New book on the Peter Cameron Presbyterian “Heresy trial”
Many Sydney Anglicans will remember the so-called ‘heresy trial’ of Presbyterian minister Dr Peter Cameron.
It began in 1992 when Dr Cameron, the Principal of St Andrew’s College at the University of Sydney, spoke at a centenary women’s event at Ashfield where he referred to the Bible as ‘sub-Christian’. In response to the apostle Paul teaching about women, he replied, ‘So what?’.
The disciplinary proceedings came about not because Dr Cameron was in favour of women’s ordination (even though most media reports claimed that was the case), but because he dismissed the authority and trustworthiness of Scripture (not just in that sermon, but on other occasions).
The Presbyterian Church had to make a crucial decision. Would they accommodate theological liberalism as did the Uniting Church which they had declined to join fifteen years earlier?
Now, thirty years on, Paul Cooper and David Burke have edited a series of essays exploring what happened and why –
From the back cover of the book:
“In 1992, the Presbyterian Church of Australia through its disciplinary procedures convicted one of its ministers, the Rev Dr Peter Cameron, Principal of St Andrew’s College, of what the newspapers of the time called ‘heresy’. The secular media and commentary were strongly supportive of Cameron and highly critical of the Church.
Cameron, in 1994, published ‘Heretic’ which told the story from his point of view.
This book, Principle & Principal, invites the reader to consider the other side of the Cameron Case. It reflects a different bias to that propagated by Cameron and his supporters. It tells why the Presbyterian Church took this action knowing that it would result in an avalanche of criticism. While over thirty years have passed since the finalisation of the Cameron Case, and the ranks of those involved have thinned, many of the chapters in this book are written by people who participated in these events.”
Campbell Markham at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Hobart has written this review for AP.
– Details and ordering information from Eider Books.
Related:
The Crisis of ’77 – personal reflections by the Rev Bob Thomas on the decision of Presbyterians to ‘continue Presbyterian’.
New Perth Assistant Bishops introduced
The Diocese of Perth has posted brief videos introducing the two new Assistant Bishops of the diocese. Many of readers will know Archdeacon David Bassett who was ordained in the Diocese of North West Australia and who is now heading back west from Adelaide.
Ben Kwashi retires as Archbishop of Jos
GAFCON General Secretary Archbishop Ben Kwashi is retiring from his position as Archbishop of Jos, Nigeria, after 31 years as Bishop.
Brief news stories from The Guardian (Nigeria) and This Day Live (Nigeria).
Give thanks for his service to the Lord Jesus Christ – particularly in the Diocese of Jos, and also globally through GAFCON.
Photo: Archbishop Kwashi with Archbishop Peter Jensen in Jerusalem in 2018, courtesy GAFCON.
Two new Assistant Bishops for Perth
“Since January this year the Diocese has been prayerfully supporting the Episcopal Office, especially Bishop Kate and myself, in the life and ministry of the Diocese of Perth as we have been considering our mission and ministry needs moving forward.
Your prayers have been appreciated and I have been deeply aware of being held through some long hours and complex situations over these past eight months. The great and exciting news of the appointment of two new Assistant Bishops of Perth was announced on 10 August 2023.
The Venerable David Bassett from the Diocese of Adelaide. David is the Assistant to the Primate and Archdeacon of Adelaide and the Port. David is married to Susan, and they have two adult children, a daughter and a son. David was ordained in the Diocese of North West Australia. He has served in schools and parishes there and in Melbourne and Adelaide. …
– Read the full announcement here from the Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy
Also published in the September 2023 issue of Anglican Messenger.
Donald Robinson Library Lecture to remember Deaconess Margaret Rodgers AM
Coming up on Saturday 23 September at Moore College:
“Deaconess Margaret Rodgers AM (1939-2014) was an extraordinary woman who used her many talents to serve God through her work as Principal of Deaconess House, CEO of Anglican Media, President of the NSW Council of Churches, and other roles. She was passionate about lay women’s ministry and the Deaconess Order, and has left an enduring legacy in the Diocese of Sydney.
This event celebrates her life and work, with talks highlighting different aspects of her influential ministry.”
When Margaret was called home in 2014, she was remembered as a dear friend and sister, a warrior for Christ.
All About Jesus: Tim Keller’s Memorial Service
“‘You may have noticed this isn’t the usual sort of memorial service,’ Kathy Keller told about 2,000 guests gathered today to remember Tim Keller. She meant there were few tributes and no videos or photos of her husband.
‘That’s because Tim wrote it himself, just the way he liked to do funerals for other people,’ she said. ‘You mention the dead person, certainly, but then you talk about the God that person is now facing.’
That’s exactly what happened in Keller’s final service. …”
– The Gospel Coalition has this report on the memorial service for Tim Keller.
Why everyone started talking about Expositional Preaching
In this article at The Gospel Coalition, Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra looks at what happens when you discover expository (‘expostional’ in the US) preaching, and what led to the founding of the Charles Simeon Trust –
“[Walter] Carter was having the same eye-opening experience that [Dave] Helm had 25 years earlier when British pastor Dick Lucas first demonstrated expositional preaching to him.
‘It felt like a light bulb going on,’ Helm remembers. ‘It felt like you were closer to having command of what God was actually trying to say.’
