Justin Welby: a professional obituary
Posted on January 12, 2025
Filed under Anglican Communion, Church of England, Opinion Comments Off on Justin Welby: a professional obituary
“Monday 6 January marked the last working day of Justin Welby as Archbishop Canterbury.
His resignation was forced on him after his failure to act competently in the oversight of a devastating sexual abuse scandal. But it would be unfair to take that single act of incompetence and use it as a lens to judge his entire performance as Archbishop. Tragic though the end of his tenure was, we need to look at the other elements of the way he held office in order to assess it fairly. …”
– Gavin Ashenden – former Anglo-Catholic bishop and now member of the Roman Catholic Church – shares his personal evaluation of Justin Welby’s tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury. At Christian Today.
Photo: Archbishop of Canterbury’s website.
Major fire destroys parts of St Hilary’s Kew
Posted on January 12, 2025
Filed under Australian dioceses, Parishes Comments Off on Major fire destroys parts of St Hilary’s Kew
“The Anglican community was distressed to hear that there was a major fire at St Hilary’s Kew (on the corner of John and Rowland Streets) in the early hours of Friday 10 January. …
Thanks to the quick action of the fire fighters, they were able to save the church and the hall (both original buildings on the site). …
Offices, the main kitchen, and other spaces were significantly affected. The church has sustained some smoke and water damage”
– Story at The Melbourne Anglican.
Photo via The Melbourne Anglican.
Dyslexia-Friendly Bibles now available in ESV & CSB
Posted on January 11, 2025
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This video from Tim Wildsmith (who makes videos about Bible design) highlights the arrival of “Dyslexia-Friendly Bibles”.
These are typeset by 2K/DENMARK, who are well-known for their experience in Bible typesetting.
Here’s a promotional video from Crossway about their ESV Holy Bible: Dyslexia-Friendly Edition, due to be published in March 2025. (It can be pre-ordered from Reformers in Sydney, and, doubtless, other Christian bookshops.)
From Crossway:
“Approximately 17 percent of the global population has dyslexia, yet many do not have the proper resources to easily read God’s Word. The ESV Holy Bible: Dyslexia-Friendly Edition features a specialized typeface and typesetting to help those with dyslexia read the Bible with more clarity and comfort.”
(No, this is not an advertisement. Many people will benefit from these Bibles.)
‘The Woke Will Regroup’ — Albert Mohler interviewed on Dual Citizens
Posted on January 10, 2025
Filed under Culture wars, Resources Comments Off on ‘The Woke Will Regroup’ — Albert Mohler interviewed on Dual Citizens
In the latest Dual Citizens podcast from David Ould and Stephen McAlpine –
“Steve and Dave speak with Dr. Albert Mohler to explore the implications of Trump’s re-election on American Christianity. He candidly shares his evolving stance on Trump, the persistence of ‘woke’ ideology, and the role of American evangelicals during a time of societal upheaval. He navigates the complexities of faith in a politically charged era, offering a beacon for Evangelicals in a changing landscape.
Dr. Mohler also engages with Christian nationalism, examining how faith and national identity can coexist without overshadowing the Gospel’s universal message. He invites us to ponder our dual citizenship, emphasising the eternal over the temporal.”
Growth and Change and Preaching (Part 2)
Posted on January 10, 2025
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“Heard raises a valid concern—that a ‘just be faithful’ ministry mindset for preachers and church leaders might excuse some preachers for sermons that are poorly prepared and regularly fail to connect with the lives, hearts and wills of their congregations.
To address this in ministry more broadly, Heard points to the creational norms expressed in wisdom literature which operate outside and inside the church. For example…”
– The Expository Preaching Trust has published Part 2 of David Burge’s reflections from Andrew Heard’s book Growth and Change (Matthias Media, 2024).
See Part 1 here.
