With thanksgiving, Church Army Australia taps out
Posted on May 26, 2024
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“After the best part of a century of ministry across the nation, 2024 will mark the final year of the Church Army in Australia.
‘In recent years the only ministry being undertaken by the Church Amy in Australia has been through Kihilla retreat and conference centre,’ says Captain Tim Scheuer. ‘Prior to this, numerous attempts had been made to revitalise Church Army’s ministry. However, it became obvious that God’s blessing was not on these efforts and so the board made the decision to formally wind up the ministry.’…
The organisation’s chairman, former Sydney rector the Rev Tom Melbourne, adds:
‘We want to praise God for all he has done through the ministry of Church Army Australia across 90 years. Only in glory will we truly be able to see the eternal impact that Church Army’s officers have had as they have shared the gospel across Australia.’…”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Judy Adamson reports on the end of operations for the Church Army in Australia. Do read it all.
Images: Church Army Australia archival website.
How should we respond to the world as we now find it?
Posted on May 26, 2024
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The Anglican Diocese of the Living Word’s Missions Conference and Synod was held in Pennsylvania over the last few days.
Dr. Carl Trueman was the invited speaker.
In his first talk, he focussed on the underlying things that shape the way we think today. Starting at 5:35.
In his second talk, Dr. Trueman speaks of the three things the church has to do in our present context. That address starts at 34:12.
(Prior to his address, Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison is interviewed from 18:18.)
The previous night, the Rev. Yoel Ben David gave his testimony of conversion from Judaism.
At the start of the Conference, Bishop Julian Dobbs gave this address. This, alone, is well worth hearing.
The videos are available with thanks to Anglican TV.
How to give away your gifts
Posted on May 25, 2024
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“The words of Jesus in Matthew 10:8 are characteristically simple, logical and compelling: ‘Freely you have received; freely give’.
As Jesus commissions the disciples for their first solo mission, the context of his instructions is very specific. They are to proclaim the nearness of the Kingdom and he has given them authority to do as he himself has been doing – heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons. What they have received from the Lord in great abundance – good news and the authority of the King to do his work – they are to give lavishly and generously. …”
– Archbishop Kanishka Raffel writes in the May-June 2024 Southern Cross magazine.
Good Giving
Posted on May 25, 2024
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“It’s getting to the end of the financial year, so your email inbox will soon be full of EOFY giving appeals. And then, in a couple of months’ time, if your church is behind budget, you’ll be hearing appeals to raise your giving. What does God’s word say about being a good giver? …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Des Smith at Trinity Church Lockeys in Adelaide writes to encourage biblical generosity.
Notice of The Anglican Church League’s 2024 Annual General Meeting
Posted on May 24, 2024
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The ACL gives notice of, and warmly invites all members to attend, the 2024 Annual General Meeting.
Date: 6:00 pm, Thursday 13th June, 2024.
Location: T.C. Hammond Room, Moore Theological College, 1 King Street, Newtown NSW (enter via Carillon Avenue).
We will hear from God’s word, conduct elections, and pray for the League’s future work.
We will also hear an initial report from our President on the recent strategic planning conducted by the Council –
Roger Cunningham: A Strategic Review, with a View to the Future
The list of current council members can be found here.
Yours sincerely,
The ACL Council.
Church Society: A Collect for the UK General Election
Posted on May 24, 2024
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From Church Society:
“A General Election has been called in the UK for 4th July 2024.
To aid our prayers, we have come up with a new collect. Inspired by 1 Timothy 2, an American prayer from the last century, and the recent Coronation, it is ideal for use in churches over the next 6 weeks.
Please feel free to reproduce and pray it as much as you like, at this crucial time in our national life. …”
– Even if you are not in the UK, it’s important to pray for the United Kingdom in these difficult days.
Joyful unity, diversity and gospel growth — Press Release from the Anglican Network in Europe
Posted on May 24, 2024
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Here’s a Press Release from the Anglican Network in Europe:
The Anglican Missionary Congregations (AMC) becomes the third diocese to join the Anglican Network in Europe
The Anglican Network in Europe (ANiE) is delighted to announce that on 23rd May 2024, its Synod voted to welcome the Anglican Missionary Congregations (AMC) to join the emerging province.
Bishop Andy Lines, Presiding Bishop of ANiE, said, “It is a great thrill to me that Synod joyfully and overwhelmingly approved the accession of the Anglican Missionary Congregations as a third diocese after an open and constructive debate.”
This has taken place after many months of prayerful liaison and detailed discussion between the leadership of ANiE and AMC and is a witness to the unity that the gospel brings across the variety of human cultures.
AMC has grown from a single Nigerian diaspora congregation in Manchester to 35 congregations all over the UK and some parts of Europe, served by 52 self-supporting clergy.
AMC’s lead missioner, Venerable Dr Gideon Chukwudalu Ilechukwu said, “We are grateful to the Lord for what he has done in making it possible for us to be accepted as a Diocese in Gafcon’s Anglican Network in Europe. We are also grateful to the Most Reverend Dr Henry Ndukuba, Primate of All Nigeria, with whose blessings we got to this place. We are excited to be part of ANiE and we look forward to our ministry together in this family of believers in Christ. Europe needs the Lord and together as a team we will till this field by his grace.”
ANiE believes the different gifts and cultures of each Diocese and its members will contribute to the faithful proclamation of Christ to the nations of Europe and will work together powerfully for the furtherance of God’s kingdom. We trust that through this partnership “God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.” (Ephesians 3:10, CSB).
Note: Further details on a service to celebrate the inauguration of the diocese and the election and consecration of a diocesan bishop will be announced in due course.
