Nominations open for Archbishop’s election

Posted on February 11, 2021 
Filed under Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Nominations open for Archbishop’s election

“Names are being put forward as nominees for the Synod that will elect the next Archbishop of Sydney.

The Archbishop’s summons was issued on January 25 laying out the times, dates and venue for a one-day ‘ordinary’ session of Synod, followed by the Election Synod. Due to changing COVID restrictions in the past few months, the summons differs from what was originally foreshadowed last year.

The message, sent to all eligible Synod members, calls them to an ordinary session of Synod on Monday, May 3. … The sessions from May 4-7 have been set aside for the Election Synod, as needed. …

Archbishop Glenn Davies will retire on Friday, March 26. His term was extended from his original retirement date of July 2020.”

– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net reports on the plans for the Election Synod. And please be encouraged to heed Archbishop Davies’ call to prayer.

Justification

Posted on February 11, 2021 
Filed under Theology Comments Off on Justification

Some encouragement:

“The voice that spells forgiveness will say: ‘You may go: you have been let off the penalty which your sin deserves.’

But the verdict which means acceptance [justification] will say: ‘You may come; you who are welcome to all my love and my presence.’“

– Sir Marcus Loane, quoted in John Stott, The Message of Romans.

Photo: Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane (centre) at Bishopscourt, December 1981. From the Sydney Diocesan Year Book, 1982.

Meeting others to worship is a lifeline

Posted on February 10, 2021 
Filed under COVID19, Scotland Comments Off on Meeting others to worship is a lifeline

“A group of Clergy taking government to court might seem a surprisingly ‘un-Christian’ thing to do, when closing churches is to ‘save lives’. In fact, the reason we have commenced action against Scottish Minsters is born of profound Christian love for our nation.

We all recognise the challenges facing the government. But we believe that, however well-intentioned, criminalising corporate worship is both damaging and dangerous for Scotland…

There is an urgent need for a message beyond that of health and safety: a message of hope and salvation.”

– Dr. William Philip, Minister at The Tron Church in Glasgow, argues why it is so important that churches meet – despite COVID.

Prohibiting Prayer in Australia

Posted on February 10, 2021 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Prohibiting Prayer in Australia

Carl Trueman comments on the new Victorian legislation –

“This provision is clearly not based on any coherent metaphysical objection to the practice of prayer. If the legislators believe God exists, they presumably believe that he is wise enough to ignore such prayers if they are indeed truly harmful. And if they do not think he exists, then it seems reasonable to assume they would regard such prayer as a rather pointless, even nonsensical, exercise.

If the policy is not metaphysical, it nevertheless reveals one of the aspects of the new identity politics…”

– Read it at First Things.

Where to From Here? – Victorian Law

Posted on February 9, 2021 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Where to From Here? – Victorian Law

Here’s a pastoral letter from the Rev. Dr Peter Barnes, Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia –

“To the congregations of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, February 2021

The Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill has now passed through both houses of the Victorian parliament. It forbids any attempt to change or suppress, or induce any person to change or suppress, his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. Prayer or counselling designed to change a person, even at that person’s request, is prohibited. In short, this means that sexual preference is protected by law, as is any person’s gender preference. Homosexual sex is not permitted to be called ‘sin’, and a male today can claim to be a female tomorrow.

What is the Church to do? Two things come immediately to mind:

It is our task to keep on keeping on, to proclaim and to live out so far as we can the gospel of Christ which has been entrusted to us.

May God give us all wisdom and strength in Christ,

Peter Barnes

Rev. Dr Peter Barnes, Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia.”

– from the Presbyterian Church of Australia, Tuesday 9th February 2021.

From Bible to Sermon: 25 Steps

Posted on February 9, 2021 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on From Bible to Sermon: 25 Steps

“Don’t be surprised if a sermon takes you a long time to prepare. Most of us take 8-10 hours. If you are starting to preach—or do so infrequently—it will take you longer. And one-off sermons take longer to prepare. …”

– The Gospel Coalition Australia publishes this helpful excerpt from Peter Adam’s short handbook: Local Church Training Program for Potential Preachers.

(Photo: St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)

GAFCON’s Everyday Global Anglicans

Posted on February 8, 2021 
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Here’s another helpful podcast from GAFCON.

Ernie Didot, Gafcon Communications Director, writes,

“In April last year we started interviewing members of the global Gafcon family so that we could digitally connect with each other despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are now offering to you a monthly FREE subscription podcast to Everyday Global Anglicans and on a monthly basis we are continuing to interview various people from around the globe who help provide insight into the many ways that God is at work around the communion in everyday lives.”

– Listen here.

Victorian ‘Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill’ passes

Posted on February 7, 2021 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Victorian ‘Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill’ passes

“At 10.37pm on Thursday, February 4, 2021, the Victorian upper house passed the Government’s Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Bill.

The vote was 27 for the Bill and nine against. The affirmative votes included eight Opposition members. …

Concerns about the flaws in the Bill grew exponentially during the last few days leading up to the debate but it was too late to influence the Government. These groups of psychiatrists and doctors, lawyers, religious leaders, feminist and LGB groups who are concerned at the Victorian legislation’s overreach should look carefully at legislation planned for Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.”

