New Principal appointed for Nungalinya College in Darwin
Posted on September 1, 2024
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“It is with much excitement that we can announce Dr Yane Damanik as the next Nungalinya College Principal! Picture here with her husband Roni, please see a paragraph from Yane introducing herself to the Nungalinya family:
‘I am deeply grateful and excited for God’s calling into this role at Nungalinya College. I am a Moluccan woman from the Maluku islands located in East Indonesia in the Western Pacific Ocean. I came to Australia as an overseas student trained in mission and Christian counselling at Kingsley Theological School in Melbourne. After completing my studies, I enjoyed a variety of roles in teaching, counselling, pastoral work and community development
Our family moved to the Territory in 2011 to serve with the Australian Indigenous Ministries (AIM). During this time, we were also involved in pastoral ministry at Living Water Uniting Church in Humpty Doo. Since leaving the NT in 2017, we have continued our work with AIM, where I held various roles, most recently as the Mission Coordinator, while also lecturing in Sydney. With our children now young adults Uni students, my husband and I believe that God is calling us back to Darwin to a ministry that I am passionate about: theological training in Indigenous contexts, a focus that was also the subject of my doctoral study. I am humbled to think that God has woven together my previous ministries, background and studies to prepare me for this new role.
It is a privilege to build on the excellent work accomplished at Nungalinya by God’s people over many years. I look forward to working alongside the college community to advance the vision of empowering Indigenous Christians for leadership across churches and communities in Australia.’ ”
– from the Nungalinya Facebook page.
A Review of “The Widening of God’s Mercy: Sexuality within the Biblical Story” by Christopher B. Hays and Richard B. Hays
Posted on August 31, 2024
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“Sometimes when people change their mind it is occasion for joy and celebration, for there is no virtue in adhering to past opinions for the sake of tradition or fear of criticism.
In this case, however, Richard Hays’s change of mind is a cause of grief and sadness instead of joy, especially for those like me who have learned so much from his outstanding scholarship over the years. …”
– At The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Thomas Schreiner reviews “The Widening of God’s Mercy: Sexuality within the Biblical Story”.
See also:
At The Gospel Coalition, Rebecca McLaughlin shares her review of the book:
“For decades, Christians seeking to uphold the Bible’s ‘no’ to same-sex sexual relationships have quoted Richard Hays’s treatment of this topic in his Moral Vision of the New Testament. But Hays (emeritus professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School) has coauthored a new book, The Widening of God’s Mercy: Sexuality Within the Biblical Story, arguing for ‘the full inclusion of LGBT+ people in Christian communities.’
Readers might expect to find that Hays has changed his mind about the meaning of the verses that apparently prohibit same-sex sex. But he hasn’t. Instead, he and his son, Christopher (an Old Testament professor at Fuller Theological Seminary), suggest God has changed his mind. …”
A fresh encounter with John’s Gospel
Posted on August 31, 2024
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“An epic Bible reading at St Jude’s Carlton invites attendees to encounter Jesus in a powerful and immersive way.
John’s Gospel will be read aloud in full, allowing people to experience the entire book and notice the threads running throughout.
The event is part of a series of free public readings Simon Camilleri will deliver across Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney churches in September 2024.
Mr Camilleri said he was excited to present the entire gospel story for people who may never have heard it before. …”
– Story on page 28 of The Melbourne Anglican for September 2024.
Simon is reading John’s Gospel at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney on Saturday 7th September.
Moore College School of Biblical Theology 2024
Posted on August 30, 2024
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Coming up next week!
We understand it’s not too late to register.
Interview: The Christian Church and Porn
Posted on August 30, 2024
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From AP, the national journal of the Presbyterian Church of Australia –
“In this episode of AP’s Profiles in Christian Living, host Mark Powell sits down with Dr. Marshall Ballantine-Jones to discuss the sensitive and pervasive issue of pornography.
Dr. Ballantine-Jones, who holds a doctorate on the societal impacts of pornography, shares his personal faith journey and presents alarming statistics about the prevalence of pornography in the Church and wider community.
The discussion delves into the harmful effects of porn on individuals, relationships, and society, and offers hope through practical solutions and spiritual guidance. Learn more about the Resist program, a course designed to help people break free from pornography addiction.”
– Watch here.
Sharpened and Refined: a missionary journey – Kylie Zietsch
Posted on August 29, 2024
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From Moore College, an interview with Kylie Zietsch:
“Despite my education degree, the volunteer work I was doing in Johannesburg, ministering to students and the homeless, lacked the firm foundation of theological education. So in 2010 I came to Moore College intent on studying for a year. But I soon realised I wanted to go deeper into the word and grow skills in how to approach ministry, so one year grew into four, and I finished the Bachelor of Theology.
