NORTH COAST ANGLICAN “Embracing the spirit of Christ in Our Time” The Newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Grafton, New South Wales. July 2016 Issue No 3 Rededication of the Mothers’ Union Grafton Cathedral Australia NSW Welfare and Education Centre Conference Page 6 Page 4 “We are the branches and Jesus is the vine. What fruit are we bearing?” As a separate denomination our origins are in the bitter disputes of the English Reformations, triggered by Henry VIII’s repudiation of Rome’s authority and the theological and governance wrangling which followed. Elizabeth I’s desire for the nation to be ‘godly and quietly governed’ and for a national church within which her people could worship, despite Special differences of point of view, was understandable. Nearly 500 years later we are still a broad church, diverse and yet united. A Worldwide Communion We are also members of a worldwide Synod communion of churches which are daughter churches of the Church of England. There are 85 million Anglicans in over 165 countries. We have much history that we share with other Anglicans but there is also much that is our own. And so we are a Edition culturally, linguistically and ethnically diverse denomination. Even within Australia there are Chinese Anglican congregations, Korean Anglican congregations, Tongan Anglican are expressing some very profound based on A Prayer Book for Australia, congregations, and Maori Anglican PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS things about God and about ourselves. which came out in 1995, but if you use congregations, to name but four. any of the Anglican prayer books, from It has been my great privilege Who we are as Anglicans 1662, 1978 or 1995, you will be praying over the last few years to see the BY BISHOP SARAH MACNEIL We are saying that we are, above all, the Bible. Anglican Communion in action close GRAFTON, FRIDAY 17 JUNE 2016 people who find our identity in Christ. Both Word and sacrament are up through my membership of the All that we do, all that we say, is based vitally important – in both Word Anglican Consultative Council. At our Extract from the President’s Address To The in our worship of the triune God. and sacrament God works in us and meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, earlier Some of the discussions and decisions Third Session Of The 35th Synod Of The through both of them God works in this year I was again reminded of the of the next few days will seem to us. As we hear Scripture read and impact Anglicans are having in places Diocese Of Grafton be about very practical rather than expounded and as we share in the of conflict, deprivation and suffering. spiritual matters. But everything is bread and wine, so we are present to In South Sudan, Burundi, Pakistan, Jesus said, ‘I am the vine, you are the located within a framework of prayer, God and open to God’s Spirit. South Korea, Burma Myanmar and branches. Those who abide in me and I everything is offered to God. many other places, Anglicans are in them bear much fruit, because apart We are episcopally led and synodically We are also saying that we are actively working for peace, often at from me you can do nothing.’ (John governed. The whole people of God, people of deep Biblical faith – we great personal cost. In this they are 15:5) clergy and laity, are the church and may disagree about how to interpret there is a mutuality of responsibility supported by other Anglicans in other May I speak in the name of the scriptures and about how the for the life of the church that is parts of the world through bilateral or God, abundant, generous and authority of the scriptures should be reflected in our liturgical life and in the multilateral partnerships and through compassionate. Amen. understood, but the Old and New relationship between the Bishop and prayer. The vine is bearing great fruit When we gather together in worship Testaments are absolutely central to the Synod, and the Rector of a parish – fruit of peace, love, compassion, at the start of each session of Synod, our identity. Anglican liturgy is deeply and the parish council. courage and generosity. as we are gathered here tonight, we scriptural. Our worship tonight is Continued page 2 To be the trusted financial services provider of the Anglican Diocese of Anglicanfunds Grafton, enabling ministry growth Grafton Diocese More details page 8 July 2016 The North Coast Anglican Page 1 Your Snapshot: The Third Session of the 35th Extract from the President’s Address To The Third Session Of The 35th Synod Of The Diocese Of Grafton Continued from page 1 aftermath of the gay night club In all our diversity, with all the shootings in Orlando, Florida, frustrations and tensions of the last weekend. Although we may Anglican Communion, we are an differ in our views on same sex extraordinary example of making unions, as Christians we unite in diversity work, of genuinely attempting the condemnation of homophobic to respond to Jesus’ prayer that we all violence and join in solidarity and might be one. (John 17:11) love with those who are most directly affected: the survivors and the During the meeting, Bishop Eraste bereaved. Bigirimana, the Bishop of Bujumbura Diocese in Burundi, shared with me This then is who we are – we are the difficulties facing the church in followers of Jesus Christ, the people of Burundi as the country again descends God, members of the Anglican Diocese into violence and civil unrest. He of Grafton and of the Anglican Church has proposed that our Diocese of Australia. We are the branches become partners with the Diocese of and Jesus is the vine. What fruit are Bujumbura, to build relationships and we bearing? Jesus said, ‘Those who for mutual prayer support. Bishop-in- abide in me and I in them bear much Council has wholeheartedly endorsed fruit, because apart from me you can irrelevant decline in importance. The Plan notes the proposal and appointed a small do nothing.’ What is the fruit of our • church membership is declining, that by 2036, the North Coast will need group to work with me in fleshing it discipleship? especially among younger to accommodate an additional 97,000 generations people. And that two-thirds of this out more fully. The Fruit of the Vine • there’s an increasing sense that growth will occur in the three regional Unity in Diversity, Diversity in Each one of us can sit with that religion does not have a role in cities identified in the Plan: Tweed, Unity question at a personal level. It should shaping the way society works. Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie- also be said that sometimes we do The diversity we have inherited is both Here on the north coast of NSW we Hastings. not see the fruit of our faithfulness. a strength and a source of tension. At are also part of wider social change. In We need to care for the present but Tonight, however, I would like to talk several points in our history Australian March this year the NSW Government also look to the future. I see this a little about the fruit that I see, as I Anglicans have wondered whether released the Draft North Coast happening across our Diocese as travel around our Diocese. we have reached the tolerable limits Regional Plan which highlighted the ministry units engage with mission of that diversity. In recent history We live, as I have often said, in rapidly shifting demographics of our region. and ministry. The worldwide Anglican both the remarriage of divorcees in changing times and the church we see Over the last decade, almost 60 Communion has identified 5 marks of church and the ordination of women in 20 years time will be very different per cent of the region’s population mission and they provide a useful lens have been issues which have sorely from the church of 20 years ago. growth has taken place in the local for us to look through as we reflect on tested our unity. Now the questions Robin Greenwood, an English practical government areas of Port Macquarie- what is happening across the Diocese. which surround same sex unions are theologian and author, who will be Hastings, Coffs Harbour and calling us to discussion, prayer and leading our Ministry School in August, Tweed. Together, these three local debate. We have started that process has highlighted some developments government areas support 43 per cent in our Diocese over the last year and in the UK which resonate with our To read the full Presidential of the region’s population. Although there are, on the Synod paper, some experience in Australia. He writes (in Address, please visit the local government areas covered motions designed to further resource summary): by the Plan extend slightly beyond our us. www.graftondiocese.org.au • our churches are having to find a Diocesan borders, it is clear that there There is an added poignancy to new place in society – on the edge is a strong push towards the coast and our discussion for we meet in the • the faith we profess is mocked as that the inland regional centres will “This motion donate and give organs at was actually ones death. proposed I drew upon the experience by Rev’d Zoe that every priest would Everingham, have had at some stage in rector of their ministry when they Bellingen had faced the situation of Parish. At comforting a loved one who the time was not going to survive of Synod, and now had to face for the Zoe was first time the question of recovering donating an organ, and how from surgery this was not the appropriate Update on Rev’d Zoe Everingham having time for that conversation Bishop Sarah received an update Resolution: Donate Life Week just given a kidney to to occur.