Missionary Diocese
Posted on October 17, 2009
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“In Tasmania in 2000, the question was asked, ‘Bishop, what would you like from the diocese as you commence your episcopate?’ – The answer, ‘A website for the diocese.’ The diocese obliged. A new openness to change was evident. However, the much deeper challenge came when the bishop shared the vision of ‘Every Tasmanian committed to Jesus Christ’, declared that the diocese be known as ‘The Missionary Diocese of Tasmania’, and challenged every Anglican to live as a ‘missionary disciple’.
Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower has made available a chapter he wrote (PDF, Word) for the book “Facing the Future: Bishops Imagine a Different Church”, edited by Stephen Hale and Andrew Curnow.
“In Tasmania in 2000, the question was asked, ‘Bishop, what would you like from the diocese as you commence your episcopate?’ – The answer, ‘A website for the diocese.’ The diocese obliged. A new openness to change was evident. However, the much deeper challenge came when the bishop shared the vision of ‘Every Tasmanian committed to Jesus Christ’, declared that the diocese be known as ‘The Missionary Diocese of Tasmania’, and challenged every Anglican to live as a ‘missionary disciple’.
These strong statements of missional intent highlighted the commencement of intentional deep change in the Anglican Church in Tasmania…”
(h/t and photo: Diocese of Tasmania.)
Anglicans: Sydney Style
Posted on October 16, 2009
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With Sydney’s Synod starting on Monday, ABC TV’s Compass is looking at the diocese on Sunday night at 9:55pm. Might be worth checking out.
“Sydney is home to a third of Australia’s Anglicans. The Diocese is well known for being staunchly evangelical, for opposing the ordination of women and for its emphasis on the Biblical and personal conversion. This programs looks at the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, its spiritual battle against modernising trends and the evangelical ministry at the heart of its identity.”
Newcastle Synod this weekend
Posted on October 16, 2009
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The Synod of the Diocese of Newcastle meets this weekend and will discuss the first ever Strategic Plan for the diocese –
Bishop Brian Farran said, “With more than 500 people across the Diocese involved in the development of the Diocesan Strategic Plan it is worthy of celebration. The consultation process has been broad and judicious. The Diocesan Strategic Plan provides us with a language with which to express our hopes and dreams to be a missional church.”
– from the Diocese of Newcastle website. PDF file. Doubtless, members of the Synod would appreciate prayer for their meeting.
William Tyndale and his New Testament
Posted on October 16, 2009
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Church Society has republished a 1976 Churchman article by Gervase Duffield on Bible translation pioneer William Tyndale. (PDF file.)
As Reformation Sunday approaches (most observe it on the Sunday closest to October 31), it’s a good time to give thanks for the New Testament in English and those who helped make it possible.
Related: The open Bible in England, by F.F. Bruce.
Scripture marginalised?
Posted on October 16, 2009
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Bishop of South Sydney, Rob Forsyth, seeks to provoke discussion on reading Holy Scripture in church – over at SydneyAnglicans.net.
(And Allan Dowthwaite provides a link to Clifford Warne’s classic talk on The Art of Reading Aloud.)
Photo: Russell Powell.
Oct 2009 Australian Church Record online
Posted on October 15, 2009
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The latest edition of The Australian Church Record is now online and is available as a free PDF download, thanks to the people at ACR.
What does it mean to be Anglican?
Posted on October 14, 2009
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Mark Thompson, ACL President, has been writing about this question at his blog –
“To many, perhaps too many, the answer to this question is probably ‘Who cares?’ In a post-denominational age, Anglican identity might be an interesting historical question but it hardly has relevance for contemporary Christian living. What is more, fearing denominationalism, some would prefer to abandon all talk of Anglicanism. Denominations can become idols, can’t they?…”
What does it mean to be Anglican? I
What does it mean to be Anglican? II
See also Mark’s recent talk on The 39 Articles and Global Anglicanism from the Confess or Die Conference.
Large print Essential Jesus
Posted on October 13, 2009
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The Essential Jesus (the Gospel of Luke) being distributed across Sydney as a part of Connect09 is a wonderful resource. Many who have received copies have commented on its clear layout and attractive presentation.
It’s not ideal to give to everyone though. Some people would like larger print! See this from Matthias Media.
David Peterson on Acts, the Spirit and more
Posted on October 12, 2009
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David Höhne and Michael Jensen recently interviewed David Peterson for the The Common Room.
David is now back at Moore College after his term as Principal of Oak Hill College in London. Listen and be encouraged to re-read Acts.
The interview runs to 16.7MB and goes for 24 minutes.
Related: Carson on David Peterson on Acts.
Melbourne Diocese Synod Charge 2009
Posted on October 11, 2009
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“My charge to you tonight is a call to a deeper relationship with Christ, a call to faithful Christian ministry both as clergy and lay Christians, a call to Christian witness in our daily lives, a call to prayer, a call to love one another and a call to share in the creation of a vision for the Diocese of Melbourne for the next five years and beyond.”
– from Archbishop Philip Freier’s address to the Melbourne Synod on Thursday night (PDF file).
Related: Press release from Anglican Media Melbourne.
Conservative worshippers prepare for their exodus
Posted on October 10, 2009
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“The people of St. Luke’s Anglican Church have called their La Crescenta parish home for 85 years. Generations of families have grown up within its historic stone walls.
On Sunday, the Rev. Rob Holman will deliver his final sermon there, an epitaph to a bruising legal fight the congregation waged and lost to practice its conservative brand of Christian theology and hold on to the church.
On Monday, St. Luke’s leaders will hand over its keys to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. …”
– Story from The Los Angeles Times. (Graphic: St. Luke’s Crescenta Valley.)
Plan for women C of E bishops put on hold
Posted on October 10, 2009
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“Plans to consecrate women bishops in the Church of England have been delayed by at least four years in an attempt to avoid mass defections by opponents of women’s ordination. Church legislators have backtracked on a decision made by the General Synod, the Church’s governing body, last year to consecrate women bishops with minimal concessions to opponents.”
– report from Times Online.
(Photo: Australian women bishops Barbara Darling and Kay Goldsworthy – by Janine Eastlake / Anglican Media Melbourne.).
No laughing matter
Posted on October 9, 2009
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“A friend sent me a link yesterday to one of the most bizarre things I have ever heard. On September 16, John Piper spoke to a large conference of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
He decided to start the message by confessing a list of sins he had struggled with all his life. Here’s the result.”
Greg Gilbert makes some perceptive comments at Church Matters. What might we learn from this episode?
If life has meaning, death is an outrage
Posted on October 9, 2009
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“It has been a good couple of months for the celebrating of life at memorial services. First, there was the celebration of Michael Jackson’s life and then there was Ted Kennedy, enfant terrible turned elder statesman. Both men, in their different ways, were proof positive that, in modern America, you only need to love your own kids and then at some point die in order to atone for any sins you may have committed against other people’s beloved sons and daughters…”
– Carl Trueman’s latest commentary at Reformation21 is well worth reading. How might reflection on these things help our conversations? (Photo: Westminster Seminary.)
David Letterman and cosmic captivity
Posted on October 9, 2009
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“The Scripture says that Satan’s reign over this present order is by holding us captive through the slavery of the ‘fear of death’ (Heb 2:15). And why are all humans afraid of death? Because, like Letterman’s letter in the back of the car, our conscience is pointing us to judgment, with a ‘black box’ of evidence of our guilt (Rom 2:15-16).”
– Russell Moore at SBTS writes on ‘What David Letterman can teach us about the Gospel’. (h/t Tim Challies.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…