Northwest Network March 2017
Posted on March 23, 2017
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on Northwest Network March 2017
“Mining towns in Australia are well known for boom and bust cycles.
Old timers who have survived previous boom and busts usually just laugh at the reactions of newbies. They make comments like, “what do you expect, it’s mining” or “what, you expected the good times to last forever”.
Sadly, this bust period saw many of the ‘old timers’ pack their bags and leave town. Some with nothing to show for their time in the Pilbara and so unable to afford to live here any longer; others with pockets bursting from new found wealth through selling their property. These were followed by the people who bought those properties at the height of the boom, but now unemployed, houses repossessed by the banks, filing for bankruptcy, or contemplating suicide (with some succeeding).
This is the gloomy reality for many in the ‘City’ of Karratha.”
– The latest issue of Northwest Network is out.
Use it to fuel your prayers for the churches and the people of North West Australia. (575kb PDF file.)
Christianity in Iraq is finished, says Canon Andrew White, ‘Vicar of Baghdad’
Posted on March 22, 2017
Filed under Global Comments Off on Christianity in Iraq is finished, says Canon Andrew White, ‘Vicar of Baghdad’
“He is one of the world’s most prominent priests, but Canon Andrew White – known as the ‘Vicar of Baghdad’ – has reached a painstaking conclusion: Christianity is all but over in the land where it all began.
‘The time has come where it is over, no Christians will be left. Some stay Christians should stay to maintain the historical presence, but it has become very difficult. The future for the community is very limited,’ White told Fox News this week.”
– From Fox News. (via Anglican Mainstream.)
Royal Commission ends Anglican phase
Posted on March 22, 2017
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on Royal Commission ends Anglican phase
“The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has finished its investigation of the Anglican Church, with a summary hearing in Sydney that revealed some statistics on offences against children.
The commission set aside four days for its hearing into issues such as the structure of the church, training and formation, professional standards and redress. …”
– SydneyAnglicans.net has published this report on the Royal Commission.
Related:
Anglican leaders promise unity on child protection: royal commission – Sydney Morning Herald.
“Not every Anglican diocese has robust child protection measures, with Sydney Archbishop Glenn Davies telling a royal commission the lack of national consistency is ‘extremely disappointing’.”
NEXUS17 coming up on April 3rd
Posted on March 22, 2017
Filed under Resources Comments Off on NEXUS17 coming up on April 3rd
NEXUS17 is at MBM Rooty Hill this year.
“Four outstanding talks, morning and afternoon tea, a spit-roast lunch, time to talk with old friends and meet new ones…”
Theme: The Reformation we need today.
Details at the Nexus website.
Church Society pays tribute to former Director
Posted on March 21, 2017
Filed under Church of England, People Comments Off on Church Society pays tribute to former Director
“Members of Church Society will be saddened to hear of the recent death of the Revd David Streater who was Director of the Society 1991 – 1998.”
– Michael Walters pays tribute at the Church Society blog.
(On this anniversary of the death of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, it might be appropriate to read this article by David Streater on another Anglican Reformer who died for the gospel, Bishop Hugh Latimer. – PDF.)
‘Gay rights activists target IBM executive’
Posted on March 21, 2017
Filed under Culture wars Comments Off on ‘Gay rights activists target IBM executive’
“Marriage equality advocate IBM Australia is being targeted by militant gay rights activists who have condemned the company over a senior executive’s links to a Christian organisation. …
The social media campaign comes after the same activists shamed Adelaide brewer Coopers into pledging allegiance to Australian Marriage Equality after its ties with the Bible Society were exposed.”
– Report from The Australian. (paywalled)
An FAQ on shaping your ministry culture around Disciple-making
Posted on March 20, 2017
Filed under Resources Comments Off on An FAQ on shaping your ministry culture around Disciple-making
“In 2009 a small Australian publisher quietly released a book entitled The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift that Changes Everything, co-authored by Sydney Anglicans Colin Marshall and Tony Payne.
The book became an unlikely international bestseller, especially when Mark Dever offered his unsolicited endorsement that “This is the best book I’ve read on the nature of church ministry,” and began reading excerpts of the book aloud at conferences.
If you haven’t read it, you don’t need to. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition, Justin Taylor explains why you don’t need to read The Trellis and the Vine.
Beer, Bibles and free speech in Australia
Posted on March 19, 2017
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Opinion Comments Off on Beer, Bibles and free speech in Australia
“The Bible Society of Australia has recently celebrated its 200th birthday – a significant milestone in a country whose European settlement only took place about 230 years ago. It decided to celebrate the event by way of connecting with popular Australian culture – and in a fairly secular country, a key aspect of that culture is beer!
