With thanksgiving for Bishop Ivan Lee. ACL President’s tribute
Posted on March 5, 2020
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The Anglican Church League notes with sadness the passing of Bishop Ivan Lee last night and will continue to uphold Virginia and the family in prayer for the consolation that can only come from our great shepherd Jesus in this difficult time.
Ivan was elected an Emeritus Vice President of the ACL due to his longstanding commitment to gospel work and the Evangelical cause within the Diocese of Sydney. His passion for reaching out to the lost, including his willingness to try new means of connecting with those outside the churches, was evident in every conversation with him.
Personally, having served on a number of committees with Ivan, I can testify that he could always be relied on to bring a considered and unique perspective to any issue, a perspective that caused us to reflect upon whether we had understood the challenges correctly and whether there were other more creative options open to us to progress the task at hand.
Ivan’s commitment to ‘be at work in his Master’s field’ during the difficult times of his illness was a great encouragement to those who worked with him, and was a reflection of his passion for the gospel and indeed the network of the Diocese of Sydney as a key and effective means of reaching the lost for Christ.
He will be greatly missed – but he is with our Lord, which is better by far.
Andrew Bruce
President of the Anglican Church League.
(Photo: Bishop Ivan Lee at Sydney Synod, October 2019. Courtesy Anglican Media Sydney.)
“We have lost a great champion for the gospel”
Posted on March 5, 2020
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“Long-serving Sydney Bishop, Ivan Lee, has passed away more than four years after being diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer.
Bishop Lee died last night (4th March) at Greenwich Hospital, where he had been receiving palliative care. …”
– Members of the Anglican Church League (of which Bishop Lee was a Vice-President) are deeply saddened to receive this news, but rejoice that Ivan is now with Christ.
Archbishop Glenn Davies writes:
“Our hearts ache for Virginia and her three daughters in their grief. They have cared for him so well and for so long, and since he entered hospital at the end of January, he has never been alone. May God comfort them in their sorrow.”
And in an e-mail today, Archbishop Davies writes,
“Sad news, yet we do not grieve as others do, who have no hope.
Ps 116:15.”
There will be a private funeral next week, followed by a public memorial service at St Andrew’s Cathedral on a date to be announced.
It pays to hold your nerve in the Transgender Debate
Posted on March 4, 2020
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“As Douglas Murray observes in his book The Madness of Crowds, we’re making long term decisions about people’s sexual and mental health based on untested ideas that have been around for the past twenty minutes. And now people are starting to take a reality check. …”
– Stephen McAlpine sees signs that the tide beginning to turn. Image: BBC.
Does the Bible produce bigots?
Posted on March 3, 2020
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“Mardi Gras is upon us in Sydney. When thinking about the tension in society around the issue of same-sex attraction, it’s easy to wonder if you might actually be a bigot – because you’re a Christian. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Ben George argues that the Bible produces not bigots, but forgiven rebels.
Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba enthroned as 9th Archbishop of Uganda
Posted on March 2, 2020
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“The Most Rev. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu was enthroned as the 9th Archbishop of the Church of Uganda on Sunday, 1st March 2020, at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe.
More than 3,000 people attended the colourful ceremony, including His Excellency the President, political leaders, the Nnabagereka and Katikkiro of Buganda and other cultural leaders, business leaders, and all the Bishops of the Church of Uganda. …
Greetings were brought by Anglican representatives from global regions – The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England, brought greetings from England, the UK and Europe. …
The Rt. Rev. Malcolm Richards from Sydney Diocese, Australia, brought greetings from Asia and Oceania. …”
– from The Church of Uganda.
Speaking with a Pastor in Italy’s Coronavirus “Hot Zone”
Posted on March 1, 2020
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“Over the past few years I’ve had a number of opportunities to interact with Pastor Andrea Artioli who pastors Chiesa Sola Grazia in Mantua, Italy.
His recent newsletter told that he lives in the ‘hot zone’ of the coronavirus outbreak in Northern Italy. He told as well that his church has been instructed by local authorities that it may not meet for at least the next two weeks. …”
– Tim Challies asked Pastor Andrea Artioli to share something of what is happening in his church in northern Italy. (Photo source.)
Christ Church Cathedral Vancouver commemorates ‘the life and teachings of Jesus from an Islamic perspective’
Posted on February 29, 2020
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“The Muslim community of BC joined with Christ Church Cathedral to commemorate the life and teachings of Jesus from an Islamic perspective, who is considered one of the Mightiest Messengers of God in Islam. …”
– Topic (magazine of the Diocese of New Westminster), March 2020.
The Anglican Samizdat draws attention to an event at the Cathedral church of the Diocese of New Westminster in Canada. See the story on page 13 of Topic – a 3MB PDF file.
The Topic report says the
“open exhibition on Jesus from an Islamic perspective was set up in the Cathedral’s parish hall, where members of the Muslim community engaged with the congregation and shared their belief and love for Jesus. Imams from Vancouver Mosque were also available for any detailed questions.”
and
“Islamic Call to Prayer was made from the Cathedral pulpit at 12:30pm with an English explanation.”
The Anglican Samizdat notes that this was
“An odd choice considering that Islam teaches that Jesus did not die on the cross, was not resurrected, was not the Son of God and did not make atonement for the sins of the world.”
To say the least.
I gave my life to Jesus – Glen Scrivener
Posted on February 29, 2020
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In his latest video, Glen Scrivener points us away from ourselves and our efforts – to the Lord Jesus.
