News from Mangrove Mountain: The Union Church building in the town, having been rescued from the liquidator by a community committee; it’s time to form a church. After the service led by Baptist preacher Gavin Williams and a team from Wyong Baptist, a meeting will be held this Sunday to form the Mountain Districts Community Church. “Our hope and prayer is that this will help re-establish a strong and growing Christian presence at the Mangrove Mountain Union Church, and that it will be a Christian presence that reaches out to engage with the local community and the wider world,” local Robert Meggs posted.
###
Denominational fun and games: h/t Ben White
###
1000 words: A historic pic for the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa, with the their Presiding Bishop Elect, Siegfried Ngubane, with the out going Presiding Bishop Glenn Lyons.
###
Three for the voice: If you had listened to the presentations by Indigenous leaders at the Sydney Anglican Synod, you might have scored it two for the Voice, one not saying. Larissa Minniecon, a Synod member from St John’s Glebe a strong “Yes;” Naville Naden, Indigenous Ministry Officer of Bush Church Aid a non discloser or neutral; and Michael Duckett, pastor of Macarthur Anglican Church a quiet “Yes.”
But in a strong statement, Naden, speaking for himself not on behalf of his employer, has made it three out of three. Here is what he posted:
“Hi Folks,
“I just want to say that I am a proud Aboriginal man who is a disciple of Christ.
“As a result of the work of grace done in my life, and a wonderful upbringing by great parents and grandparents who taught us about Jesus, I have been afforded, in many ways, a priveledged life.
“As I look around, and as I traverse this great country of ours, I see there is much despair. As I look at the gaps that exist between the have and the have nots, it concerns me greatly that my people, even after 235 yrs of colonisation, still struggle to get ahead in life. What is more concerning is those who have in life are only concerned for their privileged lifestyles and that of their families and that is OK. But let’s take an approach that shows a compassionate response to the position of the voice while remaining focussed on our core business of a biblical model for reconciliation.
“Nothing up until this point has worked in trying to address the issues of my people.
“Something is needed. Is that the voice? I am not sure. However, due to this being the only thing put on the table that may work towards addressing the issues of my people, and as I weigh up the arguments on both sides of the debate, I will be voting yes at the referendum.
“While this is my position, my position is not reflective of BCA or the AEF of a Australia. This is my personal position.
“Both BCA and AEF have decided to remain neutral in this space.”
i