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
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.”
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
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.
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.
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…