Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s statement on antisemitism

Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney

Public Statement

In recent days we have witnessed repugnant expressions of antisemitism in Sydney which have appalled most Australians and heightened fears among the Jewish community.

The conduct of some individuals in our city including flag burnings and aggressive verbal incitements to violence against Jewish people have shocked and repulsed our city. It deserves the strongest condemnation and must not be tolerated.

I have joined other faith leaders in calling for national unity and harmony so that our multi-cultural, multi-faith community may continue to thrive without hate or violence.

I urge all people, whether they adhere to a faith or not, to reject antisemitism in all its forms. I call on all community leaders to deplore the vilification which we have seen recently and pursue harmony, mutual respect and peace.

Anglicans in Sydney, including my predecessors as Archbishop, have had a history of warm and constructive relations with the Jewish community. In Psalm 23 King David, whom Jews and Christians both honour, wrote of walking through the valley of the shadow of death, comforted by the goodness of God. So we pray that those who mourn will be comforted, strengthened and protected in these times of darkness and sorrow.

The sin of antisemitism has a long and shameful history. It must be repudiated in the strongest terms. My prayer is that all Australians offer to our Jewish fellow citizens every assurance of support and love.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel

13 October 2023

Source: SydneyAnglicans.net

Prayer for Israel — Diocese of Sydney Media release

Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney

Public Statement from Archbishop Raffel

Sydney Anglicans have been shocked and distressed to hear of the attacks on the Jewish people and the State of Israel that have taken place over the last 24 hours. We express our deep sympathy for the families of those who have suffered the loss of loved ones through these indiscriminate attacks, and also for those in Gaza suffering through no fault of their own. We assure the Jewish community in Sydney of our prayers for those injured or in danger and for the establishment of lasting peace and security. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem and long for the day when swords will be beaten into ploughshares. (Is 2:4)

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel

October 8, 2023

– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net

Howard Guinness and the beginnings of evangelical university ministry in Australia

Coming up at Moore College on Wednesday 1st November –

“Dr Howard Guinness, of the well-known Irish brewing family, was sent to Australia in 1930 by Inter-Varsity Fellowship to develop Christian student groups on university campuses. His visit was the catalyst for the establishment of Sydney University and Melbourne University Evangelical Unions on the basis of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

During his later parish ministry in Broadway and Vaucluse, his ongoing involvement in EU missions has left a lasting legacy in university campus ministry.

Dr Ruth Lukabyo will examine Dr Guinness’ work and legacy in this free event.”

– Details and booking from the College.

For more background see:

Remembering Howard Guinness – including Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane’s sermon at the funeral of Dr. Guinness in 1979.

Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane remembers the beginnings of the SUEU – audio recording from 1980.

Bishop Glenn Davies speaks about the ACL

ACL Council Member Michael Latten reports on last week’s visit to Moore College of Bishop Dr Glenn Davies:

On 21 September, 42 students and faculty members came to an Anglican Church League lunchtime talk at Moore College.

Former Archbishop of Sydney and Bishop of the Diocese of the Southern Cross, Glenn Davies, with his characteristic wit and humour, outlined the impact of the ACL over the last 100 years in establishing and sustaining the Protestant, Reformed, and evangelical character of the Sydney Diocese and in supporting evangelicals in Australia and beyond.

While Bishop Davies noted the strong influence of the ACL in Sydney on diocesan elections today, he warned that we must never take for granted the evangelical character of the diocese. Like those who came before us, we too must contend for the gospel in Sydney and beyond.

Southern Cross magazine Sept-Oct 2023

The latest copy of Southern Cross magazine from the Diocese of Sydney is now out and will be available in parishes.

You can also read it online, or download your PDF copy.

St. Andrew’s Cathedral Community Garden

Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant writes in the Cathedral newsletter about plans for a new ministry space at the Cathedral:

“Friends in Christ, it was a pleasure to show the site and plans for the Cathedral Community Garden to many in-person attenders last Sunday. It was obvious that seeing it ‘from the inside’ as it were is really helpful to imagining what an excellent outdoor ministry space it could be for the Cathedral and for the community.

For example, you could easily imagine a BarBQ there in the summer shade, and how much easier it will be to welcome people into the Chapter House, as well as improved wheelchair access to the Cathedral proper.

To remind you, the project will provide a community garden that will

adorn one of the city’s premier civic and heritage precincts,
provide rare and valuable deep-soil CBD green-space,
be often open to the public,
add valuable outdoor ministry space to the Cathedral ministries, such as Cathedral Kids, ESL and community chaplaincy for the needy,
and be available as an educational space to SACS and Gawura (Indigenous) School as desired.

Completing the Garden will also remove the eye-sore of a building rubble site that has stood unusable behind hoardings next to our beautiful Cathedral for well over two decades.

Let me put all that into a bit of historical context…”

– Read about the plans at the Cathedral website.

Now, where and how for Sydney Anglicans – with Raj Gupta and Zac Veron

From the Pastor’s Heart, an important episode on the future of the Anglican Church in Sydney –

“We engage in a ‘Stockdale Paradox’ discussion, confronting the brutal facts about attendance, finances and National Church Life Survey data about mission, newcomers and maturity.

Plus we review the recent Sydney Anglican Synod debate where leader after leader poured out their heart.

The gap is widening between the diocese’s declining attendance and Sydney’s growing population.

