Archbishop Davies on the Syrian Crisis
Posted on September 18, 2015
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“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has called for each church in Sydney to adopt and love one of the refugee families that are to come from Syria to Australia.
But how might this be done?
Last Sunday night on 2CH, Dr Davies, joined me in the studio to take talkback callers about how his plan might be rolled out…”
– Dominic Steele has been filling in for Kel Richards on 2CH on Sunday nights. Last Sunday night, Archbishop Glenn Davies joined him to speak about the Syrian refugee crisis.
Update: video of the conversation has been added.
Knowing your Bible is key to OT narrative
Posted on September 18, 2015
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“One of the things that struck me about 1 Kings 1 is how the original readers’ Bible knowledge would have made a great difference to their reading. To us, the story is full of colour and detail but it doesn’t really resonate with the 2 Samuel story as it should…”
– Adrian Reynolds at The Proclaimer points out a problem for which a remedy is needed – know your Bible better.
GAFCON calls for ‘truth on the table’
Posted on September 18, 2015
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Here’s a Media Statement from GAFCON concerning the Archbishop of Canterbury’s call for a meeting of Anglican Primates in January 2016:
“the GAFCON Primates will prayerfully consider their response to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s letter.
They recognize that the crisis in the Communion is not primarily a problem of relationships and cultural context, but of false teaching which continues without repentance or discipline.”
Read the full text below:
“Media Statement
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s call for a meeting of Primates in January 2016 shows that he has recognised the deep concerns of faithful church leaders around the world, including those belonging to the GAFCON movement who represent the majority of the global Communion’s membership.
GAFCON began with the first Global Anglican Future Conference in 2008 as an initiative to restore the integrity of Anglican faith and order as the Communion descended into deepening crisis.
We are now a global family standing together to restore the Bible to the heart of the Anglican Communion with a strength and unity that comes from our common confession of the Lord Jesus Christ, not merely from historic institutional structures.
It is on this basis that the GAFCON Primates will prayerfully consider their response to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s letter. They recognize that the crisis in the Communion is not primarily a problem of relationships and cultural context, but of false teaching which continues without repentance or discipline.
Consistent with this position, they have previously advised the Archbishop of Canterbury that they would not attend any meeting at which The Episcopal Church of the United States or the Anglican Church of Canada were represented, nor would they attend any meeting from which the Anglican Church in North America was excluded.
It is therefore of some encouragement that the Archbishop of Canterbury has opened the door of this meeting to the Primate of the Anglican Church in North America, Archbishop Foley Beach. He has already been recognized as a fellow primate of the Anglican Communion by Primates representing GAFCON and the Anglican Global South at his installation in Atlanta last October and he is a full member of the GAFCON Primates Council.
In the end, our confidence is not in any structural reorganisation, useful though it may be, but in the saving grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and in the abiding truth of the Bible. That is what empowers us and this is the assurance we bring to our broken world.
September 17, 2015 AD.”
Read it on the GAFCON website.
Loyalty
Posted on September 17, 2015
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“Of the two qualities largely lacking in our political leaders, one is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and the other is the fruit of our Christian hope. …
Our earthly leaders let us down and leave us no example to follow, but the perfect God/man, the Lord Jesus, set his face steadfastly to Jerusalem to suffer and die for undeserving rebels.”
– Presbyterian Moderator General David Cook lifts our eyes above the events in Canberra.
Anglicare Sydney launches Syrian Refugee Crisis Appeal
Posted on September 17, 2015
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Anglicare Sydney has launched The Archbishop’s Syrian Refugee Crisis Appeal.
Read about it, and donate, here.
Archbishop of Canterbury calls for Primates’ Gathering
Posted on September 17, 2015
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“The Archbishop of Canterbury today wrote to all 37 Primates inviting them to attend a special Primates’ gathering in Canterbury to reflect and pray together concerning the future of the Anglican Communion.
The meeting, to be held in January 2016, would be an opportunity for Primates to discuss key issues face to face, including a review of the structures of the Anglican Communion and to decide together their approach to the next Lambeth Conference.
The agenda will be set by common agreement with all Primates encouraged to send in contributions…”
– from The Archbishop of Canterbury’s website.
See also: GAFCON calls for ‘truth on the table’.
A Journey through Romans – infographic
Posted on September 16, 2015
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From Lionel Windsor –
“Here is the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, summarised in a single infographic. This is based on a mini-lecture I gave at Moore Theological College.” See it here.
Sooner Count the Stars – new Sovereign Grace album on the way
Posted on September 16, 2015
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A new album from Sovereign Grace is on the way and is available for pre-order. Details here.
‘What shall I render unto the Lord?’ — Richard Johnson’s text
Posted on September 15, 2015
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In his farewell address before leaving the office of Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott quoted from Psalm 116, the text read by Chaplain Richard Johnson during the first Christian service in Australia.
Who was Richard Johnson? What was his passion? Learn about him here – and read of his concern for the inhabitants of the Colony in his parting message (PDF) –
“I have told you again and again, that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and that there is no coming to God with comfort, either in this world, or in that which is to come, but by him. He has told you so himself. And the apostle assures you, that there is no other name under heaven, given unto men, whereby they can be saved. Look unto him, and you shall be saved; if not, you must be damned. This is the plain truth, the express declaration of the Bible. Life and death are set before you.
Permit me then, as your minister, your friend, and a well-wisher to your souls, to press these serious and weighty considerations home upon your consciences once more. I hope and believe that I have asserted nothing, but what can be proved by the highest authority, the word of the living God.
