The Anglican Communion is a world-wide denomination defined by its relationship with the Diocese of Canterbury in England, under the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Justin Welby. In some places called the Episcopal Church, The Archbishop of Canterbury is a focus of unity for the Anglican Communion.
Here in Australia the focus of unity for the Anglican Church is the Primate, The Most Reverend Geoffrey Smith. Each Diocese is a unit in its own authority led by a Bishop, in the states with a number of Diocese, the Bishop of the capital city is the Provincial Bishop and Archbishop, here in the Diocese of Melbourne, The Most Reverend Philip Freier.
The Parish of Inverleigh+Bannockburn+Meredith is within the Oodthenong Episcopal Area of Melbourne Diocese overseen by an assistant bishop to the Archbishop, The Right Reverend Bradley Billings, and led by The Revd Dr Timothy Smith.
The Anglican Church is a church rich in symbol and ritual, all designed to express the mystery of God. The belief is based on tradition (what has been revealed to us by those in the past including the Bible), our experience of God in life, and our reasonable reflection on both those things. Fundamental to our belief is the Bible as we have it in the Old and New Testaments, by which nothing can be taught as necessary for being right with God (salvation) if it is not supported by the Bible.
Worship in the Anglican Church is as varied as there are people in relationship with Jesus. Here, in this Parish, we acknowledge that people are moving into our community from oher places where they have experienced, and would like to continue, worshipping in a particular way. Each of our worship centres will be provding different worship experience and we encourage you to choose the centre that meets how you want to express your relationship with God in worship.
Membership of the church is fundamentally about making a commitment firstly to Jesus Christ and also to the congregaation that is present. This means contributing financially to the needs and ministry of the parish and participating in the activities of the church in discipleship, worship, mission and service.
Assuming that you have made a commitment to Jesus, baptism is the rite of passage to become a member of the one church. If you have already been baptised, but are from another denomination, then you are invited to be formally received into the Anglican Communion. This enables you to have all the privileges and participate in positions of reponsibilities in the church.
Being baptised is the gateway to all other aspects of church life including sharing in Holy Communion. However, for those who have been baptised as infants, Confirmation is the opportunity to make a public confession of faith in Jesus before a Bishop and you are prayed for to receive the Holy Spirit for ministry within Christ's church.
Do you have more questions about faith and membership of the Church. Please contact us so we can answer your questions.
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