Prayer reminder: Diocese of Melbourne Election Synod begins tonight
Posted on May 23, 2025
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Here’s a reminder to uphold in prayer the members of the Melbourne Synod as they meet tonight (Friday), tomorrow – and longer if necessary – to elect the next Archbishop of Melbourne.
They value and seek your prayers.
We will aim to post any public news on our website as it becomes available.
Joint statement on the NSW floods
Posted on May 23, 2025
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Joint statement on the NSW floods
Our hearts ache for the people of the Mid-North, Hunter and other areas of New South Wales suffering in the current flood crisis.
We pray for the tireless work of emergency workers and first responders as they guard and save lives. May God give them strength and endurance. We cry out to God for families grieving the loss of loved ones, homes and businesses. May they find comfort and hope.
We give thanks for the countless acts of neighbourliness, kindness and help, and for the resilience of these communities.
As Anglicare, Samaritans and local churches gear up for the recovery operation ahead, may God bless their efforts to share the love and compassion of Christ with a hurting community.
May those who suffer cling to the hope of restoration through the God who makes all things new.
The Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of NSW
The Right Reverend Dr Peter Stuart, Bishop of Newcastle
The Right Reverend Dr Murray Harvey, Bishop of Grafton
23 May 2025.
– via SydneyAnglicans.net
What are Matthias Bible Guides and how can they help you?
Posted on May 23, 2025
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The Australian Church Record speaks with Geoff Robson about The Matthias Bible Guides:
“Matthias Media recently launched a new series of books: the Matthias Bible Guides. As one of the editors of the series since its inception, can you tell us how the idea came about? Who in particular do you want to serve with these books?
I often remind myself of this quote attributed to Spurgeon: ‘Visit many good books, but live in the Bible’. As someone whose job is to help bring (hopefully) ‘good books’ into existence, I have to remember that it’s not an end in itself; it’s a means to the end of helping people live in the Bible so they might know the Lord and live for him. That’s the overall aim of the Matthias Bible Guides. …”
– Read here.
Exposition
Posted on May 22, 2025
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“Along with the many students who studied at Moore College under the Principalship of Dr. Broughton Knox, I have deep gratitude for his twice-weekly lectures to first year students, Doctrine 1.
What struck me most was Dr. Knox’s determination to test all things against Scripture. We studied using T.C. Hammond’s, In understanding be men, and Dr. Knox would even correct that fine book, in minor areas, when he believed it to be inconsistent with the Bible.
In 2 Timothy, Paul’s last letter in the New Testament, Paul reminds his young mentee, Timothy, of the nature of Scripture. …”
– David Cook reminds us of the essential place of faithful and engaging expository preaching. At The Expository Preaching Trust.
Image: Dr. Broughton Knox.
Ascension — Church Society podcast
Posted on May 22, 2025
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“Ed Moll talks to Ros Clarke about the ‘Cinderella doctrine’ of the ascension and why we should pay more attention to it.”
– The latest Church Society podcast.
Related:
Daniel 7 and the Ascension of the Son of Man – Wyatt Graham at The Gospel Coalition Canada.
Paul and Sue Harrington: Lessons on the way
Posted on May 21, 2025
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From The Pastor’s Heart – this week at the Reach Australia conference on the NSW Central Coast:
“Paul Harrington has led the Trinity Network of Churches in Adelaide for 33 years, guiding it from a single congregation of 800 to a thriving network of 13 churches with over 2,600 members.
Sue Harrington is a Reach Australia board member, has been deeply involved in supporting pastors’ wives, families, and women in ministry and runs a consultancy business.
Together, we discuss the lessons learned along the way, the emotional and practical challenges of planting daughter churches, and the role of humility and servant-hearted leadership. We explore the cost and recovery after sending, the evolving nature of church leadership, and the often overlooked but critical support needed for ministry households.”
The Christian’s daily battle
Posted on May 21, 2025
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For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-13)
“Paul’s letter to Titus takes as one of its central themes ‘knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness’ (Titus 1:1).
The apostle is eager to show the relationship between the ‘grace of God that has appeared’ in Jesus, and the ‘self-controlled, upright and godly lives’ that are the fruit of God’s grace in the lives of those who ‘wait for the blessed hope’. …”
– Archbishop Kanishka Raffel writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.
(Also in the print edition of Southern Cross magazine, May-June 2025.)
Celebrating Nicaea
Posted on May 20, 2025
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From Moore College:
“Today Moore College celebrates the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in the history of the Christian church that reaffirmed the perfect equality in being, honour, and power, of God the Father and God the Son.
Though the Father and the Son are distinct persons in asymmetrical and non-reciprocal relationship (the Father is always the Father and the Son is always the Son, so they are not interchangeable), they are entirely and absolutely one in being.
This great truth has always been taught and held unequivocally at Moore College. There is only one true and living God, and the Son is as much God as the Father is (something that is true of the Holy Spirit as well). The creed formulated by the Council of Nicaea used one little Greek word to express this truth, homoousion, which in English becomes the phrase ‘of one being with’ or ‘of the same being as’. It also insisted repeatedly that the Son was ‘begotten not made’. …”
Work and Rest — What does God’s rest mean for his people?