The Anglican Network in Europe (ANiE) is the provision of the Primates’ Council of Gafcon (representing the vast majority of the Anglican Communion) to provide a faithful ecclesial structure for orthodox Anglicans within Europe.
ANiE now comprises three dioceses: The Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE), The Anglican Mission in England (AMiE), and The Anglican Missionary Congregations (AMC).
Also published at the ANiE website.
Following in Faith: The Good Shepherd Leads Global Anglicans
Posted on May 24, 2024
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“Many global Anglicans face a challenging question: whether and when to join the Gafcon movement.
In this second conversation, Philip de Grey-Warter explains when and why he connected with Gafcon. Such decisions, complex and often costly, rightly begin in prayer, and Philip encourages church leaders to find comfort in their simple obedience to God.
When we follow the Good Shepherd, God will provide the support we need: friends, fellow leaders, genuine spiritual oversight, and strength in the gospel.”
– In the latest Global Anglican Podcast, Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison continues his conversation with the Rev. Philip de Grey-Warter.
Local evangelism and global mission: Maintaining focus on the ends of the earth
Posted on May 23, 2024
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“I remember the moment clearly. For several years my wife and I had been weighing up the prospect of vocational ministry. I loved opening the Bible with people and helping them to know Jesus better, but I felt inadequate for the task of pastoral ministry.
Our perspective changed when we received a prayer letter from friends who’d just arrived in a new country for their first term of missionary service with CMS. …”
– Scott Millar writes at The Australian Church Record.
Related:
Dinner helps us pray for global mission – Tara Sing writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.
How to tell if it’s a Prosperity Gospel Church
Posted on May 23, 2024
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“The prosperity gospel is a diverse, popular, and worldwide movement that understands faith to be the instrument through which Christians can attain physical health, material riches, and divine favor. There are countless thousands of these churches around the world with various levels of adherence to the key tenets of the wider movement, yet they rarely advertise themselves as prosperity gospel churches.
So how can we know if a church is part of this movement? …”
– Tim Challies summarises some helpful guidance drawn from a book by Kate Bowler.
Absolute Banality, a Rejection of Roman Catholic Doctrine, and Abandonment of the Gospel
Posted on May 22, 2024
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“Now, we as Evangelical Protestants don’t believe that the pope holds the keys of the kingdom, we believe the church does. But nonetheless, the Roman Catholic Church believes that the pope does. But this pope appears to have little interest in holding the keys of doctrinal accountability or even of moral clarity.
But the religious world, the theological world, was pretty much set abuzz on Sunday night because the interview that Pope Francis did with 60 Minutes, the venerable CBS program. …”
– In his The Briefing for Tuesday 21 May 2024, Dr Albert Mohler comments on the International Criminal Court, and then (Part IV) turns to consider Pope Francis’ interview on CBS last weekend.
This link should jump to the relevant part of the interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes.
The traumatic implications of artificial intelligence
Posted on May 22, 2024
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“Artificial Intelligence is an oncoming tsunami that will catch all of humanity off guard.
It is a change more like a wheel than a typewriter.
But what will this do to our sense of self?
Stephen Driscoll, in ‘Made in our Image – God, artificial intelligence and you’ says artificial intelligence may do great harm – giving more power to sinful people, governments or companies.
He says artificial intelligence will likely trend towards people pleasing – giving each of us what we want now/a sense of heaven now or it may become more debauched.
It may even become an existential threat to us – because EITHER it lacks a wise moral system OR it righteously opposes our sin.
Artificial intelligence will likely lure us into our own individual heavens and unbundled freedoms, but it won’t fix our souls.
Stephen Driscoll works in ministering to postgrads and academics at the Australian National University in Canberra as part of the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students.”
Reality
Posted on May 22, 2024
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“We have just come back from a few days on the Gold Coast, which has one of the largest film production studios in Australia.
One of our sons is filming a series for TV called, ‘Good Cop, Bad Cop’. During our visit we went on set and saw the incredible expertise and equipment required to produce such a series.
The series is set in a place called Eden Vale in Washington DC and yet it was filmed in a little town called Canungra, Qld; the community hall, shops, the local park even the litter bins all had to be re labelled, ‘Eden Vale’. …”
– At The Expository Preaching Trust, David Cook points us to what it real.
Why isn’t the House of Bishops prepared to engage?
Posted on May 21, 2024
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“It is now fairly clear what the next stage of the Prayers of Love and Faith process will be. In July the House of Bishops will propose that stand alone services for the blessing of same-sex couples (including those who have entered into a civil same-sex marriage) will be permitted under the terms of Canon B5 and will also propose that the current discipline forbidding clergy to be in same-sex marriages will no longer be applied in at least some dioceses
It is also clear that, at the moment, the bishops are absolutely intransigent in refusing to even consider the possibility of either a provincial settlement to meet the needs of traditionalists as requested by CEEC, or even some kind of non-provincial transferred episcopal arrangements for traditionalists.
The maximum they seem prepared to offer is some kind of regionally arranged delegated episcopal oversight, which would still leave traditionalists under the ordinary jurisdiction of their diocesan bishops regardless of where that bishop stands on the sexuality issue.
What struck me as I digested this news over the weekend is that in coming to their current positions the bishops appear to have simply ignored four key statements made into three previous House of Bishops’ documents.…”
– Martin Davie points out key failures of the Church of England’s House of Bishops.
Image: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
Bathurst Diocese newsletter Pentecost 2024
Posted on May 21, 2024
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Here’s the Bathurst Diocese newsletter for Pentecost 2024 – Download the PDF file from their website.
Please continue to pray for the churches and towns of the diocese – and for Bishop Mark Calder, as he seeks to faithfully preach Christ, encourage the churches, and listen to the concerns of all.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…