Presidential Address — Bathurst Synod 2025

Video of Bishop Mark Calder’s Presidential Address to the Bathurst Diocesan Synod today is now available.

– Watch here.

See also:

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s sermon at last night’s Synod service – and his Saturday morning Synod Bible Study.

The speech against assisted suicide that Lord Alton couldn’t deliver

“In July Lord Alton of Liverpool wrote in TCW of his strong determination to oppose the assisted suicide Bill when it reached the House of Lords.

The crossbench peer was unable to speak at Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill yesterday and the week before, however, because he is recovering from injuries suffered two weeks ago in a bus crash at Victoria Station, London.

Instead, Lord Alton filmed the speech he would have given. It constitutes a passionate plea to the Lords to protect the most vulnerable members of society by rejecting the Bill. …”

– Lord Alton’s 7 minute and 50 second speech is a good summary of many arguments against ‘assisted dying’. It’s embedded on this page at The Conservative Woman.

Of course, Christians are very much aware that there are even greater reasons for hope than articulated in the video. for example –

Hope for the Hopeless:

Hope for the Oppressed:

and Hope for the Dying:

Why Christianity Still Defines Us — John Anderson speaks with Greg Sheridan

On his latest video, John Anderson (former Australian Deputy Prime Minister) speaks with journalist Greg Sheridan.

“In this conversation, Greg Sheridan explores Christianity’s defining influence on Western civilisation, showing how its revolutionary impact – from the early Church through to modern times – has shaped culture, morality, and human dignity.”

– At johnanderson.net.au – or see it on YouTube to access the timestamps for the video.

Thanksgiving in Sydney Synod as Bathurst Diocese shares what God has been doing

On Tuesday of this week, three representatives of the Diocese of Bathurst were welcomed to the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney – Bishop Mark Calder, Dr Warwick Baines (Registrar) and Adrian Ahern (Chancellor).

As shared with the Diocese of Bathurst via their Facebook page –

“Bishop Mark reported on all that God has been doing among us for his glory as we prioritise Sharing Jesus for Life.

He also thanked the Diocese of Sydney for their generous financial and prayerful support, which makes such a significant difference to the ministry here.

Finally, he shared the great need for more gospel workers, noting this would wonderfully maximise Sydney’s financial investment.”

 

These slides were used by Bishop Calder in his presentation –

The summary and further images can be seen at the Bathurst Facebook page.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, travelled to Bathurst Cathedral to speak at their Synod service tonight.

It’s all a great reminder to pray for the eternal welfare of the men and women of this huge area of NSW, and for the churches of the diocese as they are committed to Sharing Jesus for Life.

Thanks to the Diocese of Bathurst for the images.

“We will obey God”

From SydneyAnglicans.net –

“The Act purports to give churches, schools and parents permission to teach about sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual activity and religion. But, respectfully, we do not need the permission of the government to teach about such things,” said Archbishop Kanishka Raffel, drawing a line in the sand in his opening address to the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney.

“I want to state clearly and publicly to you all – that ‘I will stand by any clergyperson or church worker who finds themselves brought before a tribunal or court because of this poorly conceived law. We must not be silenced or intimidated from teaching God’s good plan for human sexuality and relationships. We will insist on the freedom to do so, respectfully but without fear.’ We will obey God”

The act being referred to was the NSW Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 which Premier Chris Minns promised would not restrict churches in prayer or preaching. That pledge has now been undercut by Anti-Discrimination New South Wales (ADNSW). …

– Russell Powell reports.

100 Ministry Stories from Moore College — Dani Treweek

Moore College has published the latest video in its 100 Ministry Stories.

Veronica Hoyt, Director of the Priscilla & Aquila Centre, speaks with Dani Treweek.

Most encouraging.

– Watch here.

See also:

Singleness book wins Christian book of the year

The real meaning of singleness

Kanishka Raffel and the Sydney Anglican Synod promise to stand with Christians over conversion practices laws

John Sandeman reports on Monday night’s gathering of the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney –

“Clergy, church workers, and any Christian taken before a tribunal when accused of breaching the Conversion Practices Ban Act in NSW have been assured by Archbishop Kanishka Raffel and the Sydney Anglican Synod that they will be supported. ‘I concluded by saying, and I want to say this clearly and publicly to you all, that I will stand by any clergy person or church worker who finds themselves brought before a tribunal or court because of this poorly conceived law,’ the Archbishop declared in his presidential address to the Synod, repeating an assurance he had sent to his clergy as the new law began to operate.

‘We must not be silenced’, he added. ‘We must not be silenced or intimidated from teaching God’s good plan for human sexuality and relationships. We will insist on the freedom to do so respectfully, but without fear, we will obey God. We can do nothing less.’ During the debate, Raffel made it clear his support extended to lay people caught up in tribunal hearings as well. …”

– Do read it all on this important issue.

Related:

Living Faith website.
“Living Faith is a Sydney Anglican ministry to Christian persons who experience attraction to the same sex and/or gender incongruence.”

Image: Archbishop Raffel during his Presidential Address.

100 Ministry Stories from Moore College — Grahame and Patty Scarratt

Moore College has published another video in its 100 Ministry Stories.

Peter Jensen speaks with Grahame and Patty Scarratt.

