‘Cathedral wins Raffel’ — New Dean installed at St. Andrew’s
Posted on February 5, 2016
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“After months of waiting, St Andrew’s Cathedral congregation has finally welcomed the new Dean of Sydney.
At an Installation Service at the Cathedral on Thursday, 4th February, the Rev Kanishka de Silva Raffel became the first non-European to hold the post…”
– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
All ACL members will want to join in praying to Almighty God for Kanishka and Cailey in this new sphere of gospel service.
Churches offering sanctuary to asylum seekers — some context
Posted on February 4, 2016
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“In a high-profile decision of the High Court of Australia yesterday, Plaintiff M68-2015 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2016] HCA 1 (3 February 2016), a 6-1 majority ruled that the Australian government is entitled to continue its policy of detaining certain asylum seekers off-shore in the Pacific nation of Nauru. …
Today a number of Christian churches went public with an offer of ‘sanctuary’ for those who are supposed to be returned.”
– What is ‘sanctuary’, and does it still apply in Australia today? Here’s some legal context from Neil Foster at Law and Religion Australia.
Related:
“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, says Anglicans and other Christians in Sydney are concerned by the prospect of 91 asylum seeker children being returned to Nauru following the recent High Court ruling…” – SydneyAnglicans.net
Armidale’s Anglican Bishop urges caution on calls to defy the law to safeguard refugees – ABC News 05 February 2016.
Presbyterians plan to celebrate — with evangelism
Posted on February 4, 2016
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To celebrate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the doors of the castle church in Wittenberg, the Presbyterians want to proclaim Christ with a national campaign.
Facing a Task Unfinished
Posted on February 4, 2016
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“Getty Music is inviting thousands of churches around the globe to sing the new hymn Facing a Task Unfinished together on Sunday, February 21st, 2016!
We will provide you with the sheet music and demonstration, all you need to do is register! …
First penned by China Inland Mission worker, Frank Houghton, at a time when persecution in China was at its height, ‘Facing a Task Unfinished’ has been a rally cry for missions in the Pacific Rim for many years.
In 1929, the Lord laid a vision on the heart of CIM leaders to see 200 new workers plunge into the darkness and share the light of Christ, knowing that it could well cost them their lives.
As he reflected on Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:14 to bear the torch of the Gospel to all the nations, his heart was broken for the people of China, and he wrote:
Facing a task unfinished, that drives us to our knees.
A need that, undiminished, rebukes our slothful ease.
We, who rejoice to know Thee, renew before Thy throne,
the solemn pledge we owe Thee to go and make Thee known.
By 1932, the last of the 200 missionaries had set sail for China to spread the good news of the Gospel. Since that time, the church of China has grown from an estimated 100,000 who claim Christ as their Lord to millions, and the Lord continues to work in great ways because of the faithfulness of those that gave their lives proclaiming that Jesus died and rose.
We are delighted to introduce this missions hymn to a new generation with the prayer it will be an anthem for rising up to face the unfinished task and going to all the world to proclaim salvation in Jesus’ name.”
– Read more here. h/t David Ould.
Secularisation and the Sexual Revolution: Evangelical Theology and the Cultural Crisis
Posted on February 4, 2016
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“In the face of the sexual revolution the Christian church in the West now faces a set of challenges that exceeds anything it has experienced, of a similar magnitude, in the past. This is a revolution of ideas—one that is transforming the entire moral structure of meaning and life…”
– In the first of a four-part series, Albert Mohler argues that the foundations of the sexual revolution were laid almost a century ago.
True Anglicanism: Gospel proclamation, compassionate care, cultural leadership
Posted on February 3, 2016
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“Here is the main argument put forward by revisionists for the Church of England to change the historic doctrine of sexuality and marriage: ‘the majority of people believe this, so the church leadership should follow’. Leaving aside the interpretation of statistics, and the question of whether this societal change has happened by chance or as a result of sustained cultural re-education by a secular elite, we need to ask: should the Church accommodate itself to the culture as the revisionists demand, or should it be providing a lead in developing a counter-culture which influences and transforms the values of society?
Or perhaps the church should ignore the surrounding culture and be concerned only with the beliefs and actions of its own members and the small fringe of contacts which it hopes to draw in? This approach may have the strength of an authentically biblical foundation, but is it Anglican?…”
– At Anglican Mainstream, Andrew Symes looks at the way forward for the Church of England.
New devotional book on the Letters of John
Posted on February 1, 2016
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David Mulready’s new series of devotions for Lent is available from CEP. It’s on 1, 2 and 3 John. (Lent begins in 2016 on February 10th.)
See a sample here.
Merger proposal for Anglicare and ARV
Posted on February 1, 2016
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“The Council of Anglicare Sydney and the Board of Anglican Retirement Villages (ARV) have decided to pursue a merger of the two organisations. …
A recommendation will be made to the Standing Committee of the Diocese at its March meeting and if approved, a merger of the two organisations would take effect from 1 July, 2016…”
– News from SydneyAnglicans.net.
(Picture: Mrs Dorothy Mowll, wife of Archbishop Howard Mowll. It was her vision which led to the founding of Mowll Village – the beginning of ARV – in 1959.)
From the Vault: Win, Build, Send
Posted on February 1, 2016
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The YouGov poll on same-sex marriage
Posted on January 31, 2016
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There’s been widespread reporting of a UK poll, with stories beginning like this one –
“Anglican churchgoers in the UK who support gay marriage outnumber those opposed to it for the first time, according to a new poll…” (Sky News Australia).