2025 Summer Reading Guide
Posted on January 10, 2025
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From SydneyAnglicans.net –
“Sunshine, salty air and waves crashing – we’re diving into summer! Here’s a list of books we’ve reviewed over the past year you could read on those lazy days by the water (or hot afternoons hiding inside with air conditioning!). …”
Reflections on Preaching at a funeral
Posted on January 9, 2025
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“In 2024 I attended some evangelical Christian funeral services; an unevangelical Christian funeral service; a Greek Orthodox funeral service; a secular funeral service.
There is no doubt that the blessings of our faith are most obvious at our funeral services.
In a previous blog I have written about planning for one’s own funeral, but now I want to address the subject of the funeral sermon. …”
– Here’s some help and encouragement from David Cook at The Expository Preaching Trust.
(Photo: Funeral procession in Queen Street, Chippendale, late 19th Century.)
Cross-cultural ministry that seeks to connect
Posted on January 9, 2025
Filed under Encouragement, Moore College, Parishes Comments Off on Cross-cultural ministry that seeks to connect
“In our part of Sydney, Chinese migrants come from very diverse backgrounds. Their occupations range from working on construction sites as builders, to running their own businesses, to working in offices as white-collar workers. There is a real mix of people in Lidcombe since it is now an important transport hub in Sydney, and it attracts many Chinese migrants who settle here. …”
– At the Moore College website, Danny Au Yeung, Rector of Lidcombe Anglican Church, shares some points for prayer in a strategic part of Sydney.
Abortion was the leading cause of death worldwide in 2024. And it wasn’t even close
Posted on January 8, 2025
Filed under Culture wars Comments Off on Abortion was the leading cause of death worldwide in 2024. And it wasn’t even close
“Throughout 2024, the mainstream press woke up to a brutal reality: Despite decades of sinister fearmongering about ‘overpopulation,’ the world is experiencing a critical shortage of babies that will threaten our way of life in every way imaginable.
… abortion was the leading cause of death globally in 2024, ‘with a record 45 million unborn babies killed in the womb, according to data provided by Worldometer.’ The numbers are excruciating and impossible to fathom: As of 12 p.m. on December 31, 2024, an estimated 45.1 million abortions were perpetrated throughout the year. For context, Canada’s entire population is 40.1 million. …”
– Very sobering article from The Bridgehead, via Anglican Mainstream.
Alistair Begg: Honesty, Humour and Hope
Posted on January 7, 2025
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“We speak to Alistair Begg about pastors, suffering, humility and surviving long term in ministry. Alistair Begg is in Sydney this week speaking at the Church Missionary Society conference in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.
Alistair has served the people of Cleveland Ohio for 42 years at Parkside Church and has a global impact through the influential Truth for Life Ministry.
We go backstage with Alistair to discuss: His teaching on 1 Peter, focussing on suffering, perseverance, trials, humility and standing firm in God’s grace. Reflections on 40+ years of pastoral ministry and lessons learned along the way. Insights into global mission and the long-term commitment of missionaries. His upcoming transition after more than four decades of leadership. The impact of Australia on his ministry in the US, including his close friendship with former Moore College Principal John Woodhouse. Insights into preparing for life after pastoral leadership as he approaches his final months as senior pastor.”
1700 Years after Nicaea — Credo Magazine
Posted on January 7, 2025
Filed under History, Theology Comments Off on 1700 Years after Nicaea — Credo Magazine
A new issue of Credo magazine is out, with a focus on the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity:
“Without the doctrine of the Trinity we have no Christianity. So, something is fundamentally wrong when countless churchgoers and churches today never say the Nicene Creed together on a Sunday morning. In fact, some have never heard of the Nicene Creed at all.
The year 2025 is the anniversary of the Nicene Creed, meaning this year is a strategic opportunity for pastors everywhere to put the creed back in the church where it belongs. In this new issue of Credo Magazine, we explain why the creed should not only inform the doctrine of the church but its worship, pervading its liturgy. No longer can the church afford to go without that creed which brings us into fellowship with the communion of the saints and summons us into communion with the holy Trinity. …”
– Worth reflecting on the first three sentences – and reading through some of the articles in this issue.
