Read article online at www.sydneyanglicans.net, click here. To discuss the article, visit the forums at sydneyanglicans.net.
Category: Sydney Anglican Diocese
Here’s a letter I submitted to the SMH for today’s paper but was not published, concerning the meaning behind the Tsunami tragedy:
“When a falling building killed eighteen people in the first century, Jesus denied that it occurred because the victims were worse sinners than the general public. Yet, he offered this important warning: “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:5) When Philip Jensen says of God that “disasters are part of His warning that judgement is coming” (‘God’s will comments horrible, says dean’, January 3), he is only repeating Jesus’ sentiments. If The Reverend Tim Delaney believes this teaching is “insensitive, inhumane and ungodly” (SMH Letters, January 4) then his problem is with Jesus as much as Jensen.”
You can read the original article here: http://www.smh.com.au/news/Asia-Tsunami/Gods-will-comments-horrible-says-dean/2005/01/02/1104601246571.html and the page that contains the letter I disagreed with here: http://www.smh.com.au/news/Letters/Religious-theories-fail-to-explain-this-natural-disaster/2005/01/03/1104601295769.html
Many of you would be aware of the recent media coverage of Philip Jensen’s talks in the UK. It started with a report in The Guardian, with the headline “Evangelicals call Williams a prostitute” (13 Oct), which formed the basis for a spate of media reports throughout the world, for example this article in the SMH.
Since his return from the UK, Philip has given his own perspective on the events during a speech at the Sydney Anglican Synod.
Last night this story was featured on ABC TV’s Media Watch program. However, it seems that even this self-appointed media watchdog is not without its own bias.
It was perhaps reasonable for David Marr to say to Philip that he “hasn’t produced a shred of evidence that you were misreported by the Guardian”, since transcripts of the talk have not been published. Yet, viewers were left with the impression that this absence of evidence damned Philip and exonerated the journalist. Indeed, David Marr ended his piece by saying to Philip: “to get yourself out of a pickle, you defamed the journalist, denounced the Australian media and set out to bamboozle synod.”
Clearly, the Media Watch was biased against Philip and towards the journalist. The fair and balanced way to end the piece would have been to acknowledge that the lack of a transcript leaves the truth inconclusive. Yet, unfortunately, the journalist was treated as innocent until proven guilty, whilst the priest was considered guilty until proven innocent.
For further reading, view the discussion on sydneyanglicans.net here
Platform 7 is a one-hour Christian meeting for year ten to twelve school students at schools within half-an-hour of the city. It includes Bible teaching, music, food, multimedia items and more!
My role each week is to plan and prepare the program, as well as lead some of the upfront segments.
It runs from 4pm to 5pm on Friday afternoons in the St Andrew’s Cathedral Chapter House during school terms (except the first and last Fridays of private school terms). Doors open 3.45.
The aim is to strengthen Christian ministry in schools by providing good Bible teaching with an evangelistic edge, in an age-appropriate, high-quality, mixed-school environment. In other words, it’s a good excuse to get together with other high school students to hear the Bible and enjoy each other’s company without the cringe factor!
We’ve started this meeting because we want to support the existing ministries in the many schools around the CBD and beyond. Because we’re all getting together in the one place we can get great speakers, enjoy good quality music, and experience the buzz of meeting with many like-minded people. Platform 7 will give Christians some encouragement from God’s word and from each other, and will provide non-Christians with a great place to get their questions answered and to see Christians in action.
Full details at http://www.platform7.info
Mandy and I have two pieces of news to share with you all.
The first is that I have accepted a job with Anglican Youthworks as a Regional Youth Adviser. My new role is to work with the Church Resource Unit in developing strategies to reach the Archbishop’s goal of 10% of all Australians in Bible-believing churches within 10 years. My job will take me to churches throughout Sydney Diocese as our team trains and resources churches and schools in this exciting mission. Youthworks is under the direction of Al Stewart (CEO), and my team leader will be Tony Willis (Director, Church Resources Unit).
We will leave St Philip’s South Turramurra and begin with Youthworks on the 25th of November. We are planning to live in the St George area (near Hurstville), as I am responsible for the Georges River and South Sydney Regions of Sydney Diocese. I will email you our new details later this year when they come to hand. (NB. My mobile and my email will remain the same).
The second piece of news is that we are expecting our third child. The due date is 6th January 2003.
Originally we thought the baby was due on the 31st January, but the ultrasound showed that we were four weeks out!
We would greatly appreciate your prayers during the coming months. Pray for Mandy as she deals with the stresses of pregnancy and the preparation for the move. Pray for Liana and Jemimah as they prepare to say goodbye to friends and move on to a new home (and school or preschool). Pray for me that I will finish strongly at St Philip’s and be well prepared for my new role. Pray for us all as enjoy a few weeks’ holiday between jobs.