Murder of Iraqi Christians — second appeal for prayer from Archbishop Glenn Davies
Here is a second appeal for prayer from Archbishop of Sydney Dr Glenn Davies:
“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, says fervent prayer and urgent action is needed as the persecution of Iraqi Christians escalates towards genocide.”
“Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Media Release, August 9, 2014
The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, says fervent prayer and urgent action is needed as the persecution of Iraqi Christians escalates towards genocide.
ISIS militants, who have already forced many Iraqis from their homes in Christian towns and villages, are now reported to be systematically executing Christians, including children, some by decapitation.
“The reports coming from reliable Anglican sources in Iraq are horrifying” Dr Davies said.
In the last 24 hours, Canon Andrew White, the Anglican Vicar of St George’s, Baghdad reported that the five-year-old son of a founding member of the parish was attacked and cut in half by the insurgents in the Christian town of Qaraqosh.
“Not content with dispossessing Christians of their homes, unspeakable acts are now being carried out on those who refuse to recant their faith” Dr Davies said.
“Australia should be in the forefront of offering help, asylum and immediately agitating for protection of this ancient Christian community which is so desperately vulnerable.”
“Our brothers and sisters in Iraq urgently need our prayers and I hope all Australian Christians would join us in asking God to guide them to safety and restrain those who will do them harm.”
This is the second appeal issued by the Archbishop of Sydney on the turmoil in Iraq.
A week ago, after the attack on the Northern town of Mosul (near the ruins of the biblical town of Nineveh), Dr Davies said “In the same area where God sent the prophet Jonah to turn back the people of Nineveh from their evil ways, we pray for a turning back of the evil which has come upon the Christians of Mosul.”
France has already offered asylum to Iraqi Christians forced to flee Mosul and other towns.”
– Source, SydneyAnglicans.net.
The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid has launched an emergency relief appeal to help those fleeing their homes.
See also: Killings escalate in Iraq. – SydneyAnglicans.net
(Photo: UNHCR/ACNUR Américas via SydneyAnglicans.net.)
An Invitation from God
Part of the “Jesus Brings” initiative.
Looming Famine in South Sudan
Anglican Aid’s David Mansfield writes:
“Anglican Aid has entered a partnership with the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan (ECSS&S) to support a project to assist communities prepare for an expected famine during the summer of 2014/15.
The expected famine is due to the inability of displaced people to plant crops.
While emergency food security will be provided by other agencies, the Church in South Sudan is assisting through a Peace Dividends Project to assist people to plant crops to provide longer term food security.…
Anglican Aid [is] suggesting people forgo a meal out and contribute the money to support South Sudan.”
Donations may be made online or by phoning 02 92841406. (Click the image for a larger version.)
Moore College Sunday 2014 — Watch the video
Moore College wants to encourage you to pray for the college, and they’re going to great lengths to solicit your prayers!
See their Moore College Sunday website and watch the video. (Moore College Sunday in 2014 is this weekend, Sunday August 3rd.)
Archbishop of Sydney calls for an end to Iraqi persecution
Public Statement
July 30, 2014
The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has joined calls for prayer and international assistance for Iraqi Christians facing severe persecution, even death, for their faith.
“It is an outrage that a community established in the early centuries of the Christian era should face expulsion from their own land, simply for their faith.” Dr Davies said.
In Mosul, near the ruins of the ancient city of Nineveh, the militant Islamic group ISIS gave Christians an ultimatum: convert to Islam, pay a “protection tax” or face death.
Churches have been looted, burned or occupied. Christian homes have been marked with the Arabic letter “N” (for the word ‘Nasrani’ which translates to ‘Nazarene’, a follower of Jesus).
Thousands of Christian families have been driven from the city.
“In the same area where God sent the prophet Jonah to turn back the people of Nineveh from their evil ways, we pray for a turning back of the evil which has come upon the Christians of Mosul, stripped of their livelihood, property and possessions.”
“The Australian government, the international community and the UN must not stand by while such persecution continues unabated.” Dr Davies said.
The Archbishop called on churches to pray for peace and justice in Iraq and also for Palestinian Christians caught in the conflict on the West Bank and the Gaza.
“We have entered a period of significant suffering for Christians around the world: from Iraq to Syria and from Egypt to Sudan.” the Archbishop said. “While the Cross is the symbol of suffering for all who are followers of Jesus of Nazareth, we have a responsibility to stand with our brothers and sisters in the face of such unmitigated persecution.”
– from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Related:
Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.
The silence is deafening – Catholic Herald.
More time needed for Bishopscourt sale
“The chairman of the Anglican Property Trust, Dr Robert Tong, says an initial offering of the neo-gothic mansion ‘Bishopscourt’ in Darling Point, has been encouraging but no buyer has yet emerged…”
— news from SydneyAnglicans.net.
New ARV Director of Mission
“The Rev Andrew Nixon has been appointed the new Director of Mission for Anglican Retirement Villages (ARV). He replaces Chris Edwards who is now Bishop of North Sydney.
Mr Nixon is best known as the Executive Director of the Diocese’s “Connect 09” campaign. He has since been the Director of Youthworks’ Year 13 programme and more recently Principal of Youthworks College…”
– More from SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo: Youthworks.)
ACL President’s Address — 2014 AGM
President of the Anglican Church League, the Rev. Gav Poole, spoke at tonight’s ACL Annual General Meeting –
“Psalm 145 is a song of praise about ‘praise’. The only fitting praise for the LORD, is perfect praise. Praise that is declared everyday, everywhere for ever and ever.