Posted on May 20, 2025
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From Phillip Jensen:
“The creation account of Genesis finishes in a most unexpected place – rest. The idea of God resting on the seventh day is so familiar to us that we sometimes miss how extraordinary it is. That God should rest and bless the seventh day, inviting us to share it with him is one of the wonders of the Bible.
In a society dominated by and priding itself in ‘busyness’ and confused and conflicted over ‘work/life balance’, God’s teaching on the Sabbath day is a welcome relief for Christians. Yet it is not simply an individual issue, for the Sabbath is to be celebrated by all of creation.”
– Listen at Two Ways News – including listeners’ feedback!
Hope in the Psalms of Lament
Posted on May 20, 2025
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“I am frequently drawn to the Psalms of Lament. These psalms are highly personal. They reflect deep pain but also hope and trust in our loving God.
The psalms of lament resonate with the brokenness I see and experience. Their first lines are poignant, moving …”
– Dr. Veronica Hoyt, Director of the Priscilla & Aquila Centre at Moore College, reflects on the Psalms of Lament.
Jesus in a post-truth world: Audio
Posted on May 20, 2025
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Lionel Windsor shares:
“This is the audio of a talk I gave at Leura Anglican Church on 18 May 2025. It’s the first in a three part series, designed to be accessible to churchgoers and non-church-goers alike.”
– Listen here.
The foreigner, the fatherless, the widow
Posted on May 20, 2025
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“As I read the Bible, I’m struck by God’s heart for the most vulnerable.
In the Old Testament, we repeatedly see God’s tender care for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. These groups were particularly vulnerable, not just because they lacked money and possessions, but because they had lost important relationships – and the security, provision, and love these relationships bring.
Throughout the Bible, God calls his people to care for these groups of people. And today, around the world, compelled by Christ’s love, Anglican Aid’s partners are taking this to heart. …”
– Anglican Aid’s Canon Tim Swan introduces their End of Financial Year Appeal.
King’s Birthday Conference 2025
Posted on May 19, 2025
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Two Ways Ministries’ 2025 King’s Birthday Conference is coming up at Moore College on Monday 9th June.
“From Feminism to motherhood, from animal rights to toxic masculinity, from racism to euthanasia, Australia is in an ethical turmoil on many issues. Christians often feel in the crossfire of these culture wars. Do Christian ethics apply to non-Christians?
This year at the King’s Birthday Conference, Phillip Jensen is going to look at how becoming a Christian takes us back to the universal morality of Creation.” …
“As we expect to fill the Marcus Loane Hall to capacity, we are planning to have an overflow venue. We have introduced an early bird rate which will end on May 31 so those who register early can get a seat in the Marcus Loane Hall – confirmation of seating in the Marcus Loane Hall is only possible until the hall is full.
Early bird $25, Early bird concession $10
From 1st June: Regular price $30, Regular concession $15.”
– See the details, and register.
Praying for the Melbourne Election Synod
Posted on May 19, 2025
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The Election Synod of the Diocese of Melbourne meets on Friday and Saturday of this week (23 and 24 May) to elect a new Archbishop.
They ask for your prayers in this process.
Last week, the Board of Nominators released their report to Synod which contains the names of the Candidates for election. The list of Candidates is not public. As the Board of Nominators explains:
“The information about the Candidates is confidential to Synod members.
We are conscious that when candidates agree to be part of the process there is the potential for disruption to their current and ongoing ministry. Therefore we offer them confidentiality as a gesture of love and care for them and their pastoral ministries. The names of the candidates are not public and we ask that Synod members keep them confidential to other Synod members only.
However, candidates themselves have always been free to share information about their own candidacy with others.…”
Lists circulated online suggest that four candidates will be considered by the Election Synod.
The Board of Nominators has published this prayer:
“For the members of our Synod, as it elects a new Archbishop:
Loving Lord Jesus, who seeks for your people to be one,
as you and the Father are one: grant to the members of our Synod
the same unity of heart and spirit that is your will
as they elect a new Archbishop for our Diocese.
Enable them to discharge their weighty duties with care,
each member voting without fear or favour for the person
who, before God, they believe ought to be chosen as our chief pastor.
For you are alive, with the Father and the Spirit, now and forever. Amen.”
Diocese of North Queensland “on the brink of financial collapse” — report
Posted on May 19, 2025
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“The Anglican Diocese of North Queensland is on the brink of financial collapse as it struggles to pay millions of dollars in compensation to victims of child sexual abuse.
Bishop Keith Joseph has revealed the diocese, which covers more than a third of Queensland, needs to find about $8 million to pay its victims.
The diocese is now preparing a Supreme Court application to formally restructure so it can sell assets to pay the compensation. …”
– Report from ABC News.
Map with thanks to the Diocese of North Queensland.
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The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…