The Preaching Question

Posted on December 28, 2012 
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“There has, it seems, been quite a flurry of publishing activity on the question of preaching lately, especially by those seeking to make a case for the propriety of women preaching to mixed congregations…

It is important that we keep testing our conclusions both on theology and practice by the teaching of the Bible. …”

Mark Thompson, Principal-elect of Moore Theological College, looks at a hot topic, and commends a couple of excellent expositions, at Theological Theology.

Peerage for the Archbishop of Canterbury

Posted on December 27, 2012 
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News from 10 Downing Street:

“Peerage for Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury upon his retirement from the See of Canterbury.

The Queen has been pleased to confer a peerage of the United Kingdom for Life on the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr Rowan Williams Lord Archbishop of Canterbury upon his retirement from the See of Canterbury.”

The Episcopal News Service is reporting  that Archbishop Williams will be known as ‘Baron Williams of Oystermouth’. (Oystermouth is near Swansea in Wales…)

The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast 2012

Posted on December 26, 2012 
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“This is the time of year when we remember that God sent his only son ‘to serve, not to be served’. He restored love and service to the centre of our lives in the person of Jesus Christ.”

– See Queen Elizabeth’s 2012 Christmas Broadcast (8’36”) – or read the text.

(Dr Rowan Williams’ Christmas message may be read here.)

Christmas Eve from St. Andrew’s 2012

Posted on December 24, 2012 
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Watch a recording of the live stream of Carols from St. Andrew’s Cathedral 2012 – here. The service starts around 14 minutes into the recording.

Archbishop Peter Jensen’s Christmas message 2012

Posted on December 24, 2012 
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With thanks to SydneyAnglicans.net.

And here is the text of the message formatted to A5 (two-up on an A4 sheet) – perhaps you could use it as a church newsletter insert. (180kb PDF.)

Ramon Williams — a hero of Australian Christian Media

Posted on December 23, 2012 
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“If you read any published Australian Christian ‘news’ article over the past 50 years, it has almost certainly been distributed by one of the greatest unsung heroes of the Australian Christian movement, the “AAP-equivalent” of Christian wire news, Ramon Williams, now aged 81. …”

– Mark Tronson – and we at the ACL website – are very grateful for the faithful ministry of Ramon Williams over the years.

Many of our readers will have seen Ramon with his camera in and around the Cathedral and at other Christian meetings. (You’ll find some of his photos among these of Sir Marcus Loane, for example.) Photo: Christian Today Aust.

Reminder: Carols from St. Andrew’s Cathedral rebroadcast

Posted on December 22, 2012 
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Last year’s Christmas Eve Celebration from St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney is being replayed this year on Christmas morning.

ABC 1 at 7:00am Christmas Day

Let your friends and neighbours know – and you could watch it over breakfast before heading to church.

If you enjoy it , you could contact the ABC to thank them for broadcasting it again.

Four videos from Reform on women bishops, sex equality and Church unity

Posted on December 22, 2012 
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Members of Reform explain their stand at last month’s General Synod of the Church of England:

 

Are the Atheists right about Christmas?

Posted on December 21, 2012 
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“This Christmas the American Atheists have posted a large billboard in Times Square New York. It has two pictures: one of Santa Claus and the other of Jesus on the cross. The captions under the pictures are “Keep the Merry” and “Dump the Myth”. Apart from having the captions under the wrong pictures, the sentiment is one I agree with. …”

– Read the latest from the Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen. A great article to share this Christmas.

Changes

Posted on December 21, 2012 
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“By now many of you will have heard the news that my responsibilities at Moore Theological College, Sydney will change from 12 May 2013.

From that date I will begin to serve as the thirteenth principal of the College, succeeding John Woodhouse whose monumental contribution to its life is recognised by all. John’s model of servant leadership, his absolute confidence in the power of the word of God to change lives and drive effective Christian ministry, his generous treatment of all — those with whom he agreed and those with whom he disagreed — will continue to bear fruit in the College and through its graduates for many years. It is a rather daunting prospect to follow him in this responsibility let alone consider the long list of faithful servants who have borne it before him (e.g. Peter Jensen, D. Broughton Knox, Marcus Loane, T. C. Hammond, and Nathaniel Jones). …”

– Mark Thompson writes at Theological Theology to ask for your prayers as he becomes Principal of Moore College next year.

