ACL Pre-Synod Briefing — TONIGHT Wednesday 5th October

Pre-Synod Briefing, This Wednesday 5th October, 6:30 – 8:00pm at Chapter House.

As a service to the Synod, the ACL is holding a Pre-Synod Briefing for Synod members.

The Rev Craig Roberts, Rector of St Augustine’s Neutral Bay, Standing Committee member, and ACL Vice-President, will discuss the main issues for this year’s Synod.

Download your invitation here.

The Synod Survival Guide — got your copy?

New to Synod? The Synod Survival Guide (4th edition), by Robert Tong is an invaluable help to make sense of it all.

Presented by the ACL as a service to the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, you can download your PDF copy here.

The Legacy of Broughton Knox — MTC Library Day 2016

Don’t miss this special event coming up at MooreTheological College on Saturday 29th October.

David Broughton Knox (26 December 1916 – 14 January 1994) was the long serving Principal of Moore Theological College from 1959 until 1985.

DBK is considered by many to have been hugely influential, under the Lord, in the shaping of Sydney Diocese into what it is today.

The 2016 Moore College Library Day will explore Broughton’s life and theology as well as its enduring influence on Sydney diocese and beyond.

When: Saturday 29 October, 2016, 9:15 am for 9:30 am start, 3:30 pm finish

Where: Broughton Knox Teaching Centre, Moore Theological College, 15 King Street Newtown

Registration: $40 includes coffee/tea on arrival, morning tea & lunch.

Speakers include:

Mark Thompson
Robert Tong
Peter Jensen
Robert Doyle

Details and booking at Moore College.

Who was Broughton Knox? See these tributes in our Resources section.

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.

New website for Moore College’s Centre for Christian Living

Moore College’s Centre for Christian Living has a new website, with easy access to resources and recordings of past events.

See it here – including news of the upcoming ‘Can we talk about Same-Sex Marriage?’ on Wednesday October 19.

Our Neighbours, the Muslims

“Our local community here in Southwest Sydney has been rocked over the weekend with the news of what looks like another Islamic terror attack. …

I got a call from our local newspaper today asking for a comment. After chatting for a bit with the journalist I realised that what we really needed was a co-ordinated response from our local Anglican churches. …”

– David Ould shares how some are extending the hand of friendship to their Muslim neighbours.

Zac Veron to move on from Youthworks

“The Rev Zac Veron has announced his decision to step down as CEO of Anglican Youthworks by the end of 2017 at the latest, pending the recruitment of a new CEO.”

– Read the full announcement at the Youthworks website.

Please uphold Zac and his family as they consider future ministry, and the Youthworks Council as, in due course, they begin the process of seeking a new CEO.

And here’s a statement from Youthworks Council Chairman, Chris Braga:

“The Rev Zac Veron has shared with the Council his intention to finish his time as CEO of Youthworks at the latest by the end of 2017. The Council is thankful to God for Zac’s almost decade long service as the CEO of Youthworks.

Zac has led the organisation through significant challenges, including the impact of the Global Financial Crisis and the resulting reduction in Synod funding, the world-wide decline of traditional publishing and the ongoing secularization of the ministry context in our Diocese.

He has been an advocate for ministry to children and youth in our Diocese and abroad, particularly through the continuing work of SRE. Zac leaves the organisation with certainty about its mission, clarity about its finances and a leadership team united in a common purpose. He has modelled to everyone a deep commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ and the cause of his gospel. We are thankful to God for the unique and important contribution Zac has made to this strategic ministry.

Please pray for Zac and Sheree as they work out where the Lord would have them serve next, and pray for the Youthworks Council and the Archbishop as a search is made for the best possible candidate to lead Youthworks into the future.”

9/11 to be remembered in Sydney

“Former Prime Minister John Howard will join the US ambassador and diplomatic representatives for a special remembrance service on Sunday, September 11 to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the attacks on New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.…

The Dean of Sydney, the Very Rev. Kanishka Raffel, who will lead the service, has issued an open invitation for members of the public to join the congregation for the event.”

– Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.

ACL Pre-Synod Briefing Wednesday 5th October & Synod Dinner Monday 10th

Two special events for Sydney Synod members: Read more

Youthworks College to move to Moore College’s Newtown campus

From Moore College:

Youthworks has today announced the move of the Youthworks College diploma courses to their new Moore Theological College campus premises.

“A vital need of the moment is men and women committed to gospel work among children and youth in our city and beyond. Youthworks College under the principalship of Dr Bill Salier is uniquely placed to meet this need and its new location in Newtown alongside Moore College will significantly enhance this work. I am looking forward to building on the already close partnership between Moore and Youthworks College” said Moore College principal, Dr Mark Thompson, when speaking of the move.

Youthworks College sees this as a strategic move that is aimed enhancing Youthworks College’s mission of raising up skilled youth and children’s ministers serving in churches and schools.

This move will provide greater accessibility of Youthworks College’s programmes to more students due to the relative ease of the physical location; and the greater visibility of Youthworks College generally as they move closer to the centre of Sydney.

Dr Bill Salier remarked, “We are also excited by the opportunities as yet unseen that will occur as a result of a change of this type. We believe it will further stimulate us to think through what we do, and how we do it, in the new space.”

“Youthworks College is grateful for the generosity of Moore College and the spirit of partnership this represents. We look forward to working side by side, albeit with our different audiences and programmes, sharing the common goal of strengthening Gospel ministry in Sydney and beyond” concluded Dr Salier.

Marriage debate ‘taints’ outcome, says Anglican Archbishop

“The leader of the nation’s largest Anglican diocese has warned that the political debate on same-sex marriage is ‘so tainted’ its resolution is beyond the ‘capabilities of the current parliament’.

Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies said the issue went to a change that would ‘affect the foundations of our society’. All Australians needed to be consulted and the arguments against marriage equality given a fair public hearing, he said. …”

– Full story from The Australian. (Paywalled.) Photo: Moore College.

Watch the Annual Moore College Lecture livestream tonight

If you couldn’t get to Moore College for the first evening of this year’s Annual Moore College Lectures, you can watch it from 8:00pm via the college’s livestream.

“Dr Paul Williamson is our speaker for this year’s Moore College Lectures on the topic of Death and the Life Heareafter. Join us to think through the big questions of death, heaven and hell, beginning with a public lecture on the evening of Friday 19 August, and continuing with 5 morning lectures from Monday 22 to Friday 26 August. This is a free event with no registration required.”

Rick Smith joins Moore College’s CMD team

News from Moore College:

“Moore College’s Centre for Ministry Development (CMD) has been assisting in the theologically shaped development of ministers for the past four years. The Centre has recognised the need to assist more clergy through mentoring and for developing new Rectors and has appointed Rick Smith to join the team as a consultant…”

– Story here.

Serving the Lord — Jane Barker

“Jane Sophia Barker (Nee Harden) was born in England in 1807. On October 15, 1840 she married Frederic Barker who, at that time, was serving as a rector in Liverpool, England.

They had no children and served in parish ministry together for 15 years until Frederick was asked to be the second Bishop of Sydney. They arrived in Sydney in May 1855 and Jane would remain in Sydney until her death 21 years later…”

– Jane Tooher opens a window into the life, and faith, of Jane Barker, wife of Bishop Frederick Barker. At SydneyAnglicans.net.