Fired for using the wrong pronouns
Posted on October 8, 2019
Filed under Culture wars Comments Off on Fired for using the wrong pronouns
“Two cases have been highlighted overseas recently where a Christian employee has been fired for declining to use the ‘preferred pronoun’ of a person who identifies as a different gender to their biological sex.
The cases illustrate that religious freedom, and free speech generally, in the workplace can be under challenge in circumstances involving ‘gender identity’ issues. …”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster outlines recent cases in the United Kingdom and in the USA, and considers the Australian context.
Hope grows in Myanmar: “We never dreamed God would do this”
Posted on October 6, 2019
Filed under Encouragement Comments Off on Hope grows in Myanmar: “We never dreamed God would do this”
“When God blesses the work done in his name, it’s amazing what can happen. This has been the experience of three Sydney women – who travel to Myanmar each year to teach the Bible and help care for two orphanages year-round.
The Rev Jackie Stoneman from Mary Andrews College, and Chris Gerardis and Lynn Pickersgill from Anglicare, were invited to go to Myanmar as part of a short-term mission in 2008. …”
– Greatly encouraging news from SydneyAnglicans.net. With more info at growing-hope.org.
Anglican Church of Canada ‘gone by 2040’
Posted on October 6, 2019
Filed under Anglican Church of Canada Comments Off on Anglican Church of Canada ‘gone by 2040’
“In 2018 General Synod was able to collect a complete and mostly reliable set of data for from the dioceses for the first time since 2001. The data is for the year 2017 and it shows that the decline observed in earlier data has continued.
Projections from our data indicate that there will be no members, attenders or givers in the Anglican Church of Canada by approximately 2040.”
– Anglican Samizdat highlights a sobering report just presented to the Anglican Church of Canada’s House of Bishops.
Also from the Anglican Church of Canada:
Get your pet blessed this Sunday in Vancouver – Vancouver Courier.
“Annual Blessing of the Animals ceremony welcomes creatures of all types to Shaughnessy church.” [This is the Anglican Church of Canada congregation now using the building vacated by St. John’s Vancouver.]
Resilience
Posted on October 4, 2019
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Resilience
“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart (2 Corinthians 4:1). The trouble is, in ministry it can be only too easy to lose heart.
So begins Birkett’s short and incisive work that details her research into the idea of resilience and Christian ministry. This is much needed, given that burnout is all too common in ministry.
What sets Birkett’s work out from the crowd is that she is not writing a survival plan. …”
– At Church Society’s blog, Aled Seago commends Resilience, a new book by Kirsty Birkett.
Seven ways you can contribute to better Public Discourse
Posted on October 4, 2019
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Seven ways you can contribute to better Public Discourse
“Paul D. Miller, professor of the practice of international affairs at Georgetown University, recently authored a white paper for the ERLC [Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention] on ‘Faith and Healthy Democracy.’ …
Here are their seven encouragements for individuals and families to be healthier contributors for the common good.”
– From Justin Taylor at The Gospel Coalition.
One encouragement: Put down your smart phone, and don’t give them to kids.
Forgiveness and a hug for his brother’s murderer
Posted on October 3, 2019
Filed under Encouragement Comments Off on Forgiveness and a hug for his brother’s murderer
“If you haven’t seen this anywhere else, watch it now.
If you have seen it, watch it again. …”
– This video is being posted on multiple websites. Well worth watching.
Doctor’s Biblical belief ruled ‘incompatible with human dignity’
Posted on October 3, 2019
Filed under Culture wars Comments Off on Doctor’s Biblical belief ruled ‘incompatible with human dignity’
“A Christian doctor has been told that his belief in the Biblical view of what it is to be male and female is ‘incompatible with human dignity’.
Dr David Mackereth, who had been an NHS A&E doctor for 26 years, was forced out of his job working for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) after refusing to use ‘transgender pronouns’…”
– Christian Concern in the UK highlights a ruling from the Employment Tribunal which states that the doctor’s Christian beliefs are not ‘worthy of respect in a democratic society’.
