newsletter !o $% &'() *+,% ISSN 1836-511 WEBSITE: www.anglicantogether. ORDINATION IN HISTORIC PARISH CHURCH On Wednesday evening, 8th May 2019, the St John’s Church Cook’s Hill is the oldest surviving Reverend Kimberly Sawyer was ordained priest church in Newcastle - a lovely building in the fine and then commissioned into her new parish – the 1800’s historic architectural style, but with modern historic St John’s Church Cook’s Hill, Newcastle. features including wall hangings. The parish embraces diversity - combining traditional Kimberly Sawyer previous ministry was in the Parish inheritance with an outward vision into the future. of Hunters Hill in the diocese of Sydney. It had been a long and varied ministry in that diocese, as a school chaplain and also within the parish environment. The ordaining Bishop of Newcastle, Peter Stuart, CONSECRATION OF THE 11TH BISHOP said her ordination to the priestly ministry was DIOCESE OF THE RIVERINA, NSW recognition of Kimberly’s past ministry. “Some come new to ministry at ordination, but Kimberly has The Venerable Donald Kirk formerly Rector of effectively been ministering.” He saw her ordination Hamilton, Diocese of Ballarat was consecrated as recognition of her ministry, in parish and school bishop for the Diocese of Riverina on Saturday, chaplaincy. 16th June 2019 in St Alban, the Martyr Cathedral, Griffith. The vast Diocese of the Riverina covers 37% of New South Wales., taking in the Riverina and stretching up to Broken Hill to the north-west. It was established in 1884 when the Diocese of Goulburn was divided. Originally the diocesan centre was located in Hay, then in 1953, Bishop Robinson transferred the administration and Bishop’s residence to Narrandera. In 1984 it was moved to Griffith– a hundred years after its first establishment. The Diocese has seen two of its former Bishops become Archbishop of Brisbane - Sir Reginald Halse (1943) and Sir John Grindrod (1971). In her reply, Kimberly said she was “delighted to Bishop Donald take on the role. St John’s is a vibrant parish which Kirk spent his early is doing fantastic work in the heart of the city and years in Sydney. I’m really looking forward to working in the parish Following his and making connections in the community.” “It’s ordination, he served clearly an inclusive community with many people in the Diocese of from all walks of life involved in the church, so to be Newcastle, then in the first female parish priest in nearly160 years is an the parish of honour”. Tamworth before Approximately forty people traveled to Newcastle - becoming Dean of many from Hunter’s Hill parish and Kimberly’s past Christ Church, Grafton. In February he moved to the ministries. One person who made the journey said Diocese of Ballarat, Victoria, where he was Rector of “she has been a benison to so many that it was a joy the parish of Hamilton and Archdeacon of the South when spontaneous applause broke out in the service West. several times” R E M E M B E R I N G T H E H O L O C A U S T On Tuesday 14 May 2019, over Branch of the Council of clear the historic failures of the 100 Christians, Jews and others Christians and Jews, on which I Christian church in their response gathered in the Great serve as a representative of to Jews. Synagogue, Elizabeth Street to Sydney Anglican Diocese. It is Dialogue also provides me with commemorate the Shoah, the part of a worldwide movement, the opportunity to explain aspects Jewish Holocaust 1933-1945. and the NSW branch has been in of the Christian faith, and to To open the service, two brief existence close to 40 years. clarify misunderstandings. It is talks were given. Eddie Jaku, a Archbishop Donald Robinson certainly not a setting for pushy Holocaust survivor, now 99 years was involved in its establishment, evangelism, but I see it as a way I old, told his story of survival. playing a significant role in can seek to graciously bear Norman Seligman, CEO of the writing its constitution. witness to Jesus and to the Sydney Jewish Museum, near The mission of the branch is Gospel, as appropriate St.Vincent’s Hospital, spoke “to create opportunities to develop opportunities arise, and to do so about the work of the Museum mutual respect and understanding with better understanding. The and recent developments. We between Christians and Jews by Christians on the Council comes were reminded it is worth visiting sharing ideas, commemorations from various churches and the Museum from time to time. and celebrations, building an backgrounds, and the Jews are New exhibits have been added in appreciation of diversity and also a mixed group, including recent years, and there is often harmony in the wider community.” non-practising and agnostic Jews the opportunity to meet and talk As well as the