Luther and his most important impact

Posted on August 9, 2017 
Filed under History Comments Off on Luther and his most important impact

“On 31 October 1517, in a small provincial university town, an Augustinian monk who served as a professor in the university, nailed a document to a church door. And it started a revolution.

Today, 500 years later and on the other side of the world, that unexceptional act — there would have been lots of notices on that door, since it was the unofficial notice board for the university — still captures the imagination. …”

– At Theological Theology, Dr Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore Theological College, has published a slightly extended version of an address delivered at the opening of the Luther exhibition at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney on Tuesday 8 August, 2017.

John Anderson on what’s happening in Australia over the same-sex marriage plebiscite

Posted on August 8, 2017 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Opinion Comments Off on John Anderson on what’s happening in Australia over the same-sex marriage plebiscite

Former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson spoke about his very real concerns for Australia – on ABC News.

Well worth watching – on YouTube. (9’30”.)

Same-sex marriage: Prime Minister sets date for postal vote

Posted on August 8, 2017 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Same-sex marriage: Prime Minister sets date for postal vote

“Australians could start receiving ballot papers to vote on same-sex marriage in their letter boxes from September 12.

The Federal Government has decided on a non-binding postal ballot if the Senate refuses to approve a compulsory plebiscite. …”

– Report from ABC News.

Update: Same-sex marriage will be legal by Christmas predicts Brandis. – ABC News.

What’s the go with GAFCON?

Posted on August 8, 2017 
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON Comments Off on What’s the go with GAFCON?

“In November last year, the date and location of the next GAFCON conference were announced – 17-22 June 2018, in Jerusalem. It is expected that over 2000 will attend.

But how did GAFCON start? What is it and what does it do? And why is it such a big deal? …”

– At The Australian Church Record, ACL Council member Caitlin Hurley begins a short series on GAFCON. Worth passing on to church members.

New Head for Anglican EdComm

Posted on August 8, 2017 
Filed under People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on New Head for Anglican EdComm

“Anglican EdComm, the Education Commission of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney has announced the appointment of Stephen Kinsella as its next Executive Director.

Mr Kinsella, who is currently Headmaster of The Illawarra Grammar School will take up his new appointment in early 2018.”

– Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.
(Photo: The Illawarra Grammar School.)

Moore College School of Theology 2017

Posted on August 7, 2017 
Filed under History, Resources Comments Off on Moore College School of Theology 2017

“This year’s School of Theology sees members of the Faculty joined by visiting scholars as we celebrate the legacy of the Reformation and its significance 500 years on.

Lectures are open to all students and the public and will run over two days on Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th September at Moore College. …”

– Read about this year’s Moore College School of Theology.

Note that early bird rates end Friday 11th August.

Bill fails religious protection test – Anglican Diocese of Sydney Media Statement

Posted on August 6, 2017 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Bill fails religious protection test – Anglican Diocese of Sydney Media Statement

Anglican Diocese of Sydney
Media Statement, 6th August 2017

Bill fails religious protection test

“There are serious religious issues and freedom of conscience concerns arising from the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 being promoted by some liberal MPs” said the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney today.  Read more

Religious Freedom protections in new same sex marriage proposals: too few, too narrow

Posted on August 6, 2017 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Opinion Comments Off on Religious Freedom protections in new same sex marriage proposals: too few, too narrow

“The debate over same sex marriage in Australia has been re-ignited by news that some members of the federal governing Liberal/National Party (LNP) coalition are proposing, contrary to their party’s policy, to introduce legislation in Federal Parliament this coming week to redefine marriage to extend it to same sex couples.

In particular, press reports today indicate that a new Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 will be introduced, one feature of which is that it contains legislative protections for religious freedom, designed to encourage support of the legislation by believers.

In my view the protections to be provided, if press reports about the proposal are accurate, are far too few and far too narrow, and the proposal cannot be seen as providing adequate protection for this fundamental human right. …”

– Here is an important and very current contribution by Associate Professor Neil Foster, at Law and Religion Australia.

See also: Liberal MPs urged to “keep their promise” regarding a Plebiscite.

“I have been ashamed of Episcopal leadership denying the Christian faith…”

Posted on August 5, 2017 
Filed under People, TEC Comments Off on “I have been ashamed of Episcopal leadership denying the Christian faith…”

On GAFCON: “It is therapy for our hubris to have those to whom we have sent missionaries, now seeing the need of mission to the United States, Canada, Europe and Britain in their headlong race to sever ties with the Christian faith.”

