Saying what God said

Encouragement for expository preachers as Mike Bullmore, Bryan Chapell and David Helm chat about preaching – at The Gospel Coalition.

General Synod preview on ABC Radio

We understand that ACL Chairman Robert Tong will be interviewed by presenter John Cleary in the first hour of Sunday Nights on ABC Local Radio from 10:00pm this Sunday (September 12 2010).

“Next week the Anglican Church of Australia meets in Melbourne for its triennial General Synod. The leading role of the Sydney diocese in international church debates over women, gays, and Church Order make the Australian Synod one to watch. We preview the Synod, and highlight the issues to keep an eye on…”

– Programme website here.

Qur’an burning: ‘an unnecessary, offensive and dangerous gesture’

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund has condemned the proposed burning of copies of the Qur’an on September 11. (Richard Blight at Padstow Anglican is among many others who agree.)

“Barnabas Fund statement on the proposed burning of Qur’ans in Florida

A church in Gainsville, Florida, USA, the Dove World Outreach Centre, has announced that it will burn copies of the Qur’an on Saturday 11 September to mark the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The stated purpose of this action is to raise awareness of the ideology and teaching of Islam and to warn against its dangers.

Barnabas Fund condemns the proposed action, for the following reasons:  Read more

More encouragement to pray for military chaplains

Moore College graduate Peter Friend is currently responsible for all Australian military Chaplains in the Middle East.

The Defence Anglicans website has published his recent letter home. Read it to better include Peter and the other chaplains in your prayers.

The Australian Defence Force has Chaplains of all denominations currently in Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries, as well as Timor Leste, the Solomon Islands and Pakistan (working in humanitarian Aid).

Prayers for the Archbishop of Kenya

All Africa news service reports:

“The wife of Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Dr Eliud Wabukala has died. Caren Wabukala passed on suddenly after falling down the staircase at their Nairobi home on Sunday night…”

Another report from The Daily Nation.

Dr. Eliud W. Wabukala was elected the 5th Primate and Archbishop of Kenya in April 2009.

(Photo: Anglican Church of Kenya.)

St John’s Latimer Square among those damaged

St John’s Latimer Square (an evangelical church in the heart of Christchurch) is among the church buildings damaged in the Canterbury earthquake. Preliminary information from the Diocese of Christchurch here – and another view of St John’s here. (Photo: Diocese of Christchurch.)

With thanks for Silas Horton

The ACL Council gives thanks to God for the life of the Rev Silas Horton, servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, past President and then Emeritus Vice President of the League, who was called home on 31 August.

Silas was ordained by Archbishop Mowll in 1955 and served his curacy at St. Clement’s Mosman before becoming chaplain to Norfolk Island in 1956. He later served as Curate in Charge and Rector of a number of Sydney parishes, including Regent’s Park and Birrong, Beverly Hills and Roseville.

For many years he served on the Standing Committee of the diocese and also its Presentation Board. After his time at Roseville he led Anglicare’s Parish Support and Development division.

Silas was known for his tireless determination to preserve the Evangelical Anglican heritage of the diocese, to preach Christ and to serve him wholeheartedly. We extend our sympathy to Silas’ wife Corylanne and to his  family.

His funeral is to be held in St. Andrew’s Cathedral on Tuesday 7 September.

(Photo: Horton family via Ramon Williams.)

‘Same-sex adoption bill clears hurdle’

“A bill allowing same-sex couples to adopt in New South Wales has been passed in state parliament’s Lower House. …”

– report from ABC News.
(Image: Google Streetview.)

Scottish Reformation Conference

The Presbyterian Theological Centre, Sydney is holding the Crowning Christ King Conference (September 10-11, 2010) to mark the 450th anniversary of the Scottish Reformation –

“The Scottish Reformation of 1560 was driven by Christians who were passionate that Christ should be Lord in his church. They wanted the truth of the gospel to be clear, God to be worshipped and his people to live for him. Those events laid the foundation of Presbyterian Churches around the world. 450 years later the truth and passion of the Scottish Reformation is part of our heritage. We need the same passion that Christ should be Lord.”

– Details at the PTC website (scroll down a bit).

ABC PM on the gay adoption issue

“Around 200 people squeezed into a small theatre in the New South Wales Parliament today to protest against a bill to allow same-sex couples to adopt. The New South Wales Council of Churches organised the protest meeting…”

– ABC Radio’s PM reported on Clover Moore’s proposed bill on adoption tonight.

New Colin Buchanan DVD

No, this isn’t a commercial, but we thought you might be interested to know that Colin Buchanan has yet another DVD available. :-) See his website.

‘Churches get opt-out point on same-sex adoption bill’

“The independent state MP Clover Moore has moved to shore up support for her same-sex adoption bill by giving church adoption agencies the right to refuse services to gay and lesbian couples without breaching anti-discrimination laws…

However, news of the amendment has not changed the view of church leaders. A letter co-authored by the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell and the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, arrived on MPs’ desks yesterday urging them to vote down the bill.”

– Full story from The Sydney Morning Herald. (Photo: clovermoore.com)

Related: Urgent Public Meeting of Concern — Same Sex Couples Adoption.

CAPA Primates Communiqué, Uganda

The Primates of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa have released a Communiqué at the conclusion of the 2nd All Africa Bishop’s Conference in Entebbe, Uganda. Read it here (via Global South Anglican).

Urgent Public Meeting of Concern — Same Sex Couples Adoption

From the NSW Council of Churches:

This week in the NSW Parliament a private members bill is being rushed through to open the way for same sex couples to adopt children. The NSW Council of Churches is sponsoring a Public Meeting of concerned citizens opposed to this bill.

•    Theatrette NSW Parliament House
•    1pm–2pm Tuesday 31st August 2010
•    Speakers include Hon David Clarke (Liberal Party), Rev Hon Fred Nile (CDP) other speakers to be confirmed.
•    Please join us to make a statement of concern for the sake of the children!

And from a NSW Council of Churches Media Release:

27 August 2010
Huge change to NSW adoption law while all eyes are on Canberra

The President of the NSW Council of Churches has accused the NSW Government of seeking to fast track the introduction of a Private Member’s Bill by independent MLA Clover Moore which would allow same sex couples to adopt children in NSW.

“The Keneally Government has been sitting on the Same Sex Adoption report for a year, and it is a betrayal of proper parliamentary process to rush through a Private Member’s Bill on the first day of sitting while all eyes are on the negotiations in Canberra to form a federal government,” the Revd Richard Quadrio said.

The NSW Council of Churches is sponsoring a public meeting on same sex couples adoption to be held at the Theatrette, NSW Parliament House, from 1.00-2.00pm on Tuesday 31 August, the day on which the bill is scheduled for debate in both Houses.

“Clover Moore’s Same Sex Adoption Bill has not been debated in any way yet in the wider community. I call on Honorable Members of both Houses to proceed more slowly and to engage in greater community consultation before taking a conscience vote. Please join us to make a statement of concern for the sake of the children, both now and in the future,” Revd Quadrio said.

Click the image at top to download a PDF flyer.

Archbishop Orombi’s opening speech

Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Henry Luke Orombi’s speech to welcome delegates to the All African Bishops Conference is now available (450kb PDF).

“Time is now for ‘African Anglicanism’ to rise up and begin to bring fresh life in ‘the ailing global Anglicanism.’ The potentials represented today in this conference must be free to go to Europe and America with ‘fresh Wine’ from ‘new Wine Skins’ to the mother Church desperate for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I say ‘the Church in Africa’ must rise up…”

More from the Conference at africanbishops.org.

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