2011 ACL Pre-Synod meetings

Posted on September 16, 2011 
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The Synod of the Diocese of Sydney is a large gathering and its many procedures and functions can seem bewildering.

As a service to the Synod, the Anglican Church League is pleased to invite Synod members to these pre-Synod meetings to –

•    understand how Synod works
•    discover how to make a contribution
•    and hear about some of the key issues coming up at Synod this year.

Choose one of these locations:

Monday 26th September, 7:30pm
Naremburn Anglican Church (Merrenburn Avenue)

Tuesday 27th September, 7:30pm
St John’s Parramatta (195 Church Street)

Wednesday 28th September, 7:30pm
St Michael’s Wollongong (Church Street)

Join us for an evening which will help us to be more informed and purposeful as we together serve Jesus through the Synod.

‘Anglican Church of Canada worship returns to St. John’s Shaughnessy’

Posted on September 16, 2011 
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“The Venerable John Stephens, Archdeacon of Vancouver has arranged a rota of clergy to conduct Sunday services and musicians to lead the music in worship beginning Sunday, September 25th at 11am with a Celebration of Holy Communion. …”

– from the Diocese of New Westminister website.

Related: Largest Anglican Church congregation in Canada leaves historic church home.

And from the St. John’s Vancouver website:

“We will pray that He will continue to use this space for His glory, and that many may come to know Him in it in the future.”

“On September 18, we will have regular services at 8am, 10am, and 6:30pm.  The 10am service will finish differently. Near the end of the 10am service we will thank God for his grace at giving us our home at St. John’s Shaughnessy for the better part of the last century. We will pray that He will continue to use this space for His glory, and that many may come to know Him in it in the future.  We will then depart the building together and drive to our new location at 5350 Baillie, arriving together.  We will thank God for his grace and provision and sing .  After this, at approximately noon, a light lunch will be served at our new location and there will be an opportunity to explore where ministries will be happening and enjoy our new home.”

Quiz Worx appeal

Posted on September 15, 2011 
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During September, the Quiz Worx team, who do terrific gospel ministry with kids, are seeking to raise funds to support their work.
(Check out their resources.)

Summer School 2012

Posted on September 15, 2011 
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CMS NSW has now opened registration for the 2012 Summer School.

Defence Sunday 2011 — 6th November

Posted on September 15, 2011 
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The Anglican Defence Force Chaplains are encouraging the observance of Defence Sunday on 6th November (the Sunday before Remembrance Day).

There are around 100 Anglican clergy serving in Afghanistan, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Malaysia, Australia and elsewhere.

There are a number of Defence Chaplains in the Sydney area. Archdeacon to the Air Force, Kevin Russell (e-mail Kevin.russell@defence.gov.au) would be delighted to field enquiries about having one of them come to your church – to open the Scriptures and to share about pastoral needs and gospel ministry in the Defence Force.

(The new under-development website is at defenceanglicans.org.au.)

Deciding… Yet Undecided

Posted on September 14, 2011 
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“The strategy behind Williams’ address was not to promote his views on homosexuality directly, but to reflect on the process by which moral decisions in general should be made – not so much to play the game, so to speak, as the more ambitious task of actually trying to define what the playing field should look like.

And this is the enduring significance of his address thirteen years later as he continues to promote ‘indaba’ and ‘listening process’ strategies which focus on the process of decision making…”

– Charles Raven, author of Shadow Gospel, reviews a book on Archbishop Rowan Williams’ theology of moral decision-making – at SPREAD.

Christian Doctors oppose South Australian ‘End of Life’ bill

Posted on September 14, 2011 
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Here’s a press release from the Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship of Australia, relating to a bill (Herald Sun story) before the South Australian parliament –

“Christian Doctors Oppose Keys ‘End of Life’ Bill

The South Australian branch of the Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship of Australia (CMDFA)  joins with many individuals and groups throughout South Australia, including the AMA South Australian branch and the Law Society (SA branch) to oppose the proposed amendments that would increase the vulnerability of patients by making it easier for doctors to provide treatment that shortened a person’s life.  Read more

The day the world stood still

Posted on September 14, 2011 
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On Sunday September 11 2011, Phillip Jensen preached on “The day the world stood still” at the 9/11 memorial service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney.

