A.C.L. NEWS Newsletter of the Anglican Church League www.acl.asn.au March 2001

Build on the past, seize this moment, create the future

At the ACL’s annual Synod Dinner in October, more than 200 Synod members packed the Town Hall Food Court to hear Dr. , Principal of Moore Theological College give the address. In response to many requests for copies, we are printing the full text in this issue of ACL News.

The critical moment of my Leaders such as Archbishop My theme is that we must, or we life was the 1959 Billy Mowll, Bishop Clive Kerle and will fail God, his people and our Graham Crusade. Bishop disregarded nation. criticism by other Anglicans and Two things happened. First, I welcomed the Graham team. became a definite, committed, Around the country, some other Who we were evangelical Christian, living for Anglican leaders were half hearted the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a critical moment for the or outright critical of Mr Diocese. Let me explain who we Second, a challenge from Mr Graham, his methods and his were, so we can see who we are, Graham led me to the ministry message. Our own leaders were and who we should be. of God’s word. clear, supportive and involved. We praise God for them. Being from The 1950s saw large church and I was sixteen. I did not know it at , they were used to such Sunday School attendances. The the time, but, humanly speaking, criticism, and they made exactly churches seemed to be flourish- the Diocese of Sydney was basic the right choice. ing. But an acute observer would to the success of the Crusade. have been very worried even then. They, in their generation, put the Many Anglicans of the day Bible and the Gospel of the Lord The Christianity of the people scorned and even attacked the Jesus first. My question tonight was not evangelical. It was a sort so-called fundamentalist, Billy is: are we going to do the same of ‘common Christianity’, a Graham. in our generation? ‘lowest common denominator’ Their materialism was no defence, society, but in an ignorant and Christianity. It had a strong as our society mocked God open- rebellious culture. Genuine Chris- moral emphasis; Christianity was ly and embraced public blasphe- tianity offends the opinion- about behaviour not belief; par- my, promiscuity, abortion and makers of this culture. We must ents sent their children to Sunday drugs. The twin ideologies of the expect the culture to demand School in the hope that they gay and feminist movements, not that we change the gospel to suit would grow up decent citizens to mention greed for money, its version of the truth. rather than committed Christians. became far more important in To be born once was enough; to shaping society than the teaching How have we survived the be born again was excessive. The of the Bible. The young were hon- cyclone so far? ranks of church-goers were swol- est and turned the indifference of In general terms, the mainstream len with the unsaved. The real their parents into clear rejection Christian movement in religion was materialism. of the gospel. has not survived all that well. Its Naturally, there were many fine, constituency is aging; its numbers born-again Christians in the are in significant decline; what it churches. But the evangelistic Where we are stands for is a mystery to most of its fellow citizens; ordinands are strategy matched the need of the The promise of personal autono- moment: it was therefore aimed at fewer and older than ever before; my fuelled the rebellion against the missionary spirit is in neu- nominal Christians, the church- God. We are now living through going unsaved; the nominal tral; we are selling the assets left the equivalent of a spiritual to us by earlier generations of uncommitted. It had its successes, cyclone, a cyclone of a far greater but the next decade saw a massive Christians. These are the outward intensity than Cyclone Tracy, the and visible signs of decay. change. This sort of evangelism destroyer of Darwin. Do not be was about to lose its audience. The culture has offered to smooth the pillow of a dying church. If we promise not to be missionary, not to believe in the “To be born once was enough; to wrath of God, not to say that the Lord Jesus is the only way to be born again was excessive. God, not to order our lives according to God’s will, not to preach biblical ethics, not to The ranks of church-goers were oppose the gambling, materialis- tic ethos which surrounds us – swollen with the unsaved. The then we may come in from the cold, we may be accepted back real religion was materialism.” into polite society. To this pressure, many Christians have capitulated; indeed whole churches have capitulated. They In the 1960s, Australia awoke to alarmed or surprised if your have become captive to culture, the fact that it was non-Christian. church is tiny and struggling, if rather than captive to the word The moralistic ‘common Chris- the vast majority of the people of God. tianity’ was shown to be empty around you are indifferent to spir- and even hypocritical. In one itual truths, if it has proved Let me focus on the Diocese of decade – that is all it took – nomi- immensely hard to pass on your Sydney. nalism was dealt a death blow, faith to your children, if the We are not exempt. No doubt we and the churches began to lose media are hostile to your leaders have compromised; certainly we their constituency. and to your faith. have suffered; we have also re- Those who were born once had All this, is what we must expect sponded inappropriately. But, as no answer to the massive assault and get used to. We are not living with other churches who have on Christian belief and practice. in an even nominal Christian taken their stand on gospel and

