A reminder to pray for those in authority

Posted on January 21, 2025 
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As we think of Australian leaders responding to anti-Semitism, or the new Administration in the USA, it’s good to remember these words from 1 Timothy 2:1-4:

“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.” – ESV.

Related: Dr Albert Mohler shares his take on the events of the Inauguration early today Australian time. (Link corrected.)

Action on anti-semitism

Posted on January 21, 2025 
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“Archbishop Kanishka Raffel and the Bishop of South Sydney, Michael Stead, have held consultations with Jewish and other faith leaders, as well as Government, as anti-semitism reaches a new level.

Firebombing of cars, graffiti hate attacks on homes and synagogues in Sydney’s east, and now the arson attack on a preschool in Maroubra, have created fear in Jewish communities. …”

– Story from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Image: The burnt-out Maroubra childcare centre (photo by Judy Adamson)

“100 Ministry Stories from Moore College” — Chenny Thie

Posted on January 20, 2025 
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“Chenny Thie serves with CMS in Japan, sharing the gospel with university students in Tokyo. Moore College equipped her to confidently handle God’s Word, enabling her to teach students how to read and understand the Bible for themselves and share it with others. She treasures the fellowship and shared learning she experienced at Moore, which continues to shape her ministry today.”

– Moore College’s “100 Ministry Stories” continues with Chenny Thie, serving in Japan.

James Boardman commissioned at Kelso

Posted on January 19, 2025 
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From the Diocese of Bathurst Facebook page:

“In the presence of Diocesan and other clergy, along with representatives of BCA partner churches, the Rev’d James Boardman was commissioned as Priest-in-Charge of the parish of Kelso yesterday. Charly and the children were warmly welcomed and took part in the service. We are so thankful for the support of BCA, without which, James could not serve full-time.”

Food for your prayers.

Related: Bush Church Aid.

Bishop of Chelmsford front-runner for Archbishop of Canterbury after Dover rules herself out

Posted on January 19, 2025 
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“Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Iranian-born Bishop of Chelmsford, is now emerging as the front-runner to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury after the Bishop of Dover, Rose Hudson-Wilkin, ruled herself out in a television interview last week. …”

– Julian Mann writes at Anglican Mainstream.

Photo from the Diocese of Chelmsford, where you can also read the Christmas 2024 sermon from Bishop Francis-Dehqani:

“we must be willing to see through the eyes of the child who was born in that stable, whose mother had sung of the proud being scattered, the mighty being cast down and the lowly lifted high, and who grew into the man who eschewed worldly power and success not only by siding with those who are victims of poverty, exploitation and abuse but by first becoming a victim himself through death on the cross, experiencing every kind of injustice and horror. Seeing through his eyes means seeing through the eyes of victims, those who are powerless and marginalised, strangers, outsiders, and yes, those who have experienced abuse at the hands of the church.…”

How to Choose a New Church

Posted on January 19, 2025 
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“The start of the year is often a time when Christians move to new places and so need to find a new church. Is that you? If so, for what it’s worth, here are my tips on how to go about it.

What should you look for in a church? At least three characteristics. …”

– Des Smith, at Trinity Church Lockleys in Adelaide, has some advice you may find helpful. At The Gospel Coalition Australia.

Photo: Christ Church Cathedral, Darwin.

Why I Left the Church of Rome

Posted on January 17, 2025 
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“I grew up in a devout Roman Catholic family and attended private Catholic schools for both my primary (St John’s Riverstone) and secondary education (Oakhill College, Castle Hill) both in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, NSW. While nothing is perfect, I really enjoyed my upbringing and even aspired to becoming a De La Salle brother, which is kind of like a ‘teaching monk’.

All that changed though when I received a sporting scholarship to the United States to play tennis on the college circuit. In the providence of God, I ended up in a Missouri Synod Lutheran University in Southern California, formerly called ‘Christ College Irvine’ but is now Concordia University. My world was about to be turned upside down. …”

– At AP, Presbyterian minister Mark Powell shares the wonderful news he heard, and how it changed his life.

New Year, New Habits?

Posted on January 16, 2025 
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“We are creatures of habit. Our bodies thrive on routine—we get hungry at roughly the same times, we generally like routines, and we naturally form habits. This is by God’s design. Neuroscience confirms that repetition ingrains behaviours, creating neural pathways that make actions automatic.

While we wait for our eternal home in the new creation, we want to harness our natural habit-forming tendency—for good. …”

– At The Australian Church Record, Bronwyn Windsor writes to encourage us to consider what sort of people we should be.

