Palliative Care and The Art of Dying Well
Posted on May 27, 2021
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“Modern palliative care emerged in the late 1960s through the work of Dame Cicely Saunders, widely acknowledged as its founder, in the United Kingdom. She believed that caring for people requires caring about them. She combined the tradition of hospitality in medieval religious communities (hospice) with modern medical techniques for treatment of symptoms.
She studied the stories of terminally ill patients and found that their suffering involved, not just physical pain, but also had social, emotional, psychological and spiritual aspects. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, palliative care doctor Megan Best writes during National Palliative Care Week (23-29 May 2021).
By contrast:
A media release from the Australian Christian Lobby:
South Australian Parliament votes to end life during Palliative Care Week – Australian Christian Lobby.
This week is National Palliative Care Week in Australia. It is a time that the nation’s mind should be focused on supporting and caring for the terminally ill.
Instead, the South Australian Parliament last night voted to progress the physician assisted suicide bill.
Christopher Brohier, SA Director for the Australian Christian Lobby said, “It is evident that government resources are being used to further the physician assisted suicide bill.
“The Health Minister last week released an anonymous paper from Wellbeing SA arguing against institutional conscientious objection rights. The government is therefore putting itself in direct conflict with Calvary Hospitals, one of the state’s largest palliative care providers.
“The Parliament and the Health Minister must take into account the views of Calvary Hospitals,” said Mr Brohier. “The bill must be amended in the committee stage to provide for institutional conscientious objection rights.”
The ACL urged the South Australian Parliament to reject the bill or significantly amend it when the third reading vote occurs.
ENDS
The Reformanda Initiative — in conversation with Mark Gilbert
Posted on May 27, 2021
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In a recent podcast from The Reformanda Initiative in Rome, Mark Gilbert from Certainty4Eternity shares his own story about how he came to Christ.
He also has some practical advice on sharing the saving gospel with Roman Catholic friends. He says that genuine love is a key.
Very good to share (and to pray about).
Also see these books by Mark at Matthias Media.
The Importance of the Gospel
Posted on May 26, 2021
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“Where would you be without the gospel? I shudder to think of where my life would have headed without it, and it horrifies me to hypothesise about a future without it.
Wonderfully, I am not weighed down by such thoughts. For I love to remember when I came under the sound of the gospel, and I am enthusiastic and excited (sometimes nervously!) at the prospect of ministering the gospel wheresoever the Lord takes me, and howsoever long the Lord grants me. The gospel matters to me. And I strongly suspect the gospel matters to you, in much the same way. …”
– This piece by Dr Mark Earngey at Moore College was first published in the latest ACR Journal, Autumn 2021.
Five Key Distinctives of Anglican Worship
Posted on May 26, 2021
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“That’s not really very Anglican.
I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard someone talk in this way about a particular church service.
What do they mean by not very Anglican?
Usually, they mean that it isn’t liturgically formal. Perhaps there are no clerical vestments on display, or the service does not have a particular form to it. Perhaps there are no responsorial prayers. Perhaps the church building does not look like a classic church, or maybe it is plainly rather than ornately decorated…”
– Dr Michael Jensen shares the heart of Anglicanism – at Crossway, who have also published his book Reformation Anglican Worship.
And another quote:
“…Anglican worship is distinct not because of its form, but because of its content. The genius of the Book of Common Prayer is not in dictating a particular style of worship but in the way it does two things: first, it makes Scripture the centerpiece of the Christian gathering, and secondly, it enfolds the worshiping community in the theology of grace.”
The heart of Sydney’s new Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
Posted on May 25, 2021
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Most encouraging and worth sharing widely.
And please do continue to uphold Kanishka and Cailey in prayer ahead of the Inauguration on Friday at 7:00pmAEST.
Avoiding “long COVID” in our churches
Posted on May 25, 2021
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“For some people, the impact of the COVID-19 virus can last weeks or even months after they have been infected. These ongoing symptoms are known as ‘long COVID’.
Despite its title, this article is not about medical long COVID. Rather, I am using long COVID as a metaphor for the ongoing disruption to our churches caused by COVID-19. …”
– Bishop Michael Stead writes with some key encouragements for churches – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Ten Reasons to Persevere in Gospel Ministry
Posted on May 24, 2021
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“It is widely acknowledged that there is something of a current crisis in the evangelical church. Too many are dropping out of pastoral ministry and seeking to do something else. This is a tragic situation that must be urgently addressed.