2 ACL News March 2001 Bible, there are also unusual signs new. I can show you the same of hope and progress. criticisms being made in the 1880s, 1904, 1933, 1958 and so We can actually see progress be- on. This is because the Diocese of “I can show you ing made under the good hand Sydney throughout its long of God. We should recognise that history has virtually always stood the mere fact that we exist at all, for gospel and Bible first, and the same criticisms and that most of our churches other church people, let alone the are self supporting even if small, world, do not like it. They did is a miracle of God-given tough not like Billy Graham; they have being made in the mindedness. Gloom is out of never liked Moore College. But order: we believe in a sovereign these are the concrete manifesta- God. In this spiritual cyclone, tions of gospel and Bible. survival is good news; progress is 1880s, 1904, 1933, better. Third, the criticisms are often ignorant of Anglican history. But this progress is no accident: 1958 it has stemmed from a commit- Fourth, we should respond gra- ment to Bible and gospel, and it ciously and winsomely. has been the consequence of will- and so on. Rather than being frightened or ingness to engage in change, and dismayed, therefore, let us under- thoughtful planning for the stand our own history and be future. This is because the true to our principles. I am say- ing that we have a history, one marked by a determination to be Diocese of Sydney true to Bible and gospel. As a result, we have also been willing to change and engage in strategic throughout its long thinking about how to survive and grow for the sake of Christ. history has For example, let us note four points about the strategy (out of the very many) which have kept virtually always us going. First – the evangelism of the nominals in the fifties and stood for gospel “Leaders such as Archbishop Mowll sixties. (pictured), Bishop Clive Kerle and and Bible first, and Bishop Marcus Loane disregarded Thank God this was done. It criticism by other Anglicans and meant that there was vigorous welcomed the Graham team.” church planting, and a good number of converted people to other church How do we cope with the pretty witness for Christ in the next dec- strong criticism that we some- ades. During these decades the people, let alone times receive? nominals flooded out, making our churches seem small; but Let me make a few points. smaller had advantages in strength and determination. We the world, First, sometimes we are being older converts have been very condemned for our true faults active in the community, in the and there are always things to re- do not like it.” schools and in the churches since pent of and amend. the 1950s, and we promise to Second, the criticism is nothing keep it up in the various nursing