Does the ideal Archbishop of Canterbury exist in the current Church of England?

Posted on January 16, 2025 
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“A letter in the Church Times from a frontline parish minister deserves to be at the top of the agenda for the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) as it decides who should be the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Rev James Dudley-Smith’s list of personal and spiritual qualifications for the ideal candidate in the January 10 edition of the paper are worth citing in full …

James serves as Rector of St John’s Church in Yeovil, Somerset, and is the son of the celebrated evangelical hymn writer, Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024), a former Bishop of Thetford in Norfolk.”

– Julian Mann writes at Christian Today.

Lord for the Years: A tribute to Timothy Dudley-Smith

Posted on January 15, 2025 
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BBC Radio 4 last week aired an edition of “Sunday Worship” with a tribute to Timothy Dudley-Smith.

It’s available on their website for a limited time.

(Image from a 2020 message from Bishop Dudley-Smith to the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland.)

“100 Ministry Stories from Moore College” — Dan Lee

Posted on January 15, 2025 
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Moore College is continuing its “100 Ministry Stories from Moore College” – this one features Dan Lee:

“Dan Lee came to know Jesus at the end of high school through a local youth group where he first experienced Christian community and read the Bible for himself. After completing a ministry apprenticeship, he chose Moore College to deepen his theological understanding, particularly gaining a richer grasp of the Trinity. Now leading a new campus of MBM Church in Parramatta, Dan encourages all ministry apprentices to pursue theological education, equipping them to serve effectively—whether in paid ministry or as active church members.”

Indigenous Australians and the Christian Gospel – with Michael Duckett

Posted on January 14, 2025 
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From The Pastor’s Heart:

“As we approach ‘Aboriginal Sunday’ (19 January) we focus on the progress of the gospel among the indigenous in Australia.

What are the cultural changes and what openness to Jesus Christ among Indigenous Australians?

Where are we seeing growth? What are the roadblocks and opportunities for the growth of the gospel among the indigenous communities? How much has to do with the soil.  How much has to do with things that we can change?

Michael Duckett leads the Anglican Indigenous Ministry at Macarthur/Campbelltown in the far south west of Sydney and Chairs the Sydney Anglican Indigenous Ministry Committee.”

– Watch or listen here. Food for your prayers!

Related:

William Cooper – Wikipedia article.

Melbourne Anglicans mourn former Archbishop of Melbourne Keith Rayner

Posted on January 13, 2025 
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“Australian Anglicans are mourning the death of a former Melbourne archbishop and pivotal figure in the ordination of women in the Church.

Bishop Keith Rayner died peacefully on 12 January 2025, almost eight weeks after his 95th birthday. …”

– From The Melbourne Anglican.

Photo: Stpeters-cathedral, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Archbishop of Sydney’s Statement on further Antisemitic attacks — 13 January 2025

Posted on January 13, 2025 
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Here is a Media Release from the Diocese of Sydney:

“Media release

Anglican Diocese of Sydney
Archbishop’s Public Statement
More antisemitic attacks

For the second time in two months, I am taking the step of expressing the dismay of many Sydneysiders at grotesque acts of antisemitism in our city.

The recent attacks on the Allawah and Newtown synagogues, which follow attacks on private homes and property, are reprehensible and utterly unacceptable.

Any attack on a place of worship is an attack on the principles of freedom of religion, association and conscience which are foundational for our multicultural and cohesive community. Such attacks must be comprehensively rejected.

Beyond that essential principle we also recognise that antisemitism has a particular history and shape, played out across the world. Over the centuries, this has included antisemitism perpetrated by professing Christians. The Christian scriptures give no warrant whatsoever for such hateful acts. Rather, Jesus commanded his followers to love our neighbours as ourselves.

Sydney Anglicans welcome and affirm the presence and contribution of Jewish Australians for whom Sydney is the home we share and whose peace, prosperity and harmony is our common commitment.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
13 January 2025.”

– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net. Also as a PDF file.

“100 Ministry Stories from Moore College” — Peter Sholl

Posted on January 13, 2025 
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Moore College is featuring this brief video from Peter Sholl, International Director of CMS Australia as part of its “100 Ministry Stories”:

“God used Peter’s time at College to equip him with a solid foundation in theological thinking and a heart for mission, preparing him for service as a CMS missionary.

Now serving as the International Director of CMS Australia, Peter supports missionaries around the world, encouraging gospel work across cultures.

Peter’s story attests to how God uses theological training to prepare men and women for global ministry.”

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