Sydney Diocese response to the Church of England General Synod’s decision

Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Media Statement
UK Synod rejects the clear teaching of the Bible

The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, has described the decision of the Church of England General Synod to offer prayers of blessing to couples in same-sex marriages and civil partnerships as a rejection of biblical teaching.

“In adopting these proposals, the UK General Synod has rejected the clear teaching of Scripture that marriage is the union of a man and a woman, and that sexual activity outside the context of marriage is sin.” the Archbishop said.

Archbishop Raffel cited the Global Anglican Fellowship (Gafcon) and the Global South Fellowship, two international groups which he said, “not only represent the vast majority of the world’s Anglicans, but also the historic, universal and apostolic teaching of the bible.”

“Last year, when the 24 diocesan bishops of the Australian General Synod failed to affirm the bible’s teaching on marriage and sexuality, I said that they had left the Australian Anglican Church in a ‘perilous’ state. Today, statements from both Gafcon and the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans have made the same assessment of the impact of the Church of England’s decision on the Anglican Communion. I agree with that assessment.”

“Nevertheless, it is reason for thanksgiving that where some Anglican provinces have departed from Scripture’s teaching in these matters, faithful brothers and sisters have stood for the trustworthiness, goodness and authority of Scripture. This was certainly true in the UK General Synod debate.”

“It is the opposite of loving care for people to deny, distort or downplay the life-giving truth of Scripture on matters of vital importance to understanding ourselves and God’s good plans for our lives, including matters of human sexuality and marriage. We must lament the decision of the Church of England General Synod.”

“God’s people are called to honour all people, and humbly, prayerfully and faithfully to hold out to all, the teaching of Jesus as words of eternal life. With God’s help, we will continue to do so.”

Kanishka Raffel
Archbishop of Sydney
February 10, 2023

Source: Diocese of Sydney.

Anglican Aid launches Syria Earthquake Relief fund

“With your help, Anglican Aid is meeting the needs of vulnerable Syrians who are experiencing distress as a result of the 2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake. …”

– Read the details at Anglican Aid in Sydney.

There’s also a Prayer for Syria and Turkey you may wish to use at home or in church.

Image: US Geological Survey.

Men Meeting the Challenge Conference 2023

This year’s Men Meeting the Challenge Conference will be held at Arndell Anglican College, Oakville, on Saturday 25th March.

All the details are available at the conference website.

Please pray for 2023 Sydney ordinands

From SydneyAnglicans.net:

Please pray for these candidates as they prepare for ordination on February 18, 2023 and for taking up positions at the following parishes:

Brian Barker, Hurstville Grove
Kingsley Box, Yagoona & Condell Park
Brodie Cutmore, Engadine
Cathy Dell, Lalor Park
Russell Denten,    St Luke’s Miranda
Joshua Goscombe, Gladesville
Ed Hannah, St Luke’s Liverpool
Alex Hitchcock, Annandale
Jaison Jacob,     St John’s Paramatta
Sarah Kinstead, Anglicare Hospital Chaplain
Benjamin Ko, Northmead Anglican
Braydon Lucas, Gladesville
Andrew Marrett, St James, Turramurra
Lachlan Orr, Naremburn/ Cammeray
Matt Shannon,    Wollongong Cathedral
Netane Siuhengalu,   West Ryde
Jeremy Smith, Stanhope Gardens
Miles Stepniewski, Riverstone
Ned Teuben,    Artarmon
Simon Wang, St John’s Campsie
Scott Williams, Picton/Wilton
Nick Wood, Kirribilli and Neutral Bay.

Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net

You can watch the service live at 10:00am on Saturday 18th February (or afterwards) on YouTube.

Anglicans honoured in Australia Day list 2023

“A senior public servant and a former Dean of the College of Divinity are among Anglicans in Sydney given Australia Day Honours. …”

– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.

