Passion play with puppetry
Posted on March 28, 2024
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“When Epping rector Bishop Ross Nicholson first raised the idea of a Good Friday passion play centred on a large puppet of Jesus, the response was sceptical. Could this really work?
Given that his previous church in Tasmania had done the play for years, he was able to reply with an enthusiastic ‘Yes!’…”
– Judy Adamson has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Photo: Ross Nicholson.
Scotland’s New Hate Crime Law is no Laughing Matter
Posted on March 26, 2024
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“Most people and hopefully all Christians would agree that hate is bad. So, at a superficial level, it would seem that we should all be rejoicing at a Scottish government bill which bans hate. But as is so often the case in the world, things are not quite what they seem and words have different meanings.
None more so than in The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, passed three years ago. It was the brainchild of the then justice secretary for the Scottish government, Humza Yousaf. Yousaf is now the Scottish First Minister and his bill is about to become law on April 1st.
Sadly it is no joke – other than to make Scotland a laughing stock throughout the world. It is one of the most draconian, authoritarian measures passed by a democratic government in recent times – and it has profound implications for the Church. …”
– David Robertson at The Wee Flea re-posts an article he wrote for Christian Today.
Find Joy, Love and Hope in Jesus — Easter 2024 message from Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
Posted on March 26, 2024
Filed under Good News, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Find Joy, Love and Hope in Jesus — Easter 2024 message from Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has released this Easter message.
Great to play in church – and to share with your friends.
Also, see this report from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net – and download the video – or the text (PDF file).
Hearts for pastors’ kids – with James Galea
Posted on March 26, 2024
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“We explore the delicate dynamics of faith, family, and identity in the world of church leadership.
As pastors most of all we want our kids to love Jesus. And yet Barnabas Piper says so often pastors kids are messed up.
What are the unique experiences, joys and challenges of being pastors kids? And how can we better parent as pastors?
There are issues of awareness, assumptions and expectations. Plus confusion about identity.
This episode isn’t just about the challenges; it’s also a treasure trove of wisdom for Pastors kids themselves. Whether you’re feeling the weight of a congregation’s gaze or struggling to carve out your own identity.
We discuss the power of parental apologies and the healing they can bring.
James Galea grew up as a pastor’s kid in Western Sydney and now leads the ministry team at Freshwater Anglican Church on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.”
Bathurst Diocese: Two more Ordinations coming up in April
Posted on March 25, 2024
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“Dear brothers and sisters across our diocese,
It is with gratitude to God that I announce today that Mr Joshua Taylor and Mr Stuart Border are to be ordained as Deacons at All Saints Anglican Cathedral on Saturday 20 April at 11am.
This follows the unanimous recommendation of the diocesan ordination discernment panel, following their recent final discernment interviews with Josh and Stuart, both candidates having been prayerfully and carefully discerned for these orders over the past 12 months. …”
– More encouraging news from the Diocese of Bathurst, and a cause for thanksgiving. The Bishop’s Commissary, Dean of Bathurst James Hodson shares the news. (PDF file).
Don’t give up on physical Bibles
Posted on March 25, 2024
Filed under Encouragement, Resources Comments Off on Don’t give up on physical Bibles
“Last year, when my son went to college, I gave him one of my most precious earthly belongings—the Bible I used from the time I was in high school until I was almost 50 years old.
That Bible went through at least two rebindings, and most of its pages were creased, tattered, or coffee-stained. A few pages were even partially torn. It held almost three decades of markings and notes made from sermons, Bible studies, and personal devotions. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition (US), Chris Polski has some simple encouragement.
Easter 2024 at the Cathedral
Posted on March 24, 2024
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Easter Services at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney – as well as Handel’s Messiah (ticketed event) on Good Friday.
Details at the Cathedral website.
Bathurst Diocese: Lay Stipendiary Minister for the Narromine Parish
Posted on March 24, 2024
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“Thanks be to God that today in the parish of Narromine it is being announced that Mr Luke Merriman is to commence there during May 2024 as Lay Stipendiary Minister. …”
– More encouraging news from the Diocese of Bathurst. (Via the Bathurst Diocese Facebook page.)
Challenges to Religious Freedom: Conversion Practices law passed, ALRC report released
Posted on March 23, 2024
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Challenges to Religious Freedom: Conversion Practices law passed, ALRC report released
From Neil Foster at Law and Religion Australia:
“A brief update on two significant challenges to religious freedom which have emerged over the last few days.
First, in NSW, the Conversion Practices Ban Bill 2024 has been rushed through both Houses of Parliament, receiving final approval on Friday March 22 after an all-night debate in the Legislative Council, and is now awaiting the Royal Assent.