To be fair, there are a number of legitimate reasons why this might occur. And I don’t want to discount the validity of an individual’s personal decision. But as I am presently preaching through Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, I’ve been struck by the numerous encouragements Christ’s apostle gives as to not lose heart…”
– Encouragement from Mark Powell at The Gospel Coalition Australia.
George Whitefield College gives thanks for Dr. John Newby
Posted on May 23, 2021
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George Whitefield College in Capetown gives thanks to the Lord for former Vice Principal The Rev. Dr. John Newby, who was called home earlier this month.
Photo: John Newby and then Principal Broughton Knox.
See also this tribute from REACH South Africa.
Archbishop of Canterbury issues ‘personal apology’ over charity abuse
Posted on May 21, 2021
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“The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued a ‘full personal apology’ to the survivors of abuse by former barrister John Smyth QC in the 1970s and 80s.
Smyth, who died aged 77 in 2018, violently beat boys who attended Christian summer camps.
Justin Welby said: ‘I am sorry this was done in the name of Jesus Christ by a perverted version of spirituality and evangelicalism.’…”
– Report from BBC News.
Here is the full text of Archbishop Welby’s Statement.
Preaching Mentoring
Posted on May 20, 2021
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“This year, quite by accident, I have been involved in a number of preaching mentorships.
These mentorships are one on one, held on a weekly basis, and focus on preaching rather than other aspects of pastoral leadership. The sessions are held for half an hour and focus on either the next text to be preached or as a review of the last sermon preached.
Consistently, as with all Trust activities, there is no financial charge for any of our services or resources. The Trust is dependent on donors who meet all the costs of the ministry so that there is no financial pressure on those accessing any of our resources.
At the moment we are assembling a group of experienced preachers who will be available to mentor preachers via Zoom. …”
– A very practical and generous offer from David Cook at the Expository Preaching Trust.
‘Our strategic moment’: The massive greenfields challenge for Sydney Diocese
Posted on May 20, 2021
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“It is crucial strategic moment for the work of the Gospel in Sydney. There is limited time to act as the city of Sydney undergoes massive infrastructural changes.
The phenomenal population changes demand a reimagining and redistribution of Church assets, ministry resources and people. The growth will be tremendous, and so will be the responsibility.
In the next 50 years, the current Western Region alone will have a population two and half times that of the South Sydney Region or the Northern Region.”
– In another very helpful episode of The Pastor’s Heart, Bishop Peter Lin and Ross Jones, the CEO of the Anglican Church Growth Corporation, speak about the strategic opportunity facing the Anglican Church in Sydney.
How to reach Australia + The Queensland Presbyterian crisis
Posted on May 19, 2021
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On the latest edition of The Pastor’s Heart, Dominic Steele speaks with Queensland Theological College Principal Gary Millar at the Reach Australia conference on the NSW Central Coast.
As well as sharing from his keynote addresses on Holiness and Hope, Gary is asked about the problems facing Queensland Presbyterians and the College he leads.
Does the Church of England deserve to survive?
Posted on May 18, 2021
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“Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, not so very long ago, a business enterprise decided to sponsor an educational establishment.
The business made widgets, and at the time everyone thought that widgets were just the bees knees. People bought the widgets; they learned about how widgets were made; they visited widget shops and even widget museums, dedicated to understanding all about the history of widgets. …”
– British theologian Ian Paul is bemused by the silence of Church of England bishops when a Church of England clergyman is attacked for teaching Church of England doctrine.
Annual General Meeting 2021
Posted on May 18, 2021
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The ACL gives notice of, and warmly invites our members to attend, the 2021 Annual General Meeting.
Date: 6.00 pm, Thursday 10th June, 2021.
Location: T.C. Hammond Room, Moore Theological College, 1 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042.
Hear from ACL President Andrew Bruce, as he speaks to us from God’s word. Hear what the League has achieved, under God, over the last year, pray for the League’s future work, and take part in making decisions.
In order to vote, current members should renew by 10th June.
PrayerMate celebrates ten years
Posted on May 18, 2021
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PrayerMate is ten years old, and has been a blessing to so many. It may help your prayer life.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…