Tony Nichols: a man in relentless pursuit of the glory of God
“Bishop Anthony Nichols enriched innumerable lives in countless memorable ways, from an unassuming beginning in rural England to quiet faithful service on the other side of the world, according to Kate Roach, a former student and fellow parishioner of one of the greats of the Australian church, who died on Saturday, August 24, aged 81. …”
– Eternity News has this tribute to Bishop Tony Nichols.
Wycliffe Hall announces the appointment of NT Wright as their Senior Research Fellow
“Wycliffe Hall … announces that the Wycliffe Hall Council intends to appoint NT Wright … as Senior Research Fellow, as of 1 October 2019.
NT Wright is currently Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at St Mary’s College, St Andrews in Scotland.”
– News via Anglican Ink.
Simon Manchester made Honorary Clerical Canon
“The rector of North Sydney, the Rev Simon Manchester, has been given a rare honour as he prepares to step down from his parish ministry at the end of this year.
Archbishop Glenn Davies has announced that Mr Manchester will join a select list of leaders who have been made honorary clerical Canons of St Andrew’s Cathedral. …”
– Good news from SydneyAnglicans.net.
(Simon is speaking at the 2020 CMS Summer School at Katoomba.)
Richard Coekin on The Pastor’s Heart
On the latest edition of The Pastor’s Heart, Dominic Steele speaks with Richard Coekin, leader of the Co-Mission network in London.
Leaving the Faith: Reflections of a Prodigal
“By now the firestorm of commentary around Josh Harris’ public announcement–that he has not only divorced, but departed from the Christian faith–has died down. People have moved on, but not before delivering a slew of analysis, indictments, pleas, condemnation, and speculation.
When the news hit and I observed all the commentary, I too wanted to offer my two cents. However, I found myself struggling to say anything publicly. While I do think there might be some merit to the contributing factors cited, namely that he was never a true believer to begin with, I know there is more to the story than simple pat answers can provide. Now with the news that Marty Sampson of Hillsong fame has announced his departure from the faith, I am compelled to speak.
You see, I was a prodigal. …”
– At Reformation21, Lisa Robinson Spencer shares her story.
Getting know Foley Beach, the Anglican Church in North America, and GAFCON
“The new Chair of the Gafcon Primate’s Council tells his story of relationship with Jesus, the Anglican Church of North America and the journey that Gafcon has been on and is on.”
This 32 minute video was recorded at Moore College in May 2019.
Watch Archbishop Foley Beach at GAFCON Australia, or direct link to video.
Malcolm Richards consecrated as Bishop for International Relations
“Canon Malcolm Richards has been made the Bishop for International Relations in a ground-breaking consecration in Sydney.
Bishop Richards, who was previously the General Secretary of the Church Missionary Society – NSW & ACT is the first to take on the full-time role without also having responsibilities as a Sydney Regional Bishop.
He will also take up a parallel appointment as the Director of the Centre for Global Mission at Moore Theological College. …”
– Story and photos at SydneyAnglicans.net.
New ACL Council elected for 2019-2020
The Anglican Church League is pleased to announce the following office bearers were elected at our AGM on 6 June 2019.
Please continue to pray for the work of the Council and Executive, that they would serve humbly and faithfully to help promote Christ and the reformed evangelical Protestant faith through the structures of the Anglican Church of Australia.
The Anglican Church League, Office Bearers and Councillors for 2019 – 20
President: The Rev Andrew Bruce
Chairman: Dr Robert Tong AM
Secretary: The Rev Canon Tom Harricks
Minutes Secretary: The Rev Matthew Whitfield
Elections Secretary: The Rev Gavin Poole
Membership Secretary: The Rev. Michael Leite
Communications Secretary: The Rev Dr Lionel Windsor
Treasurer: Dr Laurie Scandrett
Vice-presidents
Dr Claire Smith
Dr Laurie Scandrett
Mr Clive Ellis
The Rev Canon Dr Mark Thompson
The Rev Canon Phil Colgan
The Rt Rev Ivan Lee
Councillors
The Rev Roger Cunningham
Mr Jeremy Freeman
The Rev Dr Raj Gupta
Mr Edward Hannah
Mr Luke Jackson
Mr Angus Martin
Mrs Michele Morrison
The Rev Scott Newling
The Rev Caitlin Orr
The Rev Gavin Parsons
Mr Malcolm Purvis
The Rev Craig Roberts
The Rev Mike Taylor
The Rev Kate Haggar
The Rev Jason Ramsay
The Rev James Warren
The Rev Nigel Fortescue
The Rev Dave Keun
Emeritus Vice-presidents
The Rev Canon Dr Bruce Ballantine-Jones OAM
The Rt Rev Dr Paul Barnett AM
The Rev Canon Allan Blanch
Mr John Colquhoun
The Most Rev Dr Glenn Davies
The Rev Neil Flower
The Rt Rev Dr Harry Goodhew AO
The Rev Tom Halls
The Rt Rev Dr Peter Jensen
The Rev Phillip Jensen
The Rev Neil Macken
The Rt Rev Gary Nelson
The Rev Dr Peter O’Brien
The Rt Rev Dr Reg Piper
The Rev Canon Jim Ramsay
Mr Bruce Robinson
The Rev Gordon Robinson
The Rt Rev Ray Smith
The Rt Rev Peter Tasker
The Rev Dr John Woodhouse
The Rev Zac Veron.
