Sydney Diocese appoints Domestic Violence task force
“The Standing committee of the Diocese of Sydney has voted to appoint a taskforce to develop a diocesan response to domestic violence. …
The taskforce includes a chaplain, a professional counsellor, the Archdeacon for women, Kara Hartley and several other members. …”
– from SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo of Archdeacon Kara Hartley by Sam Law.)
Bishop Peter Lin consecrated
“The Rev Peter Lin was consecrated as Bishop of the George’s River Region by Archbishop Glenn Davies, at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday 30th May.
Mr Lin is one of the youngest bishops in the history of the Diocese and only the second of Chinese descent in Australia…”
– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Related:
SBS News reports on the consecration, and also the appointment of Kanishka Raffel as Dean of Sydney. (video expires 06 June 2015.)
Update – Schools, Scripture, Banning of Books and Sexual Orthodoxy
“My previous post mentioned that some books used in Special Religious Education (SRE) in NSW had been summarily banned by the Department of Education and Communities, apparently on the grounds that they conveyed classical Christian teaching about sexual morality.
In that post I said:
It is to be hoped that on review the Department will realise both that the way this was done is entirely unacceptable, and also that the content of the books concerned is not as harmful as it has been alleged to be.
One of those hopes has been realised, but the other has not…”
– at Law and Religion Australia, Associate Professor in Law, Neil Foster revisits the SRE ‘book banning’ in NSW. His comments are well worth reading in full – and be sure to follow the links.
Book ban Reversed
“A ban on two Anglican resources used in Special Religious Education (SRE) has been reversed after talks between Archbishop Glenn Davies and the Education Minister Adrian Piccoli…”
– Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.
More: Minister for Education lifts Christian book ban. Earlier: Schools, Scripture and Book Banning in NSW.
Kanishka Raffel to be new Dean of Sydney
“The Rev Kanishka Raffel has been appointed the new Dean of Sydney, the first person from a non-European background to hold the position.
‘I’m delighted Kanishka has accepted my appointment, which was unanimously agreed to by the Chapter, to become the next Dean of Sydney,’ said Archbishop Glenn Davies…”
– full story from SydneyAnglicans.net. (Image: St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)
‘Men Praying for Moore’ Night
“Parallel to the Prayer Support Group (a group of faithful women that meets regularly and has prayed for the College for over 50 years), Moore has created the opportunity for Christian men to support the College in this way…”
– What a good idea! Monday 18th May 2015.
A road trip to remember
“With the help of some long-suffering friends and wonderful work colleagues, who have joined me on and off over various days, I have read through the Bible across the month of April at every mainland parish in the Sydney Diocese, a few of our retirement villages and two of our theological colleges…
After our Bible readings I spoke about Anglican Aid’s Chappo and Hope Partnership to raise funds for bursaries to train young men and women at Bible colleges and schools across Africa.”
– David Mansfield gives thanks for The Flawless Bible Tour – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Download the Flawless Bible Tour flier, with details of Anglican Aid’s Chappo & Hope Partnership. (1.7MB PDF file.)
CEP and SRE publications — further updated
Here’s a statement from Youthworks regarding an inaccurate article in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Update: ‘Three Christian books banned from SRE curriculum in NSW’ – Bible Society.
Update 2, May 8th: Clarification sought on SRE books – SydneyAnglicans.net –
“The Diocese of Sydney has asked for clarification of an Education Department directive on materials in the Special Religious Education curriculum.
This follows a Victorian lobby group’s claim about the publication, Teen Sex by the Book by noted sexual health expert Patricia Weerakoon. …
‘There is significant concern and outrage from within the Anglican Community and the broader Christian community in response to this unprecedented action of the DEC banning SRE books and other Christian resources.’ said the director of the Anglican SRE office Jon Thorpe.
‘The legislation allows approved SRE providers to educate students in the chosen faith of the family.…’.”
Update 3 – Cross-border battle erupts over religious education in school – SBS report, aired May 8th 2015 (video expires May 15.)