ACL News March 2001 3 homes to which we shall shortly be consigned! “The church is the local congregation; But the danger is that, in late the real action takes place in the middle age, we will fail the gospel by being too conservative for the parish, not head office. needs of this hour. Second – the pioneering of However important the Diocese, the new ways of evangelism and nurture in the 70s. episcopacy and the liturgy (and all People like John Chapman, Dud- are important), they exist to serve ley Foord and saw that evangelism would have to change; they worked very hard at the congregation and not the other re-equipping us. We were not idle; we re-tooled the factory. From my way around.” perspective, August 1976 was the crucial turning point; up to that month the number of converts many other initiatives is that we The church is the local congrega- remained small; from then on the have a Diocese which is rich in tion; the real action takes place in Lord has particularly blessed the outstanding lay leadership, and the parish, not head office. How- preaching of the gospel in fruit- also in humble, unknown ser- ever important the Diocese, the ful and exciting ways. We had vants of Christ who honour his episcopacy and the liturgy (and new methods, but we gave the name continually. Clerical domi- all are important), they exist to same message. serve the congregation and not the other way around. It is only the gospel under the power of God’s Spirit which Grasping this meant that local makes new Christians and congregations throughout the nurtures older ones. Whatever spiritual cyclone have not waited further changes lie ahead of us, to be led from the top, from the gospel and the Bible must some mythical ‘them’ who, if remain unchanged. Conservatism only ‘they’ would do something, here is essential. would save the day. We have not waited for permission to change Third – The growing number of what happens in church; we have deeply committed and well Chappo at the 1980 Sydney Uni Mission done what needs to be done to trained lay men and women. nurture Christian of all ages. “People like John Chapman, Dudley To survive the secularist challenge Foord and Paul Barnett saw that We have engaged – and we still we must out-live, out-think and evangelism would have to change; they need to engage in – a principled worked very hard at re-equipping us.” out-love the world. We need to radicalism. have ordinary Christians who believe the Lord Jesus and who nation is a curse; responsibility know and live their Bibles in the for the Bible and the gospel in Where to from world; men and women who church and community belongs automatically believe the Bible to all of us. We cannot leave it to here? more than the media or liberal professionals. Christianity. God has blessed and kept us Fourth – the congregational amazingly. The first of these bless- From the early 1970s, God was emphasis that has proved ings, however, are gospel and blessing us with such movements absolutely essential for the Bible, and our use of these gifts as the revitalised Katoomba con- good health of the Diocese. will determine the nature of his ventions. The result of this and future blessings.

4 ACL News March 2001 My question is, will we continue sive overseas contacts – that there The future belongs to the men to put Bible and gospel first? My are many others who draw and women, to the church, that theme is that we must, or we will strength from the stands we take determines to preach the gospel fail God, his people and our on issues of principle. Sydney is of Jesus and be ruled by the nation. by no means isolated in the evan- Bible. Fail here and we will fail gelical or in the Anglican world. God, the church and the nation. It sounds simple and right when put like that, but it has never But what should our continuing been easy to have this priority. strategy involve? Let me suggest Second – Seize this We are going to need to be as three memorable commitments moment. wise and courageous as our spiri- for each of us. The most extraordinary feature of tual forebears. First – Build on the past. the present moment is the large The trouble is that the tests of number of young men and wom- our faith are never obvious: alle- History helps us understand who en seeking to engage in the minis- giance to Bible and the Lord we are and where we are going. try of God’s word. The developments I have outlined Jesus come wrapped up in hard There is an unparalleled move- issues like homosexuality, or par- represent the gospel and the Bible in action. For example, study ment of God’s Spirit occurring in ish boundaries or the prayer our midst. It has not just hap- book or the ordination of women them and you will see that they have been shaped by the type of pened. It is the precise result of to the priesthood; or our relation- the hard work and prayer of the ships with other Anglicans; or the men and women who have been involved in our church. last three decades. If you are look- significance of daily work. ing to see what God is doing in Confronted with such issues, at- our world, stop assuming in your tention to scripture will issue in doubting Australian way, that it tenacious and costly obedience to must be in Africa or amongst the God. Then our position needs to Pentecostals. be expressed in clear, courteous, First gaze on this local movement loving and persuasive teaching. in wonder, and then look up to We must never attack the person the abounding gospel opportuni- of others, no matter what their ties for the young men and wom- views; but we must not shrink en of this city, and the wider from disagreeing with them. Diocese. Sometimes it almost seems that Moore College students. The Diocese is very much in- being from Sydney Diocese is a “look up to the abounding gospel volved in this; we can continue to crime in itself! opportunities for the young men and support it, own it, pray for it, re- women of this city…” But let me assure you that such joice in it; or we may fail it problems are not new; they are through being narrow minded or part of our very history as a Dio- Absolutely crucial to the future is miserly or even jealous of it. God cese; it is because we have put the choice of persons for the does not owe us anything, and he Bible and gospel first at many work of the Diocese who will does not need to use us. value Bible and gospel above all difficult and tumultuous times We need to own this movement; that we are who we are. things. We need men and women of real insight and of considera- we need to own its fervour, accept We ought never to be proud of ble courage to lead our churches, its mistakes, guide its priorities, being from the Diocese; but we to guide our schools, and to serve be generous with our sons and ought not to be ashamed either. on our departments, boards and daughters. Here we have a unique Our stand is on Bible and gospel, councils. They must have the wis- opportunity for the gospel to not on a Diocese. It is the cause dom to apply gospel priorities to spread in our Diocese and into all of our unpopularity in some the work for which they are the world. quarters; but is also the cause – responsible. and I know this through exten-

