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.

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.

Check it out here.

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.

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.

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

Archbishop Glenn DaviesHere’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:

Sydney Diocese — some summer reading

bruce-ballantine-jones-bbj-inside-sydneyIt’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 –

Ministry moves — new Rector for St. Alban’s Epping

bp-ross-nicholsonFrom 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.”

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