Anglicans, Synod and the Jews

Yesterday, the news from the Anglicans of Sydney was very good. The timing was impeccable. Yom Kippur  5787. And this is what I read. And where it is found online for us all.

https://sydneyanglicans.net/news/love-for-our-jewish-neighbours/55791

Symbolically moved on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney has rejected anti-semitism and called for prayer for ‘our Jewish neighbours’ in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.

Moved by the Rev Andrew Bruce, the Synod lamented anti-semitism in Australia and “encourages all Sydney Anglicans to guard against any form of racism in our lives or in our churches”.

“Why am I moving this motion? You might be thinking- Andrew Bruce seems a funny name for a Jew - and you’d be right at one level,” Mr Bruce told the Synod. “My mum’s name is Guldah Israel - which is in fact part of the reason I have no hint of my Jewish heritage in my name. Because of the burden of antisemitism that she experienced growing up in Australia, she wanted us to be able to live our lives without it.”

“The goal of our motion was to express our affinity and affections for our Jewish neighbours and to call people together from across the diocese to pray for them and the ministries that serve them.”

The actual motion is here: 

"Synod, in love for Jewish Australians –
(a) affirms the teaching of Scripture that God has not rejected the Jewish people ‘whom he
foreknew’, that ‘as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs’,
and that ‘God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable’ (Romans 11:1-2, 28-29),
(b) rejects antisemitism in all its forms and receives with humility the apostolic warning to
Gentiles not to ‘consider yourself to be superior’ (Romans 11:18),
(c) laments the tragic events at Bondi in December 2025 and the presence of antisemitism in
our nation, and encourages all Sydney Anglicans to guard against any form of racism in
our lives or in our churches,
(d) prays that God would grant wisdom to those preparing the final report of the Royal
Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion,
(e) affirms that the greatest need of every Jewish person in our nation is to find hope in Jesus
their Messiah,
(f) commits to praying for the wellbeing of our Jewish neighbours, for repentance among those
who harbour antisemitic hatred, and for the work of reconciliation in both Jew and Gentile
through the cross by which hostility is put to death (Ephesians 2:16), and
(g) welcomes an initiative of the Archbishop’s Office by which Sydney Anglicans will be invited
to gather and pray for Jewish people in the Diocese and for ministry amongst them (3 April
and 16 October 2027)."

Mr Bruce said the motion was designed to bridge what he called “a clear gap”.

“We constantly hear about: ministry to indigenous peoples- Amen to that, Ministry to migrant peoples - Amen to that, Ministry to first generation Australians who are children of migrants - Amen to that, Ministry to youth - Amen to that, Ministry to kids - Amen to that, Ministry in chaplaincy - schools, prisons, aged care and sports - Amen to that, and the list goes on and on and on - Amen to that,” Mr Bruce said.

“But you know what has never been on that list in my 20 years in this diocese? Ministry to the Jewish people of the Diocese - A people that the scriptures go to great lengths to remind us (as a predominantly gentile church) to remember in our ministry, because God has not forgotten his promises to Abraham - the sure hope of Israel’s messiah - first for the Jew and then for the Gentile.” 

r Bruce said the motionMr Bruce said the motion was designed to bridge what he called “a clear gap”.

“We constantly hear about: ministry to indigenous peoples- Amen to that, Ministry to migrant peoples - Amen to that, Ministry to first generation Australians who are children of migrants - Amen to that, Ministry to youth - Amen to that, Ministry to kids - Amen to that, Ministry in chaplaincy - schools prisons aged care and sports - Amen to that, and the list goes on and on and on - Amen to that,” Mr Bruce said.

“But you know what has never been on that list in my 20 years in this diocese? Ministry to the Jewish people of the Diocese - A people that the scriptures go to great lengths to remind us (as predominantly gentile church) to remember in our ministry, because God has not forgotten his promises to Abraham - the sure hope of Israel’s messiah - first for the Jew and then for the Gentile.” was designed to bridge what he called “a clear gap”.

