Second group of Deacons ordained in Sydney
“The second group of new Deacons was ordained at St Andrew’s Cathedral, in a smaller service because of COVID restrictions, but with the same scriptural charge to follow their Lord’s example.
The Making of Deacons service is held annually in February following the completion of the ordinands’ theological studies the year prior. Due to COVID and subsequent reduced capacity in the cathedral, an additional service was held last November for half of the ordinands, who had already been working in parish ministry. This decision allowed the Cathedral to enable more family and friends to attend in support of the ordinands and encourage them as they commence their ministry. …”
– Full story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Love, grief and identity
“You learn a lot about what a person meant to you when they’re taken away. Separation magnifies all the intricate and beautiful nuances of what you had, and absence pries open memories that may have lain dormant for years. Songs, sights, smells. The faintest hint evokes a cascade of reminiscence. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Scott Millar has been sharing some very personal reflections on grief and the Christian. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
Blayney’s new Anglican minister
“Reverend Wally Cox is the iteration of Bishop Calder’s plans to bring new life and energy into the Bathurst diocese parishes, and Reverend Cox is under no delusions as to the difficulty of the task in front of him as he begins his life as Blayney’s new Anglican minister…”
– Report and photo Mark Logan, The Blayney Chronicle.
Moore College Library Day 2021 – H.W.K. and Dorothy Mowll
From Moore College:
“H.W.K. Mowll (Archbishop of Sydney) and his wife Dorothy are two of the most significant figures in 20th century Australian church history, and had a lasting and godly influence on Moore College, the Diocese of Sydney and beyond.
Our Library Day for 2021 features Moore College faculty and guest speakers who will explore important aspects of the Mowlls’ life and ministry, onsite and via livestream.”
John Anderson speaks with John Lennox
John Anderson speaks with Professor John Lennox in Oxford.
They discuss Christ’s birth and life as one of historical truth, the Christian foundations of the modern scientific method, and the current religious climate.
Armidale’s The Link introduces their new Bishop
The latest edition of The Link from the Diocese of Armidale leads with an article about Bishop-elect Rod Chiswell and his wife Jenni.
Most encouraging.
Read online or download your copy here.
Rod Chiswell elected Bishop of Armidale
The Rev. Rod Chiswell has been elected as the next Bishop of Armidale at today’s election Synod.
Rod is the Minister of St. Peter’s South Tamworth.
Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Glenn Davies, says in a statement:
“I welcome the news that the Rev Rod Chiswell has been elected as the next Bishop of Armidale. Rod is a faithful pastor, a fine preacher and one who will hold fast to the faith once for all delivered to the saints. He is an answer to many prayers.”
(Image from the St. Peter’s South Tamworth online service for 6th December 2020.)
Update from the Diocese of Armidale.
All good things come to an end
“ ‘All good things come to an end’ is an expression of an earthly truth. At the end of this week I leave my position as the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Armidale. Sadly I must also lay down my pen as the writer of articles for the Extra and Express. My guess is that this news will be greeted with a range of responses.
Over nearly a decade I have written many articles, some controversial, some fun, some just expressing disappointment or a communal grief. Whether you have appreciated the articles or not, it is interesting to consider the past decade of Australian history as captured in some of the ‘Faith Matters’ articles. …”
– Bishop Rick Lewers, shortly to leave Armidale to become Rector of Shoalhaven Heads, writes his last article for the local papers.
Please continue to pray for Rick and Janene, and also for the saints in the Diocese of Armidale as they begin to seek a new bishop.
Charlie Skrine to be Rector of All Souls Langham Place
News from Anglican Mainstream:
“It was announced on the St Helen’s Church Bishopsgate Sunday morning service today that Rev Charlie Skrine, the Associate Rector at St Helen’s is to be the new rector of All Souls’ Langham Place in succession to the Rev Hugh Palmer.
Mr Skrine is 45, studied at Queen’s College, Oxford and Oak Hill College, and is a member of General Synod.”
(Image from The Beautiful Story, CEEC.)
And from All Souls Langham Place on Twitter:
“We are pleased to announce that Her Majesty the Queen has approved the interview panel’s unanimous recommendation to appoint Charlie Skrine as the next Rector of All Souls. We are very much looking forward to Charlie and his family joining us in 2021.”
Update:
This announcement from William Taylor at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate also reveals that Mickey Mantle (pictured) has been appointed as Rector of St. Thomas’ North Sydney from the end of July 2021.
Sydney Diocese: Please pray for ordinands
“Please pray for these candidates as they prepare for ordination on November 28, 2020 and taking up positions at the following parishes. …”
– Media release from the Diocese of Sydney, and fuel for prayer.
New Vice Principal of Moore College
“The Moore College Principal, Dr Mark Thompson, has … announced that the current Vice Principal, Dr Colin Bale, will conclude his service in that role at the end of 2020. Dr Bale will continue to serve as a member of the Moore College faculty until he retires in the second half of 2021. …
This decision has led to the need to appoint a new Vice Principal, and Dr Thompson announced that he had asked the Rev Dr Simon Gillham to take up that office. …”
– News, last week, from Moore College.
Southern Seminary mourns Nick Challies
From Albert Mohler at Southern Seminary, where Tim Challies’ son Nick had been studying at Boyce College:
“Nick Challies, a wonderful, kind, loving, young Christian full of life, went to be with the Lord last night. Here is a word from his father’s grief-stricken heart. Please pray for Tim and Aileen Challies and their family.”
Yes, keep them in your prayers.
Photo: Tim Challies, when visiting Sydney in 2018.
New Dean of Christ Church Cathedral Darwin Commissioned
The Rev. Rob Llewellyn was commissioned as the new Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Darwin last weekend.
The service can be seen at the Cathedral’s Facebook page.
Bishop Greg Anderson preached. Most encouraging.
Reflections on my expectations of Ministry Fifty years ago
“Following a year of teaching secondary school English and History, I entered Moore Theological College in 1966 (aged 21). Ordained in Sydney (deacon, 1969; presbyter, 1970), I was assistant minister at Yagoona, St Michael’s Wollongong, and then Eastwood, before undertaking a New Testament research degree at Durham University, UK. Returning to Australia in 1976, I was invited to start a new church in Wanniassa …”
– In The Australian Church Record’s 2020 Winter Journal, John G. Mason reflected on fifty years of ordained Christian ministry.
Jo Gibbs to be new CEO of Anglican Deaconess Ministries
“ADM is pleased to announce the appointment of Jo Gibbs as its new CEO, effective 17 November 2020.
Jo Gibbs joins ADM from St Pauls Castle Hill, where she has been the Care and Assistant Discipleship Minister. Prior to this, Jo spearheaded work in international and cross-cultural settings. …”
– Announcement from Anglican Deaconess Ministries.
See also:
Congratulations to the new CEO of Anglican Deaconess Ministries – Moore College.
“Jo is known to many of us as a godly woman and a gifted fellow-worker in the gospel.”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…