Michael Stead to be next Bishop of South Sydney
Posted on August 24, 2015
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“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has announced he has chosen the Rev Michael Stead to be the next Bishop of South Sydney.
He will replace Bishop Robert Forsyth, who retires in December after 15 years in the position…
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Sydney confirmed the appointment tonight (Monday 24th August).”
– News from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Shouting is not a debate
Posted on August 24, 2015
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“As the discussion around the proposal to change the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples is played out in the media and in the parliament, other larger questions have been thrown into stark relief.
Perhaps the most important of these is how we will deal with those with whom we disagree. Put in its starkest form, will we still allow our citizens the freedom to dissent without reprisal?
The signs at this stage of the debate are disturbing, to say the least…”
– Moore College Principal, Mark Thompson, has this opinion-piece in today’s Sydney Morning Herald.
See also: Homosexuality: Jesus deeply loved ‘the sexually broken’ – Murray Campbell, lead Pastor at Mentone Baptist Church. (Brisbane Times. h/t SydneyAnglicans.net.)
A taste of life at Moore College
Posted on August 22, 2015
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From Moore College: “Wondering what a theology student’s life looks like? Come along to our Open Events in August and September to find out!”
Open Night, Monday 31st August.
Open Week, Monday 31st August to Friday 4th September
Open Day, Saturday 26th September.
Phil Wheeler to head Evangelism and New Churches
Posted on August 21, 2015
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“The board of Evangelism and New Churches (ENC) has announced that the Rev. Philip Wheeler will be its new Director, to continue its work of evangelism and church planting.
Mr Wheeler replaces the Rev Bruce Hall who has directed the organisation for the past four years.
ENC grew from the well-established Department of Evangelism, run by the late evangelist John Chapman over four decades in the 20th century…”
– News from SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo from Anglican Deaconess Ministries.)
‘Religious instruction scrapped from [Victorian] curriculum’
Posted on August 21, 2015
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“Victorian schools will scrap special religious instruction from class time, with changes to the state’s curriculum throwing the future of the controversial program in doubt.
The Andrews government has ordered that the weekly 30 minute program move to lunchtime and before and after school in 2016 to make way for new content on world histories, cultures, faiths and ethics…”
– Report from The Age. More from Bible Society Australia.
Russell Moore on the Planned Parenthood videos
Posted on August 20, 2015
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Last week, Russell Moore spoke of what he hopes will be the end result of the release of the Planned Parenthood expose videos.
And today the seventh video has been released – Justin Taylor has the link and related material – however, please be warned that the subject matter is distressing and sickening.
See also:
- 5 videos every Christian should watch about abortion – Communicate Jesus.
- The Seventh Planned Parenthood Video: Ordinary, Everyday Evil – Stand to Reason.
NSW Summer School 2016 registration open
Posted on August 20, 2015
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Registration is now open for CMS NSW Summer School – coming up in January 2016.
GAFCON primates lead in corruption fight
Posted on August 19, 2015
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“GAFCON’s most senior leaders are taking a prominent role in the fight against corruption in Africa.
The Chairman of the Primate’s Council, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, was appointed late last year to chair Kenya’s Anti-Corruption Campaign Steering Committee.
Among other measures, the committee will run nationwide public education campaign aimed at changing Kenyans’ attitude towards corruption.…”
– from GAFCON.
Two new faculty appointments at Moore
Posted on August 19, 2015
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“At its meeting on 18 August, the Governing Board of the College has approved the Principal’s nomination of two new members of the Moore College faculty.”
They are Dr Chase Kuhn and Dr Chris Thomson. Details here.
When ‘discernment’ leads to disaster
Posted on August 19, 2015
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“The historic First Baptist Church of Greenville, South Carolina, announced in May that it would declare itself be ‘open and welcoming’ to all people and that it would allow same-sex marriage and ordain openly homosexual ministers.
The move came after the church had undergone a ‘discernment’ process under the leadership of a ‘LGBT Discernment Team.’ That team brought a report to the church’s deacons, who then forwarded it to the congregation. The church then approved the statement by standing vote…
The lesson – once a church or denomination is untethered from the inerrancy of the Bible, there is no brake on the relativizing effects of cultural pressure.”
– Albert Mohler writes an important essay on the slide into liberalism of a historic US church.
Bible Society Australia ‘acquires’ Koorong
Posted on August 17, 2015
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Here’s an interesting development:
“Bible Society Australia – whose core cross denominational mission is to translate, distribute and engage people with the Bible – has acquired leading Christian retailer Koorong…”
– Real the media release (PDF), or watch the announcement video from Bible Society Australia CEO, Greg Clarke and Koorong Managing Director Paul Bootes.
And some more info here from Bible Society Australia.
Catching up on the Annual Moore College Lectures
Posted on August 17, 2015
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If you missed the 38th Annual Moore College Lecture series by Professor Kevin Vanhoozer, you can catch up here.
How did we get to Now? — NSW Presbyterians challenged to remember
Posted on August 16, 2015
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“Before I belonged to the Presbyterian Church I was a member of another Australian denomination that has now completely lost its way theologically.
I used to attend the Katoomba Convention and the CMS Summer School for my annual Bible teaching. I know what it’s like to go to church week after week and hear minister after minister have nothing to say from the Bible. Some of you can’t imagine a situation like that. Some of you have lived through it. We can’t afford to forget those days. We must make sure that we don’t become complacent.
That’s one reason why we need to play our part in meetings like Assembly and Presbytery. Where does theological liberalism begin to take its hold? It’s often in the decisions of Assemblies and Presbyteries. Carl Truman says that liberalism enters a church when evangelicals don’t bother turning up to the decision making meetings while the moderates and liberals slowly change the theological temperature. We must each play our part in making sure that we are a denomination that sticks to the Bible…”
– In his address to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in NSW recently, Moderator Kevin Murray challenged his hearers against complacency.
Read it on pages 8 and 9 of the August–September 2015 edition of The Pulse (PDF).
The illustration given above is also why the ACL is committed to its task. If you share our commitment, consider joining. Photo credit: Peter Merrick.
Moore Theological College insights with a fairy-tale commute
Posted on August 14, 2015
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Check out this neat video from Moore College.
And here’s where to find info on the courses on offer.
Archbishop of Sydney backs plebiscite plan
Posted on August 14, 2015
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Here’s a media release from the Diocese of Sydney, Friday 14th August 2015:
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Media Statement August 14th, 2015The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has congratulated the Prime Minister and the Coalition for backing a plebiscite on same-sex marriage.
“I believe that marriage is a foundational concept to our society and indeed to human civilisation as a whole, in accordance with God’s own plan for all people, and it is intrinsic to the continuation of the human race as the bedrock of the family from which succeeding generations are born.”
“Despite the relentless campaign by some sections of the community, it is only now that other views are starting to be heard in the media, not only from the churches. The discussion must include the implications for children and the family unit, not just sloganeering.”
“Mr Abbott has been consistent and forthright on this issue, and it is clear he recognises the national importance of a debate about the definition of marriage as well as the strength of feeling on both sides. Yet the debate has been unhelpfully politicised, which is why it should be decided by the people directly. If the majority of Australians desire a change to the time-honoured understanding of marriage, then so be it. The Prime Minister is graciously offering this option so that we, the people, may have our say on the future of marriage in Australia.”
– Source, SydneyAnglicans.net.
Related: Church and religious leaders send letter on Same-Sex Marriage to Prime Minister Abbott.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…