ACL News March 2001 5 Third – Create the The history of the second half of In my view we have done much future. the twentieth century shows the to improve the church. Church truth of this theme. However life is far better now than it used The gospel first landed on Austra- inadequately we have proceeded, to be forty years ago. That task lian shores via an evangelical we have been blessed by God in must continue. But we have done Anglican, Richard Johnson. He the cyclone of secularism by keep- little yet to engage in the next was only here because evangelical ing the priority of preaching the great labour, for my theme is not leaders like William Wilberforce gospel and obeying the Bible. just about the church, but about insisted that he be sent. By their the nation, our own dear land. We are still in the midst of the daring initiative, they gave us a storm. Our problems are legion. The sheer power of secularism has sacred trust: to ensure that the But we have not lost our way. marginalised us; it has been very gospel and the Bible be available difficult to live for Christ and for all Australians of whatever preach the gospel. But we are de- racial background, social class, or veloping the experience, the geographical location. resources, the people, the strate- We must be a missionary Diocese. gies to challenge the world of Our church is narrowly English secular Australia, and to remind it in name, but it must be compre- of the gospel it so desperately hensive in fact. needs to hear. Our fundamental aim should be Will we accept the logic of our to address the secular challenge history? But that leads back to my by providing flourishing Bible- original question: based, gospel-centred, people- Despite the difficulties and the nurturing churches in as many adverse criticism they received, places as possible. We need to be Broughton Knox as Vice-Principal of Christians like Mowll, Loane, both prayerful and intentional; Moore College in 1956. Kerle and Knox put the Bible and trusting and planning. “In developing Moore College, for the gospel first in their example, Dr Knox always had a hundred generation. years in mind.” Conclusion Are we going to do the same in ours? • I have given you a theme and a In developing Moore College, for question. example, Dr Knox always had a Dr. Peter Jensen is the Principal of My theme is this: that unless we hundred years in mind. I would Moore Theological College, Sydney. put Bible and gospel first, we will say from 1960 to 2060 should be fail God, the people of God and the period that we are thinking our nation. of.

“However inadequately we have proceeded, we have been blessed by God in the cyclone of secularism by keeping the priority of preaching the gospel and obeying the Bible. We are still in the midst of the storm. Our problems are legion. But we have not lost our way.”

6 ACL News March 2001 Archbishop Goodhew’s Legacy

On March 19, Archbishop Goodhew has been a life effective and relevant will be Archbishop Harry longtime member of the Anglican one of his lasting legacies to the Church League and has been a diocese and the Australian Goodhew will retire as member of its Council and vice Church. Archbishop of Sydney. president and emeritus vice pres- This will mark the end ident for many years up to the The ACL offers its thanks and of a long and present. The League has always good wishes to him and Mrs. Goodhew as they lay down one distinguished ministry appreciated his support and his task and, as would be expected, within and beyond the occasional attendance at the ACLÕs conferences and Council take up another. May they have a diocese of Sydney. meetings. long and happy retirement. Earlier this year he was made an Canon Bruce Ballantine-Jones is the His life-long commitment to Officer of the Order of Australia President of the ACL. evangelism and to making church for services to the Anglican Church and the community. This is a fitting recognition of his long and faithful service. Evangelical Bishop Prior to becoming Archbishop, Harry served as Bishop of Wol- Elected to Appellate longong and had also been Arch- deacon in the same region. Tribunal Previously, he was rector in sev- eral parishes including Wollon- gong, Carlingford and Coorparoo The Rt Rev Peter Brain, Bishop of Armidale, has been elected to mem- in Brisbane. bership of the Appellate Tribunal of the Anglican Church of Australia.

