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.

A family to keep in your prayers

“Life was beautiful. There was a wobbly toddler and a baby on the way. The kids were to grow up as little buddies, just 17 months apart. Richard Burnet, their proud dad, had landed a dream job. A Bombers fan since childhood, he was the new chief commercial officer for the Essendon Football Club…”

– Ruth Lamperd of Melbourne’s Herald-Sun shares the story of a family you could keep in your prayers. (Photo: Herald-Sun.)

Lutherans follow Anglicans down rocky road of dissent

“Hundreds of congregations have held votes on leaving the denomination. Others have cut off funding to the national church. Bishops in Africa have condemned the actions taken by their North American counterparts. And this week  disaffected members are gathering to found a new breakaway denomination. …

… as of August 3, 504 congregations have already held first votes on leaving, with 384 passing.”

– A report from Canada’s National Post on the disintegration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

‘African bishops say Anglicans in West strayed from God’

“The Anglican church in the West no longer adheres to the word of God, African bishops said Tuesday at a continental conference [at Entebbe] attended by the Archbishop of Canterbury. …

‘Today, the West is lacking obedience to the word of God,’ Reverend Ian Ernest of Mauritius, the head of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa, told journalists…” – Report from The Nation, Kenya.

See also ‘Archbishop Duncan Joins Leaders at All Africa Bishops Conference’.

Scottish Episcopal Church goes for inclusive language

“The Scottish Episcopal Church’s College of Bishops has approved inclusive language prayers, authorising optional changes that remove ‘Lord’, ‘He’, ‘his’, ‘him’, and ‘us men’ from its 1982 Eucharistic Liturgy…”

– George Conger reports for The Church of England Newspaper.

(Photo: Scottish Episcopal Church College of Bishops celebrate the Eucharist at this year’s Synod.)

Tasmanian Anglican August 2010

The latest edition of Tasmanian Anglican (August 2010) is now available from  the Diocese of Tasmania. Use it as a reminder to pray for Christ’s church in Tasmania.

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