His Sermons roused a sleeping Church — J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
“At the age of 64, after thirty-six years in rural parishes, when most people are ready to retire, he was called to be the first bishop of Liverpool. So he moved from parishes of 300 and 1,300 to a city of over 700,000 with all the urban problems he had never met face-to-face. He served in this post for twenty years, until two months before his death on June 10, 1900, at the age of 84.”
– John Piper pens a portrait of Bishop J. C. Ryle.
Wonderful encouragement for the start of the working week.
ACL Emeritus Vice-president Dr Paul Barnett recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours
“Among many worthy recipients of honours in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list is the Right Reverend Dr Paul Barnett, New Testament scholar and former Bishop of North Sydney.
The ACL joins with Christians across denominations and around the world in congratulating Paul and giving thanks to God for his many years of faithful ministry.
Paul has published extensively in the area of New Testament history. His confidence in the gospel, his careful attention to historical detail, and his clear and winsome writing style have been a great encouragement to many. His years of teaching at Moore College and his pastoral work as the Rector of Broadway, Rector of Holy Trinity Adelaide, Master of Robert Menzies College and Bishop of North Sydney have been a rich gift to many of us.
The AM he has been given is a recognition that his long service within an Anglican setting has made a significant contribution to wider community. We are grateful that his faithful ministry has been exercised among us.”
— Moore College Principal, and former President of the Anglican Church League, Dr. Mark Thompson, has written on behalf of the ACL’s Council.
Frances Whitehead, John Stott’s ‘right hand’, ‘promoted to glory’
“On Saturday 1 June Frances Whitehead, John Stott’s secretary of nearly 60 years, died peacefully at home at the age of 94.
Frances served John Stott throughout his whole ministry, as Rector of All Souls, Langham Place, and then in his wider global ministry. …”
– from The Langham Partnership.
See also: The incomparable Frances Whitehead:
“Despite the relative freedom that singleness brought him, John Stott would never have achieved everything he achieved in his 90-year life were it not for one person: Frances Whitehead. Her legacy is truly unique…”
Sydney theologian and author among Queen’s Honours
“The former Bishop of North Sydney, theologian and author Dr Paul Barnett is among Sydney Anglicans on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. … He was made a Member in the General Division of the order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the Anglican Church of Australia.”
– Full story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
How Anglicans in Canada found New Life after their Eviction
“You’d be hard pressed to find anyone more Anglican than David Short – which just made everything worse.
The 61-year-old is a fourth-generation Anglican minister, born in Africa while his parents were missionaries. He can even top that – his father was also born in Africa to missionary parents.
Home was Sydney, Australia…”
– This article from The Gospel Coalition tells the story of David Short and other faithful men and women in Canada.
Related: Many earlier posts mentioning Vancouver.
Sydney Rector elected Bishop of The Murray
Announced in churches across the Diocese of The Murray today, this news from Dr Robert Tong AM, Chair of the Bishop Election Committee and Chancellor:
“Following the retirement of Bishop John Ford, the Bishop Election Committee of the Diocese of The Murray is pleased to announce the election on 25 May 2019, of the Reverend Keith William Dalby to be the 5th Bishop of The Murray.
The bishop-elect is the Rector of St John’s Gordon in the Diocese of Sydney. He served his curacy at Mitcham (Adelaide Diocese) and then ministered in the Diocese of Ballarat as Rector of Timboon and then Rector of Warracknabeal before moving to Sydney.
Prior to ordination Keith spent 12 years as a submariner in the Royal Australian Navy. His theological training was at St Barnabas Theological College (BTh) and during his time in Gordon he completed the requirements for the award of MA in Theology from Moore Theological College. Keith is married to Alice and they have five children.
Arrangements for Consecration and Installation will be advised later.”
From The Murray diocesan website:
“The Anglican Diocese of The Murray is located in the south-eastern region of South Australia, taking in the Fleurieu Peninsula, Riverland, Adelaide Hills, Murraylands and the southern suburbs of Adelaide. The Diocese has 16 parishes or pastoral districts. The cathedral church of the Diocese is the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Murray Bridge.
The Diocese is one of three in the Province of South Australia.”
(Photo via Twitter.)
“Cancer is a personal test of faith”
“Bishop Ivan Lee comes into his office, chatting non-stop, a mug of tea in one hand and a cream biscuit in the other. He’s cheery, engaged and looks as healthy as a horse – which seems ironic given the conversation we’re about to have will focus on the cancer he knows is shortening his life. …”
– SydneyAnglicans.net has published this feature on ACL Vice-President Bishop Ivan Lee. (Read it to inform your prayers for Ivan and his family.)