Archbishop of Canterbury: an arresting admission

Posted on October 25, 2024 
Filed under Church of England, Culture wars Comments Off on Archbishop of Canterbury: an arresting admission

From The Church of England Evangelical Council:

“In a staggering set of statements recorded by The Rest is Politics podcast, the Archbishop of Canterbury has laid his cards on the table with regards to sexual ethics in the Church of England.

In a wide-ranging interview where the Archbishop of Canterbury courageously discusses his own struggles with mental health, his upbringing, and his view on religion and politics, among other things, he also publicly admitted:

“What the Archbishop of York and I, and the bishops, by a majority, by no means unanimous…Where we’ve come to is to say that all sexual activity should be within a committed relationship and whether it’s straight or gay.”

Provoking widespread disbelief, the Archbishop of Canterbury has used this interview to indicate his view that:

– Read Dr Andrew Goddard’s post here.

Latest letter from The Alliance

Posted on October 24, 2024 
Filed under Church of England Comments Off on Latest letter from The Alliance

On Tuesday, The Alliance sent this letter to the House of Bishops of the Church of England, prior to their meeting yesterday:

“Dear Archbishops and Bishops,

Thank you so much for the generous invitation to pre circulate a letter to the House of Bishops ahead of your meeting on Wednesday.

We continue to lament the pastoral pain and division the current LLF debate and its subsequent direction of travel is causing to the fabric of the Church of England at a local, national and global level, and at deep personal cost to many on all sides of the debate.

We gratefully welcome this opportunity to communicate the scale of pain and confusion felt by those we represent while seeking to bring clarity about who the Alliance represents and what we are prayerfully seeking to achieve for the sake of the future flourishing of the whole church in our nation. We humbly appeal to each of you to seek to understand us and, in your episcopal leadership as focal points of Christ’s unity, to find a way to support those we represent. …”

– Read the full letter here on The Alliance website.

Archbishop Steve Wood on where the ACNA has been, and where it’s headed

Posted on October 24, 2024 
Filed under ACNA, People Comments Off on Archbishop Steve Wood on where the ACNA has been, and where it’s headed

“Before he was elected as the third archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, Steve Wood was one of the earliest COVID-19 patients in the United States, placed on a ventilator for 10 days in March 2020.

Two years earlier, as bishop of the Carolinas and rector of St. Andrew’s Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Wood watched as his church building was engulfed in a fire.

‘I wouldn’t trade any of those experiences for where I am right now, because God has been so extraordinarily gracious to me through every one of them,’ said Wood. …”

– Religion News Service speaks with ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood.

Photo: ACNA.

Does the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship have a Better Story?

Posted on October 24, 2024 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Opinion Comments Off on Does the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship have a Better Story?

“The Alliance for Responsible Citizenship is a new and impressive organisation which in its own words is ‘an international community with a vision for a better world where every citizen can prosper, contribute and flourish’. A key member, Os Guinness, argues that we are at a ‘civilisational moment’ in the Western world, and that we need to act, not despair.

It was with some degree of anticipation that I, and 700 other delegates, attended their first Australian conference. …

I loved the whole day – and as I write this on the train home to Newcastle – I am deeply thankful to the Lord for such an inspiring time and the leadership provided by John Anderson and Philippa Stroud. The aim of the day was to tell a better story – or rather to encourage us to tell a better story. Did it succeed? Yes and no. …

– At AP, David Roberston shares his thoughts.

Reaching doubters and sceptics in Cambridge

Posted on October 24, 2024 
Filed under GAFCON Comments Off on Reaching doubters and sceptics in Cambridge

At The Anglican Convocation in Europe, the Rev. Andrew Fellows writes:

“Three years ago, we began as Panton Street Church, a small group dedicated to creating a welcoming space for honest questions. We felt called to the mission of reaching doubters and sceptics in Cambridge with the truth of the gospel. We also felt the growing need to deepen our discipleship by bringing the Bible into a conversation with cultural trends. We are so grateful to the Lord for the joy of seeing people come to faith, and young Christians growing in the faith. …”

– Read it all here.

North Sydney Rector speaks about meeting the King and Queen

Posted on October 23, 2024 
Filed under People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on North Sydney Rector speaks about meeting the King and Queen

St. Thomas’ North Sydney Rector Mickey Mantle was interviewed by Matthew Pantelis on 5AA Adelaide earlier this week. He took the opportunity to share the good news.

Related:

Mr Eternity: The Story of Arthur Stace, launched in Sydney – November 2017.

Link thanks to SydneyAnglicans.net.
Image: Mickey Mantle at St. Thomas’ on 20 October 2024.

Archbishop of Perth approves changes to Faithfulness in Service

Posted on October 23, 2024 
Filed under Australian dioceses, Culture wars Comments Off on Archbishop of Perth approves changes to Faithfulness in Service

“The Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, has written to members of the diocesan synod to confirm that she has assented to the motion passed earlier this month to approve changes Faithfulness in Service that effectively approve of extra-marital sexual activity.

In her letter she sets our her argument…”

– David Ould has the details.

Photo: Diocese of Perth.

Church Society Podcast: Tim Chester on Psalms

Posted on October 23, 2024 
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on Church Society Podcast: Tim Chester on Psalms

“Tim Chester gives an introduction to his new Hodder Commentary on Psalms 42–89. He talks about praying, and singing the Psalms as Christians and how we don’t do it nearly enough. Also other insights into the purpose and shape of these central Psalms and how they point to Christ.”

