The Presbyterian Church of Australia: Highlights from the 2023 Federal Assembly
Posted on September 14, 2023
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“Every three years the General Assembly of Australia (GAA) meets for a week-long conference to discuss business relating to the federal church. Whereas the various state assemblies focus on governance and state based responsibilities, the federal assembly has supreme oversight and focuses on oversight of matters of worship, doctrine and discipline…”
– While the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney is meeting this week and next, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Australia met at Hurstville earlier this month.
The national journal of the Presbyterian Church has this summary of the GAA’s proceedings, including a link to their “Statement on Sex, Gender and Marriage”.
Synod sets out diocesan purpose and priorities
Posted on September 13, 2023
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“The Synod has collectively confirmed that our main game remains unchanged – to make disciples.
The Archbishop’s document Purpose and Priorities for the Diocesan Fellowship was passed by the Synod on Tuesday, September 12, recognising the direction and focus for churches, schools and organisations within the Diocese. …”
– Tara Sing reports from Sydney Synod at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Caring for missionaries when they are not doing so well
Posted on September 13, 2023
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“We send out missionaries. But sometimes it doesn’t work out. There’s a forced return home. Dashed hopes. And all sorts of understanding and support – from the mission agency, supporter churches, pastor friends and others.”
If your church supports missionaries, this will be very helpful in caring for them, under whatever circumstances they may return.
ACR Journal for Synod 2023
Posted on September 12, 2023
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A special issue of ACR Journal – from The Australian Church Record – is out in time for Sydney Synod.
Download your copy from the Church Record’s website.
2023 ACL Synod Dinner Address — Archdeacon Simon Flinders on The Importance of the Local Church
Posted on September 11, 2023
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Archdeacon Simon Flinders gave the address at tonight’s ACL Synod Dinner in Sydney.
His topic? The Importance of the Local Church.
Take the time to listen to his most encouraging address:
or download the audio by right-clicking here.
The transcript is available as a PDF file.
This would be great to share with members of your church.
Related:
The Robinson-Knox view of Church — Interview with Chase Kuhn.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s vision for Sydney Anglicans
Posted on September 11, 2023
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“I am bringing before the Synod a statement of purpose and priorities for the diocesan fellowship,” said Archbishop Raffel as he opened the Sydney Synod for 2023. …
In a wide-ranging speech taking in church networks, organisations and institutions, the Archbishop said that “under God we seek to see God multiply believers in Christ, multiply churches and multiply workers for the harvest field.” This, he said, was a work of God. “We need the work of God in us, so that we long for the welfare of our neighbours and friends and fellow Sydneysiders with the longing of Jesus who wept over Jerusalem, though it was hardened against him.”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell has details of this afternoon’s Presidential Address by Archbishop Kanishka Raffel on the first day of Synod for 2023.
You can also watch or hear the Archbishop’s address.
Scams… and how to avoid the worst sort
Posted on September 11, 2023
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“Have you ever received an SMS telling you to urgently pay a toll?
An email informing you of an incredible investment opportunity?
An unsolicited telephone call apparently from a reputable organisation asking for your personal details?
Or a Facebook friend request from someone whose name you don’t know and whose somewhat provocative profile photo you suspect is probably not a photo of them at all?
If so, you have almost definitely been the target of a scam. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition of Australia, Stephen Liggins wants Christians to avoid the most dangerous scams of all.
Resources for Sydney Synod members 2023
Posted on September 11, 2023
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Sydney Synod meets this month. Here are three resources from the Anglican Church League for Synod members. The updated Synod Survival Guide will be especially helpful for new Synod members.
- The Synod Survival Guide by Dr Robert Tong, updated – free download.
- The ACL Synod Dinner – Hear Simon Flinders’ encouraging address.
- The ACL Synod Briefing Podcast – now online!
Latest posts below.
Two new Assistant Bishops for Perth
Posted on September 10, 2023
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“Since January this year the Diocese has been prayerfully supporting the Episcopal Office, especially Bishop Kate and myself, in the life and ministry of the Diocese of Perth as we have been considering our mission and ministry needs moving forward.
Your prayers have been appreciated and I have been deeply aware of being held through some long hours and complex situations over these past eight months. The great and exciting news of the appointment of two new Assistant Bishops of Perth was announced on 10 August 2023.
