Getting to know the incoming Archbishop of Sydney

Posted on May 6, 2021 
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Many will know Kanishka Raffel, who was elected as Archbishop of Sydney at the special session of Sydney Synod this week.

If you don’t know Kanishka, here is some background provided by his nominators:

“Kanishka Raffel is currently the Dean of Sydney, serving at St Andrew’s Cathedral.

He has been married to Cailey for 32 years, and they have two adult daughters.

Born in London of Sri Lankan parents, he arrived in Australia as a 7-year-old. His father died soon after the family arrived in Australia and his mother and siblings moved back to Sri Lanka for a couple of years before returning to Australia when Kanishka was 9.

Raised a Buddhist, a friend gave Kanishka a copy of two Gospels when he was at University. At the age of 21, Kanishka was convicted by the inescapable words of Jesus in John’s Gospel: ‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day’ (John 6:44). This personal experience has not only meant that Kanishka is passionate about spreading the Good News but it also means that he happily rests on the unchanging truth that God brings people to himself through his Son.”

Here a selection of links (some of them thanks to the above website) to help you get to know Kanishka:

The Dean’s Story – interview with Rachael Kohn on ABC Radio National, February 2016. Audio file here.

Interview with Noel Debean on ABC Radio Religion and Ethics, March 2016.

A very surprised Christian – Kanishka’s journey from Buddhism to Christ, in his own word, May 2018.

Do not lose heart – Preaching Matters, St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, February 2015.

Good News from the Other Side — Dean of Sydney’s Easter Day sermon 2020.

Speaking about Love on Good Friday, March 2016.

Unexpected Beauty: The Enduring Comfort of Christian Fellowship, March 2021.

A selection of articles on The Gospel Coalition website

Guest appearance on The Drum, ABC TV, October 2019 – esp. see from 43:39.

‘Leading from the pulpit’, Village Church Annadale, 2018.

A sermon on John 6:49-69 (I am the bread of life) at MBM Rooty Hill, March 2019.

Please uphold in prayer Kanishka and Cailey with the many changes coming for them both, and pray that they will continue to delight in knowing and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Photo: Courtesy Kanishka’s nominators.

“Like every Christian, I gladly trust in Jesus.” — Kanishka Raffel elected Archbishop of Sydney

Posted on May 6, 2021 
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“The Dean of Sydney, the Very Reverend Kanishka Raffel, has been elected as Archbishop of Sydney, the first person from a non-European background to hold the position.

He’s the 13th leader of the Anglican Church in Sydney since Bishop Broughton was first appointed in 1836.

‘I’m humbled and somewhat daunted by the responsibility given me by the Synod,’ Archbishop-elect Raffel said. ‘We believe that the Lord works through his people — both in making this decision and in enabling the Archbishop to fulfil his role. Like every Christian, I gladly trust in Jesus.’

Mr Raffel has been the Dean of Sydney for six years, previously leading a large Anglican church in Perth for 16 years. …”

– Read the full report from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net

Image via Anglican Media Sydney.

Election update: One name through

Posted on May 6, 2021 
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From SydneyAnglicans.net:

“At midday on Thursday May 6, the Diocesan Secretary announced the result of the second vote taken at the Archbishop Election Synod on Wednesday night.

Delegates met at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour and considered Dean Kanishka Raffel and Bishop Michael Stead, the two names left after the first round of voting.

Only one nominee proceeded to the final select list, Dean Kanishka Raffel. (see the announcement of voting here)

The Election Synod will vote tonight on whether to invite the Dean to be the next Archbishop of Sydney.”

– Source.

Also, the snap COVID restrictions in Sydney, beginning at 5:00pm, will mean that Synod members will need to wear masks indoors for the final session where the motion will be put that ‘That (A.B) be invited to be Archbishop of Sydney’ (where A.B. will be Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel).

The Equality Act and the future of Religious Freedom in the USA

Posted on May 6, 2021 
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“For the past few months, American Christian commentators have watched the Equality Act (Amendment HR5) make its way through Congress.

The Act presents a serious challenge to religious freedom and directly affects the rights of Christians and other religious worshippers to express beliefs that may be contradictory to the cultural zeitgeist and are deemed discriminatory. …”

– At The American Anglican Council, Canon Phil Ashey outlines some of the challenges coming for Christians in his country – and doubtless in many other places as well.

Two names proceed to Select List in Archbishop’s election Synod

Posted on May 5, 2021 
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According to this Report to the President of the Synod, after last night’s vote in the special session of the Synod, two names have proceeded to the Select List. They are:

Dean of Sydney Kanishka Raffel and
Bishop of South Sydney Michael Stead.

