July 2008 Anglican News Vol 25Page 1 No 5 Anglican News July 2008 The Newspaper of the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn 3600 copies every month FREE Church leaders call for Middle-East peace A delegation of heads of Aus- living under military occupation, tralian churches has called on the of indignities and harassment, Federal Government to take a about the confiscation of land and more proactive role in seeking a dispossession of homes. We peaceful settlement to the con- heard about the pressures and flict in Palestine and Israel. restrictions on Palestinian com- The delegation met in Can- mercial activity and the near im- berra on Wednesday July 4, dur- possibility of building viable busi- ing a week of International nesses.” Church Action for Peace in the Israelis spoke to the group strife-torn region. about the debilitating effects of Primate of the Anglican living with the constant fear, and Church in Australia Archbishop reality, of terrorist actions. They Dr Phillip Aspinall, was part of heard first-hand the impact of the delegation. daily threats of suicide bombers He said he had visited Israel and rocket attacks, and the im- and Palestine with eight other pact of decades of tension and Australian Church Leaders in conflict with near neighbours. December last year. They heard about the sixty-year “We were privileged to meet struggle to protect the territory with Israeli and Palestinian lead- and people of the State of Israel ers and senior representatives of and about innocent women and the Jewish, Muslim and Christian children killed in attacks. faiths,” Dr Aspinall said. “Our “I came away determined to visit gave us an unusual oppor- do what I could, not to add to tunity to witness, first hand, the the polarisation of the two peo- hardships of both Israelis and ples,” the Primate said. “The last Palestinians as a direct result of thing they need is for us to take the enduring conflict.” one side or the other and add fuel He said the group had been to the conflict. What we can do HOT TOPIC: Members of Burgmann School’s ‘Issues’ group attended an address on Israel told time and time again that what is point to the futility and destruc- and Palestine by the Primate at St John’s, Reid, during his visit to Canberra. Pictured are everyone in the Holy Land needed tive effects of inhumane and un- Hannah Bennett, Angus Millar, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, Kyle Dickerson, Jeremy Allan above all else was peace. With- acceptable behaviour wherever it and School Chaplain Mark Beresford. The ‘Issues’ group meets weekly to discuss topics of out peace neither security nor jus- is found and by whomever it is interest and importance, and has spent some time addressing the history of the Israel/ tice would be possible. perpetrated.” Palestine conflict. “Our group heard heart- He pointed out that children wrenching stories from both were growing up in the Holy cause of its vibrant Christian, We call on the Government to of military occupation on Pal- sides of the conflict,” he said. Land with long-term psychologi- Jewish and Islamic communities advocate for and lend all prac- estine. “Palestinians told us of the dif- cal damage because of the in- and robust diplomatic relation- tical assistance to a freely and We call on the Government to ficulties of moving about in their grained fear and hatred. “This ships with both Israel and Pales- peacefully negotiated solution support United Nations meas- own territories, about routine situation cannot simply be al- tine. acceptable to both Israelis and ures to foster peace in Israel waits of between one and six lowed to carry on indefinitely. Dr Aspinall said the Christian Palestinians. and Palestine and to advocate hours to move through one of the The human cost is too high. The Churches stood ready to play their Following the recent interna- the process of international law. hundreds of checkpoints border- time for action has come,” he part: “Today we call on the gov- tional celebrations of the sixti- We call for the Government to ing and inside the territories. We claimed. ernment to redouble its efforts to eth anniversary of the establish- increase substantially its finan- heard stories of Palestinian Time and time again the visit- make peace in the Holy Land a ment of the State of Israel, cel- cial contribution to the social women giving birth at check- ing Church leaders were asked reality.” ebrations marked by this par- and economic development of points and even dying because to do what they could to assist Specific points liament with a bipartisan mo- Palestine, and urge the exten- they were unable to get access peace. Specific points in the Heads tion of congratulations, we call sion of scholarship and leader- to hospital treatment. We heard Australia was seen as having of Churches statement included on the Government to recog- about the everyday injustices of an important role to play, be- the following: nise also the impact of 41 years Continued on page 3 alsoalso inin thisthis issue:issue: issue: Serving in the Tri-Diocesan Bishops gather for Solomons... page benefits ... page 3 Lambeth .. page 4 12 Page 2 Anglican News July 2008 THE ASSISTANT BISHOP’S COLUMN R with ecognising missionary choices Bishop Hudson Taylor formed the of Sydney. I inherited an 8.00am She dutifully came one entry points so that China Inland Mission in 1865 and Book of Common Prayer Holy evening, but immediately re- more people might Trevor Edwards ministered with it for over 40 Communion service with robed verted to the early service. In- be saved. years. As a result of his gospel choir. I had been assured by the trigued, I visited her in her home Both stories il- passion at the time of his death parish nominators that I would only to discover in her lounge lustrate the Apostle in 1905 there were 205 mission- bury the entire congregation be- room an immense grand piano Paul’s missionary motto - ‘I have by faith alone) we need to be ary stations with 849 mission- fore I left. In other words they and sheets of classical music eve- become all things to all people, completely flexible regarding aries and 125,000 Chinese felt this service would die out rywhere. I then discovered other so that I might by any means both outward expression and de- Christians. and I would be able to introduce things about her apart from her save some’. We would do well livery in order to help people He was well known for his something more contemporary. strong preferences in music – to make this motto our own and make the choice to follow Christ. commitment to cultural sensitiv- she was a brilliant young physi- learn both his flexibility and pas- His fundamental philosophy ity. One day a man asked Taylor cist just diagnosed with a brain sion. He sacrificed his legitimate was to discover the methods to explain why he had buttons tumour who had been given a rights as an apostle and his per- which combined the greatest in- on the back of his coat! Taylor Paul’s fundamental Bible by a caring Christian friend sonal preferences on things that tegrity with the greatest impact realized then that his western- and she had decided to check don’t ultimately matter for the because he wanted to win to philosophy was to Christ as many as possible. style dress was distracting his discover the Jesus out at our church. sake of winning others to Christ. listeners from his message. He She was also a morning per- In other words he genuinely What about us? Are we will- decided to dress like a Manda- methods which son who preferred quiet reflec- immersed himself in the world ing to die to self interest, give rin, a Chinese teacher. He was combined the tion. But her route to personal of others and as a result he acted up all insistence on the sacred- amazed at how this allowed him greatest integrity faith in Christ was to be Cramner differently with different groups ness of any rights, adjust our- to travel more freely and be ac- and Bach and not An Australian of people. It seems frustratingly selves lovingly to others and with the greatest strive to win as many as possi- cepted more readily by the peo- impact because he Prayer Book and jazz (if I can inconsistent, but of course ‘con- ple. put it that way). It was definitely sistency’ has more to do with ble to the cause of Christ? In Taylor’s goal was not to have wanted to win to not rock & roll! particular personality traits than short, will we sacrifice and serve the Chinese become like English Christ as many as Once I had learnt my it has to do with a biblical theol- for the sake of the salvation of Christians, but to become Chi- possible. missionary lesson that traditional ogy of evangelism. While we others? nese Christians. Of course when service flourished and doubled must remain absolutely commit- With every good wish, he started to wear his hair long in size. I had re-learned there ted to core beliefs (such as the and braided, to put on Chinese was no right way to worship uniqueness of the person and clothes and eat Chinese food, Fortunately God had other God, but that we needed multiple work of Christ and justification many of his fellow missionaries ideas and in my late 30’s I had derided him, but he had thought to learn some lessons about flex- through what was essential to ibility and cultural adaptability.