Can’t get to church to pick up Southern Cross?
Even if you can’t get to church to pick up the latest edition of Southern Cross magazine from Anglican Media Sydney, you can still download your copy – or read it online.
It includes Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s column.
In part, he writes, reflecting on Prayer in Partnership and the Letter to the Philippians:
“God has committed himself to the salvation of his people, including their preservation until ‘the day of Christ’. What God began, he will complete.
No wonder Paul says, ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God’ (4:6).
In troubling and anxiety-inducing circumstances, prayer to a God who hears us, and is committed to our perseverance until the last day, results in ‘the peace of God, which transcends all understanding’ (4:7).”
Faith vs Reason
“A lot of people assume that faith and reason are irrevocably opposed. Reason is seen as the ability to think, understand and form conclusions logically. Faith is seen as belief in things based on conviction rather than proof. So, we find people very nervous of the merits of either faith or reason. …”
– In the latest (July 2021) Ministry Matters from the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa New Zealand, Bishop Jay Behan writes about the relationship between Faith and Reason.
Also in this edition, there’s encouraging news from South Auckland, “Gifts from God – the Formation of South Auckland Anglican Mission”, and “The Call to New Zealand” from Mike & Maddy Turner waiting to go to West Hamilton Community Church.
Fuel for your prayers.
Common Prayer for Homes might be a great help for you
With many unable to meet for church at the moment, you might find Common Prayer for Homes, released last year, to be a great help.
Last year we spoke with Dr Mark Earngey at Moore College about the rationale behind this resource.
‘Hopeless or Hopeful…?’
“Over the last seventeen months millions have watched helplessly as loved ones have died from Covid-19.
For many there has been no comfort or hope.
In recent times our culture has made a habit of setting aside the wisdom of the past, and especially the wisdom of the Bible. But, as we touched on last week, when we are facing catastrophe and are confronted with the realities of the human experience, the words of the Bible come through with immense power and wisdom, truth and compassion. For here there is comfort for the broken-hearted and hope for the bereaved. …”
– John Mason at the Anglican Connection in North America continues to post help editions of Word on Wednesday. In the latest, his topic is ‘Hopeless or Hopeful…?’.
Are you more Likely to be Abused as an Anglican?
“The report suggests that ‘Absolutist discourses related to marriage as a lifelong commitment, the submission of the wife to the husband, unconditional forgiveness and suffering for Christ….are harmful for those who experience abuse’.
I would suggest that it is the misunderstanding and misuse of these teachings which causes harm. Those who misuse these teachings are blaspheming. As are those who reject them.
The key biblical teaching on this is that men are to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25-27). It’s a level of service, sacrifice and love way beyond anything our secularists could even dream of. And a million miles away from the ‘bible says I can beat you with impunity’ caricature so beloved by those who want to attack our faithful Anglican sisters and brothers. …”
– Published last week on The Australian Presbyterian’s blog, David Robertson takes a look at the report and some of the subsequent commentary and argues that the Word of God is the cure…not the problem.
See also: Responding to Domestic Violence in the Church – with Sandy Grant and Kara Hartley – The Pastor’s Heart.
EMA 2021 — Tuesday 22nd to Thursday 24th June
The Proclamation Trust’s Evangelical Ministry Assembly is being held online from the UK this week. The theme is Word Work.
“Building on the success of last year’s online EMA we are going to run it again online this year.
The event will be free to all and each day will run 09:30-12:30 BST. [6:30pm – 9:30pm AEST Tuesday to Thursday.]
Each morning will start with a conference sermon from Luke 19, preached by Rico Tice, Phil Allcock and William Philip.
Next one of the Cornhill staff will take us through an exegesis session showing us the working they do on a passage in the study.
The mornings will finish with the Cornhill staff member preaching an expository from the passage they have been working on.
It is going to be a terrific event and we would love to have you with us. The conference will be streamed live here.”
See the timetable here.
And download the Workbook here.
Practical principles for kids’ ministry
“A danger in children’s ministry is that it becomes disconnected: children are disconnected from ministry to adults on Sundays and Sundays are disconnected from any wider ministry during the week.
Here are a few key ways to help a children’s ministry grow to be an integrated family ministry. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Pete Tong shares some encouraging principles.
See also his earlier posts –
I’m not passionate about kids’ ministry – but it still matters – 03 June 2021.
