LLF road map to ‘rebuilding trust’ set out at General Synod briefing
Posted on February 17, 2024
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“A fresh way forward on Living in Love and Faith (LLF) will be presented to the General Synod later this month, in the hope of ‘rebuilding trust’ lost over the past year. …”
– Anglican Mainstream has the link to an article in Church Times.
How to rebuild trust after what has happened?
Photo: Jacqui J. Sze, via The Archbishop of Canterbury’s website.
Pray for the Upcoming Church of England General Synod
Posted on February 16, 2024
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Prayer request from GAFCON:
“The General Synod of the Church of England meets February 23-27.
Pray for the orthodox faithful representatives. ‘Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ … striving side by side for the faith of the gospel’ (Phil. 1:27 ESV).”
Never Again
Posted on February 16, 2024
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“Friends in Christ, last Monday evening, together with Bishop Michael Stead and a number of other church leaders, I attended a meeting hosted at the Great Synagogue, but convened by a group of Christians called ‘Never Again is Now’. They are concerned about antisemitism in Australia.
Antisemitism is the expression of hostility to or prejudice against Jewish people. It’s a form of racism, one that is particularly abhorrent, when we remember the impact of the Holocaust under Nazism in Germany before and during World War Two. …”
– In a recent Cathedral newsletter (and published on the Cathedral website), Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant explains why will he attend the Never Again rally 3-4pm on Sunday 18th February.
He also provides a link to the Never Again is Now website.
‘Stop turning our great cathedrals into nightclubs’ petition signed by thousands
Posted on February 16, 2024
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“Over 2,000 individuals have voiced their objection through a petition against a recent silent disco event held at Canterbury Cathedral, an iconic site with deep historical and religious significance. …
Despite the controversy stirred by this event, several other cathedrals, including Hereford, Leeds, St Albans, Coventry, Sheffield, and Manchester, have opted to host similar silent discos in the upcoming weeks and months. Manchester Cathedral, for instance, not only plans a silent disco in May but also a Punk Rock Club night at the end of February. …”
– Report from Premier Christian News.
Photo: Whitsun parade, Manchester Cathedral, 1911. (Not a Punk Rock Club night.)
He Gets (Some Of) Us
Posted on February 15, 2024
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“Hello dear reader, been a while but here I am now all agitated about the recent ‘HeGetsUs’ advert that aired during this week’s SuperBowl. It’s already generated considerable discussion in evangelicaldom.
Not sure what I’m talking about? Well watch this…”
– David Ould comments on a Super Bowl ad – and then shares an alternative.
Thursday Forums 2024 — at Moore College
Posted on February 15, 2024
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From Two Ways Ministries:
“Thursday Forum is the backbone of what we do – hear Phillip Jensen teach the Bible, ask your questions, discuss the implications in small groups with others in the 18-30 age group and pray together. This year we will be digging deep into the book of Romans – so bring your brains, Bibles, questions, and friends!
Location: Marcus Loane Hall, Moore College, Newtown
Time: Thursdays 7-9pm (BYO dinner to eat together from 6pm) …”
– Details here.
CEEC expresses ‘profound concern’ at ‘Living in Love, Faith and Reconciliation’ paper
Posted on February 14, 2024
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Here’s a media release from the Church of England Evangelical Council:
Monday 12 February 2024, London, UK: CEEC has expressed ‘profound concern’ at one of the papers published ahead of February’s meeting of the General Synod.
The paper entitled ‘Living in Love, Faith and Reconciliation’ (GS2346) is being brought to the Synod by the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow.
In response to the paper, Revd Canon John Dunnett, National Director, said:
“CEEC wholeheartedly welcomes the commitment in this paper to pursue openness, humility, honesty and transparency in the Living in Love and Faith process. At the same time, we are profoundly concerned by the many ambiguities in the Commitments, and that the theological underpinning of the ‘reset’ appears to remain that of ‘adiaphora’.
“Most concerningly of all, the Commitment to ‘exploring the process for clergy and lay ministers to enter same-sex civil marriages’ could drive a coach and horses through Church of England doctrine.
“The title ’Living in Love, Faith and Reconciliation’, will appear to many to contradict the need for differentiation. CEEC remains convinced that the maximum degree of unity possible can only be obtained through a robust structural settlement.”
