Bishopscourt Sydney on the market again
“Sportsbet has weighed into conjecture surrounding the sale [of Bishopscourt Sydney] with $2.75 odds-on chance of the landmark residence selling between $20 million and $22,499,000…”
– More than you wanted to know, from Domain.
Sydney Synod “grieved” by actions of Bishops of Gippsland and Wangaratta
“Wednesday night’s [Sydney] synod ended with the passing of a robust motion responding to the actions of Bishop Kay Goldsworthy and Bishop John Parkes in undermining the Biblical doctrine of marriage and human sexuality.
The final motion, which was passed overwhelmingly, reads as follows…”
– Read the full text as posted by David Ould.
See also page 5 of the September 2015 edition of The Gippsland Anglican (PDF file).
(Image credits – Photo of Bishop John Parkes: Diocese of Wangaratta. Photo of the Rev. David Head and Bishop Kay Goldsworthy: Diocese of Gippsland.)
Biography of Sir Marcus Loane launched in Sydney
A large crowd gathered in Sydney on October 14th for the launch of a substantial biography of Sir Marcus Loane, Archbishop of Sydney 1966-1982.
From Strength to Strength – A Life of Marcus Loane, was written by Canon Allan M. Blanch, who is also an Emeritus Vice-President of the Anglican Church League.
The book was launched by Dame Marie Bashir.
From Strength to Strength promises to be an important contribution to Australian Church History. It also introduces Sir Marcus to new generations of Christians who, until now, may have known little about this towering figure.
A paperback edition is now available for order through the publisher’s website.
Top photo: Allan Blanch at the book launch.
Related: Archbishop Marcus Loane photo gallery.
Defending classic marriage — Synod speeches
Canon Sandy Grant moved, and Mrs Tara Sing seconded, the motion “Affirmation of marriage as between a man and a woman” at Sydney Synod on Wednesday 14th October 2015.
The text of Sandy’s speech is now available as a 115kb PDF file, with links to useful resources, and the final form of the resolution, as it was passed, at the end.
Mrs Tara Sing’s speech seconding the motion is below – Read more
New Churches for New Communities
The Archbishop of Sydney’s New Churches for New Communities has released these videos to highlight the work of building new church buildings in the growing areas of Sydney.
(The first video features Bishop Ivan Lee, for whom prayers continue to be requested.)
Sydney Synod reaffirms marriage
“A capacity-crowd at the Sydney Synod has voted for a re-affirmation of marriage as between a man and a woman and called for all Australian Christians to respectfully engage in the public debate on redefining marriage.
‘If we don’t do this – what will our silence say?’ argued Tara Sing [pictured], who spoke as seconder of the reaffirmation motion…”
– Read the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Archbishop Davies rallies Anglicans as Synod begins
“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has delivered a rallying address on Christian mission, persecution and perseverance at the start of the church’s 2015 Synod…”
– from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Read the full text here (will download a PDF file) – or listen at this link (35MB mp3 audio) or watch the video.
Take the time to watch, hear or read the full address.
The Archbishop’s Presidential Address to the Sydney Synod on October 12th, 2015.
Here’s one extract:
“That two TV stations should recently refuse to air advertisements by Marriage Alliance for promoting what is simply the law of the land is a scandal! It is also symptomatic of the wave of naïve enthusiasm for the novelty of ‘same-sex marriage’ that a significant number of corporations have published their endorsement for this change in our law. How, one might ask, does such a position have anything to do with the core business of these companies—it is inexplicable. Why don’t we hear from these companies about their views on the treatment of asylum seekers on Manus Island or the decline in Australia’s foreign aid budget or other controversial issues such as the slave trade, euthanasia or abortion? Have these companies any idea of how many shareholders, let alone employees, who do not share these publicly endorsed sentiments regarding ‘same-sex marriage’?”
Good Governance Workshop
Good Governance Workshop
6:30pm, Thursday 26th November 2015.
This workshop is for you if you’ve been elected to a board or a council, particularly if you feel your own management experience doesn’t prepare you for this ‘governance’ role.
As a service to our diocesan organisations and the people elected by our Synod, the Anglican Church League presents a workshop designed to equip members of boards and committees with good governance principles and practice.
Click the image to download an invitation in PDF format.
What: A series of presentations on governance – particularly as it pertains to the Anglican Diocese of Sydney.
Who is it for? Board members appointed to organisations of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney.
When: Thursday 26th November, 6:30pm–9:00pm.