Theological principles for kids’ ministry – 08 June 2021.
J. I. Packer’s Final Book
“J. I. Packer, who went to be with his Triune covenant Lord on July 21, 2020, was never able to see this final book in print. But The Heritage of Anglican Theology was near and dear to his heart, the one book he wanted to give his last years to. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition, Justin Taylor introduces J. I. Packer’s last book.
Image: Regent College, Vancouver.
Moore Matters Winter 2021
The Moore Matters for Winter 2021 is now being distributed to churches.
It’s packed with encouraging articles, and has plenty of fuel for prayer.
You can read online or download your own copy at this link.
Responding to Family Violence – The Anglican Example
From The Gospel Coalition Australia:
“The Anglican Church of Australia commissioned research into the prevalence of Family Violence among those who identify as Anglican, along with related research on clergy awareness and victim experience of FDV. The National Anglican Family Violence Research Report was published last week along with 10 commitments to prevent and respond to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). This research is a first among Australian Christian denominations.
Sandy Grant is the Senior Minister of St Michael’s Cathedral Wollongong. He kindly agreed to Murray Campbell for this interview.”
– Read the full interview with Sandy (pictured) here.
The Importance of Complementarianism
“I was asked recently about the role of women at my church. This is a topic I love to speak about and I am always excited to list off the many ways that women serve.
As an example, last Sunday we had women leading music, praying, reading the Bible, teaching kids’ church, and leading an easy English Bible study. Outside of Sunday ministry women serve as parish councillors, wardens, small group leaders and, in many other ways.
While I am thankful for each of the ways women serve, I made a mistake by answering the question about the role of women when I answered it in this way. …”
– ACL Council member Rev. Kate Haggar writes at The Australian Church Record.
The Homogenous Unit Principle: All you need to know with David Williams
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“The Homogeneous Unit Principle suggests that outreach is most effective when carried out in the context of a discrete group defined by similarity in cultural background.
But David Williams says the mission world’s view today is that it’s bad in practice and theory. We discuss a biblical view of class, race and language and challenge assumptions about how we set up Church. We also discuss the impact of COVID on the raising and sending out of missionaries.
Dr David Williams is the Director of Development and Training for CMS Australia and Principal of the missionary training college St Andrews Hall in Melbourne.”
– A fascinating conversation. Watch or listen here.
The Inside Story
“The values of liberal democracy overlap with Judaeo-Christian values, both of which are currently under threat. We have the latter values thanks to the Decalogue in the Tanakh, the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels, and the admonitions of the apostles recorded in their letters.
These values include due acknowledgement and love for the Almighty, care of neighbour, respect for governing authorities, lifelong commitment in marriage, responsible upbringing of children, and the expectation of working to provide for the family. …”
– Bishop Paul Barnett AM shares this short but enlightening paper on the origins of the underpinnings of western civilisation.
Image: Aquila Press.
Review: Priscilla and Aquila Conference, 2021
“The Priscilla and Aquila Conference at Moore College on February 1st this year was another in that long line of what we have to come know as… pandemic conferences. Much reduced physical attendance, large numbers of online attendees, a virtual speaker broadcasting from another state. Yet it proved to be first rate. If I was writing this for millennials, I’d say it was a ‘cracker of a conference’!
Gary and Fiona Miller joined us from Queensland Theological College (complete with backdrop of the Brisbane CBD) for the 2 plenary Bible talks on ‘Genesis Women: Why the patriarchal narratives aren’t patriarchal’. …”
– At Equal But Different, Lesley Ramsay commends the talks given at this year’s P&A Conference.
The Word of God — the Bible!
“Central to our Christian faith is our conviction that the Bible is God’s book, the book through which He reveals Himself, His will and purpose.
The very first clause in the ordination vows of Elders and Minsters relates to the ordinand’s conviction about the Bible.
The most important reading in any class preparing people to preach is to read what the Systematic tomes teach about the doctrine of revelation.
Preachers need to understand the nature of the book they are to spend a lifetime preaching, so whether it be Robert Reymond or Wayne Grudem or Kevin DeYoung, the preacher in training needs to understand the inspiration, authority, reliability and sufficiency of God’s Word, the Bible. It is a constant battle keeping the Bible, and therefore God, central in our ministry and lives. We may be losing the battle!
I have noticed three unhealthy trends. …”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…