annual Shoah as well as observant Jews. The to Holocaust survivors: service, usually held in the Council takes no specific view on something which will not be the atmospheric and beautiful crypt the vexed question of the case in the near future. of St.Mary’s Cathedral, the realtionship between the state of The hour-long service was Council organise a series of talks Israel and the Palestinian people. powerful and serious, seeking to at 6pm on Tuesdays, at Polding Many members are disturbed by remind us all of the horror of the House in Goulburn Street. This the aggressive stance taken by Holocaust. As part of the year was the first time the service Jewish authorities against service, Psalm 51 was sung by was held in the Great Synagogue, Palestinians. the Mater Chorale, a fine and we are grateful to the The Council has three lectures peripatetic choir under the authories who enabled this scheduled for the second half of direction of Michael Deasey. service to take place in such the year. They take place in The Chorale sang two other fitting and beautiful settings. Polding House, Liverpool Street appropriate works, including in Is there a place for a on Tuesdays at 6.00pm. All are Hebrew a Psalm setting written diocesan representative in an welcome. There is no charge. for use in synagogues. Students organisation focussed on JULY 9: from SCEGGS Darlinghurst, dialogue rather than Knox Grammar and Emanuel Emeritus Chief Rabbi of Western ; evangelism? I believe there is. SEPTEMBER 10: Associate School, Randwick, read powerful We are called to love our poems arising out of the Professor Ian Young, University of neighbours, and surely part of Sydney Department of Hebrew, Holocaust. The Memorial Prayer that love is seeking to relate to Biblical and Jewish Studies. was sung by the Cantor of the them and understand them better. NOVEMBER 12: The Reverend Great Synagogue. Candles were So often the church has taken an Simon Hansford, Moderator, lit to commemorate the millions attitude of superiority to those Uniting Church in NSW and ACT. who died: not only Jews, but also who hold other faiths, and come It is a privilege to serve on the gypsies, homosexuals, and across as arrogant and superior. Council as I have done for nearly people with disabilities. There Of course the Gospel never 20 years. The Australian Council was a reminder of the failure of allows us to think of ourselves as of Christians and Jews has a the church to stand up against the superior to others. My website. persecution of Jews, and the involvement in dialogue means service ended with the united call that I and other Christians have a If you wish to know more about that this must not be allowed to better understanding of how the Council, email me on happen NEVER AGAIN! Jewish people see their faith and [email protected]. life. I can better understand our Paul Weaver This moving service is Senior Associate Priest arranged each year by the NSW connections as well as our St.Alban’s Epping differences. I also can see more 2 ‘ORA ET LABORA’ Greetings in Christ, ‘Closed Minds and the Failure of Mission’ The mission of the church in the of it?” Nietzsche, The Gay Of course, the church has been Western world is in confusion Science, Section 125 caught up in this secular shift and and disorder. Reflecting the This is not a triumphal shout shaped by it. It has therefore malaise of Western politics, nor is it a gloating taunt from a either willingly adopted a more factions within the church are swaggering victor. Instead, it is a rationalist and propositional fighting for control of a waning melancholy recognition of a death agenda, or it has reacted to institution, now disregarded by a (indeed, an expression of grief) secularisation by becoming more rising generation that see it as by a character called Madman dogmatic and hard-edged on the corrupt and self-interested. who is searching for God and one hand or more liberal on the finally learns of his demise. In other. Either way, the church has Mission seems to have become these words, Nietzsche been confronted by the secular an activity more focussed on acknowledges the shift of the winds of change and struggled to power, control and status rather modern soul from its search for make any headway against them. than the exercise of transparency, meaning through a sacred world- inclusion and grace. Religious There is, however, some view to a secular one. tribalism, obscurantism and resonance between the words of legalism seem to have grown in Some theologians have seen Madman and the Gospels. The recent years while at the same this as the recognition of a turning centurion at the cross recognised time many people have walked point away from a focus on Jesus as ‘Son of God’ - but as a away from the church in despair.