Appreciation of Peter and Christine Jensen

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Tonight sees a service officially farewelling Archbishop Peter Jensen and his wife Christine.

Archbishop Peter Jensen and Mrs Christine Jensen will be officially farewelled at a large service at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Friday night, 14th of June.

Dignitaries such as the Premier, Barry O’Farrell and the Governor, Professor Marie Bashir, will be in attendance as the diocese pays tribute to Dr Jensen and gives thanks for his 12 years as Archbishop.

Invitations went to every parish in Sydney and overseas visitors will also be in attendance.

The Archbishop will preach from 1 Corinthians 1 ‘We preach Christ crucified’ and the service will be livestreamed on the Internet and available for playback on demand later.

Dr Jensen will retire on his 70th birthday in July and a Synod to choose a new archbishop will be held in August.

Tributes are being paid around the diocese. The Anglican Church League (I am a member of the council) had this to say:

IN APPRECIATION – The Most Reverend Dr. Peter Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of NSW.

The President, Executive and Council of the Anglican Church League (ACL) wish to take this opportunity to formally express their deep appreciation for the leadership, support and encouragement exercised by Archbishop Peter Jensen.

Archbishop Jensen has been a member of the ACL for more than forty years and a long standing Vice President. His public commitment to the evangelical values and principles of the League has been unwavering.

As Principal of Moore Theological College he taught and mentored two generations of clergy, ensuring that evangelical, systematic and expository preaching would remain the character of Sydney Anglican pulpits.

As Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen has represented the evangelical character and convictions of our diocese with intelligence, humility, strength, humour and diligence on both the national and international stage.

Archbishop Jensen is an eminent teacher and theologian but, above all, he is loved for his deep pastoral concern for the clergy under his care and the wider diocesan family. Within Sydney and far beyond, Archbishop Jensen is warmly regarded for his deep compassion and warm personal and pastoral concern.

Archbishop Jensen has ever been a champion for the gospel which proclaims the sacrificial atoning death of Christ and his bodily resurrection. His passion to see the lost become found and discover new life in Christ has been an inspiration. He is a mission-minded man.

His kind and genuinely open disposition, while maintaining a godly resistance to moral and ethical compromise, continues as a model for all Christians who find themselves in dialogue with others. The revealed Word of God has always been his steadfast guide. His personal love for Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour is evident to all.

The goal of the ACL is to ensure, as far as possible, that the evangelical character of the Sydney diocese does not wane or fade over time. Archbishop Jensen has been a marvellous partner and formidable ally in this cause.

It is with a very deep sense of thanksgiving to God that the ACL takes this opportunity to express our appreciation for, and our debt of gratitude to, Archbishop Jensen as he approaches his retirement.

The Australian Church Record has also issued a supplementary editorial.

The Australian Church Record (ACR) wishes to express its warmest appreciation for the wise and Godly ministry of Archbishop Peter Jensen and Mrs Christine Jensen.

Archbishop Peter Jensen. Photo: Anglican Media SydneyAs a pastor and teacher, Peter’s local ministry has had a deep and lasting Gospel impact attested to by many: as Curate of St. Barnabas, Broadway (1969-76), acting Rector of St. Andrew’s, Oxford (1976-79) and St. Barnabas, Broadway (1981), and visiting preacher at St. Matthias, Centennial Park (since 1983). His heart for evangelism is unmistakable, as are his stories of evangelism during taxi trips unforgettable.

During his appointment as Principal of Moore Theological College (1985-2001), he contributed greatly to the changing patterns of community life, introducing new structures for pastoral support and nurture, and starting the Department of Missions in 1992. During this time, he saw the number of full-time students grow from 143 to 241, post graduate students from 4 to 65, faculty members from 10 to 15, and total staff from 10 to 31. His biblical and reformed teaching during this period, which included authoring At the Heart of the Universe (1991) and co-editing of the Reformed Theological Review (1996), has left an indelible mark on two generations of evangelical clergy.

Elected as Archbishop of Sydney on June 5th 2001 and consecrated on June 29th2001 (St. Peter’s day), he has prayerfully led the Diocese on a fruitful decade of mission, culminating in the much enjoyed campaign of Connect 09. His wisdom is well loved and appreciated in Synod: earlier co-sponsoring a motion expressing concerns for the victims of sexual abuse, and moving a motion opposing reforms to the Anti-Discrimination Act, and more recently supporting indigenous reconciliation, asylum seekers or prison reform.  Always with the big picture of the Gospel in mind, rather than getting bogged down in details, his is a voice whom Synod listens to.

As he grew into the role of Archbishop, he has grown to be recognised as a key evangelical leader within the worldwide Anglican Communion. His tireless support of evangelical Anglicans worldwide, and fearless leadership within the GAFCON movement has seen the unification of brothers and sisters from all four corners of the globe.

read it all.

The ACR editorial contains a statement from me.

The Rev. David Ould (Rector of Glenquarie Anglican Church, Sydney) has been the beneficiary of Abp. Jensen’s ministry in the pulpit, lecture theatre and overseas churches. He writes: ‘Like many of us I am grateful in many ways. Not only has Peter been an outstanding and encouraging public leader both here in Sydney and on the global stage, but with others I can also speak to his personal ministry amongst us; at all times wise, winsome and godly. I know I am not the only one who is genuinely and deeply grateful to God for him and Christine.’

image: SydneyAnglicans.net

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This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Glenn Farrell

    No!!! The abomination that causes desolation! How could you let a split infinitive through to the keeper in the ACL’s statement?

    1. David Ould

      🙂

      I was at s different meeting that night!

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