– Terri Kelleher, National President of the Australian Family Association, writes about the passing of the Victorian legislation.

Why do we say things together in church?

Posted on February 7, 2021 
Filed under Encouragement, Theology Comments Off on Why do we say things together in church?

“As a teenager, I was deeply impacted by a youth ministry that made a lot of hay out of throwing out traditional, churchy practices. We started a church service on couches and bean bags in the hall where we didn’t do anything like liturgy or set prayers.

I remain deeply grateful for this low-church experience, for I heard the gospel there with a freshness that was God’s gift. But in hindsight, I have mixed feelings about the excitement we felt at doing things differently. For while this stance did grab my attention, it also distanced me from good things…”

– At The Australian Church Record, Andrew Errington shares three ways that saying together “sentences from the Bible, psalms, creeds, and other prayers” can be a real help.

Victoria Bans Conversion Practices Despite Significant Flaws in the Bill

Posted on February 5, 2021 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Victoria Bans Conversion Practices Despite Significant Flaws in the Bill

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20)

“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:17)

“What do we do when good is defined as bad? What is a godly reaction to a society that formally deems Christian beliefs as wrong. How can we respond when a Government makes illegal practices that have been part of Christian religion since the beginning of the Church and have their foundation in the teaching and example of Jesus Christ?

To be very clear, I am not talking about aversion practices and nonconsensual activity that stems from pseudo-science and bad theology. Church leaders including myself have repeatedly spoken against such things and believe they have no place in our churches. I am talking about prayer and conversation. What happens when people of faith are prohibited by law from praying and speaking in line with our Christian beliefs, even when people come to us for help and ask? If someone is offended, I can be reported to VCAT. If someone alleges ‘harm’, the criminal charges can be laid. …

During tonight’s debate, on member of the Legislative Council asked the Attorney General,

‘How will the Government up-skill ministers and pastors so that they know where the line in what they can and cannot say to people about sexual orientation and gender identity?’ (my paraphrase of the question)

What a revealing question! The Attorney General indicated that education materials will be made available. In other words, religious people must defer to the Government’s doctrine.”

– Read it all – from Murray Campbell in Melbourne.

“Gay conversion therapy banned in Victoria after marathon debate”

Posted on February 5, 2021 
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“Gay conversion therapy has been outlawed in Victoria following a marathon debate in the upper house on Thursday.

The bill passed the Victorian Parliament 27 votes to nine after a 12-hour sitting in the Legislative Council, where Liberal MPs Bev McArthur and Bernie Finn defied their party’s position and crossed the floor to vote against the government’s legislation. …

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission will also get new powers to deal with complaints that do not meet the criminal threshold, and to launch own-motion investigations into systemic issues as part of a new civil scheme for victims.”

– Report from The Sydney Morning Herald.

Anglican Reality Check updated

Posted on February 5, 2021 
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON Comments Off on Anglican Reality Check updated

GAFCON’s Anglican Reality Check has been updated for the start of 2021.

Check it out here – with the 2021 entry, “Bishops Gear Up For Long Lambeth Walk”.

Are you feeling inadequate?

Posted on February 4, 2021 
Filed under Encouragement Comments Off on Are you feeling inadequate?

“In these days of lockdown livestreams it’s easy to feel inadequate. I’m not surrounded by a gifted staff team with abundant technical resources or an attractive online presence. It’s not hard to feel inadequate when people can tune in with ease to a more exciting online service with a more prestigious preacher (and nobody will ever notice they’re missing a Sunday morning). In my pride I feel inadequate and ashamed of it…”

– At Church Society’s blog, Simon Donohoe shares some encouragement for us all.

Gafcon’s Lift Up Your Hearts Devotional

Posted on February 4, 2021 
Filed under Encouragement, GAFCON Comments Off on Gafcon’s Lift Up Your Hearts Devotional

GAFCON is now publishing podcast versions of the Lift Up Your Hearts Devotional each weekday.

Dustin Messer in Dallas, Texas, is contributing the devotions in February 2021. You can read or listen to them here.

The audio is also available on Apple Podcasts.

Each runs for 3 or 4 minutes.

When Victoria Becomes Babylon

Posted on February 3, 2021 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on When Victoria Becomes Babylon

“A few short years ago almost everyone would be shocked to learn that praying for a person who asks for prayer would be considered illegal activity and lead to 10 years in prison.

That is the situation facing Victorians.

This is not hyperbole. This isn’t exaggeration. Next week the Victorian Legislative Council will vote on one of the most extraordinary pieces of law ever proposed in our nation’s history.

Imagine an Australia where two people are having a conversation about life issues and they are trying to encourage and persuade one another. The police are called, one person is taken away and charged because they sought to persuade the other with the Bible’s view of sexuality. …”

– Published a few days ago, Murray Campbell in Melbourne writes a ‘must read’ post about the legislation before the Victorian Legislative Council.

See also:

Victoria’s Conversion Practices Bill is as bad as they say it is – Assoc Prof Neil Foster at Law and Religion Australia.

Liberal rift deepens over bill banning gay conversion therapy – The Age, 01 February 2021.

Canadian Anglican archbishops sign anti-conversion therapy declaration – Anglican Journal, 03 February 2021. (Note the varying definitions used.)

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