– Listen here.

David Moore on Ministry teams: Are they worth the pain?

Posted on October 23, 2024 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on David Moore on Ministry teams: Are they worth the pain?

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“How to best structure ministry teams in your church? And how to equip your team leaders for joyful service?

Team leaders do the bulk of their ministry in between events not at events.

How can someone become a more fruitful team leader?

Why all conversations with your team fit into four categories – and how most team leaders get this wrong.

David Moore is the executive pastor of Hunter Bible Church in Newcastle, New South Wales.

He has written a new book, The Team Leader’s Handbook, which will be widely read by churches and ministry teams all around.”

– Watch or listen here.

A Tamworth ministry to the local Indigenous community

Posted on October 22, 2024 
Filed under Australian dioceses, Encouragement Comments Off on A Tamworth ministry to the local Indigenous community

“In West Tamworth, there is palpable excitement in Glen Street on Wednesdays. Children finish school and go straight to Aunty Lucy Gibbs’ place where they wait for Frontyard Church to begin, filling in the time by running around or jumping on the trampoline.

In the late afternoon, about a dozen people arrive from St Peter’s, South Tamworth, spending the next half hour in the vacant block next door unpacking a shipping container full of chairs, tables and lights, plus a sound system and the all-important barbecues. …”

– SydneyAnglicans.net relays this encouraging story from the Diocese of Armidale.

Sheltering families in north Lebanon

Posted on October 21, 2024 
Filed under Sydney Diocese, World news Comments Off on Sheltering families in north Lebanon

From Anglican Aid (Sydney):

“Over the last month, many families from the conflict zone in south Lebanon have moved north, seeking safety. Believing that the Christians there would help them, some have sought help from Anglican Aid’s long-term partner, Good Shepherd School. In response, the school is now sheltering some of these displaced families.

Directors of Good Shepherd School, Reem and Emil Bourizk, have also taken some families into their home alongside their own children.

They told us yesterday that bombardments in their area early this week have brought the conflict very close to home. …”

– Read more, watch their video, pray, and support Good Shepherd School if you are able.

John Newton to William Wilberforce, 15th November 1786

Posted on October 21, 2024 
Filed under Australia, Good News, History Comments Off on John Newton to William Wilberforce, 15th November 1786

At St. Thomas’ North Sydney yesterday, King Charles and Queen Camilla signed the The First Fleet Bible and the Book of Common Prayer which were carried here by the Rev. Richard Johnson, the first Chaplain to the Colony. Those books are tangible reminders of the commitment of Johnson and those who sent him to bring Good News to these distant shores.

Not long before the Fleet sailed, John Newton wrote to his friend William Wilberforce of their hopes in sending a Chaplain –

“Who can tell what important consequences may depend upon Mr Johnson’s going to New Hollands! It may seem but a small event at present. So a foundation stone, when laid, is small compared with the building to be erected upon it; but it is the beginning and the earnest of the whole.

This small beginning, may be like the dawn, which advances to a bright day, and lead on to the happy time, when many nations, which now sit in darkness, and in the region of the shadow of death, shall rejoice in the light of the Sun of Righteousness.” [Referring to Isaiah 9:2 and Malachi 4:2.]

– From a letter from John Newton to William Wilberforce, 15 November 1786.

(With thanks to Marylynn Rouse – who has more here – at The John Newton Project.)

Video screenshot with thanks to St. Thomas’ North Sydney.

Guess who’s coming to church

Posted on October 20, 2024 
Filed under People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Guess who’s coming to church

“The congregation of St Thomas’ North Sydney was told only the day before that they would have the King and Queen as special guests for the Sunday morning family service.

Strict security had to be in place for the opening official engagement of King Charles’ first visit to Australia as King.

‘We really hope and pray that he recovers well and what he hears in the service will be of great encouragement and meaning to him,’ said the rector, the Rev Micky Mantle, as he prepared for the service. …”

– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.

You can read the text of Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s sermon here. (PDF file.)

Video of the full service can be seen here (link to the arrival of the King and Queen).

Cannon Phil Ashey elected Bishop of Diocese of Western Anglicans

Posted on October 20, 2024 
Filed under People Comments Off on Cannon Phil Ashey elected Bishop of Diocese of Western Anglicans

“On Saturday, October 19, 2024, the Synod of the Diocese of Western Anglicans elected the Rev. Canon Phil Ashey to be the next bishop of the diocese.

Canon Phil Ashey is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Anglican Council (AAC). Phil grew up in a Christian family and gave his life to Christ in 1968. A graduate of Stanford and Loyola Law School, he served as a Deputy DA in Orange County California. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1988 and spent twenty years leading Episcopal and Anglican congregations of all sizes in California, Virginia, and Pittsburgh—thirteen as a Rector and Church planter, and seven as a Senior Associate. Phil’s focus and passion is to develop biblically-faithful leaders at all levels of the Church—both here in North America and across the Anglican Communion. …”

– News from The American Anglican Council.

The Greatest event in Human History — Dave Jensen on John 19:16-30

Posted on October 20, 2024 
Filed under Good News Comments Off on The Greatest event in Human History — Dave Jensen on John 19:16-30

Dave Jensen spoke at the lunch hour service at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London on Tuesday (15th October 2024).

“Dave discusses the greatest event in human history and how it impacts each one of us.”

His topic: ‘It is Finished’ – and John 19:16-30.

An excellent message to share with your friends.

– Watch or listen.

← Previous Page — Next Page →