Three key positions for your prayers

Posted on July 28, 2026 
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For your prayers – three strategic positions to be filled in the not-too-distant future –

• As readers of our website will know, Dr Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore Theological College, will retire at the end of 2027.

• Bishop Mark Calder, Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst, is concluding his term as Bishop on 19 September 2026. (Bishop’s Election Board.)

• And in the Presbyterian world, Dr Ian Smith, Principal of Christ College (the NSW Presbyterian theological college, at Burwood) will also retire at the end of 2027. (Applications.)

Please do uphold these men in your prayers, and pray for the bodies responsible for finding their successors, so that Christ is honoured, so that churches are strengthened, and so that many hear and believe the gospel, are saved, and grow as disciples.

 

The Preacher’s Singlemindedness

Posted on July 28, 2026 
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“When Sir Marcus Loane was installed as Archbishop of Sydney in 1966 during a service broadcast nationally on ABC TV, he preached a powerful sermon on 1 Corinthians 9.16b: ‘necessity is laid upon me, and woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel.’

Even those of us who were beyond his jurisdiction could see that it was a sermon in which he preached what he practised and which carried the undertone: ‘go and do thou likewise’. And we were happy to fall in behind a man of such biblical firmness and faithful conviction.…”

– Bob Thomas writes to encourage preachers – at The Expository Preaching Trust.

Jono Squire to be Bishop of Wollongong

Posted on July 27, 2026 
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From SydneyAnglicans.net –

“A church planter from the greenfield suburbs of south-west Sydney has been appointed as the next Bishop of the Wollongong Region.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has announced the Reverend Jonathan Squire will follow Peter Hayward who has given significant service as Bishop of Wollongong since 2010. As is required, Mr Squire’s appointment was approved by Standing Committee.

Describing the Bishop-designate as a ‘capable and effective minister of the gospel, and a godly and able pastor and teacher’, Archbishop Raffel pointed to his work as rector of the Parish of Camden Valley, a region he has served for 20 years. …”

– See Russell Powell’s full story.

Have you ever felt like an outsider?

Posted on July 27, 2026 
Filed under Edification, Resources Comments Off on Have you ever felt like an outsider?

“As someone who is visibly not from an Anglo-Celtic ethnic background, I am often asked where I am from and when I arrived in Australia.

I do not mind talking about this – I welcome seeing the bemused looks on people’s faces when I describe my first day at school in Australia. All the children with colourful hair coming and saying ‘Hi’ (which I could not respond to – I only knew three English words at that point: ‘Yes’, ‘No’ and ‘Hello’). Do not get me started on how disorienting it was to be in a carpeted classroom with everyone eating sandwiches for lunch!

From these experiences, being an outsider, or foreign, is a feeling that is very familiar to me.…”

– Susan An, Dean of Women at Moore College, writes of being an outsider, and reminds us of ultimate identity and belonging.

Photo: Moore College.

The Sydney Family Album 4 — William Macquarie Cowper

Posted on July 26, 2026 
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In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, published 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 fourth, a guest post by Peter Bolt on William Cowper.

If you’ve ever been confused about who the two William Cowpers were, this will help!

“Together, the two William Cowpers were largely responsible for the strength and vitality of Evangelicalism in Sydney.”

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series (as we add them) are in our Resources section.

Plan a Sermon Series — on Proverbs

Posted on July 25, 2026 
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From Moore Theological College –

“Join us for a day of expert teaching and planning on the book of Proverbs. Dr Dan Wu is a lecturer at Moore Theological College and spoke from Proverbs at CMS Summer School, 2026. Dan will work closely with individuals and staff teams to help them prepare a future sermon series.

Dan will spend the morning exploring the theology and overall message of Proverbs as well as considering the issues that arise from the book. The afternoon will provide time, space and resources for collaborative work preparing your sermon series, with College Library resources being made available. Each day will finish with an opportunity to share your sermon series with other participants and ask our lecturers any follow-up questions.”

– Details at the College website.

God’s Best Work Is Cross-Shaped

Posted on July 24, 2026 
Filed under Edification, Theology Comments Off on God’s Best Work Is Cross-Shaped

At The Gospel Coalition Australia, David Ould calls us back to the Cross of Christ –

“How are we meant to understand distressing, painful and complex moments, whether in our church life together or in our own personal stories? The most straightforward response is grief or sadness at what has happened. That is, of course, entirely appropriate. Alongside this might be anger directed at those we understand are in some way responsible. Yet it rarely stops there. After our initial reaction, we often start to try and find some meaning in the events. For the Christian, this leads quickly to questions about God: how has he allowed this to happen? Is he in charge of these things? If he is, then how can we reconcile his sovereign purpose with tragedy? …”

– Read it all here.

Giggle v Tickle — further response on “special measures”

Posted on July 23, 2026 
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Associate Professor Neil Foster writes about back-and-forth arguments on Giggle v Tickle –

“The debate around whether a women-only app can exclude those born male is continuing. The decision of the Full Federal Court in Giggle v Tickle holds that it was unlawful for Sall Grover to exclude Roxanne Tickle from the ‘Giggle for Girls’ app.

