Responses to a new book about the recent history of the Diocese of Armidale
Posted on April 9, 2024
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Today saw the launch of a new book – Darkness: The Conversion of Anglican Armidale, 1960-2019 by Thomas A. Fudge, Professor of History at the University of New England.
You can get a feel for the likely tone of the book from a report by John Sandeman in July 2023 (link via our website). And the University of New England website has an interview with Professor Fudge.
Today the Diocese of Armdale has published two responses to the new book –
One by Bishop of Armidale Rod Chiswell –
“‘Darkness – the conversion of Anglican Armidale 1960-2019’ is a book that seeks to bring to light hitherto unheard voices responding to the transition of the Anglican Diocese of Armidale from a middle church diocese to a lower church evangelical diocese. …”
However Bishop Chiswell challenges two of Professor Fudge’s key presuppositions as well as his conclusions.
The other is a Review of the book by Dr. Mark Earngey, Head of Church History and Lecturer in Christian Thought at Moore College –
“Professor Fudge has produced a weighty tome on some of the recent history of the Anglican diocese of Armidale. … While conversion is normally associated with light (e.g. 1 Peter 2:9: ‘that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light’), Fudge interprets the growth of evangelical Anglicanism in the Armidale diocese in terms of darkness.”
In his Review, Dr Earngey provides very helpful historical and theological perspective.
Read both responses at the Diocese of Armidale website.
The Heavens Declare
Posted on April 9, 2024
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Overnight (Monday night, Australian time), millions of people across North America will have witnessed a total eclipse of the Sun.
Such events are a reminder to us of far greater realities:
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” – Psalm 19:1.
and
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” – Psalm 8.
Photo: This total solar eclipse was viewed across south-eastern Australia on 23 October 1976.
6 Months Later, Israeli Pastor Says, ‘I’m Commanded to Love My Enemies’
Posted on April 8, 2024
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“Former Israeli army officer and Reformed pastor David Zadok will never forget the call from his wife.
She rang him early in the morning of October 7, just an hour or two after his overnight flight from his home in Israel landed in Finland. …”
– The Gospel Coalition (US) speaks with Israeli Pastor David Zadok.
Navigating new laws on Conversion Practices: A Pastoral Approach to Compassion and Legal Compliance
Posted on April 8, 2024
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“What is permissible and not permissible under new conversion practice laws in New South Wales – with Neil Foster, Matt Aroney and Michael Stead.
Sydney Anglican Bishop Michael Stead, who chairs Freedom for Faith and Living Faith, describes the new laws as the least worst that he has seen in Australia.
Associate Professor of Law at Newcastle University and author of the Law and Religion blog Neil Foster says the law is unnecessary, but better than has been implemented in other parts of Australia.
Professor Foster supports moves to ban oppressive or violent practices that are designed to change someone’s sexual attraction or impair gender identity. However, Professor Foster says the laws (which have a criminal and civil component) can go beyond those bad things to areas where a minister is explaining the teaching of the Bible and wanting to help people to live in accordance with the bible.
Acting Minister of Watsons Bay Matt Aroney says he doesn’t think the new laws will impact his pastoral practice. Matt wants to turn down the anxiety levels. He encourages to choose thoughtfully to respond to the people in front of us with the love and compassion that Jesus has.
Matt applies the principles of his new book ‘Renovated: How God makes us Christlike’ to caring well for those Christians experiencing same sex attraction or gender incongruence.”
– An important topic for ministers and churches to understand.
“Equality” bill — NSW Government Survey
Posted on April 7, 2024
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From Freedom for Faith:
“The independent Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, has introduced his ‘Equality’ bill, which would significantly undermine religious freedom in NSW.
In collaboration with the heads of churches and a wide range of faith groups, Freedom for Faith has coordinated a campaign to call, write and meet with local MPs. We are also directly engaging with the Government and opposition on the future of the bill, and resourcing faith leaders in their advocacy.
The legislation has been referred to a Parliamentary Committee for Inquiry. The first stage is a public survey. We encourage everyone to participate, it will take less than a minute and help the Government understand our objections to this damaging legislation.”
The ‘Equality’ bill is a different piece of legislation from the ‘Conversion Practices’ legislation which passed a couple of weeks ago.
The NSW Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Community Services Survey is open until Sunday 14th April 2024.
Emphasis added.
Video: Consecration of Dr Siegfried Ngubane as Presiding Bishop of REACH-SA
Posted on April 7, 2024
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We missed linking to this video in February when Dr Siegfried Ngubane was consecrated and installed as Presiding Bishop of REACH-SA (The Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa) at Christ Church Midrand.
As the REACH-SA website says, the service was “nothing short of monumental” with a very encouraging array of guests present from around the world.
Bishop Malcolm Richards represented Archbishop Kanishka Raffel at the service, sending greetings from Sydney. Archbishop of Uganda, Stephen Kaziimba, preached. The service is introduced by outgoing Presiding Bishop, Bishop Glenn Lyons.
Most encouraging.