As a bishop, he was in the fore- The Appellate Tribunal is like a ‘high court’ for the Anglican Church front in encouraging churches in of Australia, giving opinions on matters referred to it – many of them his region to modernise and seek relating to the Constitution of the Church. ways of presenting the christian message in a contemporary way. Bishop Brain’s election was by postal ballot of the House of Clergy in In 1993 Bishop Goodhew was order to fill the vacancy left by Bishop Bruce Wilson, the recently re- closely aligned with the organisa- tired Bishop of Bathurst. tion of the first large conference Bishop Brain is the second evangelical bishop to be elected to the featuring Bill Hybels and the Wil- Tribunal – Bishop Tony Nichols of North West Australia was elected by low Creek team at Darling Har- bour and acted as its host. the House of Laity late last year. Other members of the Tribunal include – Mr Justice Ken Handley and As Archbishop he has maintained a strong commitment to the Mr Justice Peter Young from Sydney, Archbishop Ian George and Mr national Church and also played Justice David Bleby from Adelaide and Mr Justice Clive Tadgell from a major role at Lambeth in 1998 Melbourne. in bringing that conference to Most recently, the Appellate Tribunal gave its opinion that Lay Admin- accept a biblical view on sexuali- istration at the Lord’s Supper is not contrary to the Constitution of the ty against the powerful efforts of Anglican Church of Australia. the liberals aligned with ECUSA.

ACL News March 2001 7 Primates Meet to Discuss “Pastoral Crisis”

From March 2–9, the Primates (b) the recent decision of ECUSA’s Meeting should recommend to the Arch- of the Anglican Communion General Convention to monitor progress bishop of Canterbury that he offer ob- are meeting at the Kanuga towards women’s ordination in all server status in international meetings Episcopal Conference Center dioceses and (Primates or Lambeth Conference) to the non-co-operating Province(s) and dio- in North Carolina in the US. (c) its placing of non-marital sexual cese(s). This annual gathering flows out relationships alongside marriage for sup- of the increased dialogue at the port by the Church. 3.7 Continuing Evangelization: Parallel with the measure in 3.6 the Primates 1998 Lambeth Conference. Such revision of the Christian ethic is Meeting should recommend to the Arch- unacceptable to a majority of Anglican Pressure is being brought for the bishop of Canterbury that he authorises Provinces and to an important sector meeting to focus on dealing with and supports appropriate means of evan- within the member Church most affected the widely reported “pastoral cri- gelization, pastoral care and episcopal by it. Should it go unchallenged by the sis” in the Episcopal Church of oversight in the affected dioceses or Primates’ Meeting, the immediate pros- the USA (ECUSA). Province(s). pect is of a division within ECUSA, lead- In January, To Mend the Net, a ing in its turn to a split in the 3.8 New Jurisdiction: In the event of collection of essays in support of Communion…” prolonged and evidently permanent a proposal was published – edited rejection of the guidelines, the following So what action is proposed by Archbishop Drexel W. Gomez should occur. The Primates’ Meeting against an intransigent diocese or of the West Indies and Presiding should advise the Archbishop of Canter- province? Bishop of the Southern Cone of bury how best to establish a jurisdiction America Maurice W. Sinclair. “3.5 Godly Admonition: The Primates whose practice lies within the limits of The proposal is for the Primates’ should communicate and commend the Anglican diversity. This jurisdiction then Meeting to exercise “enhanced re- guidelines to the relevant Province(s) would be recognised as a representative sponsibility” over the Anglican and or diocese(s) and ask for approval part of the Anglican Communion. There Communion, to deal with prob- and confirmation of their acceptance… would be the simultaneous recommenda- lem areas (with ECUSA being the The Primates would look for openness to tion that communion be suspended with most immediate). godly admonition… This step would be the intransigent body.” taken with a very positive intent. The full text of the Preface is Please pray for godly wisdom for available on the ACL website at 3.6 Observer Status: If the guidelines the Primates as they meet early www.acl.asn.au and is well worth are refused or if they evoke an unsatis- this month. reading – but the key points of factory response, then the Primates the proposal are these –

“1.8 The current situation in the Communion makes it necessary to know how better to identify the limits of Anglican diversity and relate them to our classical Formularies…

Three recent developments, in particular, have brought this matter to a head.