“We constantly he

ar about: ministry to indigenous peoples- Amen to that, Ministry to migrant peoples - Amen to that, Ministry to first generation Australians who are children of migrants - Amen to that, Ministry to youth - Amen to that, Ministry to kids - Amen to that, Ministry in chaplaincy - schools prisons aged care and sports - Amen to that, and the list goes on and on and on - Amen to that,” Mr Bruce said.

“But you know what has never been on that list in my 20 years in this diocese? Ministry to the Jewish people of the Diocese - A people that the scriptures go to great lengths to remind us (as predominantly gentile church) to remember in our ministry, because God has not forgotten his promises to Abraham - the sure hope of Israel’s messiah - first for the Jew and then for the Gentile.”constantly hear about: ministry to indigenous peoples- Amen to that, Ministry to migrant peoples - Amen to that, Ministry to first generation Australians who are children of migrants - Amen to that, Ministry to youth - Amen to that, Ministry to kids - Amen to that, Ministry in chaplaincy - schools prisons aged care and sports - Amen to that, and the list goes on and on and on - Amen to that,” Mr Bruce said.

“But you know what has never been on that list in my 20 years in this diocese? Ministry to the Jewish people of the Diocese - A people that the scriptures go to great lengths to remind us (as predominantly gentile church) to remember in our ministry, because God has not forgotten his promises to Abraham - the sure hope of Israel’s messiah - first for the Je

Prime time and Carols

 Do we do that?

 

Yesterday I listened to a sermon from a couple of weeks ago, given by a minister in Sydney’s Southwest. He mentioned that a few of the ladies in his parish were nagging him. And then he explained their concern. I was a bit uncomfortable being given the choice to continue to hear the sermon. What was their complaint? What was his response? Why was I being forced to hear this controversial moment in a parish about which I knew so little? I’ll get back to that in a moment. 

 

Last week I attended another funeral of a friend. It was held in Kiama, about 2 hours south of Sydney, at least that’s how long it took me to travel there on the train. The service was beautiful and simple, pointed and peaceful. It was everything the widower and his heaven-bound wife would have wanted. Over afternoon tea in the hall, I met a man named Steve who helped lead the singing during the service. He told me that he regularly knocks on doors in his neighbourhood, and it has a purpose. 

 

What might surprise you in this retelling is that both of these congregations are Anglican, that is, part of the historic Church of England. Some call it the broad, historically rooted, national, sometimes conflicted, and culturally significant Christian institution that blends tradition with diversity. It’s a mainline denomination and some would say in its decline in England and here in Australia, it is evidencing the deterioration of what some see as a morally backward, boring, and pompous leftover of generations past. 

 

Why is this surprising? Because the pastor from St Marks Anglican, Sadleir was asked by five ladies from the parish for Bibles and Gospel tracts to distribute as they go door-knocking in their neighbourhood. The ladies nagged Pastor Dave until he agreed that he would supply those religious items for them. 

 

Steve down Kiama way is door-knocking with the same purpose, albeit in a different community. He also is hoping to speak with people about Jesus and the Gospel. Wow, in only a few days I encounter outreach being accomplished by Anglicans; I wonder how many Americans listening to me just now are surprised by this revelation. 

 

Look, wherever you are, this is prime time to share with mates the possibility of the Gospel. We have carols in the Domain, in the Myer Bowl, in the parks and in the car parks, carols everywhere, on the television and in the shopping centres. Carols are abounding. I wonder if anyone has a list of the lyrics of sacred songs that could be handed out to neighbours at this time? Or maybe your congregation is hosting a carols event and you could pass that around when you are out and about in your evening stroll? Letter boxing is legal here in Oz, (but don’t put it in the boxes that say “No junk mail” or “No advertising material.” We want good feelings when people think of the Gospel of Life. 

 

Let’s use this time of year, whether Yeshua was born on 25 December or not, to proclaim the Good News (The Gospel), far and wide, amen?