Happy 142nd birthday, Australian Church Record!

Posted on July 12, 2022
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“On the first of July, 1880 the ACR began. Its name back then was ‘The Church of England Record’.

Its very first article explains its object and purpose – and it’s remarkable that (1880s language conventions notwithstanding) it’s still the ‘vibe’ of the ACR, 142 years on. Note the references to ritualism, liberalism, mission, children’s and youth ministry, godliness of life, personal evangelism, etc. …”

– And you thought the Anglican Church League (founded c. 1909) was old.

Read about the ACR’s Object and Purpose as it was in 1880.

ACL Centenary Dinner Address, September 2009.

An open letter to the Archbishop of Brisbane

Posted on July 11, 2022
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In response to Archbishop Phillip Aspinall’s Address to the Brisbane Synod on 25th June 2022, The Rev. Peter Judge-Mears, the Rector of a parish in the diocese, has written an open letter –

“Dear Archbishop Phillip,

I wrestled hard with how I should respond to your Presidential Address last month. I remain grateful for your gracious invitation to address my concerns with you in person. However, I feel that the very public nature of your comments and the impact they have had on our Diocese demand an equally public response. …”

Read the full letter here (PDF file).

It would be good to pray for all involved.

And read Archbishop Aspinall’s Presidential Address here (PDF file).

Photo: Archbishop of Brisbane Phillip Aspinall.

Top Centre 22.2

Posted on July 11, 2022
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The latest issue of Top Centre, the magazine of the Diocese of the Northern Territory, is now available from their website.

It serves as a good reminder to pray for the churches and the progress of the gospel in the Northern Territory.

Phillip Jensen Podcast

Posted on July 9, 2022
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From PhillipJensen.com and Two Ways Ministries:

“This new podcast from Phillip features sermons, talks, and other resources which proclaim the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through teaching people the Bible. We exist to equip followers of Christ to apply a Biblical knowledge to their priorities and practice to live boldly and single-mindedly for Christ.”

Much food for thought. A very worthwhile way to spend some time.

There’s a new episode every week or so.

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts, and on the website.

Evangelism through making Christianity Strange

Posted on July 8, 2022
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“Is secularism all bad? Does it always have to mean an increasing hostility to Christianity and resistance to the gospel?

Maybe not. One possibility is that it might be (at least partly) a blessing in disguise. As Perth minister Rory Shiner put it a few years back:

People are so post-Christian that the gospel is fresh and interesting. They know so little that there’s less prejudice. And if they have an impression of Christians at all, it’s so outrageously negative that all you have to do is offer them a cup of tea and not punch them in the face, and you seem like Mother Theresa.

In The World Next Door: A Short Guide to the Christian faith, Shiner and Peter Orr (NT lecturer at Moore College) have turned this theory into a book; a book that celebrates the weirdness of Christianity; a book that aims to intrigue and surprise non-Christians as much as explain, challenge and persuade.”

– At The Australian Church Record, Andrew Moody introduces The World Next Door by Rory Shiner and Peter Orr.

The book is published by Matthias Media.

How do you find a good church?

Posted on July 8, 2022
Filed under Encouragement, Resources Comments Off on How do you find a good church?

In the latest Q&A video from Moore College, Lionel Windsor, Jane Tooher, Dan Wu, and Chase Kuhn talk about church. Good to share and to provoke discussion.

The trans culture wars vs lovingly pastoring gender incongruent church members – with Rob Smith

Posted on July 7, 2022
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At The Pastor’s Heart:

“Sydney Missionary and Bible College Doctrine Lecturer Rob Smith submits his PhD this week on ‘Identity and Embodiment’ asking ‘How significant is our embodiment to our identity? How significant are our bodies to our gender identity?

There’s a new Matt Walsh Daily Wire documentary ‘What is a woman?’ that is causing a stir across the world. We ask Rob ‘What is a woman?’ and for his review of the new Matt Walsh documentary. Plus how do we best care pastorally for the gender incongruent church member.

Dominic Steele chairs the Sydney Anglican pastoral ministry Living Faith. Rob is a member of the Living Faith Council. Living Faith’s ‘Developing Discipleship in Identity and Gender’ with Sam Allberry and Rob Smith is scheduled for Tuesday 2 August 2022. Register at http://www.livingfaith.online.”

– Watch or listen here. Very helpful.