(a) The widespread refusal of dioceses, especially in the United States, to respond positively to the Lambeth ’98 The Primates of the Anglican Communion – at their meeting in Portugal last year. resolution on sexuality and

8 ACL News March 2001 Opinion: Mend the Net with ‘Papal Primates’? – Robert Tong

To Mend the Net is a collection Anglican Primates effectively be- Many agree that the of five essays in support of a pro- come a College of Cardinals? situation in ECUSA must posal to give the annual meeting of Anglican Church Primates Sydney Synod is hardly likely to be challenged. But how? power to admonish a diocese or acquiesce to such a proposal. province, reduce them to observer What if, for example, the Your answer may depend on what status at Lambeth, and ultimately Primates took a negative view of you understand the Anglican create a new diocese or province lay administration of the Lord’s to replace the recalcitrant. Supper, or of the establishment of Communion to be. Is it a Sydney-style congregations be- hierarchical structure like the The proposal is aimed principally yond the Diocese? Roman Catholic Church or a at the Episcopal Church of the The very idea of a “College of Pri- fellowship of independent USA – to halt and reverse the per- mates” exercising jurisdictional national Churches? secution of orthodox Christians and to correct the pursuit of un- authority strikes at the very heart biblical belief and practice. of as it has devel- While supporting the work of oped around the world. overseas friends who are seeking Since the Lambeth Conference in 1998, a coalition of conservative At present, the Anglican Com- to call elements of ECUSA back to munion is a fellowship of God’s Word, Robert Tong bishops has pressured the Ameri- can liberal bishops to abandon independent Churches, bound to- suggests that the proposal in the blessing same-sex unions, the gether by their origins in the book To Mend the Net may try ordination of practising homosex- Church of England. They share a to solve one problem by creating uals and to desist from legislative common liturgical framework and episcopal ordination. others. coercion to those diocesan bishops who oppose women’s Yet even these are breaking down ordination to the priesthood. under the pressure of liberalism Robert Tong has been a lay The New Testament record does and ritualism at one end and, as not reveal church structures be- in the case of some in ECUSA, member of the international apostasy at the other. Anglican Consultative Council yond the local congregation. Of and is currently Chairman of the course, apostolic visitations and Evengelicals are discovering a new correspondence linked communi- robustness, especially in the Third ACL. ties of Christians. Even attempts World, and the last thing we need by the mother church of to be doing now is to create a Jerusalem to exercise hegemony new layer of power and coercion were rejected. built around the arbitrary and In the Roman Catholic tradition, quite unbiblical concept of a it is the bishops who are the true College of Primates. successors of the apostles and Evangelicals everywhere should who exercise their supervisory pray for the Primates as they functions. The Bishop of Rome meet, that they may make wise de- TO MEND THE NET, Anglican Faith & and the College of Cardinals rule cisions – both about the situation Order in Renewed Mission, the Church on this basis. in ECUSA and the proposals con- is published by tained in To Mend the Net. • The Ekklesia Society in the US. Is the proposal in To Mend the Net that the thirty eight