The Venerable David Bassett from the Diocese of Adelaide. David is the Assistant to the Primate and Archdeacon of Adelaide and the Port. David is married to Susan, and they have two adult children, a daughter and a son. David was ordained in the Diocese of North West Australia. He has served in schools and parishes there and in Melbourne and Adelaide. …
– Read the full announcement here from the Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy
Also published in the September 2023 issue of Anglican Messenger.
Senate committee rejects call for inquiry into hospital takeover
Posted on September 10, 2023
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“A Senate bill to force the ACT Legislative Assembly to conduct an inquiry into the takeover of the former Calvary Public Hospital Bruce should not pass, a committee has concluded. Source: Canberra Times.
The Labor-led legal and constitutional affairs legislation committee has said the bill “would undermine the independence” of the territory’s legislature.
But opposition members have dissented from the committee’s recommendations and have recommended the bill should pass. …
The opposition members accused the committee of not adequately engaging with concerns raised in 65 submissions and 7000 letters received by the committee in regard to the bill.”
– Report from CathNews with links to other news stories.
Photo: Calvary Hospital, Bruce, in Canberra’s north via Calvary Hospital website.
Encouragement from Cobar
Posted on September 10, 2023
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“James & Brittany Daymond have been in Cobar for eight months now, building upon the foundations laid before them. They are excited to see how Cobar can be reached for Christ. …”
– Fuel for your prayers from the Bush Church Aid Society.
(Photo: Diocese of Bathurst. James and Brittany with Dr Warwick Baines, Registrar of the Diocese of Bathurst.)
Preaching the Doctrine of the Church
Posted on September 9, 2023
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“In April 1979 I attended the Pastors’ Conference held at St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney, which coincided with the Billy Graham Crusade being held at Randwick racecourse at that time.
One of the speakers was John Stott, and I remember him saying that if he were going into ministry at that time he would spend the first year preaching on the doctrine of the church.
Much has changed since, but the vital relevance of that doctrine has become more apparent. Post Covid, our people have become more used to staying away from the Sunday gathering and following church online, either our services or someone else’s…”
– At The Expository Preaching Trust, David Cook argues that understanding the nature of the Church is vital – and, very helpfully, he suggests a series you could use or adapt.
Photo: David Cook preaching to a live congregation at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London, August 2022.
GSFA Chairman’s Letter September 2023
Posted on September 9, 2023
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“The Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) is a covenantal fellowship of orthodox Anglican provinces, dioceses and network of churches. We praise God for our history since Limuru, Kenya in 1994 which led to our re-formation under a new Covenantal Structure in October 2019. To date, eleven provinces have already joined GSFA as full members, with others considering to do so. Our Fellowship is world-wide in composition while remaining rooted in the traditional Global South provinces.
GSFA is committed to guarding , living out and propagating the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, so we are deeply saddened by the growing revisionism in our Communion …”
– The Most Rev Dr Justin Badi Arama, Chairman of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches Steering Committee, has released this letter for September 2023.
Pride will destroy you, your ministry, and people around you
Posted on September 7, 2023
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“You may be familiar with this famous saying, ‘Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall’. It comes from the Bible, Proverbs 16:18.
We have mixed feelings about pride in Australia. On the one hand, we like to run over any tall poppy with the lawnmower. And yet pride is splashed across Instagram and Facebook pages all the time: pride in achievement and success, pride in people, pride about identity. Pride has become an idea or slogan to embrace and celebrate. …”
– The Australian Church Record has republished a sobering article by Murray Campbell.
Can we redeem Halloween?
Posted on September 7, 2023
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“How should Christians respond to customs, traditions, and stories that have associations with false religions, demonic powers, and evil?
Could a church building be covered in cobwebs and used as an invitation to come inside?
Would you run a Halloween event for the kids of your church so they don’t feel like they are missing out? Or would you run something as an outreach to connect to the neighborhood?
Is it about the occult and to be avoided at all costs and denounced – or is it kids in funny outfits and junk food?
To talk Halloween, kids and churches our guests are:
Craig Roberts, CEO of Sydney’s Anglican Youthworks and former minister of Neutral Bay Anglican Church.
Kristen Young, Director of student and community care at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…