Category Archives: ChurchLife

Naked and Not Ashamed

Published on Wednesday, November 23, in the year of our Lord 2011

Isn’t it great when we discover new things to feed on! As I posted recently on the Facebook page of City On A Hill, I have been amazed by the ways that my sinfulness is affecting me and even more glad for the grace of God that is incomprehensibly more powerful than the shame and [...]

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Broughton Anglican College celebrates 25 years of Christian ministry and education

Published on Wednesday, September 14, in the year of our Lord 2011

Broughton Anglican College College, Cambelltown NSW, celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. What caught my eye was the great witness of school’s headmaster, Don O’Connor: “The college is privileged to have seen many thousands of young people educated at Broughton, with many coming to know and understand what it means to have a life through [...]

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Was it just too much for Rowan?

Published on Monday, September 12, in the year of our Lord 2011

The archbishop of Canterbury is planning to leave office some 8 years before his retirement age of 70. Lambeth Place is reported as saying that ‘We would never comment on a matter like this’ and the bishop of London, the Right Rev Richard Chartres, is similarly tight lipped surrounding reports that he has advised the [...]

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Baptising babies again . . .

Published on Wednesday, November 10, in the year of our Lord 2010

We are preparing to have our second daughter, Alexis Jane Hickey, baptised early next year. A suitable couple have been approached as godparents for Alexis. They have acceded to our request, which is no small thing. We have adopted the old custom that if Jane and I were both unable to exercise guardianship – whether [...]

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Dr Peter Adam’s expert testimony descredited by VCAT Judge

Published on Tuesday, October 12, in the year of our Lord 2010

In a legal dispute between Philip Island Adventure Resort Camps’ Brethren owners and WayOut, a gay youth support agency, Judge Hampel rejected Dr Peter Adam’s expert testimony on the basis that ‘his independence in respect of the evidence he gave was seriously compromised’. The decision of VCAT judge, the Hon. Felicity Hampel, will likely face [...]

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Motions at General Synod 2010 that I think God for so far . . .

Published on Wednesday, September 22, in the year of our Lord 2010

Bishop Philip Huggins moved, The Reverend Des Benfield seconding, That this Synod affirms the sanctity of life; that life is God‟s gift and that our task is to protect, nurture and sustain life to the best of our ability. That this Synod makes this reaffirmation amidst media reports, so soon after a federal election, suggesting [...]

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Personal Reflections on Attending Synod

Published on Wednesday, September 22, in the year of our Lord 2010

Following the order of the day concerning ‘Fresh Expressions’ around the parishes of the Anglican Church of Australia, I reflect on the part I have played in its life. Over the last five years I have had the honour of serving in a church plant at Caroline Springs and an experimental (or ‘Fresh Expression’) evening [...]

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Further thoughts on the proposals before General Synod on the subject of marriage

Published on Tuesday, September 21, in the year of our Lord 2010

In response to some great comments from Jenny I have decided to do another post on my thoughts regarding the proposed amendment to the Marriage Act. Thanks for your thoughts Jenny. What we have here is a crossroad. We face a period of change – no one is denying this. The question that remains unanswered, and to some degree [...]

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Thoughts on the proposed alterations to the Marriage Bill at General Synod 2010

Published on Monday, September 20, in the year of our Lord 2010

I’m thinking on the run as a watch #ozsynod unfold (BTW – this is the preferred twitter hash-tag for Twitter users at The Anglican Church of Australia’s General Synod 2010). There is a bill before Synod at present that seeks to change the ground rules of who can be married within an Anglican Marriage ceremony. [...]

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Thinking of calling it quits

Published on Saturday, September 11, in the year of our Lord 2010

Five years on, much study, five church placements, two units of CPE and a Fee-Help debt that could be the downpayment on a McMansion, I am considering calling it quits. I have applied myself to whatever has been asked of me as best I could. The feedback from other clergy and parishioners overall has been [...]

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