Stuart Robinson to conclude his term as Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn at Easter 2018
Posted on December 1, 2017
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An announcement today from Stuart Robinson, Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn:
“Beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I am writing to our wider diocesan family with the news that I will conclude my term as the tenth Diocesan Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn in the tenth year of my consecration on the Saturday before Easter, 2018. A simple service of laying up the pastoral staff will take place in the Cathedral at 11.00am that day (31 March 2018).
Jane and I have been so blessed to serve alongside you in this great and wonderful diocese; it has been a privilege. We do sense our work is complete (as much as that can ever be discerned) and with extended and immediate family responsibilities, we have determined the time is right to conclude this ministry. We are seeking the Lord in connection with what the next chapter may hold.
Some weeks ago, as per ordinances and canons, I notified the Primate, the Metropolitan, my episcopal team and senior staff of this course of action.
Please uphold Bishop Trevor Edwards as he, as Vicar-General, will also become the Diocesan Administrator. Bishop Trevor will take a break in the early New Year and then I’ll begin the hand-over process although given the way we currently work, Bishop Trevor is ‘across’ all presenting issues.
My final formal activity in Canberra & Goulburn will be a ‘walk with the cross’ on Good Friday. 30 March 2018, followed by an open-air service in Goulburn, our See City.
A great many thanks for your kindness, friendship and partnership in the gospel.
Much love in Christ,
Bishop Stuart C.G. 10
Diocesan Bishop
1 December 2017.”
– from The Canberra & Goulburn website.
(You could pray, not only for Stuart & Jane Robinson, and Trevor & Ruth Edwards, but also for those responsible for seeking a new bishop.)
Time to shine – responding to the trifecta
Posted on December 1, 2017
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“There’s never been a better time than now to be a Christian, and to offer to our world the way of hope. God encourages us to shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the word of life (Philippians 2). And it’s never more timely than now.
- It’s official: the trifecta is in.The unborn child has no protection – it’s legal to take his or her life up to 24 weeks gestation and beyond that if two doctors agree (in Victoria). Though fearfully and wonderfully created in the image of God (Psalm 139), the unborn child is not safe even in the womb.
- The national same-sex marriage poll will soon deliver a fundamentally different view of what a marriage can be. In rebellion against God’s creational design and purpose for man and woman, sinful desires and unnatural relationships between persons of the same sex (Romans 1) are now given dignity through the redefinition of marriage.
- With Victoria leading the way, it will become legal to allow and assist people facing the prospect of a painful end, to take their own life. No longer content to rest in providence that God gives life and God takes away (Job 1), the state has become God. …”
Writing for his own denomination, Presbyterian Moderator-General John Wilson argues that there has never been a better time to be a Christian.
“Resignation from the Marriage Act”
Posted on November 30, 2017
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”I will mail this letter to the Attorney General on the day that the Governor General signs into law the redefinition of marriage. …”
— Hobart Presbyterian Pastor Campbell Markham explains the reasoning behind his decision to relinquish his authority to conduct weddings.
Meet the Nativity
Posted on November 29, 2017
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From Glen Scrivener and the team at Speak Life:
“We’re thrilled to announce the release of Meet the Nativity –– a Christmas comedy to share.
It’s been a collaboration between 50 artists, including ?Eastenders actress Vanessa Bailey, Oscar-shortlisted director, Chris Jones, and Speak Life’s director, Glen Scrivener, the creative force behind a sling of viral videos.
In the first 24 hours, Episode 1 has been seen 50 000 times across YouTube and Facebook. It tells the story of Will, a hapless boyfriend who tries to charm his way with his girlfriend’s family at Christmas. While nothing works with that family, Will finds a warm welcome from the most unexpected source.
The episodes are being accompanied by “explainer” videos, drawing out the gospel from each mini-film and directing people to follow-up. This follow-up comes in the form of a book –– Glen Scrivener’s best-selling Four Kinds of Christmas –– and a course, Life Explored, a visually sumptuous introduction to the Christian faith.”
Senate votes against same-sex marriage bill amendments
Posted on November 29, 2017
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“All five amendments put forward by conservative senators James Paterson and David Fawcett to their Liberal colleague Dean Smith’s private same-sex marriage bill were voted down …
Senators Paterson and Fawcett’s changes sought to:
- Protect civil celebrants refusing to marry gay couples.
- Create two definitions of marriage — one as between a man and a woman and the other as between two people.
- Protect “relevant beliefs” around marriage.
- Prevent governments and agencies from taking action against people with a traditional view of marriage.
- Allow parents to remove their children from classes if they believe material taught is inconsistent with their views on marriage. …”
– Full story from The Daily Telegraph. (subscrip
Advent: the quiet arrival of the Kingdom into the republic
Posted on November 29, 2017
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“Christ is the King, as many of us remembered and celebrated this past Sunday. To quote the wonderful Psalm 2, God has installed his Son as sovereign in Zion; the nations are his inheritance, the ends of the earth his possession. That is the reality, and the powers on the earth are warned that the best way to abundant life is to “celebrate his rule” and “take refuge in Him”.
But of course they don’t: the first part of the Psalm gives a vivid picture of how arrogant human authorities “rise up… against the Lord and against his anointed”, wanting what they think is freedom from God’s “chains” and “shackles”. Christ is the King, but they – we – want independence: we want a republic.
The question asked at the beginning of the Psalm: why do human beings do this? Is not answered here, but the rest of the Bible explains. …”
– At Anglican Mainstream, the Rev. Andrew Symes writes about Psalm 2, and Christ Church on the Isle of Harris.
