Synod’s Alpha and Christianity Explored snub
Posted on July 12, 2023
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“The vote in July’s General Synod against an amendment affirming the Alpha and Christianity Explored courses in prisons showed a disturbing level of hostility towards the gospel message that charismatic and conservative evangelicals are proclaiming…”
– Story by Julian Mann at Christian Today.
Image: The scene at General Synod on July 8th.
A heart for the persecuted Christian – with Dan Oli Shani
Posted on July 11, 2023
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“One in seven Christians are persecuted globally. That’s 360 million Christians who are denied access to jobs and education, are arrested, attacked, and even killed for following Jesus.
Worst effected according to the Open Doors World Watch List are Christians in North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Iran.
All that sounds so distant from the comfort of an armchair in Sydney.
Open Doors International is deeply engaged with ministry to persecuted Christians.
Open Door’s Global CEO is Dan Ole Shani from Kenya. Dan shares his pastor’s heart for the persecuted with Dominic Steele, and suggests ways forward.”
You can’t be yourself by yourself
Posted on July 11, 2023
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“Men and women cannot be fully themselves without one another.
Don’t get me wrong; I love my alone time. I am “me” when I’m by myself. But Genesis 1:27 complicates my idea of myself by saying that God created humankind in his image, as male and female. Somehow, by myself I’m not enough. It takes both men and women to fully express the divine image.
This turns out to be a hugely important truth not just for my self-understanding, but for our relating as men and women in the church (note: this is not an article about marriage!) The foundational text comes in Genesis 2…”
– Here’s a very helpful an thought-provoking article by Dr Andrew Shead at Moore College.
At SydneyAnglicans.net and also in the June-July 2023 edition of Southern Cross magazine.
“ACT government’s ‘takeover’ of Calvary Hospital ‘ideologically driven’” — Sky News
Posted on July 10, 2023
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“The ACT government’s decision to compulsorily acquire Calvary Hospital should be ‘pertinent and front of mind’ for Australian Christians, says Australian Christian Lobby CEO Michelle Pearse. …”
– Video from Sky News Australia. Image: Sky News.
Remembering Howard Guinness
Posted on July 10, 2023
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We are poorer when we forget those who have gone before us – those who laboured for Christ over many decades.
One man we should not forget is Dr Howard Wyndam Guinness 1903-1979, pioneer in student evangelism and university ministry in the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere.
He was key in founding the Sydney University Evangelical Union in 1930, as well as much else. He was also responsible for launching the Crusader Union in Sydney and Melbourne.
In 1949, Archbishop Mowll invited him to return to Australia to become the Rector of St. Barnabas’ Broadway and Chaplain to the University of Sydney. Generations of students were discipled through that ministry.
Howard Guinness’ funeral was held at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, on 31st July 1979. Then Archbishop of Sydney, Sir Marcus Loane, preached, and Bishop Donald Robinson led the prayers.
You will be blessed by setting aside 25 minutes to hear this excerpt from a recording of the service – with the sermon, the hymn Now thank we all our God, and the prayers –
or download the 12MB mp3 audio file by right clicking on the book cover.
Photo: The cover of Howard Guinness’ autobiographical book Journey Among Students, published in 1978 by the Anglican Information Office, Sydney.
Why I left the Brisbane Anglicans to join the Diocese of the Southern Cross
Posted on July 9, 2023
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“My big story started in 2013. I was in Nairobi at Gafcon, and Mike Ovey [the late principal of London’s Oak Hull College] Mike spoke on Ephesians chapter five.
[The passage says] that there were those who would deceive us into thinking that the wrath of God is not coming because of, as Paul puts these things, the extent of their immorality. And the encouragement of the Apostle Paul, ‘Do not become partners with them’.
And that started me thinking, well, here I am in the Brisbane diocese; what does it mean to be partners? What does that mean in terms of my relationship with the diocese? …”
– At Anglican Ink, John Sandeman has Peter Judge-Mears’ story.
And a good reminder to be in prayer for the members of Southside Anglican, St John’s Wishart, and others seeking to honour Christ in their respective situations.
Photo: Peter Judge-Mears announces he is leaving St Johns, Wishart, September 2022.
Related:
Diocese of the Southern Cross.
Will the Archbishops allow General Synod to speak?
Posted on July 8, 2023
Filed under Church of England, Culture wars Comments Off on Will the Archbishops allow General Synod to speak?
“As the summer session of the Church of England’s General Synod opens in York, the mood is more than a little ‘niggly’ according to the former Chair of the Prayer Book Society, Prudence Dailey. …
Dailey described Synod as being ‘bypassed and managed’ – pointing to the record number of ‘presentations’ that Synod was being asked to endure.…”
– Susie Leafe writes at Christian Today. Attendees at recent Lambeth Conferences have experienced being ‘bypassed and managed’ firsthand.