Quite a challenge to a lot of preaching. 7 minutes.
Building a Culture of Evangelism takes time
Posted on February 29, 2020
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“Evangelism isn’t just for the ‘professionals‘ – pastors, ministers, Bible teachers, and all the rest. Instead, the New Testament teaches that evangelism is the whole church’s job.
But asserting the ‘whole church’ does evangelism can be a bit confusing. What does that mean? Is there some special evangelism program hidden somewhere in the pages of the New Testament? Furthermore, what, if any, relationship exists between our personal evangelism and our church’s outreach ministry?…”
– An encouraging article from 9Marks. Read it, and be sure to watch ‘The Gospel Blimp’ if you haven’t seen it before.
Related:
One to One vs Course Evangelism – Sam Hilton & Tony Wright on what’s best for your church – The Pastor’s Heart.
Five things you need to talk about with your Youth
Posted on February 28, 2020
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“As the apostle Paul finished up his time with the church in Ephesus he was confidently able to report, ‘I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God’ (Acts 20:27).
Wouldn’t that be a great way to finish up a time of serving people you love. But sometimes there are topics that are super sensitive, topics which fill us with a fair bit of hesitation! However, it is good to talk about hard things because, in the end, every hard topic can promote great chats and even better they take us to the heart of the gospel…”
– At The Australian Church Record, Adrian Foxcroft shares five things you might not want to, but should talk about with your Youth.
Lent in the Diocese of Bathurst – The Road to Calvary
Posted on February 26, 2020
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Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has invited the Rev Mike Raiter to record a series of Lenten Studies to be used in parishes across the diocese this Lent.
The studies, “The Road to Calvary”, are based on chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel According to Matthew.
The first Study is available here – and the rest will be available on Bishop Calder’s Youtube Channel. Pray that they will be a great blessing to many.
Related:
Bishop Calder has been in Forbes where the Anglican Church is looking for a minister “to teach them God’s Word, partner with them in ministry, and help reach Forbes with the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ”. He’s posted a 19 second video on Facebook.
The Blessed Life
Posted on February 25, 2020
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“Lent is traditionally a time for reflection and prayer. Over the next few weeks on the Church Society blog, we will be reflecting each weekday on some of Jesus’s first words, and his last words, as well as pondering what the Bible says about the spiritual life. That is, we will be reflecting on the Beatitudes from Matthew 5, Jesus’s words from the cross in the Gospels, the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5, and the so-called seven deadly sins…”
– At Church Society’s blog, Less Gatiss beings a series for Lent.
Despondent Tasmanians need hope, not darkness
Posted on February 25, 2020
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Despondent Tasmanians need hope, not darkness
Here’s a media release from The Australian Christian Lobby:
“The Australian Christian Lobby encourages hope and purpose, even in the final chapter of people’s lives so that despondent Tasmanians would not choose to prematurely end their own lives.
‘The bill proposed by Mike Gaffney MLC is very concerning, as it goes much further than the current models legalised in Victoria and Western Australia. In those states, a person must be terminally ill and have only 6-12 months to live. Mr Gaffney’s bill expands the barriers beyond that, removing the terminal illness requirement. People who have an irreversible medical condition could access euthanasia,’ observed ACL Tasmania director, Christopher Brohier.
‘There is also no requirement for a psychiatric assessment. Lethal drugs could be administered to someone who is depressed or suffering anxiety,’ Mr Brohier added, ‘Under the bill, consultation on euthanasia could be by video link, a process with no rigour. Fortunately, telecommunications services cannot be used to promote suicide – though advocates are also looking to overturn that law as well.’
‘Then we have the horrifying spectre on the horizon if Mr Gaffney’s bill becomes law. He proposes, within 2 years of euthanasia being given to adults, that it be extended to children.‘
‘Do Tasmanians want more suicides or less?‘ Mr Brohier asked, ‘When you consider the tragedy of suicide and the many efforts being made to prevent it, the answer must be less. We reject calls to legalise assisted suicide in Tasmania.‘ ”
– Source.
Related:
Euthanasia: an unfolding national tragedy – Australian Christian Lobby.
Progression or Regression? – David Cook (on what’s happening in Victoria)
What Future for the Anglican Church of Australia?
Posted on February 24, 2020
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“We’re in the middle of what I think is best described as a tentative ceasefire. Of course, with any ceasefire there’s opportunities for both sides to position themselves for the conflict that is yet to come.
If you think all this language sounds combative then you’d be absolutely right. Both sides recognise that this is exactly what it is – a battle for the soul of the Anglican Church of Australia. There are clearly defined positions; one that seeks to uphold the orthodox view on human sexuality (but sees that as part of a wider issue – the authority of Jesus in the church through the Scriptures) and the other side that sees a liberalising of sexual ethics as a gospel imperative. …”
– David Ould shares his thoughts on what may happen in 2020 in the Anglican Church of Australia.
(Image adapted from the website of the Anglican Church of Australia.)
What issues most concern U.S. pastors in 2020?
Posted on February 24, 2020
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“Within their own churches, a majority of pastors consider reaching a younger generation (51%) and declining outreach and evangelism (50%) to be major concerns.
One-third of pastors are also concerned about declining or inconsistent volunteering (36%), stagnating spiritual growth (34%), and declining attendance, while one-fourth are concerned about biblical illiteracy (29%) and declining/unpredictable giving patterns. …”
– Read it all at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. (Emphasis in colour added.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…