Church flees into exile
Posted on August 30, 2017
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“An entire Diocese of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan is operating from Northern Uganda after being forced to flee from civil unrest, leaving the main centre, Kajo-Keji, a ghost town.
The diocese was home to hundreds of thousands of Sudanese, including 280,000 Anglicans. As long-standing partners of the Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid, operations and project manager Eddie Ozols flew to Uganda last month to investigate further ways of helping a church plunged into exile in makeshift refugee camps. …”
– A heartbreaking story from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Related: Anglican Aid.
Moore College and Cornhill Sydney in gospel partnership
Posted on August 30, 2017
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In a new video from Moore College, Principal, Mark Thompson, chats with Gavin Perkins, Director of Cornhill Sydney.
They share how their organisations work together in helping form and equip gospel workers.
Presbyterian resources on Marriage
Posted on August 30, 2017
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The Gospel, Society & Culture Committee of the Presbyterian Church in NSW has a number of resources concerning Christians and Marriage – on their website, and their Facebook page.
See also their resource paper: Engaging the Marriage Debate.
Kay Goldsworthy elected Archbishop of Perth
Posted on August 29, 2017
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An announcement from the Diocese of Perth:
“I write to share with you the highly anticipated announcement of the election of the eighth Archbishop of Perth. Read more
Hugh Palmer interview at Moore College
Posted on August 29, 2017
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Hugh Palmer, Rector of All Souls Langham Place in London, recently visited Moore College.
He shares his impressions of Moore College, and speaks of the need for a thorough theological education.
Watch this 5 minute interview.
The Bible and Same-Sex Marriage: A Response to Robyn Whitaker and Amy-Jill Levine
Posted on August 29, 2017
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“Christians seeking guidance in the upcoming same-sex marriage ballot will naturally turn to the Bible. But what does the Bible actually say about marriage and sexuality?
It can be confusing when there are so many claims circulating about biblical scholarship on these matters. However, the Bible itself is clearer than often claimed. The real question is not simply what the Bible says, but rather what we do with what it says.
Last week, the ABC republished an article by Robyn Whitaker, claiming to be a ‘summary of critical biblical scholarship on the issue.’…”
– ABC’s Religion and Ethics has published this response by Dr Lionel Windsor to claims published by the ABC last week.
Network Ten admits doctoring controversial footage
Posted on August 29, 2017
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“Network Ten has admitted to digitally doctoring footage for a news item on the alleged spitefulness of the same sex marriage debate, digitally superimposing a homophobic image sourced online onto a stock image of a random bus stop. …”
– The Australian. (Subscription.)
See also:
Commentary from The Herald Sun. 28 August 2017.
Media Watch, ABC TV. 28 August 2017.
Screenshot of the stock image for purchase from Getty Images.
Constitutional challenge to anti-discrimination laws
Posted on August 28, 2017
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Constitutional challenge to anti-discrimination laws
“Two preachers subject to a complaint for preaching against homosexuality and same-sex marriage have launched action to halt the case on constitutional grounds, in a challenge that could invalidate state anti-discrimination laws.
A complaint against Hobart Presbyterian pastor Campbell Markham and street evangelist David Gee was accepted last month by Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Sarah Bolt. But the preachers have filed a Supreme Court application seeking to strike out the complaint on the ground the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act is unconstitutional…”
– Story by Matthew Denholm in The Australian. (Subscription)
Related:
I was born in a free country – Campbell Markham.
Why I fight for free speech – Campbell Markham.
Same sex marriage: Christian Lobby makes bias complaint against ABC
Posted on August 28, 2017
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“A complaint of bias has been made against the ABC after a news presenter appeared to suggest gay marriage opponents had no right to cheer gay athletes, such as Ian Thorpe. …”
– Story from The Australian. (Subscription.)
Watch the full interview in question here. Image: ABC TV.
Archbishop Glenn Davies preaches on marriage at Moore College chapel
Posted on August 25, 2017
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On Friday 25 August the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, preached in the Moore College chapel on the Bible’s teaching on marriage, focussing on Matthew chapter 19. Good to watch and share widely.
See it at the Moore College website.
Religious freedom and rights
Posted on August 25, 2017
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Yesterday, 2GB’s Chris Smith spoke with Associate Professor Neil Foster, from the University of Newcastle, about the repercussions of same sex marriage and the necessary protections.
Listen here. (h/t SydneyAnglicans.net.)
Reformation Rally, Saturday 26th August
Posted on August 25, 2017
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Be sure you don’t miss the Reformation Rally at St. Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday. Read more
The Holy Spirit and Holy Scripture
Posted on August 25, 2017
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“The Church Catechism, as well as the general tone of evangelical thinking and preaching, has taught us that we believe ‘in God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth me, and all the elect people of God’.
That is to say, the Holy Spirit has been given an association with the holiness of the believer, or rather, with the believer’s experience of holiness, which has almost excluded other functions ascribed to Him, and which has certainly distorted the perspective of biblical teaching on the Third Person of the Trinity. …”
– Church Society has republished this article by Alec Motyer, first published in Churchman in 1964. (PDF file.)
GAFCON in the Midst of Missional crisis
Posted on August 24, 2017
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“We’ve looked at how GAFCON came to be and why it matters. Here we’ll unpack the challenges GAFCON and orthodox Anglicans face as we seek to be a missional movement to win people for Christ.
In what kind of landscape does the GAFCON movement now find itself? In what kind of environment do Orthodox Anglicans find themselves living day to day and doing ministry? To steal a phrase from the General Secretary of GAFCON, we find ourselves in the midst of a missional crisis. That is, in 2017 we are faced with a decision: how will we relate to the culture of our times and do mission within this culture?…”
– At The Australian Church Record, Caitlin Hurley concludes her brief series on GAFCON.
Hard truth about soft power
Posted on August 24, 2017
Filed under Anglican Communion, Opinion Comments Off on Hard truth about soft power
“How has the Anglican Communion managed to more or less stay together and even at times give the appearance of growth despite nearly twenty years of doctrinal and ethical chaos?
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s presence in Khartoum, Sudan, for the inauguration of the 39th Province of the Anglican Communion on July 30th illustrates the point. …”
– Charles Raven, Membership Development Secretary of GAFCON, takes a look at some of the ways power is used within the Anglican Communion.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…