No cheap grace
Posted on April 21, 2009
Filed under Resources Comments Off on No cheap grace
John Piper:
“Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a gift to my generation of students. I pray that his costly message will be rediscovered in each generation. …
Bonhoeffer’s book was a massive indictment of the “cheap grace” that he saw in the Christian Church on both sides of the Atlantic. He believed in justification by grace through faith. But he did not believe that the faith that justifies could ever leave people unchanged by the radical Christ they claim to believe. That was a cheap response to the Gospel. …”
– From Chapter 4 of John Piper’s book “Don’t Waste Your Life”.
Available online in PDF format and for the iPhone.
(And, while you’re at it, listen to this challenging message.)
Resources for Bible teachers
Posted on April 20, 2009
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Resources for Bible teachers
The Proclamation Trust recently made available more audio resources – sermons and lectures – as an aid and encouragement for those whose ministry is to open God’s word for others.
See what’s available (much of it without charge) at the Proclamation Trust media website.
Lambeth / GAFCON forum for Newcastle
Posted on April 20, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on Lambeth / GAFCON forum for Newcastle
On Tuesday May 12th, the Bishop of Newcastle, Brian Farran, will be joined by Robert Forsyth, Bishop of South Sydney to disuss the recent Conferences of Lambeth and GAFCON.
In an open forum to parishioners and clergy they will discuss:
• How and why these conferences came about?
• Why some chose to attend one and not the other?
• Is there any concern as to a fracture within the Anglican Communion in Australia?
• How we can understand the different thoughts of each area and where our points of agreement meet?
Where: All Saints’ Church, New Lambton, (Cnr St James Road and Regent St)
When: Tuesday 12th May. Time: 7pm.
– from the Diocese of Newcastle.
Stephen Hale to move to St Hilary’s Kew
Posted on April 19, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on Stephen Hale to move to St Hilary’s Kew
From Anglican Media Melbourne –
“Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Philip Freier, has announced that two Melbourne assistant bishops, Bishop Stephen Hale and Bishop Barbara Darling, are soon to take up new appointments within the Diocese. Read more
April 2009 Australian Church Record online
Posted on April 18, 2009
Filed under News, Resources Comments Off on April 2009 Australian Church Record online
Latest issue of The Australian Church Record is now online – at the Church Record website. Included in this issue are some interesting nuggets of information recently discovered about the first Chaplain to Botany Bay, the Rev. Richard Johnson.
Issue number 1896 of The Australian Church Record is available as a 700kb PDF download.
Phillip Jensen’s tribute to Sir Marcus Loane
Posted on April 17, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on Phillip Jensen’s tribute to Sir Marcus Loane
How strange is the death of one of God’s people. The Psalmist says: Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints (Psalm 116:15).
“The clergy of my generation had an unreserved admiration of him. His very distinctive manner of speech was often impersonated. His memory for details was legendary. But it was his willingness to courageously stand for the truth, without fear or favour, which won our deep veneration.”
– Read the Dean of Sydney’s tribute to Sir Marcus Loane at the Cathedral website.
Bp Bob Duncan interview — 16 April 2009
Posted on April 17, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on Bp Bob Duncan interview — 16 April 2009
Bishop Bob Duncan was at the meeting in London as the GAFCON Anglican Primates Council moved to recognise the Anglican Church in North America.
Russell Powell recorded a six minute video interview with him last night for Anglican TV.
Watch it here. (h/t/ Anglican Mainstream.)
Update: Russell Powell has now posted a story on the Primates’ meeting – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
The Archbishop who walked Kokoda
Posted on April 17, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on The Archbishop who walked Kokoda
Sir Marcus Loane, who was Anglican Archbishop of Sydney for 16 years to 1982, was the first Australian-born Primate of Australia and the first archbishop to walk the Kokoda Trail.
Loane, who died on Tuesday at 97, was a conservative evangelical credited with healing divisions within the Anglican community after a period of instability. His shy manner contrasted with the certainty of his belief. …
– Bishop John Reid, with Alan Gill, in The Sydney Morning Herald.