ACL News March 2001 9 Editorial

Subdivide Sydney? Not a Great Idea

Dr. Bruce Kaye, General Secre- impossible to unravel. It would porting from elsewhere clergy tary of the General Synod, told certainly threaten the present with training inferior to that pro- a recent gathering of clergy in source of Sydney Diocese’s finan- vided at Moore College. Brisbane that regionalisation as cial strength, the Glebe Adminis- Forms of churchmanship, present- practiced in the Diocese of tration Board. ly unknown, would begin to creep Sydney and other large dioceses Subdivision would also multiply in and, over time, the evangelical is a bad experiment that should diocesan organisations and costs. character of the parishes would be be abandoned in favour of watered down. As each successive dividing into several smaller Further, it would not free up the bishop took office, the drift from dioceses. assistant bishops, who presently Sydney’s Biblical roots would con- have limited administrative His main reason is that large dio- tinue. What has happened in duties, to get closer to their par- ceses – and by extension, larger some previously evangelical dio- ishes as Dr. Kaye hopes. Rather, it regions – do not allow the church ceses in Australia would happen would create additional responsi- community to experience “episco- in Sydney. bilities which would keep them pal ministry”. When asked to re- from closer engagement with Within a generation or two, evan- spond, Archbishop Goodhew their parishes, so the very benefits gelical ministry would disappear declined to support the proposal. promised would not materialise. in many places. That is a high price to pay for some hoped-for National church life surveys paint benefit of increased episcopal a depressing picture of devastat- ministry. Smaller diocese? ing decline in the Anglican This is an old debate which has Church around Australia, with already been canvassed in Sydney. the exception of Sydney. Whatev- Regionalism, as it is developing er its shortcomings, many church- Too early to in Sydney, is much to be pre- es in Sydney are at least holding ferred to breaking up a diocese their own, and in many places judge into smaller units of, say, 35 par- they are growing. Why would Syd- Regionalisation, as it is practised ishes, as Dr. Kaye suggests. ney want to threaten this? in Sydney, is a developing thing. There are several reasons why Dr. It is too early, after just four years Kaye’s suggestions as reported are of the present system, to make not sound. Evangelical definite judgments as to its suc- cess. It is certainly too early to To subdivide Sydney to six or character declare it a failure. With ongoing seven dioceses of thirty five par- reviews and fine-tuning, it will de- Perhaps the most serious flaw in ishes each would create massive velop to provide real grassroots Dr. Kaye’s idea is that it would diseconomies of scale. Many participation in local resource weaken the evangelical character small dioceses in Australia are vir- allocation. tually insolvent now and ques- of the parishes. Imagine four or tions of amalgamations are in the five new smaller dioceses with dif- The Diocese as a whole will con- air. The complexities involved in ferent bishops with different poli- tinue to enjoy the benefits of breaking up the diocesan endow- cies on training and ordination. scale and energy that can only ment and other great Sydney In time, pressure would build up come from a large, well managed institutions would be almost to alleviate clergy shortages by im- and endowed diocese. •