Where: At The Chapter House – please enter via rear door of St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
How much? No charge.
To register, please send an e-mail to our organising committee at ggw@acl.asn.au via this link, specifying the names of attendees (so we can ensure we have the right number of handouts, etc.).
Main Speakers:
Archbishop Glenn Davies
on Evangelical Governance: what difference does the gospel make to governance?
Dr Robert Tong
on Responsible evangelical governance of diocesan boards.
Canon Bruce Morrison
on Responsible evangelical governance of school councils.
What’s involved in being Archbishop of Sydney?
In the August and September 2015 issues of Southern Cross, Archbishop Glenn Davies writes about some of what is involved in being Archbishop of Sydney.
Both parts are now up on the SydneyAnglicans.net website and you can read them here – Part 1 (Leading in Truth), and Part 2 (Great Mission).
Prayers urged for Bishop Ivan Lee
“The Bishop of Western Sydney, Ivan Lee, has been diagnosed with a pancreatic tumour.
He had been experiencing some lethargy and symptoms of jaundice. Scans revealed his bile duct was blocked by a tumour on the pancreas…”
– The Anglican Church League urges all members to pray for Bishop Ivan Lee (a Vice-President of the League) and his wife Virginia.
SydneyAnglicans.net has details to inform your prayers.
Abortion-by-phone is ‘commerce, not care’
“The Anglican Bishop of North Sydney, Chris Edwards, says the proposal that Australian women would be able to access abortions by phone and mail smacks of a program driven by commercial concerns rather than by genuine care for people…”
– see SydneyAnglicans.net for more.
‘Anglican Church concerned gay marriage would force Christian wedding suppliers to cater for same-sex couples’
“Conservative elements within Australia’s Anglican Church want new laws giving devout Christians the right to discriminate against same-sex couples, as the Federal Government pushes ahead with plans to hold a national plebiscite on the issue of gay marriage. …
The synod of the Anglican Church’s Sydney diocese will next month consider a report from a senior bishop which argues that wedding service providers should have the “religious freedom” to refuse to cater for gay couples.”
– Report on ABC Radio’s The World Today.
‘Reserve Bank governor Sir Harold Knight offered distinguished service in war and peace’
“Sir Harold Murray Knight KBE, DSC was an Australian economist, best known as the third governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, serving from 1975 to 1982. …
Though his career in central banking featured prominently in his life and demanded much of his time, “it was not what motivated him or gave his life meaning,” his son, Dr Andrew Knight, said. His strong, personal Christian faith drove his core values and led him to devote decades of leadership to the Scripture Union, the Crusader Union, the Bible Society and the Anglican Church.”
– The Sydney Morning Herald has published this obituary of Sir Harold Knight.
(Image: Portrait of Sir Harold Knight by Bill Leak from the RBA Collection via SydneyAnglicans.net.)
Archbishop Davies calls for ‘warm and generous welcome’
The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has welcomed the Government’s announcement that Australia will permanently resettle 12,000 refugees from Syria on top of the current humanitarian intake.
Dr Davies has also called upon Sydney Anglicans to make a generous and practical response to the Syrian refugee crisis.
“I am calling upon parishes all across our diocese, not only to pray for these victims of persecution, but to step up and be prepared to do whatever is within their power to provide a warm and generous welcome, coupled with practical assistance, to ensure that those who come to find safety in Australia are afforded the best possible chance to make a new start and benefit as fully as possible from the peace, freedom and opportunity that Australia offers,” Dr Davies said.
“Under the leadership of Anglicare Sydney, I have also asked our diocesan organisations – our schools, our retirement villages, our youth programs and our colleges to come together to assist in any way they can with goods in kind, funds, ESL classes, educational support, personal support and even accommodation.”
“We also look forward to working as effectively as possible in a coordinated manner alongside other non-government organisations and government agencies.” …
The Archbishop and Anglicare have also launched ‘The Archbishop’s Syrian Refugee Crisis Appeal’, to provide particular emergency relief and support to Syrian refugees. For more information, or to donate, please visit the Anglicare website or call 13 22 26.
– Read the full story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Syrian crisis ‘too great to be ignored’ — Archbishop Davies
“Sydney’s Anglican Archbishop Dr Glenn Davies has called on the Federal Government to develop a comprehensive response to the Syrian refugee crisis.
‘One of the most significant characteristics of a civilised society is the way it treats those who are the most vulnerable…”
– Read the full story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…