Gafcon Primates meeting in London concludes tonight (Australian time)
Posted on November 9, 2023
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“The meeting of the Gafcon Primates concludes today.
Pray for safe travel as the Primates and regional representatives return to their homes. Pray for effective communication and implementation, following their decisions.”
Church Planting — One step at a time — 9Marks Journal
Posted on November 9, 2023
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9Marks has released their latest online journal Church Matters – this one is about church planting.
Editor Jonathan Leeman writes:
“Several themes emerge throughout this volume. Let me mention two.
First, church plants and planters are sometimes treated as something other than churches and pastors. They’re not. Plants are churches, planters are pastors. Say it twice if it will help you remember.
The reason to emphasize this is, the whole world of church planting literature, programs, assessment tools, and workshops over the last few decades too often takes its cues from the business world rather than the Bible. Yet we want your church to think about those would-be planters like you would a would-be pastor—according to the qualifications and competencies highlighted by the apostles. …”
– Read or download via this link.
Getting the time right
Posted on November 8, 2023
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“It’s awful when you get the time wrong. Missing a meeting, a party, a flight. I’ve done all those things at various points and it’s not a nice feeling!
It’s important to get the time right. There’s no point applying for a position which has already been filled, or waiting for a bus which has already gone.
But imagine getting the time wrong, not just for little things like that, but for your lifetime: living one’s whole life prioritising one thing, when actually the purpose of that lifetime was something else entirely. It is something which is very possible to do and many, many people have done it. …”
– Annabel Nixey writes at The Australian Church Record.
Lee Gatiss reports on Evangelical and Anglo-Catholic leaders’ meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace on LLF
Posted on November 7, 2023
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“I was at a meeting on Friday with about 25 evangelical and Anglo-Catholic leaders, who met with Archbishop Justin Welby and his staff at Lambeth Palace Library in London, to discuss the proposed blessings for same-sex couples.
Asked what we thought about some clergy teaching a view which we considered to be a threat to people’s salvation, I said …”
– Read Lee Gatiss’ brief report at Anglican.ink – and give thanks for his uncompromising responses. The Archbishop of Canterbury had a busy day on Friday.
Sea changes on euthanasia, conversion therapy and religious freedom – with Mike Southon and Monica Doumit
Posted on November 7, 2023
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A “Must-Watch” episode of The Pastor’s Heart:
“It’s going to be an especially bumpy six months for religious freedom issues in New South Wales.
Legalised Euthansia will be rolled out in just a few weeks. But what about faith based aged care institutions, where organizations and staff are conscientious objectors to euthanasia?
Then there’s the Law Reform Commission inquiry into religious schooling and whether the religious exemptions to anti discrimination law should be removed.
And the debate over conversion therapy will come to a head in the parliament.
Monica Doumit is Director of Public Affairs and Engagement for the Catholic Church in Sydney… and was one of the presenters at the Freedom for Faith Conference in Sydney.
Mike Southon is executive director of Freedom for Faith.”
– Watch or listen here. A hugely important topic.
Time to contact Members of Parliament!
The Gafcon Primates are meeting today
Posted on November 6, 2023
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A prayer request from GAFCON:
“The Gafcon Primates are meeting today and over the next four days [i.e. November 6th to 10th] in London.
Pray for: good fellowship; wise counsel; that the Holy Spirit may direct and rule in all things.”
Archbishop of Canterbury invites representatives of “progressive organisations and networks” to Lambeth Palace
Posted on November 6, 2023
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“On Friday afternoon, forty one people gathered forming a huge rectangle in the room on the top floor of the Lambeth Palace library. Thirty four were representatives of progressive organisations and networks seeking the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the Church of England.
I think the meeting represents a turning point in the decades-long movement in the Church of England towards achieving the full and equal inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in our church – but although progress may now be made, the future is still very uncertain. …
Archbishop Justin said he was totally and unequivocally committed to the goal of a radical new Christian inclusion that embraced LBTQIA+ people and he was surprised and shocked that we ever doubted that. A number of people said they had never heard him say that before. If only he had said this loud and clear before now, it would have made a huge difference. Indeed it would, but it has until now clearly been too difficult to say. He was surprised that people didn’t know this is his position. He compared himself with all other bishops saying he was making the most diverse appointments.…”
– This article by Colin Coward, long-time campaigner for ‘LGBTQIA+ rights’ in the Church of England, gives an insight into what is happening behind the scenes with regards to LLF.
Link via Anglican.ink. Photo: Jacqui J. Sze, archbishopofcanterbury.org.
Latest news from the Diocese of the Northern Territory
Posted on November 6, 2023
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The latest issue of Top Centre, the magazine of the Diocese of the Northern Territory, was published recently.
You can download a PDF copy from their website – Top Centre 23.3.
It’s a great way to be informed how you can pray for gospel ministry in the Top End and Centre of Australia.
