CofE General Synod Private Member’s Motion affirming intimate same-sex relationships narrowly defeated
Posted on July 15, 2026
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From The Church of England Evangelical Council –
“A Private Member’s Motion seeking to affirm that committed, faithful, intimate same-sex relationships are compatible with Christian discipleship was narrowly defeated at this week’s meeting of the Church of England’s General Synod in York.
The motion, proposed by Professor Helen King and amended by the Very Revd Christopher Dalliston, was debated on Monday 13 July as part of the Church’s continuing dialogue around marriage and sexual ethics. …”
– News from CEEC. Emphasis added.
NSW Presbyterians vote on whether women can be elders
Posted on July 15, 2026
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John Sandeman at The Other Cheek reports on today’s vote in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in NSW –
“The Presbyterian Church of Australia in NSW (PCNSW) General Assembly voted in favour of an overture (motion) that women can not be elders, today. The vote passed 136 to 61. The meeting took place at PLC Sydney in Croydon.
Technically, the decision is not final. The General Assembly also voted that the (sustained) passed overture must be sent down to all regional presbyteries for a vote. Presbyterians have a process called The Barrier Act, which calls for presbyteries to vote for or against the overture unamended. If a majority of presbyteries vote for the overture, it will return to the General Assembly next time it meets. If it is passed by the next assembly, it becomes part of the church code (law). Given today’s overwhelming vote this decision is vanishingly unlikely to be overturned. …”
– Full post here. Photo: The Other Cheek.
A Contested Space
Posted on July 15, 2026
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David Cook writes at The Expository Preaching Trust –
“Dr Brendan Murphy was the Chief Medical Officer of the Commonwealth during most of the Covid crisis.
Dr Murphy’s presence at the many press conferences was quietly reassuring.
It was a surprise, then, that at a Senate Estimates hearing, when he was asked, ‘Dr Murphy, what is a woman?’ he could not reply, saying that that was a highly contested area!
In my lifetime different areas of Christian truth have aptly matched the needs of the time; in the ’60s it was the authority of Scripture; in the ’70s it was the person and work of the Holy Spirit; in the ’80s and ’90s, I remember hearing John Stott say that if he were to begin parish ministry at that time, he would spend the first year preaching on the doctrine of the Church.
These are days of gender fluidity and identity issues wherein ‘what is a woman’ is a contested area. …”
And note that – if you are quick – you might be able to secure the last spot available at the Expository Preaching Trust’s annual Preaching Workshop at Drummoyne, 4th-6th August.
A Chaplain’s Vindication
Posted on July 15, 2026
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Andrea Williams, Director of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre in Great Britain, shines a light on the “institutional self-loathing” of the Church of England and the toll on a minister of the gospel –
“Dr Bernard Randall’s seven-year ordeal is one of the most extraordinary and disturbing cases I and the team at the Christian Legal Centre have ever had the privilege of being involved in.
Here was a Church of England chaplain, preaching in a Church of England chapel, in a school with a Church of England ethos, giving a sermon rooted in Church of England doctrine.
He encouraged pupils to think, to debate, and to love their neighbours. He did not bully. He did not harass. He did not incite hatred. He did what a Christian minister is called to do. …
The Church of England should have defended Bernard immediately. It should have recognised that a chaplain in a Christian school must be free to articulate Christian doctrine.
Instead, it joined the pile-on. It blacklisted him, demanded he submit to a psychological assessment by someone whose work included assessing serious offenders, and left him shut out of ministry for years.…”
– Read it all at The Critic. Photo: Christian Concern.
See also:
Chaplain wins double vindication after sermon on identity – Christian Concern.
“…it was the way the Church of England treated him that beggared belief. He was blacklisted by his church denomination over baseless safeguarding concerns.
Had he preached in a CofE place of worship, he could have faced disciplinary action.”