…
The second concerning development is that on Wednesday 21 March the Australian Law Reform Commission released its report Maximising the Realisation of Human Rights: Religious Educational Institutions and Anti-Discrimination Laws (ALRC Report 142). Far from “maximising” human rights, the report (as expected by those who spoke to some of its researchers) would have the effect, if adopted, of seriously impairing the operation of faith-based schools around Australia.”
– Read here.
Related:
Response to the Australia Law Reform Commission report on Religious Educational Institutions – Media Release from the Diocese of Sydney, 21 March 2023 –
“The ALRC deserves a fail for the report and recommendations produced.
We are deeply disappointed that the recommendations fail to understand the ethos of faith-based schooling and would, if implemented, significantly impair schools’ ability to carry out their charter. …”
Federal ALRC Report Released – Freedom for Faith, 22 March 2024,
“On Thursday 21 March, the Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus tabled the final Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) Report following their Inquiry into Religious Educational Institutions and Anti-Discrimination Laws (see below).
On Tuesday 19 March, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was reported saying that he would not act on the ALRC report or a Religious Discrimination Bill without bipartisan support.
A draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill has been shown to the Opposition and key faith leaders, but is not public. …”
Praying for the Royal family?
Posted on March 23, 2024
Filed under People, Theology Comments Off on Praying for the Royal family?
God’s word calls us to pray – 1 Timothy 2:1-4
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – ESV.
Image: Facebook post from the Church of England.
Latest edition of The Link from Armidale Diocese
Posted on March 23, 2024
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The latest (Feb – March 2024) issue of The Link from the Diocese of Armidale is now up on their website.
NSW Parliament passes Conversion Practices Ban Act unamended
Posted on March 22, 2024
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From Freedom for Faith:
“On March 22, 2024, the NSW Parliament passed the Conversion Practices Ban Act, a week after revealing the legislation. Despite a strong push from faith leaders and communities for improvements and clarifications, the legislation passed unamended.
We thank the Liberal Party, Shooters and Fishers, One Nation and Liberal Democrats who all moved amendments to improve the bill.
The legislation was the result of an extended campaign beginning before the 2023 election, and negotiations with the Government. While we do have strong concerns about the Act, it is also significantly better than the legislation in Victoria, and the proposals that were around in 2023. …”
More issues with the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Bill 2024
Posted on March 22, 2024
Filed under Australia, Opinion Comments Off on More issues with the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Bill 2024
Associate Professor Neil Foster writes at Law and Religion Australia:
“I am happy to present a guest post today from Associate Professor Mark Fowler, raising more issues of concern from a religious freedom perspective with the recently released proposed Anti-Discrimination Bill 2024.
Dr Mark Fowler is Principal, Fowler Charity Law, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame, School of Law, Sydney and an External Fellow at the Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law, University of Queensland. …”
– Read it here.
No agreement on ‘least-worst’ laws
Posted on March 21, 2024
Filed under Australia, Opinion, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on No agreement on ‘least-worst’ laws
“More than a half a decade before the NSW government brought on its ‘Conversion Practices’ bill being debated this week, the Sydney Anglican Church expressed its opposition to harmful ‘conversion therapies’. It had become apparent from the testimony of survivors that some groups, including Christian faith groups, have employed harmful practices in an attempt to change or suppress feelings of attraction to the same sex, or gender dysphoria.
Our decision to speak out came in 2018, before the move to legislate against such practices across Australia. Since then, such legislation has moved beyond these now rare and bizarre practices and in some jurisdictions encroaches unnecessarily and ominously into areas of orthodox religious belief and ordinary faith practices including teaching and preaching, prayer, conversation and mutual encouragement.
There have been comments that churches and faith groups have been consulted and are happy with the bill now on the table. This is not the case. …”
While grateful for the government’s engagement with faith communities on legislation, the Archbishop concludes that,
“What we have ended up with is a ‘least worst’ version of such legislation compared to some other Australian jurisdictions but cannot be regarded by biblical Christian churches as representing good law.”
– The Daily Telegraph has today published this op-ed by Archbishop Kanishka Raffel – and SydneyAnglicans.net has a copy.
Good to read and share – and do pray for the Members of Parliament as the proposed legislation is scheduled to be debated today.
Remembering Archbishop Thomas Cranmer
Posted on March 21, 2024
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On 21 March 1556, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer died at the stake in Oxford.
Learn about this towering figure of the English Reformation:
In 1989, Canon Allan Blanch wrote this appreciation of Archbishop Cranmer for ACL News.
In 2001, ACL News interviewed Dr. Ashley Null, recognised expert on Cranmer.
Further reading:
Masters Of The English Reformation by Marcus Loane (published 1954) is an excellent introduction to the English Reformation and five key figures: Bilney, Tyndale, Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer.
Portrait of Thomas Cranmer by Gerlach Flicke. (This is a re-post.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…