Anglican Aid launches Bushfire appeal
Posted on October 18, 2013
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From Eternity Newspaper –
“One of the worst hit areas was Springwood-Winmalee, a normally peaceful area in the lower Blue Mountains. Eternity spoke to Senior Pastor at Springwood Anglican Church, Steve Young, who said they were still in the thick of it.
‘There are scores of houses that are burnt down in the community and whole sections like Yellow Rock where there are very few houses left. We know of 10 church families that have lost their houses.‘…”
SydneyAnglicans.net has more.
In response to the fires, the Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid has launched an emergency appeal –
Anglican Aid has launched an urgent appeal to respond to the needs of people in Sydney affected by the fires. The distribution of funds will be overseen by the Bishop of Western Sydney, Ivan Lee. Working through established networks, Anglican Aid and Bishop Lee will be able to identify and respond to the urgent needs of many.
The Archbishop has said “I am grateful for Anglican Aid launching this appeal. While there are many calls upon our resources and many good causes seeking funds, I commend to your prayerful consideration this urgent appeal in the light of the loss of so many homes in Sydney and NSW on account of these horrific bushfires.”
Please feel free to pass on the link! (Photo: Smoke blankets western Sydney, 17 October 2013.)
An appreciation of the turnaround of Southern Seminary
Posted on October 18, 2013
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Todd Pruitt writes about Southern Baptist Theological Seminary:
“Southern is the oldest and largest of the SBC seminaries. It was also the great bastion of theological liberalism within the denomination.”
“I was raised in a large Southern Baptist church in Houston, Texas. I was educated in Southern Baptist institutions. I was ordained in a Southern Baptist church. Coming of age in the 1980’s I remember well overhearing the discussions at home and church about the conservative resurgence within the SBC. It may surprise some of you to know how liberal the Southern Baptist seminaries had become and, as a consequence, its clergy and churches. But, by God’s grace, the Southern Baptists did not go the way of the PCUSA, Disciples of Christ, or United Methodists.
One of the key moments in this mega-shift away from liberalism was the reformation of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Southern is the oldest and largest of the SBC seminaries. It was also the great bastion of theological liberalism within the denomination. But in 1993, after a change in the balance of power among the trustees, Southern Seminary hired a young theologian and journalist named Albert Mohler [pictured] as the new President of the seminary. At that point that point the battle was joined. Ultimately, Southern Seminary returned wholeheartedly to its founding confession and vision. But the fight was brutal and is, in my mind, one the great stories of the church in the 20th century.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Dr. Mohler’s presidency of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. So I offer enthusiastic gratitude to the Lord for Albert Mohler and his unswerving loyalty to God’s Word, his tenacity in leadership, his willingness to be ridiculed for what is right, and his enthusiasm for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I encourage you to read this account of the turnaround of Southern Seminary. It is truly a harrowing story.”
And Southern Seminary has released a 25 minute documentary on the history of SBTS with a focus on the turnaround of the last 20 years.
Well worth watching.
Tasmanian euthanasia bill defeated
Posted on October 18, 2013
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“The legislation would have allowed terminally ill Tasmanians to end their lives 10 days after making three requests to their doctor.”
– Report from the ABC.
Uniting parishioners ‘devastated as churches sold off’
Posted on October 18, 2013
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“Angry parishioners at the Glenroy Uniting Church in Melbourne’s northern suburbs have told 7.30 that there had been little consultation by the church hierarchy, which invoked a ‘special circumstances’ clause to sell the properties without the permission of the local church councils representing each congregation.” – 7:30 Report. Image: ABC TV.
Archbishop Freier to Melbourne Synod 2013
Posted on October 17, 2013
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Archbishop Dr Philip Freier addressed the 51st Synod of Melbourne Diocese as it began yesterday – his remarks are now available on the Diocese of Melbourne website. (Photo: Kit Haselden.)
CMS Gift Catalogue
Posted on October 17, 2013
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You’ve possibly already received a CMS gift catalogue (Gifts of Lasting Hope).
CMS has now released a 90 second promo video you could use in church – and the online version of the catalogue is here.
Ballarat Synod to vote on women priests
Posted on October 16, 2013
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“Ballarat’s Anglican synod meets this week to determine whether the diocese will accept the ordination of women as priests. …”
– The Ballarat Courier. Ballarat synod papers here.
