Down Under Theology podcast

Posted on February 9, 2022 
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on Down Under Theology podcast

“Down Under Theology” is a relatively new podcast featuring two lecturers from Christ College at Burwood.

In Season 1 they explored the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Season 2 has just begun and sees them walking through each book of the Bible, “bringing out the big ideas, themes, and implications for the life and mission of the church”.

Worth checking out. Listen here.

The power of forgiveness

Posted on February 9, 2022 
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“Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has thanked the Abdallah family for activating a community conversation about forgiveness, on the second i4Give day.

A service at The King’s School chapel was packed on Sunday, February 6, as members of the school communities of King’s and Tara, local residents and dignitaries, including the Prime Minister and Premier, joined the Abdallah and Sakr families in celebrating the power of forgiveness. …”

– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Government amendments to Religious Discrimination bills

Posted on February 9, 2022 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Government amendments to Religious Discrimination bills

“Debate in the House of Representatives in the Federal Parliament resumed today on the package of bills dealing with religious discrimination. …

The second reading debate continues on Wednesday, I think, but the government has now released two sets of amendments it will be making to the bills. …”

– Assoc Professor Neil Foster posted this update late last night (8th February 2022) at Law and Religion Australia.

Image: Diocese of Sydney.

A small step forward for religious freedom – with Bishop Michael Stead

Posted on February 8, 2022 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Opinion Comments Off on A small step forward for religious freedom – with Bishop Michael Stead

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“Religious Freedom will be debated in the Australian Parliament this week.

Two parliamentary reports were released late on Friday afternoon. MP’s and Senators have spent the weekend reading them.

The reports show the Coalition and Labor broadly in support of introducing improved protections for people of Faith.

The reports recommendations are set to go to the party rooms on Tuesday morning, and the House of Representatives as early as Tuesday afternoon.

Anglican Bishop Michael Stead is the new chair of Freedom for Faith.”

– Watch or listen at The Pastor’s Heart.

And please pray about the expected vote this afternoon (Tuesday 8th February).

See also:

Submission to the Senate Legal Affairs Committee on the Religious Discrimination Bill – Freedom for Faith.

Men Meeting the Challenge conference online Saturday 26th March 2022

Posted on February 8, 2022 
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The organisers of the Men Meeting the Challenge conference on Saturday 26th March 2022 have announced that this year it will be online.

“The aim of this conference is to allow God’s mighty word to transform men from the inside out as we hear the Bible taught. Our prayer and our goal is to see men equipped for the service of God, his people and the world through knowing Jesus and understanding what it is to be a man who belongs to Him in this world. Our desire is for men to know and to proclaim the true gospel message that is faithfully recorded in the Scriptures.”

See the details and register at menforchrist.asn.au.

Parliamentary reports recommend passage of Religious Discrimination Bills

Posted on February 7, 2022 
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“Two committees of the Australian Federal Parliament examining proposed legislation on religious discrimination handed down their reports on Friday 4 February, 2022. Both committees recommended that the Bills introduced in November 2021 be passed by the Parliament, with some minor amendments. The report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (“PJCHR”) can be found here, and that of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee can be found here. …”

– Neil Foster posts the latest developments in the Religious Discrimination Bills.

Moderator of the Church of Pakistan calls for prayer following attack

Posted on February 7, 2022 
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The Moderator of the Church of Pakistan calls for prayer after last week’s attack on two Anglican pastors in Peshawar.

Anglican Mainstream is hosting a short video asking for your prayers.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Posted on February 6, 2022 
Filed under History, People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Today marks 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II acceeded to the throne, on the death of her father King George VI.

Her Majesty has gone on to reign longer than any other British Monarch in history, and to become a beloved figure around the world – one who is unashamed to speak of the Lord Jesus.

Whatever your view of the British Monarchy, do be encouraged to pray for her, and to give thanks for her long, stable reign. As the Apostle Paul exhorts us,

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-6.

Photo:

Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with Bishop Jack Dain outside St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, on 13 March 1977. Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane is at the Queen’s side, and Bishop John Reid is at centre. At right, Dean of the Cathedral, Lance Shilton, stands with Prince Philip. Photo courtesy Ramon Williams.

In his biography of Archbishop Loane, “From Strength to Strength”, ACL Emeritus Vice-President Allan M. Blanch writes, on page 317,

At a special cathedral service on 13 March, the Archbishop preached from Revelation 21 about the City of God. He referred to Augustine of North Africa who, in the fifth century, ‘with the destroyers rapidly approaching the city … gave himself to contemplation of the City of God’.

Loane spoke of the citizens of that heavenly city: ‘They will suffer neither from poverty nor misery, from pain nor vice, from sorrow nor crying … There will be no room for a permissive society, or an alternate culture, or a wealthy elite, or a down-trodden minority; there will be no place for political intrigue, or public wrangling, or partisan interests, or power struggles’.