– Bishop C. Fitzsimons Allison, retired Episcopal Bishop of South Carolina, was interviewed on his 90th birthday for VirtueOnline.

For decades, Bishop Allison was a leading light in the battle for the Lordship of Christ in The Episcopal Church of the USA.

Chinese whispers at the ABC

Posted on August 5, 2017 
Filed under Culture wars, Opinion Comments Off on Chinese whispers at the ABC

“A media fracas broke out this past week over Julia Baird’s reports on the ABC about links between Christian teachings and domestic violence against women.

My personal experiences as an Anglican pastor resonated with much that Baird reported. She made valuable points about the impact of particular Christian teachings and Bible verses on some women, such as the injunction in St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians for wives to ‘submit’ to their husbands. I did not see her work as an attack on Christianity.

However Baird’s findings, which included harrowing interviews with victims of abuse, were overshadowed by disputes about a report she gave of American research findings concerning the connection between Christian faith and domestic abuse.…”

– At The Spectator Australia, Mark Durie in Melbourne looks at the ‘chain of evidence’ relied on in the ABC reports.

Also see Faith, family, violence and the ABC’s smears – Mark Powell.

“Since Baird’s article and the subsequent piece on 7:30, I have followed up on all the academic sources that she references. It really wasn’t that hard since there was only one. However, in that sole reference, a footnote led me to a number of other works. …”

The Slippery Slope and the Jesus Box

Posted on August 5, 2017 
Filed under Opinion, Theology Comments Off on The Slippery Slope and the Jesus Box

“In the late-20th century and early 21st century, the slippery slope has tended to begin over the issue of women’s ordination.

The reason for this is not because there is something especially nefarious about women being ordained, but because this is the point of maximum cultural outrage at which progressives have tended to capitulate. …”

– Sobering words from Rick Phillips at Reformation21.

Moore College Sunday resources

Posted on August 4, 2017 
Filed under Resources, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Moore College Sunday resources

Moore College has released a couple of videos you might be able to use in conjunction with Moore College Sunday (nominally this Sunday, 6th August).

Moore College – A Light for your path.

Moore College Overview Video.

Lots of other resources here.

From The Principal’s message at the link above:

“We must never lose our sense of dependence upon God and his grace towards us.

Without his sustaining and guiding providence Moore College would go the way of many others before it – drifting from the word of God, blending into the world of the secular academy, losing touch with the gospel mission that alone justifies its existence.

Our need and our vulnerability are well-known to God. We must be aware of them too. That, as much as anything else, is a stimulus to prayer.”

Liberal MPs urged to “keep their promise” regarding a Plebiscite

Posted on August 4, 2017 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Liberal MPs urged to “keep their promise” regarding a Plebiscite

“We now know that a group of Liberal MPs are planning to defy their Prime Minister and trash the election promise they made to you. They plan to cross the floor, vote with Labor, the Greens and independents to force the parliament to debate same-sex marriage.

They promised you there would be no change without a people’s vote. …”

– Australian Christian Lobby’s Lyle Shelton urges supporters to pray, and to contact Liberal members of Parliament (though a contact form at the link above) ahead of Monday afternoon’s party meeting.

The Mythical Middle

Posted on August 4, 2017 
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON, Opinion Comments Off on The Mythical Middle


“It has not worked. It cannot work. It will not work.

I mean the idea that we will be able to find a middle ground, where we will be able to be quietly or relatively conservative, while allowing for a denominational variety which blesses sexual relations outside the bonds of traditional marriage.

The present tactic of those looking for a change is to say that there is a middle way…”

– Archbishop Peter Jensen examines the idea that you can hold a ‘middle ground’ position when the Bible’s teaching is clear. At the GAFCON General Secretary’s blog.

The Bible: Is it Relevant? Is it True? Would it matter if it wasn’t?

Posted on August 3, 2017 
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on The Bible: Is it Relevant? Is it True? Would it matter if it wasn’t?

“How can a book drawn up over centuries, but all long since, by people in and around Palestine, have any real significance for people like you and me who live in this mad age of rush, atom bombs and duodenal ulcers?

Let us approach this question via another question I am sometimes asked, ‘Is the Bible true ?’

And this second question leads me to pose a third, ‘Does it matter?’ For indeed to many people is almost an axiom that it does not matter, since it is quite possible to get on with the serious business of living in blissful unawareness of its teachings. …”

– The Australian Church Record has republished this 1955 article from Leon Morris.

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