St John’s Latimer Square among those damaged

Posted on September 5, 2010 
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St John’s Latimer Square (an evangelical church in the heart of Christchurch) is among the church buildings damaged in the Canterbury earthquake. Preliminary information from the Diocese of Christchurch here – and another view of St John’s here. (Photo: Diocese of Christchurch.)

Graeme Goldsworthy on The White Horse Inn

Posted on September 4, 2010 
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Graeme Goldsworthy was interviewed on last week’s White Horse Inn broadcast (29th August 2010).

Well worth a listen.

(In the next few days it will be archived on this page.)

With thanks for Silas Horton

Posted on September 2, 2010 
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The ACL Council gives thanks to God for the life of the Rev Silas Horton, servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, past President and then Emeritus Vice President of the League, who was called home on 31 August.

Silas was ordained by Archbishop Mowll in 1955 and served his curacy at St. Clement’s Mosman before becoming chaplain to Norfolk Island in 1956. He later served as Curate in Charge and Rector of a number of Sydney parishes, including Regent’s Park and Birrong, Beverly Hills and Roseville.

For many years he served on the Standing Committee of the diocese and also its Presentation Board. After his time at Roseville he led Anglicare’s Parish Support and Development division.

Silas was known for his tireless determination to preserve the Evangelical Anglican heritage of the diocese, to preach Christ and to serve him wholeheartedly. We extend our sympathy to Silas’ wife Corylanne and to his  family.

His funeral is to be held in St. Andrew’s Cathedral on Tuesday 7 September.

(Photo: Horton family via Ramon Williams.)

‘Same-sex adoption bill clears hurdle’

Posted on September 2, 2010 
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“A bill allowing same-sex couples to adopt in New South Wales has been passed in state parliament’s Lower House. …”

– report from ABC News.
(Image: Google Streetview.)

Scottish Reformation Conference

Posted on September 2, 2010 
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The Presbyterian Theological Centre, Sydney is holding the Crowning Christ King Conference (September 10-11, 2010) to mark the 450th anniversary of the Scottish Reformation –

“The Scottish Reformation of 1560 was driven by Christians who were passionate that Christ should be Lord in his church. They wanted the truth of the gospel to be clear, God to be worshipped and his people to live for him. Those events laid the foundation of Presbyterian Churches around the world. 450 years later the truth and passion of the Scottish Reformation is part of our heritage. We need the same passion that Christ should be Lord.”

– Details at the PTC website (scroll down a bit).

Hell: Remembering the Awful Reality

Posted on September 2, 2010 
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“To speak of hell is to speak of things so overwhelming that it cannot be done with ease.

Yet hell exists; this is the testimony of the Scriptures, of the apostles, and of the Lord Jesus himself. The emotionally intolerable is also the truth — and therein lies its awfulness.

It is incumbent on the Christian pastor to be familiar with it, to feel the weight of it, to preach it, and to counsel his flock in connection with its meaning and personal implications.”

– Sinclair Ferguson is one of the contributors to the latest 9Marks eJournal, just released.

Read online – or download as a PDF file – from 9Marks.

Why the Adoption act should not be changed

Posted on September 1, 2010 
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“A private members bill introduced by the Hon Clover Moore to allow same-sex couples to adopt children will go before the Lower House of the NSW Parliament this week.

The NSW Premier, Kristina Keneally has allowed a conscience vote by Government MPs and the Opposition Leader, Barry O’Farrell has allowed the same for Opposition MPs.

The bill has been amended to exempt faith-based organisations from having to facilitate adoptions for same-sex couples.

Although Anglicare Sydney welcomes this exemption, it still opposes the bill in principle and urges all MPs to vote against the bill because it diminishes children’s rights.

The Adoption Act makes it clear no adult presently has the right to adopt a child. The Act is based on what is in the best interest of the child. Introducing a right to adopt is contrary to the whole adoption regime.

And allowing same-sex couples to adopt children is not a test of civil rights – upholding the rights of children to have a father and mother when they have no say in the matter is.

Anglicare’s 12 reasons for opposing the Bill were sent to all State MPs. You can view them here.

With this issue now upon us, I strongly urge you to write to or email your local MP and request them to vote against Ms Moore’s Bill, with reference to ANGLICARE’s reasons.

Children’s rights are precious – they should never be a political football for others.”

– Peter Kell, CEO of Anglicare Sydney writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.

ABC PM on the gay adoption issue

Posted on August 31, 2010 
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“Around 200 people squeezed into a small theatre in the New South Wales Parliament today to protest against a bill to allow same-sex couples to adopt. The New South Wales Council of Churches organised the protest meeting…”

– ABC Radio’s PM reported on Clover Moore’s proposed bill on adoption tonight.

