Oak Hill & Acts 29 to partner in church planting training
Posted on March 12, 2015
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“Acts 29, the global church planting network, and Oak Hill College have entered into a partnership to establish an academy to train people for ministry and church planting in Europe and the 10/40 window…”
– News from Oak Hill College in London.
‘Submission’ to my husband allows us both to flourish in our marriage
Posted on March 9, 2015
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“Recent articles in this newspaper about evangelical churches’ “oppressive” doctrine of male headship reveal a complete failure to understand the Christian psyche…
Some see inconsistency between the Bible’s teaching of “Christian freedom” on the one hand, and female submission on the other.
However, it is precisely the Bible’s teaching on freedom which so transforms a person’s thinking once they become a Christian that they are ready to submit to others.”
– Sarah Colyer writes this helpful opinion-piece in The Sydney Morning Herald.
First C of E woman bishop to be installed at Chester Cathedral
Posted on March 8, 2015
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“The Church of England’s first woman bishop, Libby Lane, will be formally installed in her new role as Bishop of Stockport this afternoon. More than 1,500 people are expected to attend the event at Chester Cathedral on International Women’s Day…”
– Report from ITV.
Human Sexuality and the ‘Same Sex Marriage’ Debate
Posted on March 6, 2015
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This promises to be a very useful book:
“The current debates about gender, the meaning of marriage and human sexuality are of interest to people inside and outside the Christian churches. A massive exercise in social engineering is underway around the world and it is often difficult to discern how Christians might contribute to the debate in a way that will not simply be dismissed as traditionalist bigotry.
The Sydney Diocesan Doctrine Commission has spent two years reflecting upon the issues and has produced this little book as a resource for Christians who wish to understand what is happening and how they might respond, as well as an explanation to others of why Christians have found the debate and the way it has been conducted in the public arena deeply disturbing.”
The members of the Doctrine Commission who have contributed to this report include:
- Rev Dr Peter Bolt
- Bishop Robert Forsyth
- Archdeacon Kara Hartley
- Rev Dr David Höhne
- Rev Tony Payne
- Rev Gavin Perkins
- Rev Robert Smith
- Rev Canon Dr Mark Thompson (chair)
– Now available as a pre-order from Anglican Press Australia (an imprint of Youthworks’ Christian Education Publications).
The Mark Drama at Moore College
Posted on March 5, 2015
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Moore College is putting on two performances of The Mark Drama – on Wednesday April 1st and Thursday April 2nd.
Why not take a friend? Details and booking here.
For Christians who missed the memo: the Bible abhors all domestic abuse
Posted on March 4, 2015
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I’m thankful for the many in our community from Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, to the Sydney Morning Herald’s ‘shine a light’ campaign who are speaking out on domestic violence. Even if it makes me and my own tribe – more theologically conservative Christians – uncomfortable.
I’m grateful since one of the best-known facts of Jesus Christ’s life is his compassion to women, especially those in need. Jesus protected women.…”
– Sandy Grant writes an opinion-piece for The Sydney Morning Herald.
NSW Liberal and Labor leaders speak at pre-election event
Posted on March 3, 2015
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Over at Bible Society Australia, John Sandeman summarises answers to questions put to NSW Premier Mike Baird and Opposition Leader Luke Foley at an event organised by the Australian Christian Lobby.
Phillip Jensen on Anglican Evangelicalism
Posted on March 2, 2015
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In the latest Preaching Matters video from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, Phillip Jensen speaks about what it is to be an Evangelical Anglican.
In doing so, he explores the difference between ‘followers of Calvin’ and ‘followers of Calvinism’. (Mike Ovey responds here.)
The Death Bed
Posted on March 2, 2015
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“That there is an element of fear as we face imminent death is natural, after all, none of us are experienced at dying, we only die once. It seems so permanent and separating from all that we love. …
The Christian facing death has two common questions, I will deal with the first in this column, the second question in the next column.”
