Malcolm Richards named as new Bishop for International Relations
“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has named Canon Malcolm Richards as the new Bishop for International Relations.
Canon Richards will take over from Bishop Peter Tasker who has held the position since its inauguration ten years ago. Bishop Tasker has represented the Archbishop at consecrations, conferences, and made pastoral visits across the globe since 2009. …
As well … Moore College has announced Canon Richards will take up a parallel appointment as the Director of the Centre for Global Mission.”
– Read the full story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
The Bible is a wilderness, not a garden: Lessons from Donald Robinson
“In 2001, a young West Australian skipped Hebrew class to listen to a slight elderly man dressed in bishop’s purple and a clerical collar teach on the Epistle of James.
The class stood as he entered the room and remained standing while he prayed. They addressed him neither by his name (Donald) nor by the title of his most recent posting (Archbishop), but by the clerical order he occupied through the laying on of hands: ‘Bishop Robinson’.
The whole spectacle struck the young West Australian as otherworldly and exotic, though not inauthentic. Its effect was to lull students into a false sense of security – a security quickly removed as this unassuming figure treated the class to an exegetical tour de force, with original and daring insights thrown at the unsuspecting class with a velocity for which none were prepared. …”
– Rory Shiner writes at GoThereFor.com.
(1982 photo via Ramon Williams.)
The phenomenal impact of Donald Robinson
Last week, on The Pastor’s Heart podcast, Dominic Steele spoke with Rory Shiner about the phenomenal impact of Donald Robinson.
Rory was in Sydney for the launch of Volumes 3 and 4 of the Selected Works of Donald Robinson.
Captivated by Scripture: A personal reflection on D. W. B. Robinson’s legacy for biblical studies
Dr Lionel Windsor has shared the paper he gave at at the legacy day and launch of Donald Robinson Selected Works Volume 3: Biblical and Liturgical Studies & Volume 4: Historical Studies and Series Index at Moore Theological College, today, 16 March 2019.
“What made Robinson such an inspiring and influential teacher for generations of students? I’m sure there were multiple factors: many of those here today will have their own insights into this question. But one factor that I want to focus on this morning – a factor that comes through particularly clearly in his writings – is Robinson’s commitment to being captivated by Scripture.
The impression that keeps coming through in these volumes is that Robinson was so confident in the divine inspiration of Scripture, and so assured that God’s purposes are revealed to us in Scripture, that he was prepared to follow Scripture wherever it led him.
And when Scripture led Robinson on strange paths, paths that others had barely trod, on journeys where even he could not discern the destination, he enthusiastically trod those paths, knowing that wherever Scripture was leading him, it must be important. In this way, Robinson’s approach to Scripture is faithful in a deep sense: full of faith in God’s purposes revealed to us in his inscripturated word.”
– Read it all at Forget the Channel.
One Among Our Cloud of Witness
“We are fortunate in this diocese that, although a relative new comer in the history of Christianity, God has granted us so many examples of faithful obedience to his word. One servant who was called home on 7 September 2018, was the former Archbishop of Sydney, Donald Robinson. His impact on Anglicanism in Australia and wider evangelicalism was profound. …”
– Dr. Ed Loane shares the latest on the publication of Donald Robinson’s Selected Works.
The two new volumes will be launched at Moore College on Saturday 16th March 2019.
28 new Deacons ordained in Sydney
“There were too many smiles to count as the ordinands of 2019 filed into a packed St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney to be made deacons by the Archbishop of Sydney. …”
– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Ordinands 2019
Over at SydneyAnglicans.net, there’s a list of those to be ordained at deacons tomorrow, Saturday 16th February, at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney.
It’d be good to pray for them and their families!
Never mind the naysayers: Franklin Graham’s visit is good news for Australia
“US evangelist, the Rev. Franklin Graham, has begun his Australian tour. From 9-24 February, he is holding a series of evangelistic rallies in Perth, Darwin, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney. Rev. Graham is the son of the late evangelist, the Rev. Billy Graham (1918-2018), and his Australian tour is timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of his father’s epochal 1959 crusades in Australia.
Throughout his public ministry the forthright evangelist has courted controversy for his frank pronouncements on contentious issues. His occasional wading into the political fray has raised the ire of many, both inside and outside the church, yet his visit to Australia this month is good news. …”
– David Furse-Roberts writes at ABC Religion & Ethics.
With thanksgiving for Michael Green (1930-2019)
“‘Share the good news of Jesus at every turn’, thrummed in the heart of every student touched by Michael Green, who died yesterday at the age of 88. Michael was a theologian, Anglican priest, Christian apologist and author of over 50 books.
Although initially a reluctant writer, the volume of Michael’s written works was evidence of indefatigable evangelistic energy that was present right until the day before he went to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for multiple surgeries. Typically for Michael, when not being operated on, he spent the time witnessing to the hospital staff and dispensing a selection of his books, which were never far from hand when a soul needed shepherding to the Lord. …”
– This tribute to Dr. Michael Green was published by Premier Christianity in the UK.
Photo via J. John.
See also this 2010 interview with Premier Radio.
Anglicans honoured on Australia Day 2019
Christian businessman and philanthropist Tim Sims and Anglicare Board member Ian Steward are among those on the Australia Day Honours List for 2019.
Interview with Gary Millar
This year’s NSW & ACT CMS Summer School at Katoomba has just concluded.
Attendees were blessed by expositions on Jeremiah by Gary Millar, Principal of Queensland Theological College.
During the week, David Ould sat down with Gary and you can hear the 30 minute conversation at this link.
(The first two talks are available here as free downloads, and the rest of the Summer School material will be available for purchase in due course.)
Update on Bishop Lee — 20 December 2018
“The Bishop of Western Sydney, Bishop Ivan Lee has now been diagnosed with cancer in his liver.
Bishop Lee wrote an update on his health, thanking people for prayer support. …”
– SydneyAnglicans.net has published the latest update from Bishop Ivan Lee, Bishop of Western Sydney, and also a Vice-President of the Anglican Church League. Please do continue to uphold in prayer Ivan and Virginia and their family.
Paul Harrington: My Conversion
Paul Harrington shares his story. At The Gospel Coalition.
“By the time I got to university I was an agnostic or an atheist. I had no interest in whether God existed or not and was convinced that spirituality was a waste of time. Fun, sport and a law degree on the side occupied my life for the first three years on campus.
In my third year at uni, the girl I was going out with became a Christian. …”
The evangelical church in Scotland: An interview with Matt Baines
“Matt Baines is originally from Sydney where he has been working as an assistant minister at Minchinbury Anglican Church until August this year, when he and his family moved to Edinburgh.
Here, Matt shares with us some of his early reflections on the evangelical church in Scotland. …”
– Read his initial reflections at The Australian Church Record.
Asia Bibi released from prison — report
“Asia Bibi has been set free from her long-term home under captivity at Multan Jail and we confirmed this with media after news from her family. …
Wilson Chowdhry has spoke with the family of Asia Bibi, at 6am UK time on 8th November and they expressed that is of the utmost importance that there be no further speculation on her whereabouts reported by either concerned groups or international media.”
– Report from the British Pakistani Christian Association.
See also:
Aasia Bibi freed from Multan jail, flown to Islamabad – DAWN News, Pakistan.
“After her release from Multan’s women prison… Aasia Bibi was brought to Islamabad onboard a special aircraft on Wednesday night, Dawn learnt through reliable sources.”
No truth in reports of Aasia Bibi leaving Pakistan: Foreign Office – DAWN News, Pakistan.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…