Picture: Susie Leafe speaks with Kevin Kallsen on Anglican TV in January 2023.
Rev Brett Murphy leaves the Church of England
Posted on July 8, 2023
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The Rev Brett Murphy, well known through his posts on YouTube, has announced he has left the Church of England and his church in the Diocese of Leicester – to start a church plant with a fellowship many know and love.
It would be good to uphold him and his family (and others in similar positions) in your prayers.
Watch here. Do watch right to the end.
Lord’s Prayer opening may be ‘problematic’, says Archbishop of York
Posted on July 8, 2023
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“The archbishop of York has suggested that opening words of the Lord’s Prayer, recited by Christians all over the world for 2,000 years, may be ‘problematic’ because of their patriarchal association.
In his opening address to a meeting of the Church of England’s ruling body, the General Synod, Stephen Cottrell dwelt on the words ‘Our Father’, the start of the prayer based on Matthew 6:9–13 and Luke 11:2–4 in the New Testament. …”
– Report from The Guardian.
To be fair, in his Presidential Address, the Archbishop wasn’t advocating for a change to the Lord’s Prayer, or necessarily endorsing the views of those who find the use of ‘Father’ to be ‘problematic’.
Rather, the thrust of his address was that Christians should be unified by their baptism into Christ, even when they disagree. The context, of course, is the push by the Bishops to bless same-sex unions, contrary to Scripture, and that is where the Archbishop’s words about ‘unity’, while sounding lofty, may be seen as rather hollow.
Decide for yourself – the Archbishop’s full remarks may be seen here.
Photo: The Archbishop of York speaking at General Synod on Friday 7th July 2023.
Related:
From the previous Archbishop of York.
Letters reveal divisions among the Bishops over prayers for same-sex couples
Posted on July 8, 2023
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“A burst of letter-writing has laid bare disagreements in the College of Bishops about the best mechanism for introducing the Prayers of Love and Faith to be used to bless same-sex couples in church.
The moves come as the General Synod prepares to gather in York on Friday.
Earlier this week (News, 5 July), a group of leaders from 11 different C of E organisations, including the HTB network, as well as the Catholic and Evangelical Groups on the Synod, wrote to the College of Bishops to argue that the Prayers, drafted under the auspices of the Bishops, should be subject to the Synod’s authorisation under Canon B2, a process that requires two-thirds majorities in each of the three Houses of Synod at the final-approval stage.…”
– Report from Church Times.
Related:
Text of the letter to the College of Bishops, as published by Anglican.ink.
Netflix gives Narnia to “Barbie,” “Little Women” director
Posted on July 7, 2023
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“It seems the post-modernists that C.S. Lewis spent so much time skewering have finally decided it’s time for endless winter in Narnia.…”
– News (and opinion) from Not the Bee.
Image: Christianity Today.
Related:
https://vimeo.com/43983754
J I Packer speaks about reading C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity, the Narnia books, and his conversion. – 2012 video from Desiring God.
FIEC Standing with Friends in the Church of England
Posted on July 7, 2023
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In the latest FIEC podcast from the UK, Adrian Reynolds speaks with Lee Gatiss.
“What is ‘Living in Love and Faith’? How can we support our Anglican friends through the process?”
And what is the first thing Christians should be doing in the face of false teaching?
– Watch here.
Is taking over Calvary Hospital a religious freedom breach?
Posted on July 5, 2023
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“There has been a lot of controversy around the recent decision of the ACT government to compulsorily acquire Canberra’s Calvary Hospital.
One question that is worth asking is this: could this move be an unlawful breach of religious freedom rights? In this post I want to consider the possibilities. …”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Associate Professor Neil Foster suggests some avenues which could be explored.
Image: Diocese of Sydney.
The Gender Revolution – with Patricia & Kamal Weerakoon and Rob Smith
Posted on July 5, 2023
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“What is meant by each of the terms biological sex, gendered behaviours or expressions, sexual orientation and gendered identity? How do the various terms relate?
We talk to former director of Sydney University’s Graduate Program in Sexual Heath, Dr Patricia Weerakoon, Rob Smith, who is head of doctrine at Sydney Missionary and Bible College and Rev Kamal Weerakoon, who has done masters studies in this area.
Rob, Patricia and Kamal are encouraging us to treat with love and compassion those with gender dysphoria or gender incongruence. …”
Rebranding of Calvary Hospital Bruce to North Canberra Hospital
Posted on July 4, 2023
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“Canberra Catholics and staff of Calvary Public Hospital grieved as the compulsory acquisition of Calvary by the ACT Government took effect on 3 July.
The ACT Government took over the Catholic-run hospital from midnight, ending a five-week battle to save it from the takeover — including a failed Supreme Court challenge.
Now named North Canberra Hospital, all of the crucifixes and other religious symbols were removed and staff given unbranded uniforms to wear. …”
– Report from The Daily Declaration. Photo: Australian Christian Lobby.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…