2026 Annual Moore College Lectures Recap – Peter Orr interviews Andrew Atherstone

From Moore Theological College –

“Professor Andrew Atherstone joins Dr Peter Orr to reflect on the 2026 Annual Moore College Lectures, discussing evangelicalism within mixed denominations, the relationship between Sydney and UK Anglicanism, theological education, and his hopes for the future of the Church of England

The 2026 lecture recordings will be released in the coming weeks.”

– Watch above or at this link.

Ten thousand Rwandan churches shut down

Could this be a good thing? Russell Powell explains at SydneyAnglicans.net –

“The so-called ‘prosperity gospel’ – which promises wealth in return for faith – has long been a problem in Africa but now, in Rwanda, the government has shut 10,000 churches.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame announced a crackdown last year, saying of the churches, ‘Many are just thieving… some churches are just a den of bandits’. While the government’s intentions may reach beyond the prosperity gospel, in order for churches to open, regulations mandate that preachers must be theologically trained. …

Enter a strategic partnership between African Enterprise, Moore Theological College, and several Sydney rectors…”

– Read it all here.

Photo, and more information: African Enterprise Australasia.

The Sydney Family Album 6 — Thomas Moore

In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, published a series of posts, entitled “The Sydney Family Album”, for his website, Theological Theology.

We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.

Here’s the sixth in the series, on Thomas Moore.

“When the foundation stone [of St. Luke’s Liverpool] was laid (7th April 1818), Thomas and Rachel were present, as well as Governor Macquarie’s four-year-old son, Lachlan.

Thomas and Rachel had been appointed guardians for young Lachlan, should anything happen to his parents while in the colony.”

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series (as we add them) are in our Resources section.

Dr Robert Tong thanked for 45 years of service on the Board of Moore College

From Moore Theological College:

“Dr Robert Tong was acknowledged for 45 years of faithful service on the College Board this month.

Robert has served under 6 Archbishops and 4 Principals and has always been motivated by his devotion to Christ and his gospel. We are greatly indebted to this gifted and faithful governor.”

Photo: Robert Tong with three College Principals – Mark Thompson, John Woodhouse and Peter Jensen.

– More photos here.

On a related note, The Anglican Church League is also grateful to the Lord for Robert’s long and faithful service as the Chairman of the ACL. He retired from that position at our Annual General Meeting last month. The ACL is immensely grateful for Robert’s wisdom and generosity over many years.

Kara Hartley appointed Faculty Member of Moore College

From Moore Theological College –

“The Moore College Governing Board has accepted the Principal’s nomination of Archdeacon Kara Hartley to join the College Faculty in January 2027 in a part-time capacity.

Kara is a graduate of the College (BD 2007, MA(Theol) 2019), has continued her involvement with it in many ways, and has extensive ministry experience, both lay and ordained, in the Diocese of Sydney. …”

– Read the full story from the College website.

Photo: Kara Hartley with Moore College Principal Mark Thompson.

Three key positions for your prayers

For your prayers – three strategic positions to be filled in the not-too-distant future –

• As readers of our website will know, Dr Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore Theological College, will retire at the end of 2027.

• Bishop Mark Calder, Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst, is concluding his term as Bishop on 19 September 2026. (Bishop’s Election Board.)

• And in the Presbyterian world, Dr Ian Smith, Principal of Christ College (the NSW Presbyterian theological college, at Burwood) will also retire at the end of 2027. (Applications.)

Please do uphold these men in your prayers, and pray for the bodies responsible for finding their successors, so that Christ is honoured, so that churches are strengthened, and so that many hear and believe the gospel, are saved, and grow as disciples.

2026 Annual Moore College Lectures with Andrew Atherstone

Andrew Atherstone, Professor of Modern Anglicanism at Oxford University, is giving this year’s Moore College Annual Lectures.

His topic: Anglican evangelicalism in the age of John Stott, Jim Packer and Dick Lucas: Surviving and thriving in a mixed-up denomination.

When: Monday 3 to Friday 7 August 2026.

– Details from the College.

Moore College Sunday 2026 — 2nd August

“Moore College Sunday is a special day where we join with local churches to encourage prayer for the College, its mission, and the churches it supports.

We invite everyone to pray for our students, graduates, staff, and faculty, and to consider becoming an active part of the Moore College community.

When Moore College has a need, we know that the most important thing to do is pray.…”

– It’s so important to pray for Moore College – and Moore College Sunday (this year on 2nd August) is a great time to make that a special focus.

The Scriptures unto our salvation – Exhibition at Moore College

A fascinating exhibition opens at Moore College’s Donald Robinson Library next week – The Scriptures unto our salvation –

“This exhibition commemorates the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale’s groundbreaking 1526 New Testament, a pivotal moment in the transmission of scripture, shaping the development of the English language and advancing new possibilities for vernacular access to the Scriptures.

All of the major early modern English translations are also featured, alongside Martin Luther’s German translation and key editions of the Bible in Latin, demonstrating the academic use of Latin by the Protestant Reformers in their study of the Word.

Alongside early printed editions the exhibition also highlights Indigenous Australian, Polynesian, and Papuan language Bibles, highlighting the complex linguistic, cultural, and historical contexts through which scripture has been rendered into diverse languages.

Together, these works invite reflection on translation not only as a textual practice, but also as a process deeply intertwined with the history of Christian missions in Australia and Oceania.

On display [from 13 July 2026] until 27 November during library hours (8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday).”

– from the College website.

Only the Lord gives life — Community Chapel at Moore College

From Moore College –

“In the last week of May, faculty, staff, students and families gathered for Community Chapel, a regular opportunity for the Moore College community to meet together around God’s word, encourage one another, and reflect on his faithfulness. …”

– Read at the College website.

Shaped in Community

The Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant writes in the Cathedral newsletter –

“Dear Friends, today, I republish the first half of an excellent article by Cathedral Canon Dr Mark Thompson from the latest edition of Moore Matters, the newsletter magazine our Moore College, our ministry training theological college.

I asked for Mark’s permission, since what he says about why it is valuable to study theology face-to-face in community is equally true about why it is so important to keep coming to church.

We both acknowledge there are times when this is not possible, for example, my relative in aged care now watches the Cathedral service online, because she can no longer easily get to her local parish. But Mark shows why it is so important to pursue face-to-face community and learning, when he writes…”

– At the Cathedral website.

And see the full Moore Matters Winter 2026.

Rare find: The King’s Book

“The Donald Robinson Library was delighted to recently acquire a copy of the King’s Book, properly titled ‘A necessary doctrine and erudition for any chrysten man: set furthe by the kynges maiestye of Englande’, printed in 1543. …”

– Erin Mollenhauer, Senior Archivist and Special Collections Librarian at Moore Theological College, explains the background.

Moore College Principal to retire at end of 2027

Announcement from SydneyAnglicans.net –

“The Principal of Moore College, Dr Mark Thompson, has announced he will retire at the end of 2027.

The announcement was made at Moore College on Friday, June 5, as Dr Thompson told staff and students.

‘After discussions with the Archbishop and the Governing Board, we have decided that 2027 will be the last year that I serve as the 13th Principal of Moore College,’ Dr Thompson said. ‘No doubt there will be much more that will be said and written over the next eighteen months. But I wanted to let you know at this point, so that you won’t be surprised when advertisements for the position begin to appear in the second half of this year, and so that you might pray as the process of choosing the 14th Principal unfolds.’…”

– Read it all here. It would be really good to pray for Mark and Kathryn, for the College, and for whoever will be appointed the 14th Principal.

Also announced through the College website:

Retirement announced.