Archbishop Glenn Davies interviewed on Sydney Radio for Good Friday
Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, was interviewed by Chris Smith on Sydney’s 2GB this morning, Good Friday 2016.
Listen here. 15 minutes.
Messiah ‘dedicated to the people of Belgium’
“Anglican Diocese of Sydney
Media Alert
Good Friday, 2016
A performance of Handel’s Messiah tonight at St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney is to be dedicated to the people of Belgium…”
– From SydneyAnglicans.net.
Because the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, crucified, risen and reigning, is the only hope for men and women everywhere.
Archbishop Glenn Davies’ Easter Message 2016
Archbishop Glenn Davies has released his 2016 Easter message.
Watch the 90 second video on Vimeo.
And here is a story and summary from SydneyAnglicans.net –
The leader of Australia’s largest Anglican Diocese, the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has spoken of the power of the Christian symbol, the cross, and the threat to religious freedom, in his Easter Message.
“The most universal symbol of all is the cross. Even that is being targeted now in China, where authorities are removing crosses from churches. In fact, religious freedom is under threat around the world.” Dr Davies said in his annual Easter message.
“It is strange that the cross should be feared for its power, because in Jesus’ time a cross meant execution – it meant failure and death. But the great power in the symbol of the cross for us is that is is empty. Yes, Jesus died on the cross but he was raised from the dead.”
Archbishop Davies will preach at the Cathedral on Easter Day (Sunday).
In his Easter Message, Archbishop Davies stressed the resurrection of Jesus which he said “was not merely a resuscitation, because he rose not to die again but to inaugurate a new era beyond this age of death, disease and decay.”
“The resurrection of Jesus means a second chance for all of us, if we will accept it — a chance for new life, eternal life, as our sins are nailed to the cross so that we too shall rise with him.”
Dr Davies also commented on plans for a fixed date for Easter. Dr Davies spoke with the Coptic Pope, Tawadros II, about the issue in Cairo last year. Anglican Primates are close to agreeing on a fixed Sunday for Easter. Dr Davies said “I believe it will be of significant witness to the world if all Christians could unite together with a common date to celebrate this ‘empty’ cross and the inauguration of the new aeon when Jesus rose from the dead and defeated death once and for all.”
Peter Bolt to take on role at Sydney College of Divinity
News from Moore College:
“Dr Peter Bolt, Head of New Testament at Moore College, is to become the Academic Director at the Sydney College of Divinity.
Peter has been teaching at Moore since 1990, during which time he has not only passed on a love of the Gospels to hundreds of students but has written numerous books and articles and brought to birth the College’s own PhD program.
‘We owe an enormous debt to Peter’, said the College’s Principal, Mark Thompson. ‘He is an extraordinary exegete, a first-class scholar and has led our New Testament department with distinction for the last fifteen years. While his departure is a very significant loss for the College and for many of us personally, we trust the Lord is opening up an opportunity for Peter to use his exceptional gifts more widely for the advance of his kingdom.’
Please pray for Peter as he makes this transition and for the College as we look for someone to build on Peter’s legacy.”
– Source. Related: Sydney College of Divinity.
Anglicare — ARV merger Synod delayed
“A special Synod to consider a merger of Anglicare and ARV has been delayed…”
– from March 31 to April 27. SydneyAnglicans.net has the reasons.
Moore College celebrates a birthday
160 and counting. A cause for thanksgiving to the Lord.
The Dean’s Story — Kanishka Raffel on ABC Radio’s The Spirit of Things
Terrific interview with Kanishka Raffel coming up on ABC Radio on Sunday – but available on the website now.
The full programme is a 26MB mp3 file, and the interview runs for the first 43 minutes.
Well worth hearing and sharing widely.
(h/t SydneyAnglicans.net)
Tony George to be new Head of Kings
“The Council of The King’s School has announced the appointment of Tony George as the 20th Headmaster of the School.
After a rigorous international and national search process, the council said it had appointed Mr George to succeed Dr Timothy Hawkes from 1 July 2017…”
– News from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Tony is well known to many of our readers. Here’s his Linkedin profile. (Image source.)
Special Synod session called to decide on proposed ARV — Anglicare merger
“A special session of [Sydney] Synod has been called for late March to decide on the proposed merger of Anglicare and Anglican Retirement Villages. … an extra session will now be held on the evening of Thursday 31 March 2016, solely to consider the merger.”
– Story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Earlier: Merger proposal for Anglicare and ARV.
Archbishop Davies’ term extended
“Standing Committee has voted overwhelmingly to extend the term of Archbishop Glenn Davies until 2020.
Without the vote, Dr Davies would have been due to retire on attaining the age of 68 years on 26 September 2018.
