southern cross :: september 2008

sydney stories »

Peisley’s down with Pitt Town

Arndell Anglican College Church pastor and new curate-in-charge at Pitt Town, the Rev Greg Peisley says the merger of the two churches is greatly increasing potential for outreach.

E-learning educates at a distance

Distance education is revolutionising the way Sydney Diocese is training Christians in ministry. Locally, six years in an electronic classroom worked wonders for Carol McCracken as she juggled being a children’s minister and a full-time mum. Meanwhile, on the other side of globe at the recent GAFCON the plea for Sydney Diocese to help resource ministry training could be heard from desert villages in sub-Saharan Africa to to the barrios of Latin America.

Churches tell neighbours: ‘We love you’

West Wollongong and Menai parishes are reaching beyond the church gate as they take their activities to local venues.

Public education: Have we dropped the ball?

With middle-class Christians increasingly adopting their choice of a private religious education, secularists are asserting more vigorously that Government-funded schools should be a religion-free zone. In light of this, there are hopes a new e-network and training courses will boost support for Christian teachers in the public education system. This week Sydneyanglicans.net speaks to the Christian voices defending the virtues of Christian involvement in public education.

30 years young and still going

Youth pastor and author Tim Hawkins celebrated 30 years of youth ministry on the weekend at a special event held at St Paul’s, Castle Hill.

Help! I doorknocked a Mormon

As the team behind Connect09 launches the new Just Start Talking resource this week to assist Christians with their doorknocking, Sydneyanglicans.net speaks to a former Mormon, proof that no matter who you doorknock, God has the power to change their hearts. This week, Mormon-turned-Moore College student Andrew Southerton shares the story of his amazing journey.

After Lambeth, what now?

The Lambeth conference convened amid a crescendo of criticism of the North American churches' renegade actions in blessing same-sex unions and consecrating an actively homosexual bishop. Most observers would have to concede that the absence of so many bishops made everyone aware of just what is at stake. The unfortunate truth of the Lambeth conference is that the only certain outcome has been £1.2 million debt. As for the rest, opinions vary widely.

Mark Driscoll’s extreme Sydney

Pastor Mark Driscoll has just had three weeks holiday with his family in Sydney, and he's ready to spend another two weeks speaking to a city of extremes.

Ultimate Relationship is not over

Anglican churches around Sydney are following up new contacts after an intense week of Start the Ultimate Relationship mission.

MCSI falls short

MCSI will not continue in its current form in 2009 following an insufficient number of students enrolling in subjects this year.

Ovey brings repentance to Moore

Repentance is the main theme of this year’s Annual Moore College Lectures, which began last night.

Wives fill up on fellowship

Organisers of the first ever Equip Ministry Wives conference are looking for a new venue for 2009 as Saturday’s premier event attracted over 400 women.

Detainees “upbeat” as release nears

Christian detainees in Villawood Detention Centre are "upbeat" after hearing they will be freed through reforms to the Federal Government's immigration policy.

highlight stories »

ADISL’s new CEO

Dr Karin Sowada has been appointed chief executive officer of the Anglican Deaconess Institution Sydney Limited (ADISL).

PROMOTE THE SEPTEMBER EDITION OF SOUTHERN CROSS

Southern Cross is a vital source of the news, opinions and views on the latest issues, resources and events affecting the church, both locally and around the world for over 325 parishes, schools and institutions - this month's power-point promotion slide now available...

Vacant parishes September 2008

List of Parishes & Provisional Parishes, vacant or becoming vacant as at 13 August 2008.

Big Decisions September 2008

Southern Cross reports on the main decisions of the diocesan Standing Committee in July and August.

Major change ahead for marriage?

The Rev Dr Andrew Cameron of Sydney’s Social Issues Executive has said two bills before the Senate could be the beginning of major change for the status of marriage in Australia.

Christian NT leaders face off

Just four days before the Northern Territory’s election last month, the leaders of the state’s two main political parties addressed the local Christian community at ‘Make it Count NT’.

CDP’s new state manager

The Christian Democratic Party (CDP) appointed Walter Vanderpoll as the new NSW State Manager on August 4.

Hamas leader’s son converts

The son of a top Hamas leader, Sheikh Hassan Yousef, has converted to Christianity and prays his family will do the same.

Indo churches reduced to rubble

Church buildings are the latest target in a fresh wave of persecution facing Christian churches in Indonesia.

International night an outstanding success

St Peter’s, Campbelltown celebrated the cultural diversity of its congregation in July with an international night.

Shire youth network expands

Legendary evangelist John Chapman led four weekly training nights during August and early September on 'Preparing Evangelistic Talks' as part of the revamped Sutherland Shire Youth Network.

features & opinion »

Online ministry training - mission impossible?

Local churches must be involved if e-training for ministry is to be truly effective, argues Graham Stanton

School choice: a Christian ethics approach

Choosing the right school is about balancing conflicting priorities. Ethicist Dr Danielle Scarratt has developed a checklist to make it easier for parents to make a godly decision.

Are we sore losers?

The Olympics highlights how obsessed Australians are with winning. Bryan Cowling writes that as Christians we must do more to counter a culture of ‘success’ that defines the majority of our children as failures.

Even ‘hot chicks’ fail to attract men

John Sandeman's theory explains the biggest mystery of church life.

mission thinking »

The brave new online world

We live in extraordinary times – times of astonishing change. Since the launch of the Internet into the public arena in the nineties and the widespread adoption of mobile technology, our society, especially the youngest members of it, has undergone a radical change in the way we gather information, learn, communicate with each other and ultimately the way we relate.

Jesus and the elephant in the room

I pulled up at a service station behind a kombi van a while ago. There was a young guy, (a bit of a hippy really) filling the car and on the back of the kombi was a sticker with the words “Jesus” clearly printed.

Trusting God at GAFCON

Archbishop Peter Jensen speaks personally about a defining moment of his life... and the fallout from Lambeth.

watching »

WALL•E

Is Disney’s latest feature a modern day Christian parable?