Church attenders do better — The Pastor’s Heart
Posted on July 15, 2026
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From The Pastor’s Heart this week –
“New global research associated with Harvard University suggests that people who regularly attend church tend to do better in life than people who do not.
The Global Flourishing Study is following more than 200,000 people across 22 countries and tracking not only happiness, but meaning and purpose, relationships, character, mental and physical health, life satisfaction and material stability.
But if churches are helping people flourish, what is happening to the pastors who lead them? Senior pastors carry grief, crises, expectations and organisational responsibility that most people never see. A church may appear to be growing and successful while its pastor is quietly being depleted.
And how do we know whether a church itself is healthy?
Valerie Ling joins us from the Center for Effective Serving to explore richer ways of recognising flourishing in pastors, churches and the communities they serve.”
– Watch here.
Fellowship in the Gospel — Eating for the other’s salvation
Posted on July 14, 2026
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From Phillip Jensen –
“We come at last to what appears to be the end of the discussion, which started in chapter 8 of 1 Corinthians on food offered to idols.
Here, with the background of thinking about the existence of idols in chapter 8, the priority of other people’s salvation in chapter 9, and then the prophetic warning against all idolatry in the first half of chapter 10, we finally reach the concluding discussion on food offered to idols.
Whether in the idol temple at the time of offering, buying meat already so offered, or eating the meat in somebody’s home, the question of our participation is critical.
I hope you profit from this discussion on Christian freedom and responsibility.”
– An important episode with Phillip and Peter Jensen. At Two Ways News.
Moore College Sunday 2026 — 2nd August
Posted on July 13, 2026
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“Moore College Sunday is a special day where we join with local churches to encourage prayer for the College, its mission, and the churches it supports.
We invite everyone to pray for our students, graduates, staff, and faculty, and to consider becoming an active part of the Moore College community.
When Moore College has a need, we know that the most important thing to do is pray.…”
– It’s so important to pray for Moore College – and Moore College Sunday (this year on 2nd August) is a great time to make that a special focus.
Why (and how) I teach my kids to say sorry
Posted on July 13, 2026
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From The Australian Church Record –
“If you’ve spent any time on the internet over the last few years, you might have come across the current parenting advice never to make your child say sorry. This approach is broadly consistent with the values of authenticity, consent and innate morality that underpin modern child-rearing. It comes from a place of wanting to help children understand why their actions matter, rather than simply requiring outward compliance.
There is much in this instinct that Christians can appreciate. Most parents want their children to grow into people who are genuinely compassionate, who take responsibility for their actions, and who seek reconciliation because they mean it—not merely because they have been told to do so. …”
– Leah shares these helpful ideas.
Tasmania: Ten Problems with the Greens’ Anti-Conversion Bill
Posted on July 12, 2026
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At AP, the national online Presbyterian journal, Mark Powell shares his concerns about legislation which is being proposed for Tasmania –
“Can I ask that you would stop what you’re doing and please pray for Tasmania? As with what we have seen occur in many other states in Australia, the Greens are seeking to introduce an ‘anti-conversion’ bill and it should be of serious concern to everyone and especially to people of Christian faith. …”
The Sydney Family Album 2 — Samuel Marsden
Posted on July 12, 2026
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In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, penned a series of posts entitled The Sydney Family Album, for his website, Theological Theology.
We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.
Here’s the second, a guest post by David Pettett on Samuel Marsden.
Related:
Sunday sermons shed light on pioneer – SydneyAnglicans.net, December 2016.
In the Library: Books and Reading with Peter Adam
Posted on July 11, 2026
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The Gospel Coalition Australia has republished this 2016 interview with Peter Adam on reading and Christian books –
“I remember my first day at Sunday School at the age of 11. The teacher told us that God did not like new clean Bibles: he much preferred Bibles which looked well-used. So when I got home I got out my new Bible, scribbled in the margins, and loosened some pages. Surely God would approve! …”
– Read it here.
The Preacher as an Artist?