Helm couldn’t get enough, and in 2001, he and some others started the Charles Simeon Trust (CST) to teach Lucas’s principles to others. Light bulbs have been going on ever since. …”
Many Australians have had similar experiences, thanking God for the ministries of Dick Lucas and John Stott and others.
See, for example these related posts. – in particular, Sydney Church History by David Cook and Reflecting on Fifty Years of Expository Preaching in Australia (1965–2015) by Peter Adam.
Photo: Dick Lucas at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in 2014.
Conversations: With Dr. Andrew Browning, Author & Christian Missionary Doctor
John Anderson’s latest Conversation is with Dr. Andrew Browning, an obstetrician-gynecologist who has devoted his life to improving maternal health in Africa, with a particular focus on fistula surgery.
Very much worth your time. Good to share too.
Related:
Africa: Maternal Healthcare – Fistula Hospitals – AnglicanAid
“Anglican Aid is partnering with Dr. Andrew Browning and the Barbara May Foundation (BMF) to help African women to have a safe childbirth.
Well known Sydney Anglican Dr. Browning worked for many years with Dr. Catherine Hamlin in Ethiopia and continues to develop her vision for fistula prevention and cure in the name of Christ. This vision continues through an expanding network of Christian maternity hospitals funded by the Barbara May Foundation together with Anglican Aid. …
BMF is a Christian foundation motivated by the love and compassion that God the Father has for the world and endeavours to serve as Christ serves. Please join Anglican Aid as together we strive to eradicate unsafe births in Africa.”
Wilfrid Law Docker (1846-1919) Accountant and a thorough Anglican
“Upon the death of Wilfrid Law Docker (often misspelled as Wilfred) it was said that death had removed one of those men who are the salt of the community and furthermore that:
There are many whose loss would attract greater notice, but there are few who will be so long and so much missed in a number of public affairs touching the religious and philanthropic, and educational interests of this city.
Who, then, was Wilfrid Law Docker? What had he done in his life to be accorded the designation of ‘salt of the community’? And why would he be ‘much missed in … the religious and philanthropic and educational interests’ of Sydney?…”
– At his website Philanthropists and Philanthropy in Australian Colonial History, Paul F Cooper, Research Fellow of Christ College, Sydney, provides fascinating glimpses into the lives of many who helped shape Sydney and beyond.
In his latest contribution, Paul introduces us to Wilfrid Law Docker, member of the Chapter of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod, the Synod of the Province and the General Synod of Australia.
Brett Murphy explains why he had to leave the Church of England
In an interview with Dave Piper at TWR-UK, Brett Murphy gives some of the background why he felt compelled to leave the Church of England. Link via Anglican.ink.
Earlier:
Rev Brett Murphy leaves the Church of England – 08 July 2023.
Brett Murphy — I have joined the Free Church of England (GAFCON) – 14 July 2023.
Societas 2023 from Moore College
Societas, the magazine produced annually by the students at Moore College, is now available.
Always interesting, and a great reminder to pray for the College.
You can read online or download your copy here.
Remembering Arthur Stace 56 years on
Like a broken record, we’ve mentioned Arthur Stace on our website once or twice over the years.
In some ways, you might call him Sydney’s best known evangelist, chalking the word Eternity on footpaths across the city for more than 35 years. He inspired thousands to wonder at the meaning of that word – hopefully to contemplate where they would spend eternity – and to be attentive to the gospel.
In addition, Arthur was an open-air evangelist, though few were aware he was also ‘Mr Eternity’.
Arthur was called home to be with the Lord Jesus on this day (30th July) in 1967.
He was eventually buried at Botany Cemetery, now part of Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park.
As we remember this humble man, let’s also be encouraged by his example as he laboured to bring the good news of salvation to his fellow Sydney-siders.
See also these two tributes in song – by Nathan Tasker (video below) and Colin Buchanan.
Former Engadine Anglican Church youth leader Karen Darda – a missionary in Japan for 26 years – farewelled after death at 58
“About 300 people have packed Engadine Anglican Church to farewell Karen Darda, a former congregation member and youth leader, who passed away after a life of service as a Christian missionary, including 26 years in Japan.
A similar number of mourners watched online as there was no more room in the church. …”
What happened a year ago today
“It’s a cliché: ‘It began as an ordinary day’. But it did. And it opened a window into the ordinary extraordinariness of God’s providence.
7:57am – my husband is going for a run. He’s a very routine-type person so it’s his usual practice, but it’s also necessary to ward off pain that still plagues him daily due to complications from a childhood disease. (He never, ever complains.) I take a photo of him standing by the door of our bedroom before he goes as the kids have just given him some new running gear for his birthday. Did I say? It’s his birthday. …”
– at The Australian Church Record, Bronwyn Windsor shares a personal story of the Lord’s providence. Also a reminder to give thanks.
14 Lesser-known details about J. I. Packer
“Much can be said about J. I. Packer that, while personal to Packer, is nonetheless generally known, or at least not unexpected to someone who knew him as a public figure. But everyone has a dimension of personality and life that is hidden from public view and known mainly by family members and close acquaintances. I have collected data that belongs to this lesser-known side of J. I. Packer. …”
– At Crossway, Leland Ryken shares some of his research on J I Packer, who was called home three years ago.
Image courtesy Regent College Vancouver.
Many posts about J I Packer elsewhere on our website.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…