The audio of Dean Jensen’s sermon may be found here. Worth downloading and passing on.

Moore College Open Day September 24

Posted on September 14, 2011 
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The Moore College 2011 Open Day & Spring Carnival is coming up – on Saturday 24th September from 9.30am to 2.30pm in the Moore College grounds at 15 King Street, Newtown.

BBQ lunch provided at 12:00pm. Information sessions at 10:30am and 1:30pm. Details from the college.

Use of Social Media during meetings

Posted on September 14, 2011 
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“I enjoy social media. I have recently commenced using Twitter (@tasbishopjohn). I have had this blog for some time. I am also on facebook, and I am a major user of the diocesan website.

I guess I am a fairly outgoing, social being and my experiences with social media have been enriching. I intend to continue in conversation through using them.

I believe that the essential principle in the use of social media is that we are to be Christlike…”

– Bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower, has some helpful thoughts on using social media. (And worth keeping in mind at our upcoming Synod!)

ECUSA Bishop Walter Righter dies

Posted on September 13, 2011 
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From the Episcopal News Service:

“Retired Diocese of Iowa Bishop Walter C. Righter, 87, died Sept. 11. …

In the mid-1990s, Righter became a flashpoint for tensions over the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in the life of the Episcopal Church. The bishops of Dallas, Florida, San Joaquin, Central Florida, Texas, Eau Claire, Fort Worth, Quincy, Rio Grande and West Tennessee filed a presentment against Righter in February 1995 because he had ordained an openly gay man to the diaconate in the Diocese of Newark in September 1990. …

In May 1996, an ecclesiastical court ruled 7-1 that Righter’s action did not violate church law or “core doctrine.” Thus, the charges were dismissed…”

– This 1996 edition of New Directions gives some of the background to the heresy trial. (Photo: ENS.)

Hope for council estates

Posted on September 13, 2011 
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Oak Hill has posted a brief and encouraging video of what drives one of their independent students working in a council estate in South West London. May the Lord raise up more like him.

Reflection on 9/11 Ten Years On

Posted on September 10, 2011 
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“I was there on September 11.

Judy and I were living three short blocks from the twin towers. We had awakened that morning to clear blue skies and the sparkling waters of New York Harbor. But it was not to last.

We felt the shock when the first tower was hit. We heard the scream of the second jet flying low overhead and the sonic boom that followed when the south tower was hit. We experienced the shaking and the midnight darkness when the first tower collapsed. We saw the dust and ash and the paper on the streets and felt the eerie silence later when we were allowed to leave the area. …”

– John Mason writes at SydneyAnglicans.net. He is the Senior Minister of Christ Church New York City, and was previously the Rector of St. Clement’s Mosman.

Related: The Aussie saving lost souls on Wall Street.

Diocese of Auckland Synod debate: love ethic and listening vs biblical authority

Posted on September 10, 2011 
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“The Auckland Diocesan Synod has decided that people in same-sex relationships should not be excluded from ordination. …

Bishop Ross Bay deliberately allowed time and opportunity for a variety of views. These included a plea… that the motion was about justice and a love ethic; those opposing the motion cited biblical authority.”

The full text of the motion is:

“That this Synod

[1] Holds that sexual orientation should not be an impediment to the discernment, ordination, and licensing of gay and lesbian members to any lay and ordained offices of the Church; and further

[2] persons in committed same-sex relationships likewise should not be excluded from being considered for discernment, ordination, and licensing to any lay and ordained offices of the Church.

[3] commits to an intentional process of listening to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, organized by the Archdeacons in consultation with the gay and lesbian community.

[4] commits to an ongoing discussion with the ministry units, asks the Archdeacons to facilitate this, and invites responses to those discussions to be submitted to Diocesan Council by 31st March 2012; and

[5] commits to support the process and work of the Commission to be appointed by General Synod Standing Committee, as resolved at its meeting in July 2011.

– This story from Anglican Taonga. (h/t American Anglican Council. Photo: Dio. Auckland.)

‘Seven Lessons from Down Under’

Posted on September 10, 2011 
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“John Piper recently spent two weeks ministering in Australia. Here are seven lessons I learned along the way traveling with Pastor John — both through conversation with him and observing his example and interaction with the Aussies. …”

– Josh Etter writes at Desiring God.

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