Posted on July 11, 2026
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“Recently, my wife and I, along with four hundred residents of Anglicare, Castle Hill were entertained with a delightful rendition of classical music from Brahms, Schubert, Chopin and Prokofiev by two artists of the highest quality – Richard Tognetti (violin) and Constantin Shamray (piano). It was a joyous occasion and in response the audience gave full rein to their appreciation.
Nevertheless, I find that while listening to pleasure-giving music my mind wanders. …”
– David Palmer writes to encourage preachers in their communicating of God’s word. At AP, the Australian Presbyterian journal.
This is the Christ — new from Emu Music
Posted on July 10, 2026
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“This is the Christ” is the latest release from Emu Music. It’s the second single from their forthcoming EP ‘Just As He Said’.
“We wanted something anthemic that the whole church could sing together, capturing Paul’s heart in Colossians 1. ‘He, Christ, is the one we proclaim’. That line became the anchor for the whole song. Whether we’re leading church, writing songs, or just talking with a friend, our message never changes. It’s all about Jesus.
Our hope is that this song helps people see and delight in his beauty and power. May we never grow tired of proclaiming him.’ – Liv Chapman & James McDonald.
– Watch here.
Audio file and sheet music is available at this link.
U.K. clergyman cleared after 7-year legal battle over gender ideology
Posted on July 10, 2026
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The latest in a long-running saga –
“The Rev. Bernard Randall, 53, an Anglican clergyman, reached a settlement with his former employer and was cleared in a Church of England safeguarding investigation after seven years of litigation, according to the Christian Legal Centre.
Randall in 2019 preached a sermon regarding gender ideology while working as a chaplain at an Anglican school, Trent College. He taught, in accordance with the Church of England’s official doctrine, that marriage was between one man and one woman. He said students should debate secular teachings on gender ideology, while urging them to respect alternate views.
The school reported Randall to a government counterterrorism agency and eventually fired him, while he simultaneously faced an inquiry from the Church of England and was barred from preaching. …” (emphasis added)
– Report from World News Group.
Statement from Christian Concern.
“… There has been no apology for the remarkable fact that the Church took nearly seven years to reach its conclusion, whereas the secular LADO took just one day to determine that it was not a safeguarding matter but rather an ‘issue regarding the subject’s beliefs which ran contrary to his employers [Trent College].’ The Church of England’s bishops declared in 2021 that Dr Randall’s sermon contained ‘nothing … outside the doctrine and teaching of the Church of England’, making the contrast in treatment even more extraordinary.
The independent investigator also said: ‘It is a matter for the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Diocese of Derby as to what they feel is an appropriate role for Dr Randall to be considered for. He may choose to apply for a licence, for Permission to Officiate (PtO) or may apply for another role within a school or another educational facility.’
It now remains to be seen how the Derby Diocese and Bishop of Derby will actively help and support Dr Randall back into full time ministry within the CofE.” (emphasis added)
Photo: Christian Concern.
The Scriptures unto our salvation – Exhibition at Moore College
Posted on July 10, 2026
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A fascinating exhibition opens at Moore College’s Donald Robinson Library next week – The Scriptures unto our salvation –
“This exhibition commemorates the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale’s groundbreaking 1526 New Testament, a pivotal moment in the transmission of scripture, shaping the development of the English language and advancing new possibilities for vernacular access to the Scriptures.
All of the major early modern English translations are also featured, alongside Martin Luther’s German translation and key editions of the Bible in Latin, demonstrating the academic use of Latin by the Protestant Reformers in their study of the Word.
Alongside early printed editions the exhibition also highlights Indigenous Australian, Polynesian, and Papuan language Bibles, highlighting the complex linguistic, cultural, and historical contexts through which scripture has been rendered into diverse languages.
Together, these works invite reflection on translation not only as a textual practice, but also as a process deeply intertwined with the history of Christian missions in Australia and Oceania.
On display [from 13 July 2026] until 27 November during library hours (8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday).”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…