Please uphold these men in prayer, as well as the Synod in its continued deliberations this evening.

Click the image above for all documents relating to the Synod.

Previously: Continued prayers urged for Nominees for Archbishop of Sydney.

Photo of the well-spaced Synod meeting courtesy SydneyAnglicnas.net.

And so it begins — Archbishop of Sydney Election Synod

Posted on May 4, 2021 
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“The four nominees for the election of the next Archbishop of Sydney sat quietly in the public gallery as the Election Synod got underway.

The first session, which was the only session open to the public, included a Bible study by the Reverend Simon Manchester and an address by the Synod President, Bishop Peter Lin. …”

– At SydneyAnglicans.net Russell Powell reports on the start of the Election Synod.

Your prayers for each of the men pictured above, and for the election process, would be greatly valued.

The future is face-to-face

Posted on May 3, 2021 
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“As a COVID-shortened Synod opened in Sydney and the delegates prepare to elect a new Archbishop, the Administrator, Bishop Peter Hayward has covered plenty of ground in his Presidential Address.

The one day Synod – postponed from October last year – got underway on Monday, May 3, at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour – a venue suitable for the more than 600 delegates to meet with COVID-safe practices.

Bishop Hayward, who is the Administrator until a new Archbishop is inaugurated, gave the traditional Synod report …”

– Read Russell Powell’s report on the one-day Sydney Synod, and please continue in prayer for the Election Synod beginning tomorrow.

What Can we Learn Today from the Preaching of John Stott?

Posted on May 3, 2021 
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“John Stott visited Australia in January 1965, and this visit, one of many, had a profound effect on Australian preaching.

Stott gave Bible studies on 2 Corinthians at the Anglican Church Missionary Society Summer Schools in several states in Australia. Much Australian preaching at that time was on ‘a text’, that is, on an individual verse from the Bible, often without much regard to its context.

In his Bible studies John Stott was demonstrating the obvious value of preaching from passages of Scripture, and from consecutive passages of Scripture. His example had a profound impact on Australian preaching, initially transforming preaching in Anglican churches, but soon also in other churches as well. …

Under God, he was part of a revival of systematic expository preaching in the UK in the 20th Century, which was achieved through Willie Still in Aberdeen, and Martin Lloyd-Jones, John Stott and Dick Lucas in London, and has spread around the world.”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Peter Adam’s article is an encouragement for preachers and their hearers.

Image: An interview with Peter Adam at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.

Outreach in Parkes

Posted on May 2, 2021 
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“‘Why is there so much suffering?’ That is the question that popular Christian author and apologist, Kevin Simington, will be addressing in a seminar at St George’s Anglican Church on Wednesday, May 5 at 7.15pm.

Kevin is conducting a short-term ministry at St George’s during May and June as part of his position as Ministry Consultant within the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst. …”

– The Parkes Champion-Post has news about seminars to be run by Kevin Simington, who was ordained at Bathurst Cathedral last weekend.

In other news from Bathurst, Bishop Mark Calder is seeking financial support for a lay stipendiary worker in the parish of Blayney.

All this is a great reminder to pray for people across Bathurst Diocese to hear the amazingly good news about Jesus.

Police arrest London preacher for saying what the Bible says about marriage

Posted on May 2, 2021 
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“Pastor John Sherwood was arrested in North West London on Friday 23 April 2021 and detained overnight – all for speaking about what the Bible says about marriage.

John, in his early 70s, is minister of a north London church, and was preaching with a colleague in the centre of Uxbridge on Friday, as he regularly does. After speaking on the final verses in Genesis 1, where it says that God created mankind in his own image, creating them male and female, a number of police officers appeared on the scene. …”

– Story from Christian Concern.

See an eyewitness account at The Conservative Woman.

Primates Council Communique, April 2021

Posted on May 1, 2021 
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PRIMATES COUNCIL COMMUNIQUE 29 April 2021

The Gafcon Primates Council met on 21 & 22 April 2021 via Zoom.

We are thankful to God for the time we were able to spend together in discussing global and provincial matters especially mindful of those facing persecution for their Faith, the Covid- 19 pandemic and its challenges to health systems, economies, and the worship of Almighty God.

Our General Secretary, Archbishop Ben Kwashi, was with us for the duration of the Council’s meeting. Archbishop Ben’s clear gospel focus for Gafcon and the Diocese of Jos was evident each time he spoke. We are thankful to God for the medical treatment and the breadth of hospitality he has received in the USA over the past 6 months. His treatment is coming to an end and indications are the chemotherapy has stemmed the cancer in his body. Thank you to all who have prayed and supported Archbishop Ben and Mama Gloria through this difficult time.