Vacation Reading 2010

Posted on August 31, 2010 
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“Every summer on vacation, I try to read a variety of things. Here is a thumbnail on each of the books from this past week in South Carolina…

Peter O’Brien’s Consumed by Passion (1993) where he carefully and convincingly argues from 1 Cor 10:33-11:1 and elsewhere against David Bosch and others who maintain that Paul did NOT expect other Christians to evangelize. Paul did, O’Brien argues. Good book on the gospel and evangelism. Careful treatment of key passages. Anything by O’Brien is worth reading.”

– Mark Dever shares thoughts on just some of the books he’s been reading during the northern Summer vacation.

New Colin Buchanan DVD

Posted on August 31, 2010 
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No, this isn’t a commercial, but we thought you might be interested to know that Colin Buchanan has yet another DVD available. :-) See his website.

‘Churches get opt-out point on same-sex adoption bill’

Posted on August 31, 2010 
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“The independent state MP Clover Moore has moved to shore up support for her same-sex adoption bill by giving church adoption agencies the right to refuse services to gay and lesbian couples without breaching anti-discrimination laws…

However, news of the amendment has not changed the view of church leaders. A letter co-authored by the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell and the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, arrived on MPs’ desks yesterday urging them to vote down the bill.”

– Full story from The Sydney Morning Herald. (Photo: clovermoore.com)

Related: Urgent Public Meeting of Concern — Same Sex Couples Adoption.

CAPA Primates Communiqué, Uganda

Posted on August 30, 2010 
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The Primates of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa have released a Communiqué at the conclusion of the 2nd All Africa Bishop’s Conference in Entebbe, Uganda. Read it here (via Global South Anglican).

Urgent Public Meeting of Concern — Same Sex Couples Adoption

Posted on August 28, 2010 
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From the NSW Council of Churches:

This week in the NSW Parliament a private members bill is being rushed through to open the way for same sex couples to adopt children. The NSW Council of Churches is sponsoring a Public Meeting of concerned citizens opposed to this bill.

•    Theatrette NSW Parliament House
•    1pm–2pm Tuesday 31st August 2010
•    Speakers include Hon David Clarke (Liberal Party), Rev Hon Fred Nile (CDP) other speakers to be confirmed.
•    Please join us to make a statement of concern for the sake of the children!

And from a NSW Council of Churches Media Release:

27 August 2010
Huge change to NSW adoption law while all eyes are on Canberra

The President of the NSW Council of Churches has accused the NSW Government of seeking to fast track the introduction of a Private Member’s Bill by independent MLA Clover Moore which would allow same sex couples to adopt children in NSW.

“The Keneally Government has been sitting on the Same Sex Adoption report for a year, and it is a betrayal of proper parliamentary process to rush through a Private Member’s Bill on the first day of sitting while all eyes are on the negotiations in Canberra to form a federal government,” the Revd Richard Quadrio said.

The NSW Council of Churches is sponsoring a public meeting on same sex couples adoption to be held at the Theatrette, NSW Parliament House, from 1.00-2.00pm on Tuesday 31 August, the day on which the bill is scheduled for debate in both Houses.

“Clover Moore’s Same Sex Adoption Bill has not been debated in any way yet in the wider community. I call on Honorable Members of both Houses to proceed more slowly and to engage in greater community consultation before taking a conscience vote. Please join us to make a statement of concern for the sake of the children, both now and in the future,” Revd Quadrio said.

Click the image at top to download a PDF flyer.

Archbishop Orombi’s opening speech

Posted on August 28, 2010 
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Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Henry Luke Orombi’s speech to welcome delegates to the All African Bishops Conference is now available (450kb PDF).

“Time is now for ‘African Anglicanism’ to rise up and begin to bring fresh life in ‘the ailing global Anglicanism.’ The potentials represented today in this conference must be free to go to Europe and America with ‘fresh Wine’ from ‘new Wine Skins’ to the mother Church desperate for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I say ‘the Church in Africa’ must rise up…”

More from the Conference at africanbishops.org.

A family to keep in your prayers

Posted on August 28, 2010 
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“Life was beautiful. There was a wobbly toddler and a baby on the way. The kids were to grow up as little buddies, just 17 months apart. Richard Burnet, their proud dad, had landed a dream job. A Bombers fan since childhood, he was the new chief commercial officer for the Essendon Football Club…”

– Ruth Lamperd of Melbourne’s Herald-Sun shares the story of a family you could keep in your prayers. (Photo: Herald-Sun.)

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