Archbishop sends message to Kenya after attack
Posted on April 3, 2015
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Anglican Diocese of Sydney
Public Statement
Friday 3rd April, 2015
Archbishop Glenn Davies this afternoon sent a message of condolence to the Anglican Primate of Kenya, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, after the attack on Garissa University which killed more than 140 students.
The text of the message reads:
We are shocked and dismayed by this wanton and deliberate attack on Kenyan citizens in Garissa where Christians in particular seem to have been singled out.
The violence and loss of life is sickening.
We grieve with the families of students who have lost loved ones, some of whom were deliberately targeted because they own the name of Jesus.
May God enable you and the church to stand firm in this time of testing.
You may be assured of our prayers for peace in the nation of Kenya, for healing for those injured and bereaved, and for our brothers and sisters to stand firm in the face of persecution and to be filled with a spirit of love, the perfect love which drives out fear (1 John 4:18).
– source SydneyAnglicans.net
GAFCON Easter Pastoral Letter 2015
Posted on April 3, 2015
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“… last week it was my privilege as Chairman of GAFCON to share in the launch of the Australian branch of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans.
I believe this is a new beginning for united gospel witness across the continent, sharing the same determination and passion for the gospel as that of the pioneering Anglican chaplain and missionary, Richard Johnson, who led the first recorded act of Christian worship on Australian soil on Sunday 3rd February 1788…”
– Chairman of the GAFCON Primates’ Council, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, writes an Easter Pastoral Letter.
Archbishop of Sydney’s Easter message 2015
Posted on April 2, 2015
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“It is a measure of our society’s fast pace (or perhaps commercialism) that this year, hot cross buns came on sale just after New Year’s Day.
By now, three months later, we have become so used to them that we forget they are marked with a cross.
The speed of our lives leaves us little time to reflect on the timeless truth of this symbol.
You may eat and enjoy your hot cross buns without ever noticing. But if you stop and think about it, the cross is out of place on such a treat.
Because the cross is an instrument of torture. The cross means pain. The cross means death. So why was Jesus, God’s righteous son, on a cross at all?
The Bible tells us that on the cross, Jesus took the judgment that we deserve. He died, was buried and three days later, rose again.
What does the cross mean to you?
For followers of Jesus, the cross is now empty because Jesus has risen from the dead and offers us new life.
This Easter, the mark of the cross can mark a new beginning for you, too.”
Dr Glenn N Davies
Archbishop of Sydney
Easter 2015 AD.
Watch the video from Anglican Media Sydney.
Read the text (PDF will download to your device).
And the story from SydneyAnglicans.net.And here’s a version formatted as two to an A5 page, suitable for printing to insert in your church newsletter this weekend. (115kb PDF.)
Archbishop of Melbourne’s Easter Message 2015
Posted on April 1, 2015
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This year’s Easter message from Dr Philip Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne, can be seen here.
Flawless Bible Tour 2015
Posted on April 1, 2015
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“In the Sydney Diocese we enjoy a wonderful legacy of faithful biblical scholarship, preaching and teaching. As we rejoice and revel in that legacy, let us join together to strengthen the integrity of gospel proclamation and Bible teaching throughout the developing world.
Throughout April, Anglican Aid will be raising awareness and financial resources through the Flawless Bible Tour for the massive need to train men and women in Africa, Asia and the Pacific…”
– Learn about the Flawless Bible Tour – coming to pretty much every church building in Sydney Diocese this month – from Anglican Aid.
Further: Am I just a Big April Fool? – David Mansfield.
Why the Creeds are good
Posted on March 31, 2015
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“To too many the creeds are a dusty vestige of a happily distant past. They were written centuries ago, born out of abstract battles whose players we can’t even name. Isn’t it just better to love each other and not get caught up in all those silly questions?…”
– In an age where creeds play little part in many church gatherings, R.C. Sproul Jr says that creeds are good guards of the faith. (h/t Gary Ware.)
If you have no gospel, preach something else
Posted on March 30, 2015
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The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, addressed viewers of a live webcast from Los Angeles last week. She spoke of the urgency of “choosing life”:
“a time of judgment …
We can choose to change our … ways …
We still have some opportunity to choose, but that kairos moment will not last long.
We have before us this day life and death. Which will we choose?”
The Presiding Bishop was not speaking of salvation through Christ from sin and death, but about “The Climate Change Crisis”. (Starting 3:30 into the video.)
Transcript of her talk. [Yes, the Bible affirms our stewardship of all creation, but without the gospel of Christ, no-one will be saved.]
Related: Anglican Bishops call for urgent action on ‘unprecedented climate crisis’
“A group of 17 Anglican Bishops from all six continents have called for urgent prayer and action on the ‘unprecedented climate crisis’. Their Declaration The World Is Our Host: A Call to Urgent Action for Climate Justice released today sets a new agenda on climate change for the 85 million-strong Anglican Communion…”
When to make a stand
Posted on March 29, 2015
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“Three great ‘stands’ in the history of the church:
- the stand of Athanasius over the person of Christ;
- the stand of Martin Luther over the authority of Scripture and justification by faith alone;
- the stand of the GAFCON Primates over the priority of Christ and his mission, the authority of Scripture over denominational processes, revisionist theology, and ethical practice. …
Being prepared to make a stand has characterised genuine Christian leadership throughout the last two thousand years. But why? And when? And how?”