ACNA recognised by GAFCON Primates
Posted on April 17, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on ACNA recognised by GAFCON Primates
Communiqué from the GAFCON/FCA Primates’ Council –16 April 2009
In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We meet in the week after Easter, rejoicing again in the power of the risen Lord Jesus to transform lives and situations. We continue to experience his active work in our lives and the lives of our churches and we rejoice in the Gospel of hope. Read more
Funeral and Thanksgiving services for Sir Marcus Loane announced
Posted on April 16, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on Funeral and Thanksgiving services for Sir Marcus Loane announced
Anglican Media Sydney reports that a funeral service will be held for Sir Marcus Loane on Tuesday April 21 at St James’, Turramurra at 2:00pm.
A Diocesan thanksgiving service will be held next month — on Wednesday May 13 at St Andrew’s Cathedral at 10:00am. (Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net)
GAFCON Primates meet in London with North American Bishops
Posted on April 16, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on GAFCON Primates meet in London with North American Bishops
Representatives of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) led by Pittsburgh Bishop and Archbishop designate Bob Duncan met Wednesday with the Primates.
All Primates were present.
The Primates Council was established after the GAFCON conference in Jerusalem in 2008 and contains leaders representing about 40 million Anglicans worldwide almost 75 percent of the communion. …
– read the report on the GAFCON website.
NSW mourns Sir Marcus Loane
Posted on April 15, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on NSW mourns Sir Marcus Loane
Press Release from the NSW Council of Churches
“He was a wonderful Bible teacher who expounded the Scriptures and made them clear to us.” – Deaconess Margaret Rodgers.
The NSW Council of Churches extends its condolences to the family of the Most Reverend Marcus Lawrence Loane KBE, former Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, who died on Monday in Sydney, aged 97.
Ordained in 1935, Sir Marcus was the first Australian-born Archbishop of Sydney, serving from 1966 to 1982, and was Primate of Australia from 1978 to 1982. He was vice-principal of Moore Theological College from 1939 to 1953, and Principal from 1954 to 1959. He served as Chaplain to the Australian Imperial Forces in New Guinea from 1942 to 1944. Read more
Photo tribute to Sir Marcus Loane
Posted on April 15, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on Photo tribute to Sir Marcus Loane
Christian Photojournalist Ramon Williams has assembled a web album of some of his photos of Sir Marcus Loane. You can see them here.
(Photo: Ramon Willams.)
Marcus Loane: with Christ
Posted on April 14, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on Marcus Loane: with Christ
It has been announced that Sir Marcus Loane, Archbishop of Sydney from 1966 to 1982, died this afternoon in Sydney after a brief illness.
Sir Marcus had an enormous influence on the Church in Sydney is beloved of generations of Christians for his godly leadership, his edifying books and his keen understanding of history. He was 97.
Archbishop Peter Jensen, who is in London, has released this statement:
“We mourn the passing of Sir Marcus but give thanks for the life of a remarkable leader who served both church and nation.
As the first Australian Archbishop of Sydney and as Primate he was a formative leader in our church.
In national life, he offered leadership which transcended politics. In particular he spoke up for the poor and helped spark the Henderson enquiry of the early 1970s.
He offered distinguished service with our troops in New Guinea during World War II.
He was a prolific author with an international influence and ministry.
But he will be remembered most as one of the key architects of post-war Anglicanism in Sydney.”
Quoting from 2 Samuel 3, “a prince and a great man has fallen this day”, one senior ACL member sent this message, “We thank God for every remembrance of Marcus Loane in all the dimensions of his life and ministry”.
Details of a memorial service will be released later this week. Anglican Media Sydney has more. (Photo: Marcus Loane in 1955, as Principal of Moore College, from his ‘A Centenary History’ of the college.)
Most American Christians don’t believe Satan or the Holy Spirit exist
Posted on April 14, 2009
Filed under News Comments Off on Most American Christians don’t believe Satan or the Holy Spirit exist
“A new nationwide survey of adults’ spiritual beliefs, conducted by The Barna Group, suggests that Americans who consider themselves to be Christian have a diverse set of beliefs – but many of those beliefs are contradictory or, at least, inconsistent. …
More than one-fifth (22%) strongly agreed that Jesus Christ sinned when He lived on earth, with an additional 17% agreeing somewhat.”
– Press release from the Barna Research Group.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…