10 quotables from Kevin de Young’s ‘Crazy Busy’
Posted on October 16, 2013
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“Much like ‘Dangerous Calling‘ in 2012, Kevin de Young’s new book ‘Crazy Busy‘ served me greatly.
I recommend it to busy people, and even people who may not think they’re that busy … As I read back over my notes and reflected on what God wanted to teach me from this book, I summarised it in 4 points:
- Beware of the dangers of busyness
- Make priorities (Jesus did)
- Rest well
- Pursue godly habits …”
– Steve Kryger finds the time to read Kevin de Young’s new book.
Priscilla & Aquila Centre conference registration open
Posted on October 16, 2013
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‘Singleness, Marriage, Divorce, & Remarriage in Ministry’ is the topic of next year’s Priscilla & Aquila Centre conference at Moore College.
It’s on Monday 3rd February 2014. Registration opens today. Details from the College.
Newcastle Bishop-elect ‘keen to build community”
Posted on October 16, 2013
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“Newly elected Anglican bishop Greg Thompson has vowed to use his appointment to strengthen trust between the church and the Hunter community, while encouraging more open discussion on hot-button issues including child sexual abuse, same sex partnerships and indigenous affairs.
Muswellbrook-raised Mr Thompson was elected the 13th bishop of the city at a September synod meeting, with his installation planned for February 2 next year.”
– Story from The Newcastle Herald.
Australian Baptist leaders support federal challenge to ACT marriage reform
Posted on October 15, 2013
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“Baptist leaders have commended Prime Minister Tony Abbott for his Government’s support of the current legal definition of marriage, and for a proposal to challenge the ACT Government’s same sex marriage bill in the High Court as soon as it becomes law. Read more
Reaching a lost city for Christ
Posted on October 14, 2013
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Principal of Moore Theological College, Dr. Mark Thompson, delivered this address at the ACL Synod Dinner on October 14.
In his talk he gave three compelling reasons why we must never give in to the pressure to move evangelism down the list.
“At last count (2011 Census) the population of Sydney was 4.3 million. Even if you took out all the regular churchgoers — Protestant and Catholic — there would still be more than 4 million people who are lost. At the end of the Book of Jonah God reminded the prophet of the mass of lost people in the city — ‘more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left’ (Jon. 4.11). Imagine what he’d say about a population more than 33 times the size!”
Read the full text below, or download the PDF file. … Read more
Watch Archbishop Davies’ Presidential Address
Posted on October 14, 2013
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“Our Saviour left a final command to his apostles: to make disciples of all nations. This Great Commission, so aptly named, has not been superseded. It has not run its course, nor lost its energy or its urgency.”
– Watch the entire Presidential Address, delivered by Archbishop Glenn Davies at Sydney Synod, 14th October 2013.
Audio available here (mp3).
With thanks to SydneyAnglicans.net for making it available.
Archbishop Davies says ‘refresh and sharpen’ our mission
Posted on October 14, 2013
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“Archbishop Glenn Davies has delivered his first address as President of the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, covering areas such as the next diocesan mission, regionalism, the Royal Commission into child abuse and ethical challenges faced by Christians in Australia.
The 2013 Synod of the Diocese of Sydney meets from Monday 14th until Wednesday 16th October at the Wesley Theatre in Sydney, and Archbishop Davies, in the role for just two months, gave his address on the first afternoon.”
– Russell Powell has this report at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Download the Archbishop’s Presidential Address here (PDF).
“Significant responsibilities are placed upon us in this assembly, as we come together as representatives of the parishes and organisations of the Diocese to make decisions, either by ordinance to pass legislation, or by resolution to express opinion. Yet we do not make these decisions in secret but openly and within full view of the public eye. More importantly, we make these decisions in the presence of God. It is to him that we must give account of our stewardship of time, resources and gifts that he has bestowed upon us. As our mission is gospel-focussed and Christ-honouring, so our deliberations in this house ought to be gospel-focused and Christ-honouring. May his Spirit so direct us in our thoughts, words and deeds that what we do here over the next three days might be pleasing in his sight.”
Falling on deaf ears? — Why so many churches hear so little of the Bible
Posted on October 14, 2013
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“It is well and good for the preacher to base his sermon on the Bible, but he better get to something relevant pretty quickly, or we start mentally to check out.” That stunningly clear sentence reflects one of the most amazing, tragic, and lamentable characteristics of contemporary Christianity — an impatience with the Word of God.
– Albert Mohler on a malady which too easily affects churches on this side of the Pacific as well.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…