So in a creative move, the Society formed a partnership with Coopers, a long-established but slightly “niche” brewery, to arrange the release of cans of “Coopers Light”, a low-alcohol beer, with Bible verses on the cans. (The link was all the more appropriate because the motto of the Society was “Live Light”. Coopers also claims to be “Australia’s longest living family brewery”, having been established in 1862.)
So far, so good …”
– At MercatorNet, Neil Foster recounts the disturbing tale of the “Keeping it Light” video.
Thanksgiving service for Mike Ovey — video
Posted on March 18, 2017
Filed under People Comments Off on Thanksgiving service for Mike Ovey — video
St. Helen’s Bishopsgate has uploaded a video recording of the thanksgiving service for the life and ministry of Dr. Mike Ovey, held at All Souls Church, Langham Place in London, on Monday 13th March 2017.
The full video recording runs for a little over 2 hours.
And from Oak Hill:
A packed church of about 800 people joined Mike’s family, together with friends, colleagues, Oak Hill students and alumni, to pay tribute to Mike’s exceptional gifts, which he offered in the service of the people of God, and to thank God for his life as a teacher, educator, and leader.
The service included four appreciations of Mike’s life and work, and the address was given by Peter Jensen, former Archbishop of Sydney, Australia. The individual appreciations and the address are at the following points in the video:
10:35 – Efrem Buckle, Pastor of ecclesia, Lewisham
17:32 – Andrea Williams, Chief Executive, Christian Concern
31:16 – Nick Tucker, Vicar of St Bartholomew, Edgbaston
39:33 – Dan Strange, Acting Principal of Oak Hill College
57:42 – Peter Jensen, former Archbishop of Sydney.
Former Queen’s Chaplain ‘resigning’ from Church of England
Posted on March 18, 2017
Filed under Church of England Comments Off on Former Queen’s Chaplain ‘resigning’ from Church of England
“A former Queen’s chaplain has quit as a Church of England priest after a long-running objection to what he saw as the liberalising trend of the CofE.
Canon Gavin Ashenden made the unusual move of resigning his orders on Friday, Christian Today can reveal, leaving more than 35 years of ordained ministry. …
An ardent conservative on both sexuality and women priests, Rev Ashenden confirmed to Christian Today he had signed the ‘deed of relinquishment’ under the Clerical Disabilities Act 1870. This starts a six-month interim period before he officially leaves the Church.
He declined to comment on the move until his six-month waiting time is up.”
– Report from Christian Today. Photo from ashenden.org.
Why Christians should be punctual
Posted on March 18, 2017
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Why Christians should be punctual
“If you’re someone who is consistently late, are your reasons good? Maybe you’ve never even considered your lateness to be an issue. But have you thought about what it is that you’re (perhaps unintentionally) communicating to the person/people/event that you are late for? …”
– At GoThereFor.com, Kirsten McKinlay suggests five reasons why punctuality matters.
Bishop of Newcastle Greg Thompson announces resignation
Posted on March 16, 2017
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on Bishop of Newcastle Greg Thompson announces resignation
“Anglican Bishop of Newcastle Greg Thompson has resigned after three years of dealing with issues related to clerical abuse and cover ups. …”
– Report from ABC News.
See also: Archbishop Glenn Davies pays tribute to Newcastle Bishop.
“Archbishop Glenn Davies says he learned ‘with great sadness’ of the resignation of Newcastle Bishop Greg Thompson. …”
Reformation Rally at Moore College, Saturday 18th March
Posted on March 16, 2017
Filed under History, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Reformation Rally at Moore College, Saturday 18th March
Call to continue gospel vision at Thanksgiving Service for Mike Ovey
Posted on March 16, 2017
Filed under Encouragement, People Comments Off on Call to continue gospel vision at Thanksgiving Service for Mike Ovey
“All Souls, Langham Place was packed on Monday 13th March as hundreds of men and women, young and old, gathered to worship God and give thanks for the life and ministry of Mike Ovey, the dearly loved former Principal of Oak Hill College, who died on 7th January aged 58.
Hugh Palmer led the service, featuring hymns with All Souls’ trademark uplifting music. Current students at Oak Hill read the opening biblical sentences; there were four outstanding tributes to Mike and a sermon based on Philippians 1:21, ‘for me, to live is Christ, to die is gain’.
All the speakers emphasised how Mike Ovey combined robust love for truth with compassion for people.”
– Anglican Mainstream’s Andrew Symes reflects on the Thanksgiving Service for Mike Ovey.
Launch of Rocky Hill Church
Posted on March 16, 2017
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on Launch of Rocky Hill Church
“Sunday, February 26 saw the first public Christian gathering in East Goulburn in more than 40 years. The day saw the launch of Rocky Hill Church under the leadership of the Reverends Brian and Alison Champness. Brian and Ali are part of the growing ‘F5’ Anglican network in Goulburn.
The network was started by Bishop Stuart Robinson and his wife Jane in 2012.”
– News from The Goulburn Post.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…