Advent resources and the PrayerMate app
Posted on November 28, 2017
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“Advent is traditionally a time when Christians prepare for the arrival of Jesus Christ?—?remembering his first coming at Christmas, but then also looking ahead to his return. It is a wonderful time of expectancy and hope.
This Advent, PrayerMate is delighted to announce our best ever range of devotional resources that you can subscribe to through the app and follow along daily from 1st December 2017. …”
– Andy Geers announces a range of devotional resources (most of them free). Read the details here.
Dr Peter Stuart elected Bishop of Newcastle
Posted on November 27, 2017
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Dr Peter Stuart has been elected the 14th Bishop of Newcastle.
Report from NBN News Newcastle.
Biographical info from the Diocese of Newcastle.
“Bishop Peter came to the Diocese in 2009 after serving in ministry in Tasmania and South Australia. In 2013 he administered the Diocese following Bishop Farran’s retirement. Since December 2016 he has been leading the Diocese on behalf of Bishop Thompson. He became Administrator of the Diocese on 1 June 2017.
Bishop Peter was born in England in 1963 and emigrated to Cabramatta in 1971. He has since lived in Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia before returning to NSW. …”
Update:
The news has now been posted online by the diocese.
And from The Newcastle Herald:
“Bishop Stuart wants to head a diocese that leads on important social justice issues including “supporting Indigenous Australians as they seek fairer representation in Australian decision-making”, speaking up about the treatment of refugees and the impact of fossil fuels on the environment.”
Balancing Religious Freedom Rights is not ‘Discrimination’
Posted on November 27, 2017
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“Australia is in the middle of a debate as to the extent to which religious freedom rights should be accommodated in legislation introducing “same sex marriage” (SSM). Those who object to this idea tell us that:
Christian conservatives – following the lead of their counterparts in the United States – seek to use freedom of religion to justify discrimination against members of the LGBTQI community. This agenda is now being pursued under the guise of the debate for a marriage equality bill. (“After the yes vote, let’s not remove one inequality and replace it with another” The Guardian online, 22 Nov 2017)
The word “discrimination” is a notoriously slippery one, and I would like to challenge the view that recognising religion freedom in changing marriage laws amounts to unjustified discrimination. …”
– Associate Professor in Law, Neil Foster, writes at Law and Religion Australia.
Resignations in the Scottish Episcopal Church
Posted on November 26, 2017
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“Following the selection and appointment by four Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church of the Reverend Canon Anne Dyer as Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney on 9 November, there are now serious questions being asked about the process.
Following the appointment, the Rector of St Margaret’s, Aberdeen, the Very Reverend Dr Emsley Nimmo … on account of his duty of care for the diocese, immediately resigned from his role as Dean of the Diocese.
The Revd Canon Ian Ferguson, Rector of Westhill Community Church also resigned from the Cathedral Chapter on Wednesday. …”
– News from The Scottish Anglican Network.
Mary Kassian on The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Posted on November 25, 2017
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“Brothers, we need you. We need you to be the men God created you to be. We need you to be the protectors and champions of women and children. We need you to be good fathers. Good leaders. Good shepherds. …”
– At Desiring God, Mary Kassian speaks plainly about what is needed.
Collect for use in the ‘present’ crises
Posted on November 25, 2017
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“ALMIGHTY GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, hear, we beseech thee, for his sake, who is our Great High Priest, the prayer of thy servants on behalf of our reformed Church…”
– Church Society has republished a Prayer for the Church. Whether you modernise the language or not, it’s so important to pray for Christ’s Church.
Remote Scottish church accepts oversight from Bishop Andy Lines
Posted on November 25, 2017
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“The people of Christ Church, [on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides], announced today that they can no longer remain under the oversight of the bishop of Argyll and the Isles, the Right Reverend Kevin Pearson. This follows his decision to support the change to the canons of the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) which introduced the innovation of same-sex marriage.
At a meeting with Bishop Pearson, … [t]he bishop insisted that the SEC would retain all assets.
In response the congregation made it clear that they would walk away rather than submit to a decision which departs from scripture, tradition and the teaching of Jesus Christ…”
– Read the full story from The Scottish Anglican Network.
(Map courtesy Google Maps. Photo: The Rev. Daniel Davies and the vestry of Christ Church, Harris.)
Anglican Bishop fears loss of religious freedom
Posted on November 25, 2017
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“Prominent ‘No’ campaigner and the Anglican Bishop for South Sydney, Michael Stead explains how his religious freedom is being threatened by the Bill. …”
– Report from ABC Radio’s AM.
How to influence your conscience (before someone else does)
Posted on November 25, 2017
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“What was the first music you owned? For me it was a CD by Blink 182, The Mark, Tom and Travis Show. Well, when I say owned I mean permanently ‘borrowed’ from my brother when I was 10 years old. I enjoyed it so much that it became the only CD I listened to. ‘Enjoyed’ is really an understatement too. I listened to it and sang myself to sleep every night for six years—much to the annoyance of my brothers.
Wanting to relive the nostalgia of my youth, I went to sing a song from this CD at a karaoke night with Korean friends from my church. After displaying a rather remarkable range in pitch of which I was rather proud, my ballad was cut short as the sexually explicit content of the song I was singing became apparent. …”
– At GoThereFor.com, Mike Taylor writes to encourage you to be aware of what shapes your thoughts.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…