– Moore College Principal Dr Mark Thompson gave this talk at a seminar during the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Conference in Melbourne last week.
Very helpful. Download it here as a PDF file.
(Picture: Detail from ‘Luther at the Diet of Worms’, by Anton von Werner, 1877.)
The visible Church of God — Article 19
Posted on March 28, 2015
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In his latest video on The Thirty Nine Articles, for the American Anglican Council, Canon Phil Ashey looks at Article 19 and the Visible Church of God.
The ACL celebrates the launch of FCA Australia
Posted on March 26, 2015
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The Anglican Church League sponsored the launch of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA), Australia at Scot’s church, Melbourne on 26 March 2015.
“The establishment of FCA Australia is recognition that we are not immune to the challenges of the wider communion. The ACL celebrates this launch and joins with you in praying for the newly formed FCA Australia board.”
The ACL’s President, Gav Poole, spoke at the launch reception —
“The ACL is a grassroots movement made up of lay and clergy members. We promote ministry that is reformed, protestant and evangelical.
By reformed we mean ministry that has its genesis in the sixteenth century reformers who recaptured the Biblical faith that we are saved through faith in Christ alone and that God is sovereign in life and salvation.
By protestant, we protest Biblical aberrations, name and warn against false teaching. Our unity is in the gospel, not structure and institution.
By evangelical, we fully trust in the powerful gospel of Jesus Christ which provides the only solution to human rebellion. The gospel is not just one of many messages but our only one.
This week, as we seek solutions to our many struggles, please be encouraged that faithful, clear and bold proclamation of the gospel along with earnest prayer to the Lord of the harvest is always rewarded.
One of the goals of the ACL is to promote the evangelical character of the Sydney diocese. Like it or not, the Sydney diocese is what it is today largely due to the work of the ACL.
It is a testimony to the fact that we can achieve far more together than apart.
Is a privilege to sponsor tonight’s event. The establishment of FCA Australia is recognition that we are not immune to the challenges of the wider communion.
The ACL celebrates this launch and joins with you in praying for the newly formed FCA Australia board.
Thank you for the opportunity to sponsor this event.”
Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Australia launched
Posted on March 26, 2015
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“An Australian branch of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans has been launched in Melbourne, watched by delegates from across Australasia at the Anglican Future Conference…”
– Russell Powell has this report at SydneyAnglicans.net.
And the GAFCON website has the text of Archbishop Eliud Wabukala’s address:
“… it is my prayer that FCA Australia will be powerfully used by God as an instrument of renewal and reform in the Anglican Church here. I long to see all orthodox Anglicans united in a common commitment to pioneering a new wave of evangelism which will have a deep and lasting impact on this nation.
However, I also want to encourage you to look beyond Australia. As you come together in this Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, commit to becoming even stronger partners with orthodox Anglicans throughout the world.…”
Related: Today David Ould published interviews he has recorded with Archbishop Eliud Wabukala and Dr. Ashley Null at the conference.
Anglican Future Conference opens in Melbourne
Posted on March 25, 2015
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“The Anglican Future conference has opened in Melbourne with a call for faithfulness and clarity in proclaiming the Gospel in Australasia.
More than 400 delegates have gathered in Melbourne, from all over Australia and New Zealand…”
– Russell Powell has this report at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Wesley Hill at Moore College
Posted on March 25, 2015
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While in Australia recently for Liberty Christian Ministries, Dr Wesley Hill (Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania) visited Moore College.
He spoke with the Faculty, addressed the students, and also sat down for a guest interview with Archie Poulos.
Watch the interview (9 minutes).
Watch his lecture and Q&A session (52 minutes).
Good resources for pastoral ministry.
Around the Anglican Church of Australia — 25 March 2015
Posted on March 25, 2015
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The Anglican Future Conference is getting under way in Melbourne today (March 25-27 2015). Please pray for all attendees, and for a renewed gospel vision for Australia to come out of this significant gathering.
In other news from around the country –
“Roof-wetting a milestone” – The Anglicare Women’s Hostel at Toowong celebrates milestone with a roof-wetting and blessing by Archbishop Dr Phillip Aspinall.
“Parishes rallying to pay Anglican Diocese of Bathurst’s legal bills” – Daily Liberal, Dubbo.
“Conversation with the Archbishop: Economics for a sustainable future” – Diocese of Melbourne.
“Pilgrims’ Service & Chrism Mass”, theme of “Called and Sent: a year of discipleship and apostleship” – Diocese of Ballarat.
St. Alban’s Cathedral in Griffith to celebrate 60 years – Diocese of Riverina.
Easter encouragement from Bishop Stuart Robinson – Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn.
‘The Presbyterian Church (USA)’s long and boring shuffle out of Christendom’
Posted on March 24, 2015
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“The drift from biblical orthodoxy to spiritualized leftism has profound real-world consequences. The church isn’t just shuffling out of Christianity, it’s shuffling out of existence. The church has lost 37 percent of its members since 1992, and the trend is accelerating.”
– National Review. Photo: PCUSA.
Related: How to tell the difference between The PCA and PCUSA – Joe Carter.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…