10 ACL News March 2001 With Thanksgiving for Neville Thomas

In early January, many were reveals that he was listed among Randwick. He taught Sunday saddened to hear of the death the world’s top 50 clarinettists. School and was on the Parish of one of the ACL’s Council. He was also a chaplain Nev was delighted when, in 1992, to the Conservatorium, he minis- Vice-Presidents, Neville he was awarded the Order of Thomas, after a long illness. tered to inmates at Long Bay Gaol Australia Medal for service to and visited patients at the Prince In wider circles, Nev was best “music education and related of Wales Hospital. known as a highly talented musi- organisations”. cian. Learning the clarinet at the Nev was a humble Christian man As impressive as his musical cre- who wanted others to come to age of seven launched him into a dentials may be, there was much life of music. During World War know the Saviour. It was for this more to Neville Thomas than his reason that he served as he did on II, Neville served in the Australi- music, for he was a man who an Entertainment Unit and later the ACL Council and as a Vice- he toured with the ABC Concert President. He was overjoyed to see Band during the Vietnam War. men and women turn to Christ and parishes embrace evangelical Both before and after WWII, he “he was a man ministry. studied at the Conservatorium of Music, eventually joing the staff, who knew and In personal relationships, many teaching the clarinet, sax and have testified to his kindness flute. He spent 29 years there, lec- loved the Lord shown in a variety of ways and turing in the Diploma of Music how he thought of others, taking Education. He co-founded the Jesus Christ and the Lord Jesus as his great Pan-Pacific music camps and kept example. in close touch with friends in the who knew the In 1995, Nev’s wife Val developed US. reality of being Alzheimer’s disease and Neville Neville was leader of the Sydney looked after her at home as long Saxophone Quartet and founded saved by grace as he was able, but his own health the Saxophone and Clarinet Soci- was failing too. ety in 1976. through faith.” Nev’s funeral at St. Jude’s was a In the early days of Australian tel- joyous occasion, filled with the evision, Neville played in several sounds of the music he loved. of the TV big bands – Tommy knew and loved the Lord Jesus Christ and who knew the reality The words of Philippians 1:21 & Tycho’s band, Bobby Limb’s 23 are fitting: “For to me to live band, JO’K’s Sing, Sing, Sing, to of being saved by grace through faith. is Christ and to die is gain… I name a few. desire to depart and be with Due to his characteristic modesty, In 1967, to improve his under- Christ, for that is far better.” standing of the Bible, he began it is likely that few younger mem- Neville Thomas laboured cheerful- bers of the ACL Council guessed full time study at Moore College. He was a lay preacher and Synod ly for Christ in Sydney, and now his wealth of talent. His obituary knows that the reality of being in The Sydney Morning Herald representative for many years for his home church of St. Jude’s with Christ is ‘far better’. •

For information on joining the Anglican Church League, please see our website at www.acl.asn.au – or write to the address below.

Photo credits in this issue: Page 2, Diocesan Digest 1956; Page 4, AFES Report September 1981; Pages 5 & 6 Moore College; Page 7 Diocese of Armidale, Page 8 Jim Rosenthal/Anglican World.

© 2001. ACL News is published by the Anglican Church League, P.O. Box R746, Royal Exchange, NSW, 1225, Australia. Website: www.acl.asn.au Editorial e-mail: [email protected]. Material from ACL News may be reprinted provided that permission of authors is obtained. Acknowledgment of source would be appreciated. Views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily of the Anglican Church League. AA CallCall toto PrayPray forfor thethe ElectionElection ofof aa NewNew ArchbishopArchbishop The election of an Archbishop of Sydney at the special session of Synod beginning on June 4 is of great importance for the future of the work of the gospel in Sydney and beyond. We invite you to join us at these venues to pray together for this election Synod. These open meetings are for prayer and not for lobbying or discussing candidates. They are being organised by the ACL, or by others as indicated. We hope you can come!

Georges River Region Western Region

Moorebank, Friday 4 May, 8:00pm at St Thomas’ Blackheath, Wednesday 16 May, 7:30pm at St. Church, Nuwarra Road. Aidan’s Church, Hat Hill Road.

Carlton, Wednesday 23 May, 8:00pm at St James’ Northmead, Thursday 17 May, 8:00pm at Church, Henry & Percival Streets. Northmead Anglican Church, Thomas Street.

St Marys, Wednesday 16 May, 8:00pm at St Mary’s Northern Region Church, King Street.

Narrabeen, Tuesday 15 May at 8:00pm at St. Faith’s Church, 5–9 Clarke Street Wollongong Region

Roseville, Wednesdays 28 March, 25 April & 23 The Wollongong regional prayer meetings in each May, 8:00pm at St Andrew’s Church, corner Hill deanery are being organised by the Wollongong Street and Bancroft Avenue Regional Council through the Rev , ph. 4261 6914. The Roseville meetings are the initiative of, and are organised by, the Rev Mark Calder, ph. 9412 2553. Please watch for publicity in your local churches.

South Sydney Region We’ll also post the details on the ACL website at www.acl.asn.au when they become available Concord North & West, Tuesday 15 May, 8:00pm (including a downloadable pdf file you may like to at the Rectory, 9 Turner Avenue, Concord print and distribute in your church).

Woollahra, Wednesday 16 May, 8:00pm at All Saints’ Church, 85 Ocean Street