“From surveying in NSW to serving in Chile, Grahame and Patty Scarratt’s journey has been marked by a deep love for God’s word. What began at Moore College grew into decades of ministry across Latin America—most significantly the translation and teaching of the Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC) and the beginnings of MOCLAM.

Through their work, countless pastors and church members gained access to solid biblical training in their own language, shaping the Anglican Church in Chile and beyond. Even after returning to Australia, the Scarratts continued publishing and supporting resources so that more people might know and teach the Scriptures.”

– Watch here. (And Grahame has a challenge for churches in Sydney.)

Related –

Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC) from Moore College.

England: Christians to launch new declaration calling on leaders to respect freedom of conscience

“Christians from different denominations and traditions will make a united stand for the faith in London on Saturday.

The cornerstone of the event will be the signing of the 2025 Westminster Declaration, a document calling on leaders in government, academia and wider society to respect human dignity and freedom of conscience. …”

– Report from Christian Today.

And in Australia – The FREEDOM25 Conference is on Saturday, 27 September 2025, at Village Church Annandale.

New Vice Principal of Moore College

Announcement from Moore Theological College –

“We are delighted to share that the Principal has appointed The Rev Dr Paul Grimmond as the next Vice Principal of Moore Theological College, commencing 1 January 2026.

Paul is a much-loved member of our College community, having joined the Faculty in 2017 as Dean of Students. Since then, he has taught in the Ministry Department and played a key role in the revamping of ministry courses with the development of the Intentional Ministry Reflection (IMR) program, and introduced a more intentional preaching program. Earlier this year, Paul stepped into the role of Head of the Ministry Department following the appointment of Mal York as Dean of Students.”

– Read it all here.

Photo: Paul and Cathy Grimmond with Moore College Principal Mark Thompson.

Sydney Synod greenlights a five-year focus on raising church attendance – and disciples

“In yesterday’s afternoon session, Synod approved a motion encouraging parishes in the Diocese to focus on increasing church attendance by 5 per cent each year until 2030.

This grew from a report prepared in response to attendance decline in diocesan churches between 2013 and 2023, and a motion at last year’s Synod expressing repentance for where ‘we have fallen short in not giving sufficient priority, attention, reflection and resources to seeing the lost throughout the Diocese of Sydney saved by Jesus’. …”

– Judy Adamson has this report at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Honouring Dick Lucas – with Phillip and Peter Jensen

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“This week marks the 100th birthday of Dick Lucas, one of the most influential evangelical leaders of the 20th century. For nearly four decades as Rector of St Helen’s Bishopsgate in London, Dick shaped a generation of preachers and transformed a quiet city parish into a global centre of expository Bible ministry. The influence of his clear, fearless, and creative preaching continues to ripple out through pulpits around the world.

We’re joined by Peter Jensen (former Archbishop of Sydney and Principal of Moore College) and Phillip Jensen (founder of Two Ways Ministries, former Dean of Sydney Cathedral, and long-time leader of Campus Bible Study). Both were impacted by Dick’s ministry and friendship.

Dick Lucas was a trainer of preachers. He helped us see what could be done with city pulpits, and founded the Proclamation Trust and Cornhill Course.

Our focus is on learning from Evangelical History from a faithful, eccentric, humble servant of Christ.”

– Most encouraging. Watch or listen here.

Are You Really in God’s Image? — The glory to be found in body-building

From Phillip Jensen –

“One of the great statements of the Bible that is most often quoted or alluded to in public Christian debate is the ‘image of God’. But what does it refer to, and to whom does it refer?

In this episode we continue to look at the New Testament understanding of the early chapters of Genesis. And here we find there are more references to the image of God than in the Old Testament. For there is a great surprise in store for those who read Genesis 1.”

– Listen at Two Ways News podcast.

Aeration

“All the garden experts tell us every weekend that we must give close attention to our soil; dense, compact soil needs to be aerated, it needs oxygen to rejuvenate and to be productive.

Sermons are like soil, they can be dense and compact and need aeration.

Spurgeon called aeration, ‘the windows of the sermon’ and Clifford Warne used to remind us when I was at Moore College, that explanations are like feathers, they  don’t stand up by themselves, they need support. …”

– David Cook shares some wisdom for preaching – at The Expository Preaching Trust.

Keeping the main thing the main thing

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel delivered his Presidential Address at Sydney Synod tonight.

Russell Powell reports –

“I believe in conversion” was the first thing Archbishop Kanishka Raffel said to the crowd of more than 700 delegates gathered for the Sydney Anglican Synod.

“I believe in conversion because the first recorded words of Jesus’ public ministry are words that call on his hearers to be converted,” the Archbishop said. “Mark records: ‘… Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel.”’ ’ (Mark 1:14) For the first time in Mark’s narrative Jesus speaks, ‘Repent and believe the gospel’.”

Recalling his own conversion from Buddhism forty years ago, the Archbishop described “Reading the Gospel alone in my room, not because I was on a search for God, but because God was on a search for me. Not knowing, despite having been told, that another friend who had been converted by the Lord when we were fourteen, had started to pray for the conversion of his Buddhist friend, and hadn’t stopped.” …

– Read it all here.

And take the time to watch the Archbishop’s full address:

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