THE ARCHIEPISCOPAL ELECTION EDITION ACR JOURNAL BE INFORMED AustrAliAn church record AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE 1925 The Archiepiscopal Election Edition “Christ designs to rule in his Church, we know, for the sceptre of his kingdom is the gospel” John Calvin “Let us learn, I say, that by faith we must perceive and receive the benefits of Christ. Let us have in remembrance and not forget that the gospel is a sweet voice, which promises and shows to us, as it were, putting into our bosoms these great benefits.” Philip Melanchthon Contents 1 The Archbishop’s Election 30 Nominee Snapshot: ACR Editorial Team Peter Hayward 3 Prayer for our Archbishop’s 32 Nominee Snapshot: Election Michael Stead Michael and Alison Blake 34 Nominee Snapshot: 6 Prayer from Afar Kanishka Raffel Bishop Glenn Lyons 36 Nominee Snapshot: 8 The Importance of the Gospel Chris Edwards Mark Earngey 38 The Archbishop and the 12 The Importance of Fellowship so-called “Minister Drought” Archie Poulos Mike Leite 15 The Importance of Evangelism 41 Out-thought or Out-discipled? Phil Wheeler Rory Shiner 19 The Importance of Children’s 45 Advance Australia Where? and Youth Ministry Mark Earngey Tim Beilharz 48 The Election of Archbishop 24 The Importance of Mowll Complementarianism Ed Loane Kate Haggar 52 Bishop Barker’s Installation 27 The Importance of Mission Sermon to the Nations tran. Scott Williams Susan An The Australian Church Record has Publisher: served Australian Christianity since 1880, Australian Church Record seeking to promote independent and Editor: Mark E. Earngey AustrAliAn church record evangelical thinking amongst Australian Anglicans. Since 2004 the publication has been online. Back The Australian Church Record issues are on the website, which also enables notification is designed and typeset by emails to be requested. www.australianchurchrecord.net Lankshear Design The Australian Church Record is an evangelical newspaper Australian Church Record. in the Reformed Anglican tradition of the historic creeds ACN 000 071 438 and the 39 Articles of Faith, and the standard of teaching All enquiries: PO Box 218, and practice in the Book of Common Prayer. We accept the Camperdown NSW 1450 Scriptures as God’s word written, and as containing all things necessary for salvation and the final authority in all matters Cover image by: Maksym Kozlenko commons.wikimedia.org of faith and behaviour. (St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney) The Archbishop’s Election A Pivotal Moment for the Future ust as the whole world has lately of Sydney. The Archbishop of Sydney pivoted to face the future, so too is invested with authority throughout J will the diocese of Sydney shortly pivot local, regional, diocesan, and provin- with the election of a new archbishop. cial areas within the Anglican Church The future of gospel ministry in Sydney of Australia. This authority formally and beyond will be marked with new commences when the archbishop is opportunities and challenges, and the installed in the main church of the dio- decision of our synod in the election cese, his cathedral. The word “cathe- of a new archbishop will have signifi- dral” derives from the Latin cathedra cant consequences for how we take up which simply means seat, chair, or these gospel opportunities and defend throne. Thus, the man who will soon be against the challenges that press in enthroned at St. Andrew’s Cathedral as upon our gospel ministry. But it is not Archbishop of Sydney has a great deal with fear and trepidation that we ap- of responsibility before God. proach this decision. Rather, it is with But what precisely does this respon- faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ sibility entail? The recent Sydney dioc- that we pray, deliberate, and vote for esan Doctrine Commission report on the new archbishop in this new world in episcopacy (the term which denotes which we live and serve. the ministry of a bishop) helpfully sug- In order to make a wise decision it is gests five priorities for the Archbishop important to know what an archbishop of Sydney. Firstly, he is to be a guard­ is in the first place. Anglicans since the ian of the faith (Jude 3) which involves Reformation have been convinced of promoting and defending the gospel, the Bible-based roles of the deacon, the through example, teaching, and dis- priest (or presbyter), and the bishop. cipline. Secondly, he is to order the The latter has jurisdiction over a dio- ministry to serve the gospel, through cese, and the most prominent diocese the training and selection of men and of a province within a national church women who will proclaim Christ faith- is called an archdiocese, and thus we fully to the nations. Thirdly, he is to have an archbishop in the archdiocese exercise pastoral concern and insight 1 | AUTUMN 2021 EDITORIAL | THE ARCHBISHOP’S ELECTION as he models and encourages the clergy assist the Sydney synod in mak ing this and laity of the diocese. Fourthly, he important decision. We offer biographi- is to represent the diocese in vari- cal