SydneyAnglicans.net, there’s a list of those to be ordained at deacons tomorrow, Saturday 16th February, at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney.
It’d be good to pray for them and their families!
Anglican Aid Prayer Diary 2019
Sydney parishes will have received copies of The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid Prayer Diary for 2019.
If you find it more convenient to download as a PDF file to your device, for use on the go, you can get a copy here – or read it online.
If you use the free PrayerMate app, you can subscribe to the Anglican Aid feed.
“New $7.3 million Glebe residence planned for Archbishop Glenn Davies”
“For more than a century Sydney’s Anglican archbishops resided in the 1841-built sandstone mansion Bishopscourt, but the church’s official Sydney residence may take on a far more contemporary look in the future, according to DA plans before Sydney City Council. …”
– Story from Domain (however, at Sydney Synod, it was explained that Archbishop Davies is expected to have retired by the time the planned residence is built).
Anglicans honoured on Australia Day 2019
Christian businessman and philanthropist Tim Sims and Anglicare Board member Ian Steward are among those on the Australia Day Honours List for 2019.
Looking for a Saviour — Archbishop Glenn Davies’ Christmas message 2018
Here is Archbishop Glenn Davies’ Christmas message for 2018.
Short, to the point, and ideal to show in church or embed on your church website.
See also the story and text from SydneyAnglicans.net.
“The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has paid tribute to lifesavers and bushfire fighters while marking celebrations for the birth of Jesus, the saviour.
Archbishop Davies annual Christmas message was released as preparations were being made for Christmas services to be attended by thousands of people across Sydney, the Illawarra and beyond.…”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…