Unpacking the CofE’s plan to bless same sex couples
Posted on November 5, 2023
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From Christian Concern:
“The Church of England will shortly continue its muddle on marriage as the bishops intend to ‘commend’ prayers of blessing for same-sex couples.
Today’s Round the Table saw Tim, Andrea and Ben joined by Rev Dr Ian Paul to clear up the confusion and explain why this matters to Christians who go to other churches in England and beyond.
The Church of England has a disproportionate witness in our culture as the leaders speak – or fail to speak – of Jesus’ teaching to the wider culture.
And its orthodox doctrine on marriage also gives some legal protection to other Christians – if the Church of England gives in to the sexual revolution it will make things harder for all Christians.
Please pray, particularly ahead of the upcoming General Synod, that the faithful Christians would influence the church for good, so that the church would speak boldly of the goodness of God’s call for our lives as his redeemed, sanctified people.”
– With thanks to Anglican Mainstream for the link to the video.
Southern Cross magazine November – December 2023
Posted on November 4, 2023
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The latest issue of the Diocese of Sydney’s Southern Cross magazine for November – December 2023 is online. Download it here.
Printed copies will also be available in churches.
John Newton’s 1767 Diary
Posted on November 3, 2023
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“Some authors wait a long time to see their work reach publication. In Newton’s case, the wait for this one has been 256 years!
Rhys Bezzant, Dean of the Anglican Institute at Ridley College, comments: ‘1767 was a remarkable year in the life of John Newton, not least because he travelled extensively and subsequently moved into a new rectory. In his Diary of this year we learn about his aching soul, his busy schedule, his pastoral heart, and his prodigious correspondence. Here we meet no detached preacher elevated above his congregation, but someone who wrestled with the meaning of a text and engaged honestly with his parishioners concerning his own future in Olney…’
In 1767 John Newton kept a small pocket diary of the sort we might buy today, with one page for recording the week’s events and the opposite page for keeping a record of accounts. You would be excused for thinking that the transcript would be brief, but somehow this has morphed into an illustrated 72-page A4 edition, augmented with illustrations and illuminating footnotes, published by The John Newton Project. …”
– Marylynn Rouse at the John Newton Project in the UK has been working to open windows into the life and thinking of someone who has had a huge influence worldwide.
Read about it at AP, the national journal of the Presbyterian Church of Australia.
The Diary for 1767 is available from johnnewton.org/shop.
See also:
Lord hast thou not a time for these poor benighted souls? – John Newton’s prayer for ‘poor benighted souls’ on the other side of the world.
Howard Guinness and the beginnings of evangelical university ministry in Australia
Posted on November 1, 2023
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At an event at Moore College on 1st November, Dr Ruth Lukabyo spoke on the legacy of Dr Howard Guinness –
“Dr Howard Guinness, of the well-known Irish brewing family, was sent to Australia in 1930 by Inter-Varsity Fellowship to develop Christian student groups on university campuses. His visit was the catalyst for the establishment of Sydney University and Melbourne University Evangelical Unions on the basis of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
During his later parish ministry in Broadway and Vaucluse, his ongoing involvement in EU missions has left a lasting legacy in university campus ministry.”
– The video is now available to watch. (At time of posting, the event begins 37 minutes and 30 seconds into the video, though the video might later be edited.)
At the end of Dr Lukabyo’s presentation, Mary Jones, Howard’s daughter, shares recollections of her father.
Related:
Defence Sunday — 5 November 2023
Posted on November 1, 2023
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Defence Anglicans has a video and some resources to help us pray for Defence Chaplains and those they serve.
This year, Defence Sunday can be observed on Sunday 5th or 12th of November.
Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force, Grant Dibden, asks local churches to partner with the chaplains in prayer, and financially if possible.
Christians now seen as “extremists”?
Posted on October 31, 2023
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In his analysis of US politics, Albert Mohler points out that Bible-believing Christians are now viewed by some as extremists – he is speaking in his The Briefing for Tuesday 31 October 2023.
If interested you can see the relevant section of interview with the new US Speaker of the House here.
A heart issue and skill deficit – addressing deep problems in Mission and Maturity – with Andrew Heard
Posted on October 31, 2023
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“A few weeks ago on The Pastor’s Heart we talked with Zac Veron and Raj Gupta about issues confronting Sydney Anglicans.
The National Church Life Survey shows a drop in newcomers from 9% in 2011 to 5.4% in 2021 – a more than ten year trend of fewer people joining church.
Plus there’s been a 7.5% drop in attendance between 2015 and 2019.
But it’s not just the Sydney Anglicans that need a wake up call. It’s most of us in Australian Evangelicalism.
And if you are a senior pastor watching from around the world – it’s highly likely that there will be a massive overlap between your problems and our problems.
Andrew Heard leads the large and influential EV church on the Central Coast of New South Wales. He’s also the key person behind the influential Reach Australia movement. And is a leader in the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches.”
– A wake-up call. Watch here.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…