outlines for each of the nominees ous local, national, and international which, while attempting an even-handed capacities, through persuasive and presentation, demonstrate the different courageous speech and action. Fifthly, ministry backgrounds and experiences he is to administer the diocese for its of each potential archbish op. Prior to mission through efficient leadership these presentations we pause to reflect in areas of governance and policy and on the importance of prayer. Surround- through other skillful and effective ing these snapshots, we provide addi- organisational efforts. Lastly, he is to tional articles on impor tant areas of walk closely with the Lord in all of his concern for the future of minis try in ways through prayerful faith and obedi- Sydney, including the gospel, fellow­ ence. This is the most crucial require- ship, evangelism, children’s and youth ment for an archbishop accountable to ministry, complementarianism, clergy the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. supply, mission to the nations, the At the time of writing there are challenges facing the national church, four current nominees for the office of and challenges facing ministry in our Archbishop of Sydney: Peter Hayward secular culture. Lastly, with a view to (Assistant Bishop for the Wollongong the evangelical heritage of our archbish- region), Michael Stead (Assistant Bish- ops, we also recall two of Sydney’s great op for the South Sydney region), Chris episcopal heroes: Howard Mowll and Edwards (Assistant Bishop for the Frederic Barker. Northern region), and Kanishka Raffel The ACR remains focused on the (Dean of Sydney). All four are Moore future of gospel ministry in Sydney and Theological College trained ‘sons of beyond, and we hope that this issue of Sydney’. All four have church planting the ACR Journal helps your prayerful experience and have substantially grown deliberation in choosing an archbishop congregations. All four have denomina- for the future of our diocese. May we tional ministry experience outside of commit the future days, future election, Sydney. Most importantly, all four are and our future diocesan ministry into godly nominees with a desire to see the the hands of the one who has planned, gospel of Christ Jesus proclaimed in who orchestrates, and who will usher Sydney and throughout the world. We in the future ‘world without end’: our ought to rejoice that we have four men Almighty and Triune God, Father, Son, of their character and calibre nominated and Holy Spirit. To him be the glory. for the office of Archbishop of Sydney – many around the world would wish for Amen. such a privilege. Yet we must decide who is the best man for the moment. ACR Editorial Team acr The aim of the present ACR Journal is to provide information in order to 2 | AUTUMN 2021 3 | AUTUMN 2021 EDITORIAL | THE ARCHBISHOP’S ELECTION Prayer for our Archbishop’s Election Maybe the two of us are just unaware, but the lead up to the election synod appears some­ what low key. Perhaps we’re all sobered by the moral fail ures of high profile church leaders in recent times. Perhaps the COVID-19 pandemic is reminding us of our limitations, our vulnera­ bility and the need to Michael and Alison Blake, After almost 30 years in hold lightly to our plans. local church ministry in the Sydney Diocese, Michael and Alison are now enjoying living in Wollongong, hatever the reason, still learning to grow in prayerfulness and involved the times we live in “a ministry fruit salad” of chaplaincy with Moore W College, Bible Study leadership in their local church, in, globally and locally, locum ministry, professional supervision, and SRE. should always drive us to unrelenting prayer. What stifles your prayer life? What energises your prayers? For us, we’re very aware that there are real decisions to be made, often urgently, about matters that matter, with real consequences – for us personally and for those we serve. That awareness can shift our focus away from prayerful dependence on God, towards self-managing the various angles of the issues. The pace of life, the endless number of decisions to be made and the struggle to discern the urgent from the important crowds out the priority of prayer. And let’s be honest, we simply aren’t habitually cultivating the discipline of prayer. In all of this it’s not that we don’t pray. It’s just that it slips into the background. Rather than being the air we breathe every moment of life, prayer becomes the oxygen mask reserved for emergencies. And isn’t that the flashing red indica- tor light alerting me that I’m living dangerously (or in Bible terms, faithlessly), 3 | AUTUMN 2021 PRAYER FOR OUR ARCHBISHOP’S ELECTION with more confidence in my solutions, my insight, my competency, than on God’s wisdom, the goodness of his sovereign rule and a greater desire for his glory and will to be done? We’ll never know just how much or how little prayer surrounded the upcoming election, but it does seem as good a time as any to be reminded by Jesus of the necessity of faithfulness in prayer at all times.