‘Indefinitely mothballed’: Quake-hit cathedral’s dire future unless $30m found by August
Posted on April 6, 2024
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“The Christ Church Cathedral rebuild has a funding gap of $114 million – and if $30m isn’t secured by August this year, the project will be indefinitely mothballed, it has been announced.
And the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Limited said a ‘mothballed scenario’ would ‘be hidden from view, and people will not be able to visit it, or preserve it, because it will remain a construction site in suspension’.
The iconic building had lain in ruin for many years after the Canterbury earthquakes. …”
– Report from NewstalkZB, New Zealand.
Photo: Christ Church Cathedral in 1978.
Armidale Diocese gives thanks for Barraba Bash ’24
Posted on April 5, 2024
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“This year’s Bash was a brilliant day!
On March 23rd, 220 youth from right across the Diocese gathered together to praise God in song, listen to his Word preached faithfully and have a whole lot of fun.
Over the day we did a deep dive into Hebrews chapter 12 as we considered big questions like ‘What does it mean to endure as Christians?’, ‘How can we carry on living for Jesus when our friends live so differently?’ …”
– Give thanks with the churches in the Diocese of Armidale for this key youth event.
Moore College Open Week 6-10 May 2024
Posted on April 5, 2024
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The next Moore College Open Week is coming up next month – a great opportunity to learn about the College – especially if you are considering study.
Also from the College:
“We thank God for the Governing Board’s approval of the Acting Principal’s nomination of the Rev. Charles Cleworth as a part-time member of the Moore College Faculty. …” – 02 April 2024.
Things that hinder and sins that entangle – with Dominic Steele
Posted on April 5, 2024
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“Dominic Steele speaks to our hearts today as we engage in the battle of the Christian life. We get a call today to perseverance and resilience.
Dominic addresses, not just pastors, but young and old; healthy and unfit; wealthy and poor; busy and quiet; husbands, singles, divorcees and widowers; fertile and infertile, straight or experiencing same sex attraction; or struggling in addictions. …”
“I’m a cultural Christian”, says Richard Dawkins
Posted on April 4, 2024
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Screenshot
“ ‘When you give up Christian faith, you pull the rug out from under your right to Christian morality as well. This is anything but obvious: you have to keep driving this point home, English idiots to the contrary.’ (Nietzsche)
Richard Dawkins is now a self professing, ‘cultural Christian’. …”
– What does it mean? Murray Campbell follows some threads. (Dawkins does think that Christian claims about Jesus are ‘nonsense’.)
Here’s the interview. Image: LBC.
Raising Leaders and Leading with Scripture — Archbishop Miguel Uchôa
Posted on April 4, 2024
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The latest Global Anglican Podcast, Episode 3, has been released by Gafcon:
“No leader works alone. Archbishop Miguel Uchôa, Gafcon Vice Chairman and Primate of Brazil, joins Bishop Paul Donison for a candid conversation about the need to raise up godly leaders in the pews of our local churches. Scripture plays a central part.
Archbishop Uchôa shares the ways he has brought the Bible back into secular communities, and also describes how Gafcon brought support and structure to the faithful in Brazil in their time of need.”
– Listen here.
Food, glorious food for the soul
Posted on April 4, 2024
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“We live in a busy age where the temptation is more and more to be disconnected as we live our lives. Look around eating establishments outside the home and it is very common to see headphones cutting off conversation, and to see eyes glued to screens even among people seated at the same table.
The same kind of thing can creep into the family mealtime. What’s more, with the kind of schedules many of us have, the mealtime can be inconvenient, rushed and detached. Many spend their meal times around screens (common or individual) with very little opportunity for the kind of fellowship that sharing a meal can and should provide. …”
– The latest Ministry Matters newsletter from CCAANZ (the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand) is all about food.
Bishop Jay Behan (pictured) writes on “Breaking bread together – The power of the family table”.
There’s also an article on how CCAANZ churches are using food to share the gospel.
Preaching Paul’s Letters
Posted on April 3, 2024
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“As a Spurgeon fan I can recall many of his quotes at will, and one of them is, ‘No Christ in your sermon, sir? Then go home, and never preach again until you have something worth preaching…’
This would be most relevant in preaching from the Old Testament, where we (should) use our Biblical theology skills, and preach Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old testament text. …
Far too often, nearly always, I hear sermons on the epistles, where the main application, is ‘Be like Paul.’ where Paul is the hero of the passage.
I’m suggesting, that this isn’t handling any passage from Paul’s epistles well…”
– Jim Mobbs writes to encourage preachers – at The Expository Preaching Trust.
Making the most of an “extensive job description”
Posted on April 2, 2024
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“There are no doubt many anniversaries to be celebrated in 2024, but the one I am personally thankful for is the 30th anniversary of the appointment of the Archdeacon for Women’s Ministry.
I’m reflecting, with thanks to God, about all that has been done, who did it, and how we can continue building on this vital work. …”
– Archdeacon Kara Hartley reflects – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…