New ACL Council elected for 2019-2020
Posted on June 18, 2019
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The Anglican Church League is pleased to announce the following office bearers were elected at our AGM on 6 June 2019.
Please continue to pray for the work of the Council and Executive, that they would serve humbly and faithfully to help promote Christ and the reformed evangelical Protestant faith through the structures of the Anglican Church of Australia.
The Anglican Church League, Office Bearers and Councillors for 2019 – 20
President: The Rev Andrew Bruce
Chairman: Dr Robert Tong AM
Secretary: The Rev Canon Tom Harricks
Minutes Secretary: The Rev Matthew Whitfield
Elections Secretary: The Rev Gavin Poole
Membership Secretary: The Rev. Michael Leite
Communications Secretary: The Rev Dr Lionel Windsor
Treasurer: Dr Laurie Scandrett
Vice-presidents
Dr Claire Smith
Dr Laurie Scandrett
Mr Clive Ellis
The Rev Canon Dr Mark Thompson
The Rev Canon Phil Colgan
The Rt Rev Ivan Lee
Councillors
The Rev Roger Cunningham
Mr Jeremy Freeman
The Rev Dr Raj Gupta
Mr Edward Hannah
Mr Luke Jackson
Mr Angus Martin
Mrs Michele Morrison
The Rev Scott Newling
The Rev Caitlin Orr
The Rev Gavin Parsons
Mr Malcolm Purvis
The Rev Craig Roberts
The Rev Mike Taylor
The Rev Kate Haggar
The Rev Jason Ramsay
The Rev James Warren
The Rev Nigel Fortescue
The Rev Dave Keun
Emeritus Vice-presidents
The Rev Canon Dr Bruce Ballantine-Jones OAM
The Rt Rev Dr Paul Barnett AM
The Rev Canon Allan Blanch
Mr John Colquhoun
The Most Rev Dr Glenn Davies
The Rev Neil Flower
The Rt Rev Dr Harry Goodhew AO
The Rev Tom Halls
The Rt Rev Dr Peter Jensen
The Rev Phillip Jensen
The Rev Neil Macken
The Rt Rev Gary Nelson
The Rev Dr Peter O’Brien
The Rt Rev Dr Reg Piper
The Rev Canon Jim Ramsay
Mr Bruce Robinson
The Rev Gordon Robinson
The Rt Rev Ray Smith
The Rt Rev Peter Tasker
The Rev Dr John Woodhouse
The Rev Zac Veron.
Male and female: Equality and order in Genesis 1:27
Posted on June 17, 2019
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“I’ve recently picked up the Kindle version of Kevin Giles’s book What the Bible Actually Teaches on Women (Eugene: Cascade, 2018).
While I’m not in agreement with Giles on every issue, I expect to learn some things from his book. I expect come to a greater understanding of how egalitarian exegesis works, from an influential and prolific exponent of this position. And I expect to be challenged to see areas where I and other complementarians need to change in some way: perhaps repent, or at least sharpen up. Indeed, I have learned a number of useful things already (for more, see below).
Yet I’ve also been a little disappointed at certain points by how Giles treats his complementarian opponents. … I think the way this particular discussion has proceeded ends up hindering, rather than helping, constructive discussion about the Bible.”
– Dr. Lionel Windsor interacts with the latest contribution from Kevin Giles.
GAFCON Sunday 2019 — 30th June
Posted on June 16, 2019
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Archbishop Ben Kwashi writes –
“Gafcon Sunday is coming up on 30 June, so please join this joyous time of celebrating and renewing our mutual purpose of faithfully proclaiming the full truth of God’s Word to every nation. Read more
Voluntary euthanasia to begin in Victoria as assisted dying laws take effect this week
Posted on June 16, 2019
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“Patients will take a glass, mix the drug with two liquids provided by the pharmacist and swallow the mixture. …”
– The latest developments in Victoria. ABC News.
St Silas Church, Glasgow to leave the Scottish Episcopal Church
Posted on June 15, 2019
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“St Silas Church in the West End of Glasgow has voted to discontinue its status as a licensed private chapel within the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC). After a process of consultation and prayer, a members vote was held and an emphatic majority of 86% voted to leave. …
‘Recent decisions of the Scottish Episcopal Church have made clear to us that the denomination does not regard the Bible as the authoritative word of God. With deep sadness, we have therefore decided that for reasons of integrity we can no longer continue as part of the Scottish Episcopal Church. We want to leave with goodwill towards those with whom we are parting company, and sincerely pray for God’s blessing for the SEC in the future, and its renewal around God’s word.’…”
– From GAFCON. Doubtless, the members of St. Silas would value your continued prayers.
(Image: St. Silas Church Glasgow.)
Reading the Bible Upside Down
Posted on June 14, 2019
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“As the dust settles around Pope Francis’s approval of changing the translation of the Lord’s Prayer, there is one vital angle on this that has not received much attention – the implications of the pope’s rationale for the change.