(Image: SydneyAnglicans.net)

Dean of Sydney: ALP ‘can do better’ on Pokies

A media release from earlier this week:

“The Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant, a long-time campaigner for poker machine reform in NSW, has responded to the NSW ALP’s launch of its gambling reform policy today.

He said:

Although I am pleased to see some helpful steps in the ALP’s proposals that will be helpful, the ALP can do better by committing to the principal of introducing a cashless gaming card, with mandatory pre-commitment, for poker machine use right across NSW.

With NSW losses on poker machines approaching $8 billion per annum – that’s over $20 million/day! – we urgently need ‘Airbags on Pokies’.…”

– Read it all here.

Sydney Church History — repost

We first posted this link in August 2020. As CMS Summer School at Katoomba concludes for 2023, here are even more reasons to give thanks to God:

“In 1965 John Stott, the Rector of All Souls Langham Place in London, visited Sydney to preach on 2 Corinthians at the CMS Summer School.

‘I heard only one of those Bible studies but I was so taken by the way he stuck to the text and stayed with it. He could show you the logic of the argument in the Scriptures, prior to that I had tended to get an idea from the passage and to leap all over the Bible supporting the idea from other parts, so that the people I taught knew the ‘idea’ but not the passage from which it came or how that passage fitted into some overall argument from the Scriptures. It is to John Stott I owe what ability I have to expound the Bible.’

Those were the words of the esteemed Sydney evangelist and preacher, the late John Chapman…”

– David Cook writes to remind us of our history, and how God works. At The Expository Preaching Trust.

(David Cook has served in parish ministry, as the Principal of SMBC, and as the Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia.)

Moore College events calendar for 2023

Moore College has put online a very handy calendar of their events planned for 2023. (PDF file.)

The Library Showcase on 1st November (“Howard Guinness and the beginnings of university ministry”) sounds particularly interesting.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s 2022 Christmas message

With thanks to Anglican Media Sydney. Download your copy here.

And read this report from SydneyAnglicans.net.

The oldest parish in the Diocese helps the youngest

“Marsden Park is the newest parish in the Diocese of Sydney. So when its senior minister, the Rev Mark Collins, got a series of messages from the oldest parish in Sydney, he wondered what they might mean. …”

– SydneyAnglicans.net has an encouraging story of gospel partnership.

Moore Matters Summer 2022 now online

The latest copy of Moore College’s Moore Matters (Summer 2022) is now available for download (a 35MB PDF file).

For your encouragement.

The Mothers’ Union & the ministry of lay women

At an event at Moore College last week, Jane Tooher shared something of the history of Mothers’ Union and its gospel service in 84 countries.

Great to learn about this quiet but important ministry which is growing today. Most encouraging,

– Watch or listen here.

Yarning the Bible in the bush

“There was no sandstone, either of cathedral or parish church, but ghost gums and a rainbow looking over the twilight ordination service for the Reverend Michael Duckett.

The unique service took place at the Indigenous Ministry centre at Wedderburn in South West Sydney, home of the Macarthur Indigenous Church. …”

– A really encouraging report from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

(See the report for a lovely photo of a heavenly reminder of God’s promises.)

Southern Cross November — December 2022 out now

The November – December 2022 issue of Southern Cross magazine will be arriving in parishes shortly. Be sure to get your copy!

If you can’t wait, you can download a copy (12MB PDF file) or read it online at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s column is on page 19.

Remembering Chappo with affection and thanksgiving

Ten years ago today, on 16 November 2012, John Chapman (‘Chappo’) was called home.

Not many are blessed with the gifts of evangelism and preaching that Chappo had – but all Christians are blessed to have the same saving message to share.

Here are a few reminders of Chappo, and we pray that they will serve to draw our hearts to Jesus:

Phillip Jensen interview with John Chapman – Part 1 and Part 2.

John Chapman: Encouragement for Evangelism – 7 minute cassette tape to encourage Christian students at Sydney University to believe and act on the gospel, prior to the SUEU Mission in June 1977. Right-click the link above to download, or listen below.