Two new Faculty appointments for Moore College
Posted on May 26, 2013
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The latest from Moore College:
“The Governing Board of the College has agreed to the Principal’s nomination of Peter Orr and Andrew Leslie, who will join the faculty over the next six months.”
– Read the story at the Moore College website.
Live to Give
Posted on May 24, 2013
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“Where should we direct our giving? Surrounded by so many needs and opportunities it’s difficult to know where to start. Is there any priority or principle by which to choose whom to give to?…”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen continues from last week on the theme of giving. Read it here.
(Photo: St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)
Tasmanian Abortion Bill update 24 May
Posted on May 24, 2013
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Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower has the latest (What is the current status of the proposed changes? What is actually being proposed, as it currently stands? What can I do?) at his blog.
Tragedy in Scotland
Posted on May 24, 2013
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Two reflections on this week’s compromise vote in the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly spell out the sadness and tragedy of a denomination which walks away from the word of God –
Louis Kinsey, Church of Scotland minister in Aberdeen,
“For those who look on, it must seem that the Church of Scotland is simply not able to make judgements on the basis of Holy Scripture, but only by sentiment and story, and by expediency and pragmatism.”
– An Open Letter to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2013.
and David Robertson, Free Church minister in Dundee,
“The liberals who reject the Bible as the Word of God, are delighted, declaring that this is the Holy Spirit speaking through the Church. … But many of us who love the Church of Scotland are devastated. Why? Because yesterday, and it pains me as I write this, the Church of Scotland wrote its own suicide note.”
– The Church of Scotland, RIP?
CMS Lasting Hope appeal
Posted on May 23, 2013
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Archbishop Peter Jensen, and Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Stuart Robinson have each appeared in videos promoting the CMS NSW & ACT branch end-of-financial-year appeal. (Use them in church!)
Archbishop Jensen, Bishop Robinson.
St. Helen’s — Mark’s Gospel Tool Kit
Posted on May 23, 2013
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“Andrew Sach introduces tools to help understand Mark’s Gospel in this month’s St Helen’s Training.”
– See this month’s two videos from Andrew Sach, as well as earlier overviews of Mark’s Gospel by Charlie Skrine, at the St. Helen’s website.
Equality not the issue says Archbishop
Posted on May 22, 2013
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Archbishop Peter Jensen on former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s change of mind on ‘same-sex marriage’ –
“Equality is not the issue. The consummation of a marriage by a man and a woman is unique and cannot be replicated. The precious differences between men and women, likewise cannot be replicated in any other bond.”
Full story:
Archbishop Peter Jensen has publicly disagreed with former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who has done a turnaround and now says he supports same sex marriage.
Dr Jensen says Mr Rudd’s comments “do not grapple sufficiently with the question of what marriage is and what it is for”. Read more
Gay marriage Bill — Letter to The Telegraph
Posted on May 21, 2013
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This letter from church leaders across England, was published in The Telegraph yesterday (20th May 2013) –
The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill is set to isolate hundreds of thousands of young students and workers across the country who hold a fuller view of marriage based on religion or a traditional view. These young people, from teenagers to 30-year-olds, will suffer discrimination and face new risks to their careers, and futures, if the Bill passes in its present form. Read more
Church of Scotland claims ‘common ground’ in sexuality debate
Posted on May 21, 2013
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“The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in a groundbreaking decision called for the Church to maintain its historic doctrine in relation to human sexuality but, in line with the Kirk’s historic position of allowing congregations to call their own minister, to permit an individual Kirk Session to call a minister in a civil partnership if it chooses to do so. The Legal Questions Committee and the Theological Forum will bring reports to next year’s General Assembly about how this will be achieved. In the meantime courts and committees of the General Assembly will maintain the status quo. …”
– This report from the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly claims ‘common ground’ in continuing to allow congregations to ignore its own official doctrine.
Related: Church of Scotland votes to allow gay ministers – The Scotsman.
Earlier stories – including:
“We believe the Church of Scotland is choosing to walk away from the biblical gospel, and to walk apart from the faith of the worldwide Christian Church.” – St. George’s Tron, Glasgow, secedes from Church of Scotland (June 2012).
The (UK) same-sex couples bill – Anglican Mainstream statement
Posted on May 21, 2013
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“The basic issue in the same-sex couples bill is “What is marriage?” The bill renders marriage a genderless institution since any combination of two adults will do. When a child is born there is always mother around. The question is, where is the father? The bill sends out the message that fathers are dispensable for children. It completely decouples marriage from procreation, consummation and adultery.
Once marriage is redefined and reduced to only an intimate relationship, on what logical basis could the law turn away three people who say they want to get married?”
– read the full statement from Anglican Mainstream.
Michael Jensen to leave Moore for St. Mark’s Darling Point
Posted on May 20, 2013
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“Moore College lecturer Michael Jensen has accepted an offer to become the next Rector of St Mark’s Anglican Church, Darling Point. Michael currently lectures in Doctrine and Church History. The Jensens will be at Moore until Michael takes up the new position at the beginning of October.” (Read it all from Moore Theological College.)
And Mark Thompson, the new Principal of Moore College, adds,
“Michael has made an excellent contribution to Moore College during his time on the faculty. While we will be sad to lose his day-to-day presence among us, it is exciting that he is taking up a leadership position in a parish church, the very thing we are preparing so many of our students to do.
We will pray that Michael’s time at Darling Point will be one in which many men and women come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and, together with those already part of the congregations there, grow in their knowledge, love and service of God.”
Related: St. Mark’s Darling Point.
Beg to Give
Posted on May 17, 2013
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“It is important that we regularly discuss the whole issue of the Christian use of money rather than only mentioning money when we want to address the current needs of a financial crisis…”
– Phillip Jensen writes on a Christian attitude to money.
Calling the demonic ‘holy’
Posted on May 17, 2013
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TEC Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, last Sunday, on Acts 16:16-40 –
“Paul is annoyed at the slave girl who keeps pursuing him, telling the world that he and his companions are slaves of God. She is quite right. She’s telling the same truth Paul and others claim for themselves.
But Paul is annoyed, perhaps for being put in his place, and he responds by depriving her of her gift of spiritual awareness. Paul can’t abide something he won’t see as beautiful or holy, so he tries to destroy it. It gets him thrown in prison.”
Read it all via The Episcopal News Service. Another copy here.
From the category of “You couldn’t make this up if you tried.”
(h/t “The Worst Sermon Ever? The Presiding Bishop Explains Away Paul and the Female Slave.” from Not Another Episcopal Church Blog, where there is more on this sermon.) Photo: ENS.
Moore College Open Week: May 27–31
Posted on May 17, 2013
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“Moore College Open Events provide people with an opportunity to find out more about studying at Moore. During Open Week anyone who is interested are welcome to come along and check out the College, be involved in classes, and get a firsthand experience of Moore’s high quality theological training, plus have all their questions answered by faculty and students. You also get a lunch on us!”
– Read all about it at the College website.
Kermit Gosnell’s America — What his trial really reveals
Posted on May 15, 2013
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“Here is a clue: When you have to argue at every turn that the issue is not abortion, the issue is abortion. … What the pro-abortion movement fears most is that Americans will pause to consider what this trial really means.”
– Albert Mohler looks at the reality behind the conviction of abortionist Dr. Kermit Gosnell.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…