Dr Robert Tong moved a motion in Standing Committee on Monday, 15th February, 2016 that the Archbishop’s term be extended for another two years.
Dr Davies was elected in August, 2013.
Dr Tong told Standing Committee that the Archbishop has shown leadership in three key areas.
‘Clearly by his preaching and modelling servant leadership, he has demonstrated spiritual leadership’ he said.
Dr Tong also cited the Archbishop’s leadership in Anglican organisations within and outside of the Diocese and his leadership in the ‘public square’.
‘He is across the issues, he makes a contribution and offers leadership from his own experience and learning’ Dr Tong said.
The motion, seconded by the Principal of Moore College, Dr Mark Thompson, passed overwhelmingly and was announced to the applause of Standing Committee.”
– Report by Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
27 new Deacons for Sydney
“27 candidates from a variety of backgrounds were ordained deacons on Saturday, 13th February, at St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Led into the Cathedral by the director of Ministry, Training and Development, the Rev Gary O’Brien, he told the group, ‘You are entrusted with a wonderful message.’…”
– A good news story from SydneyAnglicans.net.
‘New Anglican Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, installed at St Andrew’s Cathedral’
“The new Anglican Dean of Sydney has made history. Kanishka Raffel, who was officially installed as Dean of Sydney last Thursday, is the first person from a non-European background to hold the role in the church’s history in Australia. …
Born in London to Sri-Lankan parents, Dean Raffel spent the first two decades of his life as a Buddhist before he was given a copy of the Bible while studying law at the University of Sydney.”
– The Sydney Morning Herald has this story about a Buddhist who became a Christian, and is now Dean. (Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net)
‘Cathedral wins Raffel’ — New Dean installed at St. Andrew’s
“After months of waiting, St Andrew’s Cathedral congregation has finally welcomed the new Dean of Sydney.
At an Installation Service at the Cathedral on Thursday, 4th February, the Rev Kanishka de Silva Raffel became the first non-European to hold the post…”
– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
All ACL members will want to join in praying to Almighty God for Kanishka and Cailey in this new sphere of gospel service.
Merger proposal for Anglicare and ARV
“The Council of Anglicare Sydney and the Board of Anglican Retirement Villages (ARV) have decided to pursue a merger of the two organisations. …
A recommendation will be made to the Standing Committee of the Diocese at its March meeting and if approved, a merger of the two organisations would take effect from 1 July, 2016…”
– News from SydneyAnglicans.net.
(Picture: Mrs Dorothy Mowll, wife of Archbishop Howard Mowll. It was her vision which led to the founding of Mowll Village – the beginning of ARV – in 1959.)
Sydney mourns two leaders in Education
We are saddened to learn of the death of The Rev. Canon Stanley Kurrle OBE, sixteenth Headmaster of The King’s School. He died on Wednesday 20th January 2016, at the age of 93.
Canon Kurrle was Headmaster from 1965-1983.
In a message to the school community, the present Headmaster, Dr Timothy Hawkes, wrote,
“During his time at King’s Canon Kurrle was greatly respected for his pastoral care and educational leadership and was loved by his boys. He had the unique capacity to know and never forget his boys, a quality that greatly endeared him to all.”
Canon Kurrle was a long-standing member of the New Universities Colleges Council (NUCC) which founded New College at UNSW and Robert Menzies College at Macquarie University.
His funeral will be held at St. James’ Chapel, Mowll Village, Castle Hill at 11:00am on Friday 29th January.
News has also come of the death of Mr. Roderick West, Head at Trinity Grammar School 1975–1996.
Current Head Master, Milton Cujes, wrote in a message dated 25th January 2016:
“It is with regret that I inform you that we have learned that our much-loved former Head Master, Mr Roderick West AM, M.A.(Syd), B.D. (Lond.), Dip. Ed. (Syd.), F.A.C.E., died this morning. An outstanding teacher of the Classics, and an inspiring leader in Christian education. Mr West was Head Master at Trinity Grammar School from 1975 to July 1996. He was then appointed as interim Principal at Kambala Anglican Girls’ School at Rose Bay from May to December 1999.
Details regarding funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.”
Many will give thanks for Rod West’s service in his capacity as a Trustee of Thomas Moore’s Estate. In addition, he was a valued member of the governing board of Moore College.
His funeral service will be held at the Trinity Grammar School Chapel, Prospect Road, Summer Hill on Friday 5th February 2016 at 11.00am, followed by morning tea. All clergy requested to robe.
Update: The Sydney Morning Herald has published a very fitting Obituary.
We give thanks to the Lord for these two brothers, and do not mourn as those do who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13.)
(Top photo: Canon Kurrle in 2014, courtesy of The King’s School.
Second photo: Rod West in 1994, courtesy of Trinity Grammar School, via Ramon Williams Worldwide Photos.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…