The Church of England’s General Synod will meet from 23-27 February, in London.
– Source: CEEC.
Mother’s Union Sydney Annual Seminar 2024
Posted on February 14, 2024
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Mothers Union Sydney’s Annual Seminar for 2024 is coming up on Friday 23rd February at St. Andrew’s Cathedral and on livestream.
It’s a free event. Topics:
Lovebound: the beauty of church – Tim Clemens
Being church: life in the family of God – Dani Treweek
Raising children: the church as your village – Jocelyn Loane.
How TikTok changes everything for social media and churches – with Hannah Thiem and Liz Fong
Posted on February 13, 2024
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“Social media is changing again. In an increasingly digital age, our collective consciousness is captured by infinite scrolling, short-form videos, and internet personalities. A church’s social media presence has gone from an optional nicety to a key lever for engaging newcomers to church. …”
– Food for thought with Hannah Thiem and Liz Fong. And Dominic Steele confesses he deleted his Tik Tok account.
Truth Be Told: Sample chapter and pre-order
Posted on February 13, 2024
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From Rachel at Matthias Media:
“The book on truth they tried to censor
It became painfully clear during the production of Truth be Told, Lionel Windsor’s new book encouraging Christians to stand out in the world because of their honesty and integrity, just how much it was needed. …”
– Read a sample chapter and pre-order the book.
Lionel Windsor spoke about his book late last year.
2024 Prayer Cycle for the Diocese of the Northern Territory
Posted on February 13, 2024
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The 2024 Prayer Cycle for the Diocese of the Northern Territory has been released and can be downloaded from their website.
A great resource to help us pray for gospel ministry in the north of Australia.
Bishop of Newcastle reports from Rome and Canterbury
Posted on February 12, 2024
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Earlier this month, Dr Peter Stuart, the Bishop of Newcastle, sent this report from Rome and Canterbury. He was there for the ‘Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission’ –
“Our second summit day has concluded. It has been profound.
We began with the experience of Holy Communion where the Anglicans could not participate. We all experienced the pain. …
Day 4. From Rome.
A special service in the Basilica of St Paul outside the walls.
This evening, Bishop Greg from Lismore and I were commissioned for the work of Christian unity by Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin.
The homilies were based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the call to love.
We were greeted by Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin. …”
– From the Diocese of Newcastle.
Photo via the Diocese of Newcastle.
Related:
Archbishop Welby explains why he wears Pope Paul VI’s pastoral ring (October 2021.)
Perth Diocese Anglican Messenger for February 2024 now online
Posted on February 11, 2024
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The Anglican Messenger magazine of the Diocese of Perth for February 2024 is now available online.
Included is a feature on the consecration, earlier this month, of the two new Assistant Bishops – David Bassett and Hans Christiansen.
Earlier:
Two new Assistant Bishops for Perth – Sept 2023.
Orthodox bishops publish ‘theological vision’ of Christian life and discipleship to ‘encourage’ and ‘equip’
Posted on February 9, 2024
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“The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) welcomes today’s publication of a ‘theological vision’ of Christian life and discipleship by a group of orthodox bishops.
These bishops, writing on behalf of a wider grouping in the House and College of bishops, say that the affirmations included in the vision are designed to ‘bring greater clarity to our points of convergence and divergence’ and to ‘encourage and equip’ those who continue to hold to the Church’s historic teaching. …”
The word evangelism
Posted on February 9, 2024
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“Many people respond to the word evangelism like they respond to ‘begin fitness regime’. It is important, does good, and we want it, but getting going has so many hurdles.
Conversion is God’s great work, and He continues to be active in it. Look around church – where every week we are blessed by being surrounded by those He has saved. Every church in our Diocese desires to see people saved. At Moore College, our students voluntarily gather in groups to explore how to reach different pockets of society, and students, faculty, and staff regularly request prayer for people they are evangelising. Yet evangelism still seems so fraught with difficulties.
To think through how we might enhance our evangelistic efforts Phil Wheeler, director of Evangelism & New Churches, Elliot Temple, mission director at Christ Church St. Ives for the last nine years, and I discussed lessons we have learnt on evangelism. …”
– Archie Poulos writes at the Moore College website.
Picture courtesy of The Pastor’s Heart.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…