End of the world hype fizzles

Posted on December 21, 2012 
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“The end of the Mayan calendar may have unleashed a slew of predictions that the world is about to end – but this morning true believers were few and far between in towns designated safe zones from the impending apocalypse. …”

– from ABC News. (But bear in mind 2 Peter 3.)

Reform ‘nonplussed’ over C of E House of Bishops Working Group on Women Bishops

Posted on December 21, 2012 
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Reform Media Statement Dec 20, 2012

PRESS STATEMENT FROM REFORM

Following the announcement of the formation of a House of Bishops Working Group on 19th December, Reform chairman Rod Thomas has written to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. The letter reaffirms Reform’s commitment to the process of seeking a new way forward on women bishops legislation, but says that the membership of the working group leaves it feeling ‘apprehensive’.

Prebendary Rod Thomas said he was ‘nonplussed as to why the membership of the working group does not contain anybody who shares our convictions about male headship – despite the fact that this was a key concern underlying the vote on 20th November.

We very much wish to contribute to fresh proposals that will command broader agreement in the General Synod than was achieved last month. Achieving such an outcome depends on hearing clearly the needs of those who were both for and against the draft Measure. Our fear is that the constitution of the working group might make this more difficult. Nevertheless we will seek to contribute positively during the discussions that are planned for next February.’

(via e-mail)

Hiltz calls on ABC-d to say ‘no’ to the ACNA

Posted on December 20, 2012 
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“The leader of the Anglican Church of Canada has lobbied the Archbishop of Canterbury-designate not to extend formal recognition to the Anglican Church in North America. …”

– George Conger has the story at Anglican Ink.

Australian Church Record, December 2012

Posted on December 20, 2012 
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The latest issue of The Australian Church Record, and the results of their recent Survey of Sydney Synod members are now available from their website.

Christmas messages from around Oz, 2012

Posted on December 20, 2012 
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We’ll post Christmas messages from Anglican leaders around the country, as we discover them.

Please pray that all who speak in the name of the Lord Jesus this Christmas will do so with great clarity and faithfulness to his gospel.

Here are the messages so far –

Archbishop of Melbourne, Philip Freier. (video)
Bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower. (video)
Bishop of Canberra-Goulburn, Stuart Robinson. (video)
Dean of Riverina, Robert Harris. (text)
Bishop of Wangaratta, John Parkes. (2.5MB PDF – page 3 of The Advocate.)
Bishop of Gippsland, John McIntyre. (14.5MB PDF – page 3 of The Gippsland Anglican.)
Bishop of Ballarat, Garry Weatherill. (video)
Bishop of Willochra, John Stead. (PDF)
Bishop to the Australian Defence Force, Len Eacott.

And from the leaders of other denominations (via the National Council of Churches in Australia), messages are mixed – but that from David Jones, Moderator General Presbyterian Church of Australia, stands out:

Cry of a Tiny Baby

Bruce Cockburn the Canadian singer and songwriter describes the birth of Jesus beautifully in the chorus of one of his Christmas songs

“Like a stone on the surface of a still river
driving the ripples on forever
Redemption rips through the surface of time
In the cry of a tiny babe”

Something happened at Bethlehem that has sent ripples throughout the history of the human race.

If you have ever been robbed of something precious, you will want the culprit caught and punished and you will want your property returned to you. God has been robbed. He made us in his image and likeness but that has been defaced by sin.

Jesus has come to right the wrong done to God by his creatures, to pay the price of our sin and rebellion. But God wants back what is rightfully His. He wants his picture back. He wants his image and likeness restored. That is why Jesus came among us. That is the meaning of Redemption. That is the message of Christmas.

“Redemption rips through the surface of time”
“And the message is clear if you’ve got ears to hear
That forgiveness is given for your guilt and your fear
It’s a Christmas gift you don’t have to buy
There’s a future shining in a baby’s eyes”

(Second photo: Pilgrim Hill.)

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