I posted a critique of the decision on this blog. Professor Paula Gerber later argued, in a post on the ABC Religion and Ethics website, that the decision is correct. I then published a comment on the ABC site re-iterating my reasons for thinking that the decision is wrong, and critiquing Professor Gerber’s initial comment.

Professor Gerber then posted again on the ABC website (‘PG Response 1’), suggesting I was wrong to refer to possible religious freedom issues. I responded…”

– Read it all at Law and Religion Australia.

A Memo to the Media from a Presbyterian Minister

Posted on July 22, 2026 
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At The Wee Flea, Presbyterian minister David Robertson shares some reflections on media coverage of the NSW Assembly’s decision on biblical eldership –

“The Presbyterian Church of New South Wales has decided to go along with all the other Presbyterian churches in Australia by upholding the biblical teaching that only men can be elders. In today’s age, this may come as a shock to some. And it is very easy for a newspaper to report on it in such a way as so that it appears to be a negative thing for women and a return to the Dark Ages. Before writing your articles, we would suggest that it would be a good idea if you try to understand our position. …”

– Read it here. (Also published at AP, but at The Wee Flea David has added some helpful headings.)

The Well prepares Indigenous stream

Posted on July 22, 2026 
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“The Rev Michael Duckett looks out at the firepit, surrounded by gum trees, at Macarthur Indigenous Church’s ministry centre at Wedderburn.

We’re talking about plans for the first-ever training program designed for Indigenous people in the Sydney Diocese…”

– Russell Powell has this encouraging story at SydneyAnglicans.net.

How to preach sermons that change lives — The Pastor’s Heart

Posted on July 21, 2026 
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From The Pastor’s Heart –

“Do our sermons actually land in the lives of the people in front of us?

Do they help anxious believers, tired parents, proud leaders, compromised Christians or sceptical guests to hear, trust and obey the living Word of God?

Richard Coekin says application is part of faithful preaching itself.

But application has dangers, it might come not really from the text, or could be overly directive. Or we could give accurate lectures that fail to shepherd the church.

Richard Coekin leads Reach UK.  Richard has just written ‘Apply the Word: A Practical Guide to Preaching with Application.’”

– Watch here.

Men and Women in Church

Posted on July 21, 2026 
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on Men and Women in Church

From Phillip Jensen –

“Dear friends,

This episode of Two Ways News brings us to one of the most controversial passages of the Bible. Since the Sexual Revolution and feminist movement of the late 20th century, the roles of men and women have been fiercely debated in our society. Within the church, this topic has been contested with the main focus being on the various ministries of men and women.

So when we come to 1 Corinthians 11 and read of women praying and prophesying, our debaters are alerted to possible data for discussion. But when it turns to the head covering of women, the issues brought up are very complicated. I doubt that our discussion here will be the last word or even a significant turning point in the debate. But I hope that, irrespective of the debate, we may make 1 Corinthians 11 a little clearer.

By the way, I recently spoke on Prophecy Today at the Kings Birthday Conference. You can listen to the recordings of that conference at phillipjensen.com.

Yours,

Phillip.”

– Hear Phillip and Peter’s latest discussion at Two Ways News,

Diocese of Tasmania recognises the Global Anglican Communion in recent Synod

Posted on July 20, 2026 
Filed under Australian dioceses, Global Anglican Communion Comments Off on Diocese of Tasmania recognises the Global Anglican Communion in recent Synod

We missed this news from Gafcon Australia when it came out last month –

“We are delighted by the motion recently passed by the synod of the Diocese of Tasmania. The following was moved by the Venerable Jennifer Hercott:

‘That this Synod:

1. Notes that this Diocese has previously affirmed and assented to the Jerusalem Declaration as a faithful expression of Anglican doctrine and identity;

2. Acknowledges its continued constitutional relationship with the Church of England in England as presently established;

3. Recognises the Global Anglican Communion as a genuine expression of Anglican fellowship, grounded in historic orthodoxy and shared commitment to the authority of Scripture;

4. Declares that this Diocese considers itself to be in fellowship with those Provinces and Dioceses within the Global Anglican Communion that uphold the doctrine and teaching reflected in the Jerusalem Declaration;

5. Encourages the strengthening of relationships, prayer, and mutual support with these Anglican bodies for the sake of the gospel and the unity of Christ’s Church. …’ ”

– Read more at Gafcon Australia, where the question is posed, “Could your diocese propose a similar motion? Or your local church begin by adopting the Jerusalem Declaration?”

2026 Annual Moore College Lectures with Andrew Atherstone

Posted on July 20, 2026 
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Andrew Atherstone, Professor of Modern Anglicanism at Oxford University, is giving this year’s Moore College Annual Lectures.

His topic: Anglican evangelicalism in the age of John Stott, Jim Packer and Dick Lucas: Surviving and thriving in a mixed-up denomination.

When: Monday 3 to Friday 7 August 2026.

– Details from the College.

The Sydney Family Album 3 — William Cowper

Posted on July 19, 2026 
Filed under History, People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on The Sydney Family Album 3 — William Cowper

In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, published 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 third, a guest post by Peter Bolt on William Cowper.

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series (as we add them) are in our Resources section.

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