I am really thankful for my time at Moore. I was surrounded by women with whom I could walk the journey of life and ministry, with whom I could think through future plans, and who encouraged me in my faith. Looking back now, the student body were formative in encouraging me in mission and sharpening me, preparing me for the mission field.. …”
– Read it here.
Positive Masculinity
Posted on August 29, 2024
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“Friends in Christ, this month, Micaela Cronin, the country’s first Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, handed down her first ‘report card’ to federal parliament on progress of the government’s National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children. …
Also highly significant in my view, Ms Cronin urged governments to help redefine masculinity and engage men effectively. She said, “we need to have eyes on men in different ways than we do now”. She said she was being told consistently by women to “please work with our men” and data uncovering how men become violent and stopped being violent was desperately needed. [Source]
It’s at this point I offer some Christian reflections.”
– The Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant, turns to Scripture to show us what a real man must be like.
Latest issue of Themelios (49/2) now available
Posted on August 29, 2024
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The latest edition of Themelios (volume 49, no. 2) is now available for download – or to read online – from The Gospel Coalition.
Includes a book review by Moore College’s Lionel Windsor (that’s also available here).
– Download or read online the full issue here.
A prayer for the displaced
Posted on August 28, 2024
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“I’m sure that, like me, many of you are deeply concerned about the ongoing civil war in Sudan, which is being increasingly covered by the international news media.
The deteriorating situation means the country is facing what the UN has described as “one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory.” There are now 10.5 million internally displaced people (IDPs)* in Sudan, making this the largest displacement crisis in the world. Almost all of these IDPs are in areas with acute levels of food scarcity.
And it’s not just Sudan that is seeing an increase in IDPs.…”
– Canon Tim Swan, CEO of The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid, writes to encourage you to pray – and offers a prayer you could use.
Keith Green, Bill Hybels, and the Loss of Steeples and Bells
Posted on August 28, 2024
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“I used to love Keith Green’s music and singing when I was a younger Christian. Not to say I don’t still retain some warm memories of his songs. But in my early twenties I found him to be the one singer who spoke to me. And he was already dead by the time I first heard of him. A big influence in my early Christian walk.
Okay I loved Larry Norman and his lyricism and irreverent attitude (I once saw him play live in Belfast and he was scarier than a paramilitary with a few pints in him). And I enjoyed early Randy Stonehill (especially the Welcome to Paradise classic).
But there was something sincere and deep and otherworldly about Keith Green. I still find myself singing those songs in my head from time to time. …”
– Here’s a thoughtful piece by Stephen McAlpine.
The terrible scourge of Female Genital Mutilation and what Christians are doing about it
Posted on August 28, 2024
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“The terrible scourge of Female Genital Mutilation and what Christians are doing about it.
Plus how the Tanzanian Church has been built through the labors and prayers of Australian Christians, and why prosperity gospel preachers are as wicked as witch doctors!
We are joined by Bishop Mwita Akiri from Tarime in rural Tanzania, Judith Calf who served as a missionary in theological education in Tanzania for 20 years, and Tim Swan who leads the Anglican Aid Ministry here in Australia.”
Tribute to Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith by Ross Cobb
Posted on August 27, 2024
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During the 10:30am service on Sunday (25th August 2024), Ross Cobb, Director of Music at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney, gave this tribute to Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith.
The service also featured hymns written by Bishop Dudley-Smith. (See it from the start here.)
Singleness book wins Christian book of the year
Posted on August 27, 2024
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From SydneyAnglicans.net:
“The SparkLit Australian Christian Book of the Year for 2024 has been won by Sydney Anglican the Rev Dr Dani Treweek for her book The Meaning of Singleness: Retrieving an Eschatological Vision for the Contemporary Church. …”
– Read here.
Related:
Singleness in the Church Today: An Interview With Dani Treweek – Jacob York speaks with Dani Treweek for The Gospel Coalition Australia.
The book is available now from The Wandering Bookseller.
Tickle v Giggle: Sex and Gender Identity
Posted on August 26, 2024
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“In his decision in Tickle v Giggle for Girls Pty Ltd (No 2) [2024] FCA 960 (23 August 2024) Bromwich J in the Federal Court of Australia found that the company Giggle had been guilty of indirect gender identity discrimination when its director, Sall Grover (who was also sued), had removed Roxy Tickle from her women-only social media app. …”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster comments on a ruling “which raises concerns for religious folk, many of whom see sex as a biological category determined at conception and ordained by God”.
Minister for Gulgong announced
Posted on August 26, 2024
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From the Diocese of Bathurst Facebook page:
“Bishop Mark Calder announced today the appointment of the Rev’d Josh Taylor as assistant priest in Cudgegong Valley, with responsibility for Gulgong. Josh and Jordon will arrive in Gulgong early in 2025. Praise God!”
Also from the Diocese of Bathurst, here’s the latest list of parishes – for your prayers:
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…