The pope’s decision to approve the change from the traditional translation “‘Lead us not into temptation’ to ‘Do not let us fall into temptation’ was based on this reported rationale…”
– John Piper writes about the issue of authority in what we believe about God. The authority of the Pope? Or the authority of God’s revealed Word. (This is the same issue Martin Luther tackled five hundred years ago.)
Wrath: The Divine Reality we’d like to gloss over (but mustn’t)
Posted on June 13, 2019
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“On July 8, 1741, in a church in Enfield, Massachusetts, USA, Jonathan Edwards rose to preach what has become probably the most infamous sermon of all time. His text was Deuteronomy 32:35 –
‘ …their foot shall slide in due time’. But it was the title that has stuck in our collective imaginations: ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.’
It conjures up images of poor helpless sinners being dangled by their ankles above the roaring fires of hell. At the time it is reported that many of the listeners were hysterical with fear afterwards. Some have labelled it ‘the most powerful sermon ever preached’. …”
– Tim Thorburn writes at the Gospel Coalition Australia.
New look for Phillip Jensen’s website
Posted on June 13, 2019
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Phillip Jensen’s website has a new look. As previously, it is packed with helpful resources.
See it at phillipjensen.com.
His Sermons roused a sleeping Church — J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
Posted on June 11, 2019
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“At the age of 64, after thirty-six years in rural parishes, when most people are ready to retire, he was called to be the first bishop of Liverpool. So he moved from parishes of 300 and 1,300 to a city of over 700,000 with all the urban problems he had never met face-to-face. He served in this post for twenty years, until two months before his death on June 10, 1900, at the age of 84.”
– John Piper pens a portrait of Bishop J. C. Ryle.
Wonderful encouragement for the start of the working week.
ACL Emeritus Vice-president Dr Paul Barnett recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours
Posted on June 10, 2019
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“Among many worthy recipients of honours in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list is the Right Reverend Dr Paul Barnett, New Testament scholar and former Bishop of North Sydney.
The ACL joins with Christians across denominations and around the world in congratulating Paul and giving thanks to God for his many years of faithful ministry.
Paul has published extensively in the area of New Testament history. His confidence in the gospel, his careful attention to historical detail, and his clear and winsome writing style have been a great encouragement to many. His years of teaching at Moore College and his pastoral work as the Rector of Broadway, Rector of Holy Trinity Adelaide, Master of Robert Menzies College and Bishop of North Sydney have been a rich gift to many of us.
The AM he has been given is a recognition that his long service within an Anglican setting has made a significant contribution to wider community. We are grateful that his faithful ministry has been exercised among us.”
— Moore College Principal, and former President of the Anglican Church League, Dr. Mark Thompson, has written on behalf of the ACL’s Council.
Frances Whitehead, John Stott’s ‘right hand’, ‘promoted to glory’
Posted on June 10, 2019
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“On Saturday 1 June Frances Whitehead, John Stott’s secretary of nearly 60 years, died peacefully at home at the age of 94.
Frances served John Stott throughout his whole ministry, as Rector of All Souls, Langham Place, and then in his wider global ministry. …”
– from The Langham Partnership.
See also: The incomparable Frances Whitehead:
“Despite the relative freedom that singleness brought him, John Stott would never have achieved everything he achieved in his 90-year life were it not for one person: Frances Whitehead. Her legacy is truly unique…”
Sydney theologian and author among Queen’s Honours
Posted on June 10, 2019
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“The former Bishop of North Sydney, theologian and author Dr Paul Barnett is among Sydney Anglicans on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. … He was made a Member in the General Division of the order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the Anglican Church of Australia.”
– Full story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Grounding fellowship in truth
Posted on June 10, 2019
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“Paul’s final words to the church of God in Corinth are well known to all Christians. They are simply referred to as ‘The Grace’, though not to be confused with giving thanks before meals!
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14).
The apostle’s prayer is both simple and profound, trinitarian in character as it reflects the commitment of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to all believers. …”
– Archbishop Glenn Davies writes, in a very practical way, about genuine fellowship. Published in the June 2019 issue of Southern Cross.
‘Israel Folau launches extraordinary attack on Rugby Australia’
Posted on June 9, 2019
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“Just days after Israel Folau launched legal action against Rugby Australia the fallen rugby star has hit out at the entire RA board.
In a scathing letter that has been published by The Daily Telegraph, Folau has demanded answers on how intimate details of his Code of Conduct hearing, which was meant to be private, came to fall into the hands of prominent rugby journalist Jamie Pandaram.
Ironically that letter has now made its way into the hands of The Telegraph and been published for all to see. …”
– Story from News.com.au.
How Anglicans in Canada found New Life after their Eviction
Posted on June 8, 2019
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“You’d be hard pressed to find anyone more Anglican than David Short – which just made everything worse.
The 61-year-old is a fourth-generation Anglican minister, born in Africa while his parents were missionaries. He can even top that – his father was also born in Africa to missionary parents.
Home was Sydney, Australia…”
– This article from The Gospel Coalition tells the story of David Short and other faithful men and women in Canada.
Related: Many earlier posts mentioning Vancouver.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…