More encouragement from Bathurst Diocese

Posted on July 6, 2022
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The Diocese of Bathurst – via its Facebook page – shares encouraging news and food for prayer –

Tim Smith, pictured with Jess and Annie Amelia, at left, and Jonny Lush, pictured with Liz, have been approved for ordination as deacons. The ordination service is planned for December.

“We are currently discerning where they may best serve the Lord in 2023, when 16/28 parishes without clergy will become 14/28!!”

At right: The Rev’d Ben Mackay will be ordained priest in the church of God on Saturday 16th July at 2pm, at St George’s Parkes.

What I learned from 35 years of running evangelistic courses

Posted on July 4, 2022
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“In the 1980s the thinking was that, given the reduced level of biblical literacy, non-believers needed more than a one-off presentation to properly appreciate the gospel. Perhaps in the 1950s, when non-believers still had a fairly good Bible knowledge, a one-off presentation could be effective. …

Things have moved on since the 1980s.”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Stephen Liggins points to the different context in which we share the gospel today – as well as some ideas which may help.

LAMBETH 1998: Diary from the Last True Lambeth Conference

Posted on July 3, 2022
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“This is the 24th anniversary of the historic 1998 Lambeth Conference, which is remembered for its Resolution I.10 on Human Sexuality.

I was present there, representing the American Anglican Council (AAC). In this capacity I filed a three-week ‘Diary’ of the Conference. I am posting this diary without revision, except for the final week.

Lambeth 1998 was the last Conference convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury to attempt to resolve anything of substance. The 2008 Lambeth Conference left behind a undigested glob of ‘indaba.’ The 2022 Conference promises much of the same with a series of indistinct trumpet ‘calls.’ It may be said that the Conference is already all over but the photo op, which no doubt is exactly what the planners intend.

The mantle of serious Anglican discourse has now passed to the Global Anglican Future Conferences, especially those in 2008 and 2018. …”

– The Rev Dr Stephen Noll has published his first hand account of Lambeth 1988 – what he calls “the last true Lambeth Conference”.

Fascinating and sobering. And thank God for GAFCON!

Biblical view of sex and gender “worthy of respect” after all

Posted on July 2, 2022
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“In a good development for religious freedom, the UK Employment Appeal Tribunal (‘EAT’) in its decision in Mackereth v Department for Work and Pensions & Anor [2022] EAT 99 (29 June 2022) has ruled that a Biblical view of human sex and gender is ‘worthy of respect’ and may be protected as a religious belief in an appropriate case.

Unfortunately for Dr Mackereth, the outcome of the appeal was that the way he had been treated by the relevant Department in response to his protected belief was a ‘proportionate’ and hence lawful action.

As I will explain below, I think this part of the ruling may be challenged. But it is good to see common sense on the issue of the status of his belief, which is one that would be shared by many people in the community. …”

– Associate Professor Neil Foster takes a look at a recent ruling in the United Kingdom – at Law and Religion Australia.

Two Reformed denominations make important moves to defend Biblical teaching on homosexuality

Posted on July 2, 2022
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“The summer is the season in general when Protestant denominations meet. They have their convocations, their house of delegates meeting. They have their annual convention, whatever it is, they come together. And there are major headlines that come out from at least some of America’s major denominations. …

One of them calls itself reformed, the Christian Reformed Church and the other one is the Presbyterian Church in America. … Both of them took very important actions to uphold a biblical understanding of sexuality. And in particular, to do so in the face of the LGBTQ challenge …”

– In his The Briefing for Thursday 30th June, Dr Albert Mohler looks at the significance of key decisions just made by two denominations in the USA. Essentially the same issues face Bible-believing denominations in Australia.

Listen, or read the transcript – Part III, 30 June 2022.

You don’t really know who your friends are until… – Tim Challies.

The Good Fight of Faith

Posted on July 1, 2022
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In the July–August 2022 issue of Southern Cross magazine Simon Manchester has an insightful interview with David and Bronwyn Short in Vancouver.

They share something of the battles for the truth of God’s Word, and the cost of doing so.

Do take the time to read it all (pages 24-26), and continue to uphold in prayer the Shorts, St. John’s Vancouver, and all of the Anglican Network in Canada.

Simon mentions the recent book The Anglican Church in Canada. Read more about it here.

Long-time readers will be well aware of events in Canada the last twenty years. David’s 2004 article “Are we stronger than He?” is a good place to start.