Praise of the LORD is a return to order, a reversal of sin, curse and rebellion. It is to tell of his character – abounding in love; wondrous works and mercy to all. It stands opposed to speech that blasphemes, bears false testimony, incites rebellion or ignores the LORD. Read more
Celebrating one giant leap for the gospel
St. John’s Cathedral at Parramatta is celebrating 200 years since Samuel Marsden’s first Mission to New Zealand at their 10:00am service on Sunday 20th July. David Pettett will be the guest speaker. (PDF flyer.)
As well, the book Launching Marsden’s Mission, edited by Peter Bolt and David Pettett, will be launched.
(Contributors include Greg Anderson, Peter Bolt, Malcolm Falloon, Michael Gladwin, Meredith Lake, Simon Manchester, Malcolm Prentis, David Pettett and Craig Schwarze.)
‘Out of step’ with the times — but not the Bible
“The Church of England’s decision to allow women bishops may represent a historical shift in attitudes in its General Synod, but to the dismay of supporters of the ordination of women, the move may hold little sway for Sydney’s Anglican community…
‘As much as we respect the Church of England, it is no longer the centre of our world,’ Bishop Forsyth said. ‘It’s not our Rome, it’s a partner church in the worldwide community of Anglicans.’…”
– from The Sydney Morning Herald.
Includes a quote from ACL President Gav Poole –
”Sydney is known around the world for its evangelical character and its holding to the authority of the scriptures,” he said. ”That’s a long tradition here in Sydney and something we have always appreciated.”
Phillip Jensen to resign as Dean at Christmas
“I believe we have reached that stage of development at the Cathedral and it is time for me to resign as Dean. …
As far as my future is concerned, I have a new job lined up in 2015 with ‘Two Ways Ministries’. Being freed from the varied responsibilities of Dean will allow me to serve God’s people outside the confines of one church and without the weight and distractions of being a church pastor…”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen announces his intention to retire from the position of Dean at Christmas 2014 – and he shares what he plans, Lord willing, to do next.
Related: Dean moves to new ministry (SydneyAnglicans.net.)
Archbishop Glenn Davies: “Phillip Jensen has exercised an extraordinary ministry in the Diocese of Sydney for more than 40 years, most notably as Chaplain of the University of New South Wales and rector of St Matthias, Centennial Park.”
Religion vital to Australian education — AEC news release
Anglican Education Commission news release
Religion vital to Australian education
“Recent press reports have seriously misrepresented the position of the Anglican Education Commission on public education policy.
The commission has not called for the scrapping of the chaplaincy program or for the replacement of Special Religious Education (Scripture) in NSW schools.
By conflating several distinct policy areas, a report in the Sydney Morning Herald (Page 1, 25/6/14) seriously misled the public.
It is unfortunate that in the debate about the future of the National School Chaplaincy Program, the provision of NSW scripture (SRE) has been linked to chaplaincy. These are, and have always been, separate. The SRE program is not government-funded.
It its submission to the recent Review of the Australian Curriculum, the Anglican Education Commission, in looking to the long term, argued for the inclusion of a mandatory study of ‘Worldviews and Ethics’, which would incorporate the study of all religions and be available for all students. If such a subject was added to the Australian Curriculum it would have significant benefits for all students.
This would not replace the vital SRE program in NSW schools and as a national move, would have much wider implications.
The Anglican Education Commission in the Diocese of Sydney strongly believes that education is incomplete unless it includes a study of religion. The diocese has had a strong history as both a provider of education through diocesan schools and in the provision of Special Religious Education (Scripture) in public schools. The Commission is absolutely committed to the future of both.
Secondly, the diocese, like the Catholic Church, does not have a policy on chaplaincy as such. The AEC has not called for the scrapping of the chaplains program. However, should the NSW Government decide to take over the chaplaincy program in its present form, some hard questions will need to be asked about its nomenclature and whether ‘chaplain’ is the right word to use for such a program. If the program is purely a secular one, why not call it a welfare program and direct its focus to the high priority areas of wellness, psychology and student health?
Press reports with misleading headlines and out-of-context quotes are not helpful as governments consider these crucial areas of policy.
Dr Bryan Cowling,
Executive Director,
Anglican Education Commission
25/6/2014.”
This press release by the Executive Director of the Anglican Education Commission, Dr Bryan Cowling, is an important corrective.
New Moore College faculty member appointed
“The Governing Board of the College has approved the Principal’s nomination of Rev Dr Lionel Windsor to the faculty from 1 January 2015. Dr Windsor is a graduate of the College who is currently serving as Assistant Minister at St Augustine’s Anglican Church, Neutral Bay…”
Thanksgiving service for Margaret Rodgers
It’s been announced that there will be a Thanksgiving service for Deaconess Margaret Rodgers (who died on 31st May) at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney at 2:00pm on Thursday 19th June.
‘When we get it wrong’ — Southern Cross
“Some months ago, the team at Southern Cross started planning to do a cover story on prayer.
They say everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it. With prayer, we don’t talk much about it and do it even less (myself included).
Article complete, we went about trying to illustrate it. It seemed ‘knee fitness’ might be catchy and contemporary. Because we don’t have the funds to stage our own photography, we used a stock image of a woman in fitness gear.
In an effort to focus on the knees to make the theme work, the cover unhelpfully drew attention to other parts of her body and cut off her head, depersonalising the image.
Let me be clear. This was a mistake. With the best of intentions we actually did the opposite of what we were trying to do. …”
– Russell Powell, CEO of Anglican Media Sydney, issues an apology. An exemplary way for Christians to respond.
And you can now download the updated version of Southern Cross – with lots of great content – here as a 5.3MB PDF file.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…