– David Cook writes to encourage Christians to keep reminding each other of their hope. (Posted 02 March 2015. Image from a St. Helen’s Bishopsgate video.)
GAFCON Lent Pastoral Letter
Posted on February 28, 2015
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“A Church that is no longer able to say ‘it is written’ has placed itself in great spiritual danger, but that is where the Anglican Communion could be led according to a review just released of ‘Living Reconciliation’, a book written to promote the ‘Continuing Indaba’ project…”
– Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, Chairman of the GAFCON Primates’ Council, writes in his Lent Pastoral Letter.
Australia’s Christian Heritage
Posted on February 27, 2015
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Weekend reading, new in our Resources section:
Associate Professor Stuart Piggin gave this address at a gathering on 3rd February 2015 to commemorate the First Christian Service in Australia.
Held in Richard Johnson Square, Sydney, the gathering was close to the site of the first service, conducted by the Rev. Richard Johnson, Chaplain to the Colony, on 3rd February 1788.
“We are at the site of:
• the First Christian service on Australian soil,
• the first sermon preached,
• the first church and
• the first schoolhouse
The preacher at that service, held under a ‘great tree’, beginning at 10 o’clock on 3 February 1788, a hot midsummer’s day, was the Rev Richard Johnson, Australia’s
• first minister,
• first educator,
• first carer for orphans,
• first carer for aboriginal children …”
Click here to open the PDF file of Dr. Piggin’s address in a new window.
Photos: Ramon Williams, Worldwide Photos.
Newcastle Bishopscourt sale gets green light
Posted on February 27, 2015
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“A resolution to sell the Newcastle Anglican Diocesan’s historic Bishopscourt was passed by an overwhelming majority of the Diocesan Council on Thursday…”
– story and photo from The Newcastle Herald.
‘Whole church’ movement gathers momentum
Posted on February 26, 2015
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“The Australian branch of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GFCA), a worldwide movement promoting reform of the Anglican Church around the biblical gospel, is set to be launched.
The GFCA was created at the landmark Global Anglican Future Conference, or GAFCON, in Jerusalem in 2008. Now the Australian body is being launched at the Anglican Future Conference in Melbourne on March 26…”
– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net previews the Anglican Future Conference 2015 to be held in Melbourne 25 – 27 March. The ACL is one of the sponsors.
See also the ACL’s related day conference in Sydney on Saturday 21 March.
Ligonier Ministries 2015 Conference
Posted on February 26, 2015
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“On February 19-21, 2015, Ligonier Ministries hosted its 28th annual National Conference to call out for the Lord to revive the light of His truth in our churches and culture.
Alistair Begg, Rosaria Butterfield, Tim Challies, Kevin DeYoung, Sinclair Ferguson, Robert Godfrey, Peter Jones, Steven Lawson, Russell Moore, Stephen Nichols, and R.C. Sproul Jr. joined R.C. Sproul in considering the theme, “After Darkness, Light.”
Together, they explored our need to be revived and restored to a high view of God, His law, His people, and His plan for the world.”
– The conference talks have now been made available for viewing, free of charge.
(Tim Challies is pictured, speaking on ‘Purity in a Digital Age’.)
TV code of practice poses danger to children
Posted on February 25, 2015
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“The President of the NSW Council of Churches has voiced concern that proposed changes to the free-to-air TV code of practice would be harmful to children and would most likely lead to a significant increase in alcohol and gambling advertising during prime time family viewing.
Council President, the Reverend Dr Ross Clifford, said the changes to the code of practice would mean that violence, sexual content, and advertisements for alcohol, gambling and M-rated movies and DVDs would be screened during popular programs that children watched. …
The closing date for public comment is Friday 3 April 2015. To read the revised code in full and make a submission, go to http://www.freetv.com.au/content_common/pg-code-of-practice.seo.”
– Read the full media release here.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…