So what’s the real story?
“Last night the internet was abuzz with a YouGov poll, commissioned by the revisionist campaigner Jayne Ozanne, that was purported to show that a majority of Anglicans now supported same-sex marriage. It did no such thing…
The headlines become even more suspect when you look at the poll questions in detail.”
– Ian Paul and Peter Ould have some analysis.
Bishop Charlie Masters’ Reflections on Canterbury – Two weeks after
Posted on January 29, 2016
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Bishop Charlie Masters, of the Anglican Network in Canada, shares some further reflections on what happened at the Primates’ Meeting in Canterbury –
“Those of us who have been living through what’s known as the realignment of Anglicanism – which incidentally began June 15, 2002 in Vancouver – are familiar with the image of the iceberg. What you see above the waterline though it may be immense is actually less than 1/8 of the complete iceberg; 7/8 of the iceberg looms below the surface. It is a big mistake to assume that the visible ice is all there is.
As Archbishop Foley said in his statement what happened at these meetings was only a beginning. But it IS a beginning, for which we can thank God.
As to the issue of discipline, although one could argue that the scope was far too narrow and the discipline far too weak and that others, including the ACoC should have been included, nevertheless this small step of discipline WAS taken. What was done was a good beginning…”
– Read it all on the ANiC website – or here as a PDF file.
Sydney mourns two leaders in Education
Posted on January 27, 2016
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We are saddened to learn of the death of The Rev. Canon Stanley Kurrle OBE, sixteenth Headmaster of The King’s School. He died on Wednesday 20th January 2016, at the age of 93.
Canon Kurrle was Headmaster from 1965-1983.
In a message to the school community, the present Headmaster, Dr Timothy Hawkes, wrote,
“During his time at King’s Canon Kurrle was greatly respected for his pastoral care and educational leadership and was loved by his boys. He had the unique capacity to know and never forget his boys, a quality that greatly endeared him to all.”
Canon Kurrle was a long-standing member of the New Universities Colleges Council (NUCC) which founded New College at UNSW and Robert Menzies College at Macquarie University.
His funeral will be held at St. James’ Chapel, Mowll Village, Castle Hill at 11:00am on Friday 29th January.
News has also come of the death of Mr. Roderick West, Head at Trinity Grammar School 1975–1996.
Current Head Master, Milton Cujes, wrote in a message dated 25th January 2016:
“It is with regret that I inform you that we have learned that our much-loved former Head Master, Mr Roderick West AM, M.A.(Syd), B.D. (Lond.), Dip. Ed. (Syd.), F.A.C.E., died this morning. An outstanding teacher of the Classics, and an inspiring leader in Christian education. Mr West was Head Master at Trinity Grammar School from 1975 to July 1996. He was then appointed as interim Principal at Kambala Anglican Girls’ School at Rose Bay from May to December 1999.
Details regarding funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.”
Many will give thanks for Rod West’s service in his capacity as a Trustee of Thomas Moore’s Estate. In addition, he was a valued member of the governing board of Moore College.
His funeral service will be held at the Trinity Grammar School Chapel, Prospect Road, Summer Hill on Friday 5th February 2016 at 11.00am, followed by morning tea. All clergy requested to robe.
Update: The Sydney Morning Herald has published a very fitting Obituary.
We give thanks to the Lord for these two brothers, and do not mourn as those do who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13.)
(Top photo: Canon Kurrle in 2014, courtesy of The King’s School.
Second photo: Rod West in 1994, courtesy of Trinity Grammar School, via Ramon Williams Worldwide Photos.)
Possibly the best App to help you pray
Posted on January 26, 2016
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Andy Geers in the UK has updated PrayerMate to version 5.
PrayerMate is considered by many to be the best iOS and Android app to help you pray consistently and thoughtfully.
Watch Andy’s explanation of what’s new, and even consider supporting his ministry. (Andy makes his app available without charge.)
ACNA clarifies Archbishop Beach’s participation at Primates 2016
Posted on January 26, 2016
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“The Anglican Church in North America has received numerous questions regarding whether or not Archbishop Beach was ‘a full voting member of the Primates Meeting…’.”
– Statement from ACNA.
Australia Day Honours 2016
Posted on January 26, 2016
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In the 2016 Australia Day Honours List, a number of Anglican Christians whom we know and love have been recognised. Included among them are:
Mrs Christine Jensen, who has been awarded Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia, “For service to the Anglican Church community in Sydney”, including her many years of encouragement to women of the Moore College family and through Mothers’ Union.
In 2010, Christine was interviewed for the In Tandem ministry wives’ blog. In it, she shares some excellent advice:
“Love Jesus, read your Bible, say your prayers and ‘do the good works he’s prepared for you to walk in’ (Ephesians 2:10)”.
Mr Peter Kell, has been appointed Member (AM) of the Order of Australia, “For significant service to the Anglican Church of Australia, to social welfare programs and delivery, and to the community of the Illawarra”.
Peter is well known through his many years of gospel-driven service, including as CEO of Anglicare Sydney, 2004-2011.
Our congratulations and best wishes go to them both, and to all who have been honoured.
Sydneyanglicans.net has more here.
(Photos courtesy Mothers’ Union Sydney and Anglicare Sydney.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…