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.)
Flawless Bible Tour 2015
“In the Sydney Diocese we enjoy a wonderful legacy of faithful biblical scholarship, preaching and teaching. As we rejoice and revel in that legacy, let us join together to strengthen the integrity of gospel proclamation and Bible teaching throughout the developing world.
Throughout April, Anglican Aid will be raising awareness and financial resources through the Flawless Bible Tour for the massive need to train men and women in Africa, Asia and the Pacific…”
– Learn about the Flawless Bible Tour – coming to pretty much every church building in Sydney Diocese this month – from Anglican Aid.
Further: Am I just a Big April Fool? – David Mansfield.
Is there a Future for Confessional Anglicanism? — conference audio
On Saturday 21st March 2015, the Anglican Church League held the “Is there a Future for Confessional Anglicanism?” conference in the Chapter House of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney.
Those present considered our Anglican inheritance, our current challenges and our potential future under God.
Glenn Davies, Archbishop of Sydney; Ashley Null, authority on Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation; and Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore Theological College, were the speakers.
Listen to the talks via these links:
Archbishop Dr. Glenn Davies:
The State of Play in the Anglican Church of Australia.
27MB mp3 file and 100kb PDF file outline.
“The ACL’s role in Sydney is to keep the Diocese evangelical. That’s our role. Our role is to be ever vigilant … What one generation fights for, the next generation accepts and the third one forgets. … The stronger ACL is, the stronger the Diocese of Sydney is; the stronger the Diocese of Sydney is, the better the national church will be.”
Dr. Ashley Null:
Our Inheritance.
“The very heart of Cranmer’s understanding of the mission of the church is to proclaim the gospel … to renew the hearts and minds and lives of the English people.”
Dr. Mark D. Thompson:
Where next for confessional Anglicanism?
17MB mp3 file or 160kb PDF file.
“I am an Anglican – not just by historical accident but by conviction. I am convinced that here is a good – more than good, something that has proven to be powerfully effective over almost five hundred years — expression of gospel principles and gospel priorities … Yet to be true to that heritage I must be a gospel man first.”
Photo by Scott Blackwell.
Into all the world — Moore College Graduation 2015
Moore’s 2015 graduation was held on Monday night, with 109 graduates receiving their awards.
Anglican Aid opens appeal for Vanuatu
“Anglican Aid has opened an appeal to aid the nation of Vanuatu in the wake of the worst cyclone in memory.
Reports emerging from the Island say Cyclone Pam, which struck on the weekend of the 14th and 15th of March, left unprecedented devestation. Vanuatu’s president Baldwin Lonsdale was in tears as he described the effects of the ‘monster’ storm…”
– Details at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Image: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team.
‘There is no biblical justification, in any circumstance, for domestic violence.’
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Media Statement March 13th, 2015
Domestic violence and churches
(response to SMH and ABC)
“There is no biblical justification, in any circumstance, for domestic violence. The classic Christian understanding of a husband’s loving, sacrificial, servant-like leadership leaves absolutely no room for violence or fear.
We would be very open to participating in a cross-denominational survey of domestic violence issues, benchmarked with society in general. Whether or not such a survey is conducted, we will continue to speak out against domestic violence through education, training and advocacy.
I also encourage our ministers to explore this issue further with their congregations, making them more aware of the problem and the necessity of properly dealing with specific cases where-ever they may be found.
Archbishop Glenn N Davies,
March 13, 2015.”
First published at SydneyAnglicans.net.
‘Submission’ to my husband allows us both to flourish in our marriage
“Recent articles in this newspaper about evangelical churches’ “oppressive” doctrine of male headship reveal a complete failure to understand the Christian psyche…
Some see inconsistency between the Bible’s teaching of “Christian freedom” on the one hand, and female submission on the other.
However, it is precisely the Bible’s teaching on freedom which so transforms a person’s thinking once they become a Christian that they are ready to submit to others.”
– Sarah Colyer writes this helpful opinion-piece in The Sydney Morning Herald.
‘People of the cross’ murdered by IS militants
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Media Statement February 17th, 2015
The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, says Australians should be shocked, repulsed and outraged by the slaughter of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians, murdered for their faith in Libya.
The men, originally from Egypt, had travelled to Libya to find work. Amid instability in the region, they were kidnapped by a group linked to IS, led to a beach and beheaded.
“The filming of this evil and barbaric act was another attempt by the so-called Islamic State to strike fear into the hearts of Christians and others throughout the region.” the Archbishop said.
“The victims were singled out as ‘people of the cross’ and died for their allegiance to Jesus as martyrs have done through the centuries.”
“We pray for the Coptic Church to stand firm as it suffers such persecution. To our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Church in Egypt and throughout the Middle East, our hearts and prayers are with you.”
“For those bent on evil and violence, we pray God would turn their hearts to seek
mercy at the feet of Jesus.”
Dr Davies supported calls from the Primate of the Middle East, Presiding Bishop Mouneer Anis, for prayer that the international community would respond wisely to the attacks in the region.
The Archbishop also backed calls for diplomatic action by Australia and for special consideration to be given to the inclusion of Coptic Christians from North Africa in any humanitarian intake.
– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…