From the first featured article, A Map to Organise Wonder:
“The Nicene Creed, written in 325 years then ratified and expanded in 381 at the Council of Constantinople, represents a doctrinal map seeking to organize the greatest Wonder within all the cosmos: the Triune God. It is not a replacement for the Wonder itself but helps pilgrims on the journey towards the Celestial City. The Creed prompts us to marvel at True Wonder as we progressively encounter his beauty before reaching him in glory. Thus, without the Nicene Creed, Christians are in danger of being lost in a sea of doctrinal and moral confusion. Whether evangelical Christians recite the Creed in gathered worship or not, we are indebted to the theological luminaries of the fourth century. To jettison the Creed is like disabling a GPS in an unknown territory.”
Holding out the good news to multicultural western Sydney
Posted on January 6, 2025
Filed under Encouragement, Moore College, Parishes Comments Off on Holding out the good news to multicultural western Sydney
“Minchinbury is a suburb in the heart of western Sydney located just south of Mount Druitt and Rooty Hill. The local area is a melting pot of nations, with only 53 per cent of people in the catchment born in Australia. (It’s 70 per cent across New South Wales.) If Minchinbury was a street with 100 people living in it, 10 would be Filipino, four Indian, 81 would speak more than one language, 12 would be Islamic, 33 would be Catholic, and only 15 people would have no religion. …”
– Moore College has published this encouraging report from Mike Smith in the parish of Minchinbury.
Earlier the College published this ministry story from David Misztal at Wentworthville.
GSFA New Year 2025 Devotional
Posted on January 6, 2025
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“In 2025, we are reminded to focus on Jesus the Truth and life. Hebrews 12:2.
Each year comes with its own challenges, but once we trust God these challenges turn into opportunities for the gospel of Christ. My prayer to you all is that; Emmanuel God with us will challenge every challenges that may encounter us as a GSFA family, particularly preaching and teaching biblical truth. …”
– Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba, Archbishop of the Province of the Church of Uganda, shares a New Year devotional from the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches.
The Lost Coin
Posted on January 5, 2025
Filed under Encouragement, Evangelism, Resources Comments Off on The Lost Coin
“In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of a woman who has lost a coin and sweeps her entire house looking for it. It’s clearly not a large coin. It’s clearly not laying in the middle of the floor. It’s probably a smaller coin – somewhere in a corner.
Reflecting on that lost coin, I am left wondering about the lost souls in the world today. Particularly those whom none of us are trying to reach. …”
– 9Marks has republished this article by Mark Dever which encourages us to think about how we might reach those in minority language groups.
Related:
A very useful resource – the 5Fish app – from Global Recordings Network.
After 150 years of Christian compassion Leprosy is nearly defeated
Posted on January 4, 2025
Filed under History, People, Resources Comments Off on After 150 years of Christian compassion Leprosy is nearly defeated
“In November, people from nearly thirty countries gathered in New Delhi for the 150th anniversary of The Leprosy Mission. they thanked God for amazing progress in treating the disease and committed to strive for a world without leprosy by 2035. A world without leprosy is within sight. With improved preventative medication, diagnostic tests, and even vaccines, the tools and knowledge needed to end leprosy are in our grasp.
‘It was a marvellous time of celebrating the progress we’ve made, but also longing to finish the job,’ said Greg Clarke, the CEO of The Leprosy Mission Australia (TLMA).…”
– This article by Anne Lim at The Gospel Coalition Australia is a great encouragement. It’s also a reminder of the key work of Australian doctors such as Grace Warren.
Photo: Dr Grace Warren meeting Diana, Princess of Wales, Anandaban Hospital, Nepal, 1993. From Leprosy Mission Australia.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…