Despite the effects of COVID affecting every region, there was overwhelming gratitude to God for the ongoing faithful proclamation of the Gospel. While church buildings may have been closed, congregations learned new skills and met virtually. This has resulted in lives being committed to Christ, discipleship being undertaken, new churches planted, baptisms, confirmations, ordinations and consecrations all being conducted in a COVID-safe environment. We praise God for the work of His Spirit in building His church.

Following a decision in 2020 to reconstitute the Missionary District in Europe, the Council was delighted to hear of the renewed ministry to the region with the launch of the Anglican Network in Europe with its two convocations-in-formation, the Anglican Mission in England and the Anglican Convocation in Europe. The work of the Holy Spirit was evident in bringing the Network together in such a short time with the need for separate constitutions and canons for each entity.

The Gafcon Branch in the UK has increased its vision as a result of requests for support from further afield than England, Scotland and Wales. This has resulted in the renaming of the branch to Gafcon GB & Europe, reflecting the breadth of its reach.

Within Anglicanism the revisionist agenda continues to be pushed globally and we have seen an increase in the number of requests for affiliation with Gafcon. The General Secretary and Regional Secretaries seek the best outcome for each request to provide God’s children with biblical teaching and pastoral care that is faithful and obedient to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Networks continue to draw together like-minded Anglican organisations in the Provinces and Branches. We were particularly encouraged by the progress being made in the Theological Education Network and the Church Planting Network.

We established working groups to thoroughly examine a number of current issues facing the communion and look forward to the results of their deliberations.

While our financial situation has suffered during the pandemic, our constituents were encouraged to provide the funding to ensure the mandate given to the Primates Council continues. A generous donor has provided a “matching grant” to match regular new donors and we encourage supporters to take advantage of this generous offer. We are hopeful for a fruitful result of our annual Gafcon Sunday scheduled for 27 June.

Gafcon continues to be focused on proclaiming Christ faithfully to the nations, covered with prayer, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, so that revival breaks out and people turn to living righteous lives to the glory of God.

Archbishop Foley Beach Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council

and

Archbishop Ben Kwashi, General Secretary Gafcon.

Source.

Australian Church Record Journal for Autumn 2021

Posted on April 30, 2021 
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The latest Australian Church Record Journal (for Autumn 2021) has been posted on their website.

This issue focusses on topics relating to the election of the next Archbishop of Sydney.

(Note that the ACL does not have a preferred nominee but encourages continued prayer for the Election Synod and each of the Nominees.)

Engaging Preaching

Posted on April 30, 2021 
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“In his substantial biography of J.I. Packer, Leland Ryken interviews Dr. Packer regarding his literary and spoken style and rhetoric:

Did Packer consciously cultivate the stylistic and rhetorical strategies that I have explored?

I asked him that question and he said yes. He followed that affirmation with the explanation, “One of the things I am is a communicator”.

Ryken highlights Packer’s anticipation of questions in his hearers, ‘but someone will say’, or, ‘but wait a minute’, or ‘you may still be wondering’, all of which serve clarity…”

– At The Expository Preaching Trust, David Cook shares encouragement for preachers.

Anglican Aid’s India COVID-19 Emergency Appeal

Posted on April 29, 2021 
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“Anglican Aid is responding to the COVID-19 crisis in India by supporting Herbertpur Christian Hospital with essential supplies and equipment.

We have received urgent requests for help to provide equipment like ventilators, monitors, PPE (personal protective equipment) kits, and food for the COVID patients.

The hospital is being overwhelmed with cases after being designated a COVID hospital in response to the crisis. They currently have a total of 30 beds for COVID treatment and are working to bring that number up to 50. The hospital services an area with a population of 2 million people, serving anyone regardless of race, caste, creed, or religion.

It is the only COVID hospital in a 20km radius. …”

– Read more from Anglican Aid (Diocese of Sydney) and help as you are able.

Photo: Herbertpur Christian Hospital COVID beds, via Anglican Aid.

Love and Gospel in the Time of Corona

Posted on April 29, 2021 
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“A bishop once said: ‘Everywhere St Paul went there was a riot; everywhere I go they serve tea.’ Our lives can get very comfortable, all too easily. Everything is predictable and orderly and follows a set pattern with little disturbance. That is how it is until God steps in. We often say that God is in control, but we lose sight of the fact that he doesn’t place at the top of his agenda that everyone should live comfortably and happily. …”

– On the website of George Whitefield College in Capetown, Principal Dr Mark Dickson observes that “the illness that has swept away millions and wreaked economic havoc is God’s reminder that this world cannot be all that there is”.

Read his article and watch the moving video.

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