From around the Anglican Church of Australia — 16 December 2016
Posted on December 16, 2016
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Here are a few items from around the Anglican Church of Australia this week.
- Christmas Pastoral Letter from the Stuart Robinson, Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn.
- Archbishop of Perth not returning to his duties before retiring early.
- Archbishop of Melbourne releases video message for Christmas.
- New book on Samuel Marsden by David Pettett launched in Sydney.
- Moore College offers new Women’s ministry study option.
(Image courtesy Anglican Church of Australia.)
The value of teaching Books more than once
Posted on December 16, 2016
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The latest from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate:
“Why is it valuable to teach through Bible books more than once? What are some advantages of teaching books numerous times? Why do people often object to teaching books of the Bible more than once? Doesn’t St Helen’s just teach the same couple of books each year? How can we get better at repeating books in our regular Bible-teaching programmes?
In this month’s Preaching Matters, Charlie Skrine talks about his experiences of teaching books several times, and why it is important for the church.”
A Tentmaker for Derby? And other news from the Northwest
Posted on December 15, 2016
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“Are you equipped for a tentmaking ministry and keen to see the gospel move forward in the Kimberley region of the North West?
The town of Derby, about a two-and-a-half hour drive north of Broome, is an opportunity waiting for someone to take hold of with both hands. It is the third largest town in the Kimberley, but we haven’t had any significant Anglican ministry there for a good number of years. …”
– Read the details on the last page of the December 2016 edition of Northwest Network (600kb PDF file), from the Diocese of North West Australia. Plenty of food for prayer.
Reformation Themes: The Bible Alone and Faith Alone – from Paul Barnett
Posted on December 14, 2016
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Bishop Paul Barnett has written two encouraging reflections on key Reformation themes. Read them at the links below.
Reformation Theme: The Bible Alone.
“2017 will be the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. On 31st October 1517 an unknown monk in a small town nailed 95 debating points to a church door. It was a common academic practice to invite debate but these ‘theses’ went viral and Martin Luther became famous overnight. …”
Reformation Theme: Faith Alone.
“The young Martin Luder – that was the family name – had been a law student in the major university town, Erfurt. Against his father’s will he became an Augustinian monk.
But he was a poor tortured soul who felt himself under the wrath of God. He engaged in punishing fasts and endless confessionals. As a mendicant monk he begged his way 1000 miles from Erfurt to Rome as a pilgrimage.
But he was clever. The order appointed him Professor of Bible at the new university in the little, ‘nowhere place’, Wittenberg. In preparing his lectures on Romans and the Psalms he made a great discovery. …”
The Parish of Peakhurst / Lugarno – a snapshot from 1974
Posted on December 14, 2016
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This 1974 newsreel about the Anglican Parish of Peakhurst – Lugarno will bring back memories for many of our readers.
A bloke called Barry and the Jesus bikes parked around Melbourne
Posted on December 14, 2016
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“For the past few years, mysterious bikes have been appearing across Melbourne’s CBD carrying signs preaching that ‘Jesus died for our sins’…”
– The Age has this story about the sign-carrying bicycles left in strategic spots around Melbourne.
(Larger version of the photo.)
Healthy churches around the world
Posted on December 14, 2016
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The latest 9Marks Journal is out. Editor Jonathan Leeman writes,
“The Journal topic of healthy churches around the world was Dever’s idea. I was doubtful at first. But – goodness – was I wrong!
This might be one of my favourite Journals to date. It’s sort of like Tim Keesee’s wonderful book, Dispatches from the Front: Stories of Gospel Advance in the World’s Diffcult Places. The difference is, the authors provide frontline reports on the state of churches. How are churches doing in Brazil, Iran, Cameroon, Albania, China, Singapore?
Are they preaching the Bible? Proclaiming a biblical gospel or watered-down substitute? Pursuing corporate and individual holiness? Pursuing evangelism? Practicing church membership?
The planting and growing of healthy churches is how we will best fulfil the Great Commission”
– Download the current issue from 9Marks.
Risen — Articulate 4 from the ACR
Posted on December 14, 2016
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The Australian Church Record is continuing to republish Archdeacon T. C. Hammond’s encouraging notes on The Thirty Nine Articles.
