Fractured Families gives an assessment of a group called ‘the Fellowship’ which is mainly based in Melbourne. It had its origins in an intense spiritual movement in the Sydney University Evangelical Union in the 1930s and 40s.

Modern spirituality invents its own standards and rituals, but the Bible stands as an authority over all traditions writes ARCHBISHOP PETER JENSEN.

Dangerous as it is to talk about martyrs, there is also much danger in Christians forgetting the stand they took against Papal authority, writes ARCHBISHOP PETER JENSEN

Our love will not make people Christians, but as we reach out to others our love will be blessed by God says Archbishop Jensen.

It is a grave mistake to allow fears about abuse of the Lord’s Supper to rob us of the joy of receiving God’s word.

It is important to recognise the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Without this reality, resurrection is merely a dream.

In 2003, Judge Roy S. Moore, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama lost office as a result of legal action. His offence was the insertion of a granite block weighing more than two tons in the rotunda of the judicial building: on the block was inscribed, among other things, parts of the ten commandments. He campaigned for office in 2000 with the slogan, ‘the ten commandments judge’.

The tsunami in the Indian Ocean has left a horrible trail of death and destruction. It seems that no fewer than 150,000 people have been killed, and there is the awful possibility that disease and hunger will carry off many others.

We often feel embarrassed when we receive gifts at Christmas and wonder if our pleasure should be focused on such material blessings. There is no harm in asking God for things. Our requests to him are true worship, because we are acknowledging his sovereignty. In fact, many of the words associated with prayer in the Bible simply mean to ask, request or beseech.

I know that the recent catastrophic disaster in countries near to Australia will have saddened and troubled you. I write to urge you to address the issue, especially at church services this coming Sunday.

Enjoying a hot meal this Christmas has just been made easier for Sydney’s poor.

Christmas succeeds because it is so basic. A man; a woman; a baby. A set of human problems: a decision made by a lonely teenager to become mother and to bear both the child and the shameful consequences; an apparently questionable conception; talk of a divorce; the willingness of two young people to go through with the birth and to raise the child despite the cost. Would they have made that decision today? Or would there have been talk of a termination?

Now is a good time to ask what plans your church has for next year. Regular prayer is a good place to start.

‘Who lives here?’ asked my taxi driver outside the gates of Bishopscourt. Born just over 50 years ago in mainland China, a Buddhist, a graduate in engineering from a University in Beijing, he has lived in Australia since the 1980s, and his son is studying in the medical faculty at the University of Sydney. ‘The Archbishop of Sydney,’ I replied modestly. Without hesitation he gave his verdict: ‘He must be a very old man’. ‘On the contrary,’ I assured him, ‘he is exactly the same age as I am!’

The Diocesan Mission - To glorify God by proclaiming our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ in prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit, so that everyone will hear his call to repent, trust and serve Christ in love, and be established in the fellowship of his disciples while they await his return.

The clear desire of the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney for lay administration provokes puzzlement, dismay and rejection in some other parts of the Anglican Communion. Sometimes it is seen as a sort of “pay back” for the ordination of women. Often it is regarded as thoroughly un-Anglican, almost a betrayal of the Anglican theology of sacraments and ministry. Frequently it is used as evidence that Sydney is extremist and totally unlike any other Anglicans anywhere. Sometimes, with more sympathy, the question is raised why such a development would be needed in an urban setting such as Sydney and in a Church with hundreds of priests available for Eucharistic ministry.

There are differing sacramental theologies in contemporary Anglicanism, which express themselves in quite different ways of conducting the Eucharist. The clearest distinction is between more ‘Reformed’ and more ‘Catholic’ emphases, and it would be naïve to suggest that these do not represent significant and even competing theological commitments. What is sometimes forgotten is that a number of the practices and ornaments to be found in the contemporary Anglican Church were illegal when they were introduced (often in the 19th century), and were certainly regarded as ‘unanglican’. Catholic innovation has now become very ‘establishment’ – but there has always existed a Reformed and Evangelical tradition in the church. This may now seem strange and, for the historically uninformed, even innovative itself. But at heart it goes back beyond the 19th century.

Every religion, sporting movement and club has plans for recruitment of new members. Especially in today’s world, where individualism is everything and membership is not valued, recruitment has to be intentional. Churches are no different. Even the large denominations are beginning to look into this question. All sorts of schemes and plans are launched to help attract new members. The trip overseas to see how it is done elsewhere is a favoured – and often useful – strategy.

While mutual affection can be strained, our main hope at General Synod is to be united by the gospel.

The Bible teaches us that God is intimately involved with his world. Not only did he plan and create it, he superintends all aspects of its ongoing life. We refer to this as God’s sovereignty because we see him as sovereign Lord of the universe. Not only that, the Bible teaches us that because God is righteous, he remains deeply committed to the righteous behaviour of his human creatures. This expresses itself in his fixed determination to judge the world.

We should be thankful for the democratic blessings we enjoy, but we should not take them for granted.

'True Bonding': Archbishop Peter Jensen's address at the Sydney Parliamentary Prayer Lunch, Parliament House - 25/05/04

'Contributing to the Nation': Archbishop Peter Jensen's address at the Conference for Christian School Executives, Parliament House, Canberra on May 12th, 2004.

Last month I attended a very moving and inspiring event in the Chapter House of St Andrew’s Cathedral. It was the occasion of the launch of Bishop John Reid’s biography of Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane – an interesting book about a great and distinguished churchman and Australian. The NSW Premier, Bob Carr paid Sir Marcus and Bishop Reid the singular compliment of attending and launching the book.