While there are COVID factors, the National Church Life Survey trends are clearly observable and are worrying.
There’s a difference between having a heart for evangelism and knowing how to engage effectively.
While gross giving has increased, real giving (adjusted for inflation) seems to be down.
There’s a clear difficulty with strategic planning and implementation.
What to do about the accelerating trend of people moving to larger churches.

We look at the hard facts and attempt to chart a way forward.

Zac Veron is the senior minister of Bayside Anglican Church, Sydney.

Raj Gupta is the senior minister of Carlingford Anglican Church, Sydney.”

– Watch or listen here (though it’s recommended you watch so you can see the charts).

Bible colleges in the world’s poorest places

“Theological colleges, schools, health centres and biblical resources are the fruit of rich partnerships with Anglican dioceses around the world.

The Synod’s Mission Hour for 2023 shared stories that told of the Sydney Diocese’s service and support worldwide, particularly in areas of great gospel growth and great poverty. …

The Anglican Church of Congo runs more than 1000 churches, 700 schools and 90 health centres. A partnership began in 1992 when Sydney sent the late Peter Dawson as a missionary bishop to pioneer the Diocese of Kindu, in a remote central part of the country.”

– Tara Sing at SydneyAnglicans.net reports on encouragement and the need which was shared at Sydney Synod.

Back in 1997, ACL News spoke with then recently-returned Bishop Peter Dawson. Amid the turmoil in the country at the time, he saw great opportunities for the gospel –

“People are hungry for biblical teaching and we have seen a new church being opened every two weeks for the last few years. New congregations, new people being converted, Bible colleges full. There is a great opportunity for someone to go out and be a lecturer in one of these new Bible colleges. Great opportunity for teaching the Bible and building up Christians.”

In our From the Vault section.

More ‘views from the pew’ at Sydney Synod

The Australian Church Record is continuing to post “views from the pew” – brief questions and answers with members of Sydney Synod –

Justice Michael Meek, Anna Davidson, Janet Austin, Andrew Buckle. and Doug Marr.

Photo: Russell Powell.

Synod sets out diocesan purpose and priorities

“The Synod has collectively confirmed that our main game remains unchanged – to make disciples.

The Archbishop’s document Purpose and Priorities for the Diocesan Fellowship was passed by the Synod on Tuesday, September 12, recognising the direction and focus for churches, schools and organisations within the Diocese. …”

– Tara Sing reports from Sydney Synod at SydneyAnglicans.net.

ACR Journal for Synod 2023

A special issue of ACR Journal – from The Australian Church Record – is out in time for Sydney Synod.

Download your copy from the Church Record’s website.

2023 ACL Synod Dinner Address — Archdeacon Simon Flinders on The Importance of the Local Church

Archdeacon Simon Flinders gave the address at tonight’s ACL Synod Dinner in Sydney.

His topic? The Importance of the Local Church.

Take the time to listen to his most encouraging address:

or download the audio by right-clicking here.

The transcript is available as a PDF file.

This would be great to share with members of your church.

The Robinson-Knox view of Church — Interview with Chase Kuhn.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s vision for Sydney Anglicans

“I am bringing before the Synod a statement of purpose and priorities for the diocesan fellowship,” said Archbishop Raffel as he opened the Sydney Synod for 2023. …

In a wide-ranging speech taking in church networks, organisations and institutions, the Archbishop said that “under God we seek to see God multiply believers in Christ, multiply churches and multiply workers for the harvest field.” This, he said, was a work of God. “We need the work of God in us, so that we long for the welfare of our neighbours and friends and fellow Sydneysiders with the longing of Jesus who wept over Jerusalem, though it was hardened against him.”

– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell has details of this afternoon’s Presidential Address by Archbishop Kanishka Raffel on the first day of Synod for 2023.

You can also watch or hear the Archbishop’s address.

Resources for Sydney Synod members 2023

Sydney Synod meets this month. Here are three resources from the Anglican Church League for Synod members. The updated Synod Survival Guide will be especially helpful for new Synod members.

The Synod Survival Guide by Dr Robert Tong, updated – free download.
The ACL Synod Dinner – Hear Simon Flinders’ encouraging address.
The ACL Synod Briefing Podcast – now online!

Latest posts below.

The ACL’s Synod Podcast now online

Hear the ACL’s 2023 Synod Briefing Podcast.

Our 2023 Pre-Synod Briefing Podcast aims to serve members of the Sydney Synod by highlighting the likely substantive issues and main debate points.

It’s also relevant for anyone who wants to stay informed and pray for the Lord Jesus to be honoured and churches strengthened through the decisions of the Synod.

Listen here:

or right-click on this link to download your copy.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction to the Podcast
2:36 – Introduction to Synod and Order of Business
5:25 – Discussion of Elections
7:30 – M4 (Purpose and Priorities)
10:40 – M6, B5 & B6 (Money Bills)
23:00 – B8 (Ministry Standards Ordinance)
24:45 – B1-B3 (General Synod Ordinances)
27:50 – M12 (Review of Governance Policy)
32:35 – B4, M16, M17 (Pastoral Supervision)
36:38 – 13.4, 13.5, and M20 (Discussion on The Voice)

And here are some relevant links:

The ACL Synod Dinner.

Sydney Synod 2023 – with reports and business papers.

The Synod Survival Guide, by Dr. Robert Tong.

About the Anglican Church League.

How to join the Anglican Church League.

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