One last thing…
Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net has a report (along with photos by Ramon Williams) on last night’s farewell service for Archbishop Peter & Mrs Christine Jensen.
ACL Statement of Appreciation for Archbishop Peter Jensen
The Council of the Anglican Church League has today communicated its deep appreciation to Archbishop Peter Jensen, who concludes his ministry as Archbishop next month.
The Appreciation below has been signed by ACL President Gav Poole on behalf of the League.
Peter and Christine will be publicly farewelled at a special gathering at St. Andrew’s Cathedral tonight.
Thursday, 13th June 2013
IN APPRECIATION – The Most Reverend Dr. Peter Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of NSW.
The President, Executive and Council of the Anglican Church League (ACL) wish to take this opportunity to formally express their deep appreciation for the leadership, support and encouragement exercised by Archbishop Peter Jensen.
Archbishop Jensen has been a member of the ACL for more than forty years and a long standing Vice President. His public commitment to the evangelical values and principles of the League has been unwavering.
As Principal of Moore Theological College he taught and mentored two generations of clergy, ensuring that evangelical, systematic and expository preaching would remain the character of Sydney Anglican pulpits.
As Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen has represented the evangelical character and convictions of our diocese with intelligence, humility, strength, humour and diligence on both the national and international stage.
Archbishop Jensen is an eminent teacher and theologian but, above all, he is loved for his deep pastoral concern for the clergy under his care and the wider diocesan family. Within Sydney and far beyond, Archbishop Jensen is warmly regarded for his deep compassion and warm personal and pastoral concern.
Archbishop Jensen has ever been a champion for the gospel which proclaims the sacrificial atoning death of Christ and his bodily resurrection. His passion to see the lost become found and discover new life in Christ has been an inspiration. He is a mission-minded man.
His kind and genuinely open disposition, while maintaining a godly resistance to moral and ethical compromise, continues as a model for all Christians who find themselves in dialogue with others. The revealed Word of God has always been his steadfast guide. His personal love for Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour is evident to all.
The goal of the ACL is to ensure, as far as possible, that the evangelical character of the Sydney diocese does not wane or fade over time. Archbishop Jensen has been a marvellous partner and formidable ally in this cause.
It is with a very deep sense of thanksgiving to God that the ACL takes this opportunity to express our appreciation for, and our debt of gratitude to, Archbishop Jensen as he approaches his retirement.
– ends.
The Church Record thanks Abp Peter Jensen
The Australian Church Record has published an appreciation of the ministry of Archbishop Peter Jensen. Read it here.
Praying for the election of a new Archbishop
The next Archbishop of Sydney will be elected at the special session of Sydney Synod beginning Monday 5th August. These prayer suggestions (PDF file) were distributed at the ACL-organised prayer meetings around Sydney in June.
Even if you couldn’t attend, these may be of some help as you pray. Here is the text from the PDF file –
Part 1 – Praying more generally for the spread of the gospel in Sydney and beyond – Read more
Farewell service to be streamed live
Tonight’s Farewell Service for Archbishop Peter and Mrs Christine Jensen will be livestreamed from St. Andrew’s Cathedral from just before 7:00pm. You can see it here, thanks to AudioAdvice.
Sydney’s next Archbishop — The Briefing
“While it is perhaps inevitable that some silly things will be said and done during this ‘homework’ period, it is still a necessary and good process in my view. There has to be some means of weighing up the pros and cons of different candidates, and to do so openly and honestly in advance, in fellowship with another, seems both wise and necessary…”
– Tony Payne briefly explains the Archbishop’s election process to an outsider.
(And don’t forget the Prayer Meetings being run across the diocese this week and next. All welcome.)
Mark Thompson installed at Moore
“Dr Mark Thompson preached at St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney last night at his installation as the 13th Principal of Moore Theological College.
– See the story, photos and Mark’s sermon from Moore College.
Installation of 13th Principal of Moore College
Mark Thompson will be installed as the 13th Principal of Moore College, at St. Andrew’s Cathedral Thursday night.
From the College: “We hope you can join the College family on this special occasion to give thanks for God’s continued provision for Moore College and to pray for the College’s crucial work of raising up a fresh generation of gospel workers for Sydney and the world.”
Two new Faculty appointments for Moore College
The latest from Moore College:
“The Governing Board of the College has agreed to the Principal’s nomination of Peter Orr and Andrew Leslie, who will join the faculty over the next six months.”
– Read the story at the Moore College website.
CMS Lasting Hope appeal
Archbishop Peter Jensen, and Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Stuart Robinson have each appeared in videos promoting the CMS NSW & ACT branch end-of-financial-year appeal. (Use them in church!)
Archbishop Jensen, Bishop Robinson.
Equality not the issue says Archbishop
Archbishop Peter Jensen on former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s change of mind on ‘same-sex marriage’ –
“Equality is not the issue. The consummation of a marriage by a man and a woman is unique and cannot be replicated. The precious differences between men and women, likewise cannot be replicated in any other bond.”
Full story:
Archbishop Peter Jensen has publicly disagreed with former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who has done a turnaround and now says he supports same sex marriage.
Dr Jensen says Mr Rudd’s comments “do not grapple sufficiently with the question of what marriage is and what it is for”. Read more
Michael Jensen to leave Moore for St. Mark’s Darling Point
“Moore College lecturer Michael Jensen has accepted an offer to become the next Rector of St Mark’s Anglican Church, Darling Point. Michael currently lectures in Doctrine and Church History. The Jensens will be at Moore until Michael takes up the new position at the beginning of October.” (Read it all from Moore Theological College.)
And Mark Thompson, the new Principal of Moore College, adds,
“Michael has made an excellent contribution to Moore College during his time on the faculty. While we will be sad to lose his day-to-day presence among us, it is exciting that he is taking up a leadership position in a parish church, the very thing we are preparing so many of our students to do.
We will pray that Michael’s time at Darling Point will be one in which many men and women come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and, together with those already part of the congregations there, grow in their knowledge, love and service of God.”
Related: St. Mark’s Darling Point.
Moore College Open Week: May 27–31
“Moore College Open Events provide people with an opportunity to find out more about studying at Moore. During Open Week anyone who is interested are welcome to come along and check out the College, be involved in classes, and get a firsthand experience of Moore’s high quality theological training, plus have all their questions answered by faculty and students. You also get a lunch on us!”
– Read all about it at the College website.
A Call to Prayer for the Election of a New Archbishop of Sydney
Prayer Meetings 10th – 20th June.
The next Archbishop of Sydney will be elected at the special session of Sydney Synod beginning Monday 5th August.
This election is of strategic importance for the work of the gospel in Sydney and the most important thing we can do is pray.
Members of the Anglican Church League invite all Synod members and all church members to join us during June at these venues to pray together for this election Synod and that the Lord Jesus will be glorified. Venues and times below, starting 10th June. Read more
Two websites for the Archbishop’s election
Websites have been established commending two nominees for the office of Archbishop of Sydney. These are intended for Synod members who may not know the nominees personally.
There’s one from supporters of Glenn Davies, the Bishop of North Sydney (glenndavies.info), and another from supporters of Rick Smith, the Senior Minister of Naremburn Cammeray Anglican Church (whyrick.info).
Please continue to pray for our two brothers (and any others) who have been nominated, and for all involved. Pray that the Lord Jesus will be honoured and glorified, and that believers will be edified.
Details of the coming ACL-organised prayer meetings across the diocese may be seen here.
See also – The ACL commits to Prayer for the election of the next Archbishop of Sydney.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…