Archive Listing

 Like many, I will never forget the devastation felt when I heard of the martyrdom of Archbishop Romero of El Salvador in 1980. Although we were at the other end of Latin America, the reverberations rang loudly: another outstanding Christian leader shot down by murderous state powers. These were the years of state sanctioned terror, disappearance, [...]

I have finished the draft of the Bishop’s Easter message for Good Friday print media (250 words) and the Tasmanian Anglican (350-450 words) - April 2010.  The latter draft which follows; the former to be hewn from it. Healing through forgiveness Life is complex. Consider evil. Evil is more complex than the simple “the goodies versus the baddies”. Evil [...]

A growing curiosity slowly replaced my initial response of ’statistics and damned statistics’, to a radio report of a study which researched the size of the food, plates and heads of the disciples depicted at the Last Supper! Yes, no kidding, somebody did the stats. As we approach Maundy Thursday with the Bible readings and remembrance of Jesus [...]

Interesting environmental comment on the success or otherwise of the climate change talks at Copenhagen. Prof Will Steffen from ANU has enunciated clear reasons why Copenhagen – and the Accord in particular – was a positive step forward. There is a podcast link at http://www.anu.edu.au/climatechange/content/news/post-copenhagen-event-podcast-and-online-questions/. Prof Steffen points out that whilst Kyoto was legally binding, only [...]

I recommend you regularly check the Preaching page on our Diocesan website which provides a resource for the help and encouragement of those in our diocese who are entrusted with the important task of preaching and teaching the Bible. Biblical teaching and preaching explores the question, what is biblical teaching and preaching?, and arrives at [...]

Two Melbourne Anglicans have been engaged in the Global Atheist Convention and you will be well rewarded in reading them: Chris Mulherin and Stephen Ames. Thirdly, a sizzling interview in ‘Inside Catholic’. In turn,   A ‘Credo’, statement of belief, said to be common to both atheists and Christians is interesting. Chris, the Christian, Mulherin former CMS missionary in Argentina reflects [...]

Dr John Cranswick was a precious elder in the faith to my family. In his ministry to us as CMS Medical Officer he encouraged and guided our lives to Christ in the most gracious and caring of ways. His faith and ministry to us and to many was wholistic; covering body, mind, emotions and spirit. [...]

Burnout is not a single condition but a syndrome which can include numerous elements, including depression, and is typically marked by emotional exhaustion, detachment and a sense of lack of achievement.  Geoff Read writes in his book, Ministry Burnout, How can sincere, motivated clergy find themselves at this point?  Why does burnout happen to Ministers? [...]

Melanie Phillips writes that there are fundamental flaws in Richard Dawkins’ atheistic perspective, including ‘scientism’, intolerance towards those who disagree with him, unfounded assertions (‘hubristic over-reach’) and unscholarly disdain in refusing to engage in a scholarly way with academics who hold different views. What fuels the zealot Dawkins?  (Dawkins) became the apostle of scientism, the ideology that says everything in the universe [...]

 Is ‘new Anglicanism’ an oxymoron/ a fundamental contradiction in terms? Not if the Institute for New Anglicanism has anything to do with it! The Launch of the Institute for New Anglicanism was very encouraging. The desire to engage New Zealand with the Good News of God in Jesus Christ was palpable. PTL! The Launch Event was [...]