“A weary world gropes for security and struggles against insidious and often victorious evil. Remedial measures are entered upon with high hopes. Recurrent malignancy seems to mock our best endeavours. Jesus Christ is the answer to our heart yearnings. He conquered death and is coming again in judgment.”
– Read the full post, originally published in The Australian Church Record, April 28, 1955.
Related: The Thirty Nine Articles.
Helen Roseveare
Posted on December 13, 2016
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“Helen Roseveare was one of the most unforgettable characters I’ve ever met. The news of her death in Northern Ireland at the age of 91, has brought many friends to reconsider our fellowship together and her impact in Sydney.
Since the time of cheap airfares, international Christian leaders have often visited Sydney and a few have even endured the long journey to visit us often. Some make a great contribution to our Christian fellowship, others have seemingly made little contribution and have been quickly forgotten. Sadly, some have done us great harm and we could wish their visits would be forgotten.
However, amongst the visitors Helen Roseveare’s contribution was as great as any. Her two visits to Katoomba conventions in 1985 and 1988, challenged and changed the lives of many people. …”
– Phillip Jensen gives thanks for Helen Roseveare, who went home to be with Christ last week.
(Photo via Justin Taylor.)
Holy Trinity Adelaide Christmas billboard
Posted on December 13, 2016
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Here’s a clever and thought-provoking poster from Holy Trinity Adelaide.
The Well Good News of Christmas
Posted on December 13, 2016
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Here’s a Christmas video for kids (and their parents), produced by The Bible Society in the UK.
How to Grow a Family Ministry
Posted on December 12, 2016
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Pete Tong has been writing a three part series, at The Australian Church Record, on How to Grow a Family Ministry.
Part 1 – Passion and Vision.
Part 2 – Theological Convictions.
Part 3 – An integrated family ministry.
Where next on same-sex marriage?
Posted on December 11, 2016
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Church Society has published online an article by Director, Lee Gatiss. It will be printed in the Winter 2017 edition of Crossway.
Entitled “Where next on same-sex marriage?”, it focusses on the situation in the Church of England, though with reference to the wider Anglican Communion
“So, we have completed more than two years of ‘facilitated’ or ‘shared conversations’ about sexuality issues in the Church of England. This was encouraged by the Pilling Report a few years ago, as the way forward on this issue. But what happens now that the conversations have ended? And what, if anything, should be done?
There are various potential options for the future of the Church on this subject. Some have listed only the different ways in which so-called ‘traditionalists’ might be hived off into a ‘safe space’, or leave the Church altogether once the liberal triumph is complete. But it is far from inevitable or desirable for that to be the outcome.
Others have seen the options as merely extremes: adopt gay marriage or stay as we are; with a third way (’pastoral accommodation’ of prayers for same-sex couples, but no change in doctrine) seen as a nice compromise in the middle. But this is tendentious: there are far more options than merely these three, and no-one is happy with the status quo.
In the article linked to below, from the forthcoming issue off our magazine Crossway, I explore in more detail 6 possible ways forward. So explore with me what those might be …”
A statement from the GAFCON UK Task Group — 8 Dec 2016
Posted on December 9, 2016
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“We are grateful to God for the gracious, unsolicited affirmation of the recent activities of GAFCON UK given by Archbishop Okoh, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria and Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council.
Archbishop Okoh’s Pastoral Letter of 6th December 2016 makes clear that, despite attempts from some in the Church of England leadership both to obfuscate the real situation on the ground in the Church, and to undermine the significance of Lambeth Conference Resolution I.10, the GAFCON Primates are in no doubt either as to the breakdown of discipline in the Church of England or as to the standards for human sexuality that the majority of the Communion expect the Church of England to uphold…”
Standing above the Pack
Posted on December 9, 2016
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“As I opened my computer this morning this article was on the work list for completion.
Writing is a lot of fun but it is not always easy to come up with material every week. So as the computer sparked into action and another google picture filled my screen I actually had a bit of a laugh along with a thought for what you now read. …”
– Bishop of Armidale, Rick Lewers, shares a Christmas message.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…