Bishop Mark Calder’s Presidential Address to the Bathurst Synod 2026

Posted on September 19, 2026 
Filed under Bathurst Diocese

Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, who concludes his time as Bishop this afternoon, gave this final charge to his Synod on Friday 18th September –

“The next Bishop will not be the most important person in the future of our diocese – for Jesus is.

And you are a close second.

I said in my 2024 address, that I only had one agenda. Jesus.

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ must be our focus. And sharing him must surely remain our mission. He must be our ongoing confidence, joy, and motivation.

Our sermons through Romans earlier this year reminded us that only by trusting him are we reconciled to the Father
– that we are so radically loved by Jesus that he died for us while we were still sinners.
– that if we’re in Jesus, there is no condemnation.
– that all things work together to conform us to the likeness of Jesus.
– that because Jesus is for us, no one can stand against us.
– that nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ.

And yes, this may be sounding more like a sermon than a synod address. But I want to urge you brothers and sisters. In this next chapter of the diocese, to make Jesus your agenda: The knowledge of Jesus. The love of Jesus. The comfort of Jesus. The compassion of Jesus. The reconciling work of Jesus. The power, presence and joy of Jesus by his Holy Spirit. The proclamation of Jesus. The life of Jesus, sweeping through you and the central west of New South Wales.

The next bishop will not be the most important person in the future of our diocese, for Jesus is. And you are a close second. You, the lay people and clergy of the diocese, are the second most important people in the next chapter of the diocese. In your hands, is so much of what will ensure the ministry in this diocese flourishes.  …”

– Hear it all at this link.