As good as it gets
Posted on May 26, 2012
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“‘This is as good as it gets’ the man assured me. I was initially shocked, but then deeply saddened by his statement. It was an astonishing statement but there was no doubting the sincerity with which he was speaking.
It was the night before the Commonwealth Day Service in the Cathedral. Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Prince Edward were all to be present. …”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen writes in his weekly column.
(Photo courtesy Ramon Williams.)
The costly faithfulness of The Falls Church
Posted on May 25, 2012
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“The Falls Church is one of hundreds of congregations across the country that have given up their buildings rather than stay affiliated with a branch of their church they believe denies the final authority of Scripture. …”
– Alicia Constant writes about Falls Church at The Gospel Coalition. (h/t Tim Challies.)
Appreciating the ministry of Graeme Goldsworthy
Posted on May 25, 2012
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“On Wednesday night Moore College held the Graeme Goldsworthy’s celebration at which the Archbishop of Sydney Dr Peter Jensen launched Graeme’s latest book Christ-centred Biblical Theology…”
— from the Moore College website.
Related: The ‘must read’ Christian book of the year?
Josiah and the essentials underpinning reform
Posted on May 25, 2012
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“And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” (II Chronicles 34 : 2).
These words refer, of course, to King Josiah. They are noteworthy not least because in the Second Book of Chronicles, they form a summary, quite remarkably, of his thirty-one year reign in Jerusalem, beginning when he was a mere eight years old. Of how many kings and rulers can the same be said after the close of so lengthy a reign? …
– James Crabtree, Chairman of Church Society Council, looks to Josiah as an example of godliness. From the Spring 2012 edition of Cross†Way. (PDF file.)
The day I took Matthias Media’s money to the casino
Posted on May 24, 2012
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“I was in the precinct of Sydney’s main casino on Saturday, and, with the full knowledge and approval of several of my Matthias Media colleagues, I trotted off to the casino with $140 of MM’s money in my pocket…”
– At The Briefing, Ian Carmichael reflects on what he saw.
(Photo: Matthias Media.)
Bishop McIntyre breaks ranks on homosexuality
Posted on May 22, 2012
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How does this square with the Australian Bishops’ Protocol?
The Synod of the Diocese of Gippsland met in Sale, 18–20 May 2012. In his Presidential Address, Bishop John McIntyre spoke of the “new place” to which he had come in his understanding of homosexual people and the church. He said –
“I will appoint to office in our diocese those whom I believe God is calling to minister among us … and I am willing to live with any consequences that may arise from remaining true to that commitment.”
Read the full text of his address – linked from the diocesan website (PDF) – also quoted at length in The Gippsland Times (“Anglican Bishop enters gay marriage debate”, 19 May 2012).
Related posts. (Photo: Diocese of Gippsland.)
Two holes in our Theological leadership
Posted on May 22, 2012
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“With the announcement of Dr John Woodhouse’s retirement, two of the most significant positions in Sydney Diocese will now need to be filled in 2013.
The new Archbishop of Sydney will have the responsibility to maintain the character of the Diocese, especially through his power to make appointments. Since Moore College provides the people appointed, the Principal steers an institution that creates the Diocese.
Both positions require theological acuity and a determination to ensure that Sydney’s long and strong evangelical heritage continues on into the future…”
– The Editorial from the just-released issue 1905 of The Australian Church Record, June, 2012. Read the editorial here. Download the current issue here.
Anglican and Catholic Dioceses of Bathurst to enter into Covenant
Posted on May 22, 2012
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A report from Bathurst Diocese’s Anglican News –
“Clergy from across the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst and their counterparts from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst will gather in Bathurst on Thursday May 24 to witness the signing of a covenant between the two denominational groups. Read more
Bishop of Bathurst to retire in November
Posted on May 22, 2012
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From the Diocese of Bathurst Anglican News, May 2012 –
“Bishop Richard Hurford has formally announced his intention to retire on November 10, when he will lay up the Diocesan Pastoral Staff in a service of Pastoral Leave-Taking in All Saints’ Cathedral, Bathurst, commencing at 10.30am. Read more
Moore Matters — Winter 2012
Posted on May 22, 2012
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The latest issue of Moore Matters (Winter 2012) is available from the Moore College website.
It’s a 4MB PDF file. Well worth downloading – and passing on to your friends. Grab your copy here.
2,200 Anglican women say ‘No Thanks!’ to having a woman bishop
Posted on May 21, 2012
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“A petition signed by more than 2,200 Anglican women who oppose women bishops will be presented today to the House of Bishops at the start of their meeting in York…”
– Media statement from Reform.
Credo Magazine — May 2012
Posted on May 21, 2012
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The latest issue of Credo Magazine is available online. Executive Editor Matthew Barrett writes:
“the title of this May’s issue of Credo Magazine is ‘Chosen by Grace’.
Timothy George starts us off by taking us into the mind of the colossal reformer Martin Luther, exploring how he understood the doctrine of predestination, particularly in light of his famous debate on the bondage of the will with Erasmus.
Then, Paul Helm navigates new territory, investigating the contours of Calvin’s first controversy on predestination with Bolsec.
Next, I look at three Pauline passages that support the unconditional nature of election, demonstrating that God’s choice is not made on the basis of anything within the sinner, including faith.
Bruce Ware follows with a piercing article on the relationship between election and suffering, showing that suffering is a means ordained by God to spread the gospel for the salvation of his elect.
And finally, Fred Zaspel concludes by introducing us to B. B. Warfield’s understanding of predestination and providence, and the relationship between the two.”
The 75 page issue is 20MB PDF download from this page.
Papers from the FCA leaders conference available
Posted on May 21, 2012
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More papers from the FCA leaders conference in London have been uploaded to the GAFCON website.
See this page for the complete listing of resources from the GAFCON website.
The newly available papers are –
What is the Gospel? – from a seminar led by Drs Ngozi Okeke & Mark Thompson
A Summary of Anglican Ecclesiology – Ashley Null
16th Century Anglican Ecclesiology – Ashley Null
The Anglican Mind in Caroline and Tractarian Thought – Arthur MiddletonFaithful and Effective – Evangelism and Church Planting.
Bishop Coadjutor of New Hampshire elected
Posted on May 20, 2012
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“The Rev. A. Robert (Rob) Hirschfeld was elected bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire today at St. Paul’s Church, on the first ballot. In January 2013 he will succeed Bishop Gene Robinson as the Xth Bishop of New Hampshire. …
Rev. Hirschfeld is married to Polly Ingraham… and has two sons and a daughter.”
– New Hampshire elects a bishop coadjutor. (Photo credit: Reynolds Winslow.)
Queen’s Birthday Convention 2012
Posted on May 20, 2012
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Coming up at St. Andrew’s Cathedral on Monday June 11. Early bird before June 01.
Details here.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…