He concluded by saying, ‘Therefore let us pray that the Silver Jubilee of an earthly reign will enlarge our vision of all that lies beyond the frontiers of earth and time, and will strengthen our resolve to live our lives for the glory of Jesus Himself who reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords for ever and ever. Amen.’ [Emphasis added.]

St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney is marking the anniversary at its services today.

Australian pastor explains draconian Victorian conversion therapy ban

Posted on February 6, 2022 
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“An Australian pastor has warned UK Christians what to expect if the Government’s proposed conversion therapy ban resembles the one coming into force later this month in the state of Victoria.

Speaking to The Christian Institute, Murray Campbell, Lead Pastor at Mentone Baptist Church in Melbourne, said that under the ban, prayers and conversations on issues of gender and sexuality will be prohibited if they are perceived as an attempt to change or suppress someone’s sexuality or gender identity, even if they are consensual. …”

– See Murray Campbell’s interview with The Christian Institute in the UK.

Pastoral video from the Bishop of Bathurst, 5th February 2022

Posted on February 5, 2022 
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The Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has today released this Pastoral Video.

The planned diocesan Synod has not been able to take place, due to COVID, so this partly replaces what Bishop Calder had hoped to say at the meeting, however it will be of wider interest and encouragement.

The video includes an interview with Archbishop Kanishka Raffel who was to have spoken at the Bathurst Synod – plus lots of great news from around the Diocese of Bathurst.

Watch here and share widely.

Three Reasons to Read the Letters of John Newton

Posted on February 5, 2022 
Filed under Encouragement, Resources Comments Off on Three Reasons to Read the Letters of John Newton

“Over the course of 2021, I slowly worked my way through Letters of John Newton. Some of us may know that name, and if not the name, most of us will know the lyrics he penned in the song Amazing Grace. 

As the near year begins, I would like to encourage you to read the Letters of John Newton. Here are three reasons I would commend the letters of this brother of old to you. …”

– Here’s some encouragement from Sean Sheeran at The Gospel Coalition, Canadian edition.

Related: The John Newton Project.

Advance Australia Fair?

Posted on February 4, 2022 
Filed under Australia, Opinion Comments Off on Advance Australia Fair?

“Watching the Australia Day celebrations whilst on holiday was much more interesting and revealing than I had anticipated. Normally I am bored to tears by these kinds of events however I have to say that I was impressed, and I learned a great deal. It was like a cross between the BBC’s Children in Need, celebrating the good that charities and volunteers do, and BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay show – a bit kitsch and cliched, but nonetheless something that makes you glad to be Scottish – or in this case, Australian.

The wonderful work done by Australians throughout the country was highlighted and the music was… not bad.The fireworks and setting in Sydney harbour (as well as the 12 Apostles and other spectacular Aussie scenery) made one thankful to be an Australian – or in the case of yours truly – a guest in this wonderful country.

But the whole show also revealed something deeply disturbing. …”

– Sometimes it takes a visitor to our country to point out what we might otherwise miss. David Robertson writes at AP.

‘Red light’ ministry conversations – the who, when and how?

Posted on February 3, 2022 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on ‘Red light’ ministry conversations – the who, when and how?

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“How to have the hard conversation with someone who is enthusiastic about why they shouldn’t go into professional Christian ministry?

How do you make the decision to raise a ‘Red light’ or an ‘Orange light’?”

– Paul Grimmond and Rowan Kemp discuss with Dominic Steele questions of discernment and wisdom.

New year, old virus, eternal home

Posted on February 2, 2022 
Filed under Encouragement, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on New year, old virus, eternal home

“The new year has arrived, but the pandemic is not going away anytime soon. The ABC’s Dr Norman Swan has suggested that new variants are virtually certain and they may be more severe than any of the variants we have experienced so far.

For many, the summer break was disrupted by needing to isolate as a close contact, or by testing positive for the virus. Some experienced severe symptoms and others required hospitalisation. We should not neglect to remember that many have died and many have been left behind to grieve. Families are also bracing themselves for the possibility of further disruption to schooling.

In such challenging circumstances, how should Christians approach a new year? …”

– Encouragement from Archbishop Kanishka Raffel.

(Also published in Southern Cross, February 2022.)

Religious school tells parents it will apply its religious beliefs

Posted on February 1, 2022 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Religious school tells parents it will apply its religious beliefs

“The above heading doesn’t sound very exciting, does it? Isn’t that what one would expect, that a school set up to educate students in a particular religious view would apply those beliefs in its practices? But the press in Australia sees it differently, apparently.

‘School rules: Brisbane college expects students to denounce homosexuality’ is the way that the Sydney Morning Herald puts it (Jan 31). Citipointe Christian College has sent a letter to parents spelling out its views on a number of issues, letting them know that the College expects students and parents to be aware of these views if students are to be sent there.

Here I will comment on whether the College is legally justified in so doing. …”

– Neil Foster writes at Law and Religion Australia.

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