Image: SBS.
Moore College Open Week
Moore College has an Open Week this week.
As well, the college is planning Open Nights, Open Weeks and an Open Day for prospective students to find out about the College.
Details and contact info here.
Moore College to offer its own PhD
“Moore College is to be the first Anglican College in Australia and one of very few non-university institutions in the country to award its own PhD. The College has been supervising PhDs for many years in conjunction with the University of Sydney and the University of Western Sydney. Now a Moore College PhD will be available…”
– good news from Moore College. (Photo: Dr. Claire Smith with her family.)
Southern Region Information Night
Don’t miss our Information Night to be held at St. Peter’s Cooks River at 7:30pm on Monday 1st June.
Hear Dr. Mark Thompson speak on the vital role of the Anglican Church League in the life of the Diocese of Sydney. Read more
Sydney at Gallipoli
“This month marks the centenary of the landing at Gallipoli by Australian and New Zealand troops as part of a larger allied invasion force in April 1915…
Historians have noted how the Australian involvement at Gallipoli gained Australia the right to be treated as an independent nation. Thus, Australia was allowed its own independent seat at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 and was not simply part of the British Empire delegation.”
– This article by Dr Colin Bale (Head of Church History at Moore College) tells the story of two Sydney Anglicans in the Great War. It was published in the April edition of Southern Cross, and has also been posted online by SydneyAnglicans.net.
With thanksgiving for Tony Lamb
Former ACL President, Dr. Bruce Ballantine-Jones, has written this tribute to his friend, The Rev. Tony Lamb, who departed this earthly life on Friday 10th April 2015.
________________
Many who knew Tony Lamb will be saddened to hear that he has died, sad, not for him, of course, as he is at home with the Lord, but for the loss of a good friend and an outstanding servant of the gospel. Read more
Tony Lamb 1925–2015
We hear that ACL Emeritus Vice-President the Rev. R. E. (Tony) Lamb went to be with the Lord overnight.
Tony was aged 90. He is survived by his wife Jan. All members of the League can join in thanksgiving to the Lord for Tony, for his love of Jesus, and his commitment to the gospel of Christ.
Tony served as Rector of St. Ives (1985-91) and Caringbah (1966-85). Earlier, he was Curate-in-Charge of Westmead (1962-66).
At Caringbah (and elsewhere), his ministry has been described as having an “emphasis … on Bible teaching, the formation of Home Bible Study Groups, prayer and a commitment to service both at home and overseas”.
Additionally, he served as Secretary of the Anglican Church League, and was a faithful member of the Council for decades. In recognition, he was not only made an Emeritus Vice President, but also a Life Member – the only person to have received such an honour.
(Photo with thanks to Tony’s daughter, Cath.)
We plan to publish a tribute to Tony here next week.
Archbishop of Sydney’s Easter message 2015
“It is a measure of our society’s fast pace (or perhaps commercialism) that this year, hot cross buns came on sale just after New Year’s Day.
By now, three months later, we have become so used to them that we forget they are marked with a cross.
The speed of our lives leaves us little time to reflect on the timeless truth of this symbol.
You may eat and enjoy your hot cross buns without ever noticing. But if you stop and think about it, the cross is out of place on such a treat.
Because the cross is an instrument of torture. The cross means pain. The cross means death. So why was Jesus, God’s righteous son, on a cross at all?
The Bible tells us that on the cross, Jesus took the judgment that we deserve. He died, was buried and three days later, rose again.
What does the cross mean to you?
For followers of Jesus, the cross is now empty because Jesus has risen from the dead and offers us new life.
This Easter, the mark of the cross can mark a new beginning for you, too.”
Dr Glenn N Davies
Archbishop of Sydney
Easter 2015 AD.
Watch the video from Anglican Media Sydney.
Read the text (PDF will download to your device).
And the story from SydneyAnglicans.net.And here’s a version formatted as two to an A5 page, suitable for printing to insert in your church newsletter this weekend. (115kb PDF.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…