They certainly deserve your closest and most careful attention, since it is plain beyond a doubt. that upon your knowledge or ignorance, your acceptance or rejection of this gospel, your everlasting happiness or misery must depend.”
International Women’s Consultation — report
Posted on September 14, 2015
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“In late June 2015, Caitlin Hurley, Emma Little, Jane Tooher and I headed to London at the invitation of the Proclamation Trust.
The Proclamation Trust has been a leader of evangelical ministry in the UK, through their training of men and women in expository Bible teaching; conferences for clergy, women in ministry, and ministry wives; their Cornhill course; and their many written resources.
The invitation included the opportunity to attend The Proclamation Trust’s flagship conference, the Evangelical Ministry Assembly (EMA), and after EMA to participate in an international women’s consultation organised by Carrie Sandom…”
– at the Equal But Different website, Kara Hartley – Archdeacon for Women’s Ministry in Sydney Diocese – reports on a recent and strategic International Women’s Consultation.
Related: Audio of the EMA 2015 talks. (Proc Trust’s Adrian Reynolds says that the video files will be uploaded in coming days.) Photo by Sam Law.
Evangelism: The Simplicity of Changing the World
Posted on September 13, 2015
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“Once upon a time in a land far away, I heard a speaker at a conference insisting that evangelism ought to engage with the cultures around us. The task seemed so complicated. Mapping conceptual worlds. Integrating lofty ideas into unseen mental frameworks. And all of this was to be done well before you open your mouth about Jesus.
Everyone I spoke with at morning tea had been thoroughly convinced of one thing: they could never do the kind of thing the speaker was calling for. And most of them were ministers who had gone through a full theological education! What hope would the ‘unlettered and ordinary’ amongst us have (as the apostles were called, Acts 4:13)?
In contrast, the view of evangelism in the book of Acts is refreshing for its simplicity…
On that extraordinary day when Jesus rose from the dead, evangelism became the ordinary activity of his people for the rest of time.”
– Encouragement from Moore College’s Peter Bolt.
Church of England ‘heartened’ by rejection of Assisted Dying Bill
Posted on September 12, 2015
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“James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle, and lead bishop for the Church of England on health care issues, said:
We are heartened that MPs have decided not to change the law on assisted suicide.
‘We believe that the proposals contained in the Assisted Dying Bill would have exposed already vulnerable people to increased risk. The vote in the House of Commons sends a strong signal that the right approach towards supporting the terminally ill is to offer compassion and support through better palliative care. We believe that all of us need to redouble our efforts on that front.”
– The Church of England responds to the rejection of the Assisted Dying Bill.
See also: MPs overwhelmingly reject flawed assisted suicide bill – Care. (h/t Anglican Mainstream.)
Getting ready for the Plebiscite
Posted on September 11, 2015
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“To guide your holiday reading and listening, here is a selection of resources for a sermon series on marriage in preparation for the possibility of an upcoming plebiscite…”
– David Cook provides a useful list of resources, plus the outline of a sermon series planned for the Chinese Presbyterian Church in Sydney. Very useful for ministers helping their congregations think through what the Bible says on these important issues.
(Photo: David & Maxine Cook. David is the Moderator General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia.)
Northwest Network Sept 2015 — Keeping the Cross Central
Posted on September 10, 2015
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The latest (and 100th!) issue of Northwest Network is out – with news and encouragement to pray for the cause of Christ in North West Australia.
Bishop Gary Nelson writes:
“I find it easy in our world to be distracted from the core truth, the fundamental basis of Christian belief. But Paul reminds us here in 1 Corinthians that the cross is the ground of our faith and preaching. While he goes on to say in 2:2 …
‘For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.’
Now the message we proclaim isn’t merely moral – as if you could extract, for example, the Sermon on the Mount from the rest of the Bible and somehow retain its integrity and power – but rather, Christianity’s morality arises from the Christ who is Lord and Saviour through his sacrificial death on the cross for our salvation.
So in a world that regards the message of Christ crucified as weak and foolish, Christians – whether as individuals, churches or dioceses – will always be tempted to look elsewhere for power and wisdom that appears impressive. Thus we must keep asking ourselves,
…‘will this message or movement point me to the crucified Christ? Will it grow my knowledge, love and service of Jesus as Lord?’ …”
Read it all in NWN – download it here as a 770kb PDF file.
Archbishop Davies calls for ‘warm and generous welcome’
Posted on September 9, 2015
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The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has welcomed the Government’s announcement that Australia will permanently resettle 12,000 refugees from Syria on top of the current humanitarian intake.
Dr Davies has also called upon Sydney Anglicans to make a generous and practical response to the Syrian refugee crisis.
“I am calling upon parishes all across our diocese, not only to pray for these victims of persecution, but to step up and be prepared to do whatever is within their power to provide a warm and generous welcome, coupled with practical assistance, to ensure that those who come to find safety in Australia are afforded the best possible chance to make a new start and benefit as fully as possible from the peace, freedom and opportunity that Australia offers,” Dr Davies said.
“Under the leadership of Anglicare Sydney, I have also asked our diocesan organisations – our schools, our retirement villages, our youth programs and our colleges to come together to assist in any way they can with goods in kind, funds, ESL classes, educational support, personal support and even accommodation.”
“We also look forward to working as effectively as possible in a coordinated manner alongside other non-government organisations and government agencies.” …
The Archbishop and Anglicare have also launched ‘The Archbishop’s Syrian Refugee Crisis Appeal’, to provide particular emergency relief and support to Syrian refugees. For more information, or to donate, please visit the Anglicare website or call 13 22 26.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…