New life to rural church communities
Posted on May 10, 2023
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This report from the ABC highlights various ministries, including Anglican, in central and western NSW.
“The town of Cobar in western NSW now has a minister for the first time in two decades, after getting support from the Bush Church Aid Society.”
Photo: Diocese of Bathurst.
Moore College Open Week 15-19 May 2023
Posted on May 10, 2023
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Moore College’s Open Week begins on Monday 15th May.
Details and registration from the College.
New National Director for CEEC
Posted on May 9, 2023
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From The Church of England Evangelical Council:
“CEEC has announced the appointment of Rev. Canon John Dunnett as its new National Director. Dunnett succeeds Bishop Keith Sinclair, whose two-year term came to an end at the end of April 2023 and who has now retired.
Dunnett assumed the role of National Director at the beginning of May 2023. He joined the CEEC in 2022 as Director of Strategy and Operations and previously was the General Director of Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS). …”
– More from CEEC.
A theological and missional review of the Coronation – with Mark Earngey, Brett Murphy and Sandy Grant
Posted on May 8, 2023
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“After Queen Elizabeth’s funeral last year, Saturday’s coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla was probably the biggest reaching church service of our lifetimes.
We analyze the service theologically and missionally and compare it with the coronation service of Charles’ Mother Queen Elizabeth II.
Is it in any way better theologically and where is it worse?
- Mark Earngey lectures in Church History at Sydney’s Moore Theological College.
- Sandy Grant is the Dean of Sydney. And today is leading three Sunday services at St Andrew’s Cathedral marking the coronation.
- Brett Murphy is Vicar in the parish of St David’s in Broom Leys in Leicestershire in the UK.”
See also:
The true significance of King Charles’ Coronation – Murray Campbell, who writes not only about the Coronation, but about Psalm 2, Nick Cave – and GAFCON.
Southern Cross, May – June 2023 now available
Posted on May 8, 2023
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The May – June 2023 issue of Southern Cross, the magazine of the Diocese of Sydney, is now available.
Copies can be picked up at local churches, and you can also download it here.
From Russell Powell:
“Southern Cross this month has all anyone needs to know about GAFCON IV, including the Archbishop writing on Why GAFCON matters, as well as
- We sing Getty hymns – now the foremost contemporary hymnwriter is visiting Sydney
- A Mother’s Day special – How my mother shaped my faith by Rachel Chin and Dave Jensen.
- An analysis of clergy stress and burnout.”
Bishop Stuart Bell interviewed on GB News
Posted on May 7, 2023
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The Anglican Network in Europe’s recently-consecrated Bishop Stuart Bell spoke with Calvin Robinson on GB News last weekend.
While both attended GAFCON IV, they have differing opinions on the way forward. Bishop Bell spoke of the impending collapse of the Church in Wales.
Sydney Anglicans celebrate the coronation with scones, DIY crowns, bowler hats and a sermon about tax
Posted on May 7, 2023
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“At Sydney’s main Anglican cathedral on Sunday morning, the signs of celebration for the King’s coronation were everywhere.
Men mingled outside in bowler hats and Union Jack clothing, children decorated crowns with stickers in the kids’ activity packs, and ushers served scones with jam and cream after the service. …”
– Report from The Sydney Morning Herald.
GAFCON IV and the revolution in world Anglicanism
Posted on May 4, 2023
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“Lambeth Palace needs to ‘wake up and smell the coffee.’ As an English Anglican, my experience at GAFCON was deeply sobering. The churches to which the vast majority of Anglicans belong feel completely betrayed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and by the Church of England as their mother church. …”
– Martin Davie writes at Christian Today.
Photo: GAFCON IV.
Key issues in scholarship on 1 Timothy 2:8–15
Posted on May 4, 2023
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“In the last few decades, there’s been an enormous amount of scholarship on the meaning and significance of 1 Timothy 2:8–15. The sheer range of interpretations can be bewildering, leading us to throw our arms in the air and declare that it’s all too hard, so we should all just do what is right in our own eyes.
This video is designed to help us to regain some clarity and perspective on the passage by giving a broad overview of the main issues. …”
– Lionel Windsor presented this seminar at the recent Priscilla & Aquila Centre conference at Moore College.
See also:
Claire Smith presented an elective on The household of God in 1 Timothy the next day at the inaugural P&A Research Conference, which is for women.
May 2023 edition of the North West Network
Posted on May 3, 2023
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The May 2023 edition of the North West Network is now available for you to download.
It’s a great way to be encouraged to pray for the people and churches of North West Australia.
A brief guide to the Coronation Service
Posted on May 3, 2023
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“The Coronation Service for each monarch is put together using set elements, some of which are legally required, and others that can modified or updated over time. The structure of the service draws on the Old Testament, and has developed over many centuries of use in England, and later the UK. The last significant overhaul, especially of the oaths, came for the coronation of William III and Mary II in 1689 …
At the coronation, he does not become king. Rather he is acknowledged as King, not by the state, but by the Church and in the eyes of God. The promises he makes are not that he will rule, but how he will rule. The service is a reminder throughout that he is only King by the will of God and with the consent of the people. He is not our ultimate authority, and he himself is subject to another king, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. …
It is notable that in the Proper Preface, Charles will be referred to as ‘the Defender of thy Faith’, not as he once hoped, ‘Defender of Faiths’.”
– At Church Society’s website, Ros Clarke provides some helpful background to the Coronation coming up this weekend.
See also the Liturgy to be used in the Coronation Service.
Image: Royal.uk.
David Livingstone brought the Gospel to my Country
Posted on May 2, 2023
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“David Livingstone (1813–73) is known as a missionary, explorer, and abolitionist.
He was the first missionary to bring the gospel to my beloved country, Malawi, in 1859…”
– Confex Makhalira gives thanks to God for David Livingstone on the 150th anniversary of his death. (At The Gospel Coalition.)
Photo: David Livingstone by Thomas Annan, 1864.
Bible Time with Pre-schoolers
Posted on May 2, 2023
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“I’m so thankful that my daughter is taught at pre-school by wonderfully experienced Christian teachers… so when a list of recommended Bible resources from one of those gifted and thoughtful teachers finds its way into your child’s book bag, it is something to be treasured!
I come back to this list every time I want to add to our library. Clearly, it’s far from exhaustive (there are so many good things out there) and seasoned pre-school teachers and parents will no doubt be familiar with a lot of these books, but I thought I’d share this treasured list here anyway, with a few of my own favourites added in along the way. …“
– Here’s some encouragement and practical help from Kirsten McKinlay at The Australian Church Record.
Trekking through Tanzania
Posted on May 1, 2023
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“On a trip to honour veteran CMS Missionary Helen Hoskins and to visit Sydney’s Anglican Aid projects, Archbishop Raffel is travelling through Tanzania.
Soon after the final session of GAFCON IV in nearby Rwanda, the Archbishop was on his way to a series of engagements in the Diocese of Mara. …”
– Story from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
GAFCON 101 – everything you need to know
Posted on May 1, 2023
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“I wrote this brief article last week for my church newsletter. It’s a basic primer on what GAFCON is, how it came about, what happened at Kigali and why it was necessary.…”
– Read here.
Photo: Bishop Glenn Davies at GAFCON IV in Kigali.