What do you want to become? (Ephesians 5:5–7)
Posted on October 3, 2019
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on What do you want to become? (Ephesians 5:5–7)
“What do you want to become? When you close your eyes and picture yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, what will you have become? What do you hope for, pray for, and plan for? …”
– Don’t be deceived, Lionel Windsor at Moore College has some encouragement for you from God’s word.
Books of the Reformation: An Interactive Exhibition
Posted on October 2, 2019
Filed under History, Resources Comments Off on Books of the Reformation: An Interactive Exhibition
On Monday, 28 October 20129, from 6:30 pm, Moore College is running a free event as part of the NSW State Library’s Sydney Rare Book Week.
Dr Peter Jones on The Arrival of the Post-Secular Age
Posted on October 2, 2019
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Dr Peter Jones on The Arrival of the Post-Secular Age
Reformers Bookshop in Stanmore is hosting an event with Dr. Peter Jones, Executive Director of TruthXChange in Los Angeles, on Monday 21st October at 7:00pm.
Dr. Jones is also speaking at the Australian Christian Lobby’s “Not Ashamed” 2019 National Conference in Sydney on Saturday 19th October. See the short video of Dr Jones on this page.
Religious discrimination bill so flawed it cannot be supported, Anglicans say
Posted on October 1, 2019
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Religious discrimination bill so flawed it cannot be supported, Anglicans say
“The flaws in the Coalition’s religious discrimination bill are ‘so serious’ it cannot be supported in its current form, the Sydney Anglican diocese has warned. …
In a separate submission, the Freedom for Faith group has claimed the bill fails a commitment by the prime minister, Scott Morrison, ‘that the law would not take faith groups backwards in terms of protection of religious freedom’. …”
– Story from The Guardian.
Crowd Madness and The New Religion of The West
Posted on October 1, 2019
Filed under Culture wars, Resources Comments Off on Crowd Madness and The New Religion of The West
“ ‘There are 2 gunman at the university – tell your friends on campus’.
The text arrives from a friend, who knows I’m often on campus. But I can’t believe it: surely this is spam?
So I ring my friend to confirm. Yes, the text is legit: A collegue of his has a contact at the university.There really are gunmen at Southern Cross University in Lismore.
I well up with anxiety. My head starts racing. Is this really happening?…
But the herd mentality isn’t limited to stressful rumours about active shooters (as bad as they are). Any idea can lead to herd mentality, as it spreads among a population.”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Akos Balogh draws some helpful ideas for Christians from a new book about western culture.
Submission on the Religious Freedom draft laws
Posted on September 30, 2019
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Resources Comments Off on Submission on the Religious Freedom draft laws
Associate Professor Neil Foster shares his personal submission on the Government’s package of draft laws on Religious Freedom – at Law and Religion Australia.
If you would like to make your own submission, you have until 5:00 pm on Wednesday 2nd October 2019.
Archbishop Henry Ndukuba elected as new Primate on Nigeria
Posted on September 29, 2019
Filed under Anglican Communion, People Comments Off on Archbishop Henry Ndukuba elected as new Primate on Nigeria
“The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion has elected Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba as the new Primate of the church for the next ten years.
Archbishop Ndukuba who is currently the Bishop of Gombe Diocese and Archbishop of Jos Province, respectively, took over from His Grace, the Most Rev’d Nicholas Okoh. …”
– Story from The Vanguard (Nigeria).
And some biographical details via Anglican Ink.
Serving God or Mammon in the Anglican Communion?
Posted on September 29, 2019
Filed under GAFCON Comments Off on Serving God or Mammon in the Anglican Communion?
“What role does money play in the continuing struggle for biblical faithfulness in the Anglican Communion? The sharp warning from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6:24) about the impossibility of serving both God and Mammon alerts us to the reality that money can become a spiritual power when it seduces us into materialism. Rather than being used in the service of God, it can become a god.
But this power of money does not normally manifest itself in a simple and unsubtle appeal to greed…”
– GAFCON’s Membership Development Secretary, Canon Charles Raven, wrote this article for Evangelicals Now.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…