Sign before praying: A new conversion law is affecting churchgoers in Indian state

News from India –

“Some churches in and around India’s financial capital Mumbai have begun asking worshippers to give a declaration in writing – ‘I came here to pray of my own free will.’ …

The practice began at some churches in late August, just before a new law against religious conversion took effect in Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital. …”

– Story from BBC News.

Moore College at Sydney Synod 2026

“ ‘College isn’t so much trying to shape me to recall four years of theology. It’s shaping me to do theology for forty years.’

When fourth-year student Nick Pearson spoke at the 2026 Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, he captured something central to a Moore College education. Theological education is not simply about acquiring knowledge. It is about being formed for a lifetime of listening to Jesus, serving his people and proclaiming his word.

Moore College’s presentation gave Synod members a glimpse of how their prayers and support are bearing fruit in students’ lives and, through them, in churches and communities far beyond the College campus. …”

– Moore College has this report on the College’s presentation at Sydney Synod earlier this month.

Dr. Stephen Carnaby elected 12th Bishop of Bathurst

From Archdeacon Andrew Thornhill, Administrator for the Diocese of Bathurst –

“It is with joyful gratitude to God that I announce the Venerable Dr. Stephen Carnaby has accepted the diocesan Bishop Election Board’s invitation to be the 12 Bishop of Bathurst.

We firmly believe that Stephen will help lead our diocese faithfully, courageously, and joyfully into the years ahead.  …

He served in ordained ministry across churches in regional Tasmania and Hobart for 18 years, with his experience including church revitalisation, planting new congregations, children’s, youth and families’ ministry, and general pastoral work.

For the past nine years he has been the Director of Ministry Development [in the Diocese of Tasmania], working closely with the Bishop and overseeing diocesan training, raising up leaders, supporting and resourcing churches, and other efforts to fulfil the diocesan vision to make disciples of Jesus. …”

– Full announcement here (PDF file).

And Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel welcomes the news.

Archbishop Ric Thorpe’s sermon at Melbourne consecrations today

As he assembled his new episcopal team, Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Ric Thorpe, consecrated three new assistant bishops in Melbourne’s St. Paul’s Cathedral today.

– The Archbishop’s sermon at the service can be seen here.

Speaking to the new bishops, he says,

“You are being sent on the mission of Jesus Christ. You’re called to help the church make disciples – people who know, trust, and follow Jesus, and to help others, to follow him.

And this is the good news.

Although we have turned away from God. He has not turned away from us.

Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again. Through him, there is forgiveness from the past.

There is reconciliation with God. We can have a new life today and a hope for the future.

This gospel is the message by which the church lives, and the good news Melbourne and Geelong need to hear through God’s people.

Our diocesan vision, which is emerging right now, is clear. We seek to be a renewed church, proclaiming Christ across Melbourne and Geelong, so that every person might encounter the love of God.

And that vision is not a slogan. It’s an invitation to join in with God’s mission. …”

Some background of those consecrated is printed in the Order of Service.

It’s a reminder to pray for the progress of the gospel in Melbourne (and Geelong, and the whole country).

Gafcon gives thanks for Sydney Synod formally welcoming the Abuja Affirmation

From Gafcon:

“Praise God that this week the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia passed a motion formally welcoming the Abuja Affirmation and giving thanks for the reordering of the Anglican Communion as the Global Anglican Communion.

We rejoice in the Synod’s recognition of Sydney’s ‘joyful partnership with the Global Anglican Communion’, flowing from its longstanding partnership with Gafcon since the lead-up to Jerusalem 2008, its commitment to the Jerusalem Declaration, and its practice of principled disengagement from the Canterbury Instruments of Communion.

Please pray for The Most Revd Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of New South Wales, as he serves as a member of the Global Anglican Council. Pray for wisdom and faithfulness at this significant moment in the establishment of the Global Anglican Communion, strengthening faithful Anglicans and advancing the proclamation of Christ throughout the world.”

– Source. Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net.

Related: The Abuja Affirmation.

A surprise visitor

“A few months ago, a Carnarvon man walked into church for the first time and said, ‘My family has been praying for me, and I thought I’d come to church today.’…”

– Here’s a short, but wonderfully encouraging, story from the Diocese of North West Australia.

Thanks from Bathurst

From the Diocese of Bathurst –

“This afternoon Bishop Mark addressed Sydney Synod to say ‘thank you’.

Reflecting on what Christ has accomplished across the Diocese over the past seven years — new gospel workers, growing attendance and Bible study groups, and a significant increase in children’s and youth ministry — he warmly thanked Archbishop Kanishka and members of Synod for their extraordinary partnership:

‘Without your vision and generosity, none of this would have been possible. Thank you for believing that gospel ministry in regional and rural New South Wales, matters. To God be the glory!’ ”

– Text and photo from the Bathurst diocese Facebook page.

New video from The Alliance as 2026 General Synod Elections approach

With elections for the makeup of General Synod in the Church if England coming up shortly, The Alliance has produced a 2’30” video to invite link-minded men and women to join them.

“At this critical moment for the Church, with elections for General Synod, we want to be clear about who we are – a diverse network of networks brought together across traditions in order to secure a sustainable platform at the heart of the Church of England for those committed to the received teachings of the universal church of Jesus Christ. We invite you to join with us.”

– See more at their website.

ALIVE rally at Penrith 19 September

Dave Jensen has been speaking at ALIVE rallies across greater Sydney.

The last one is coming up at the Western Sydney Convention Centre in Penrith on Saturday 19th September. Could you take friends?

From the website:

“ALIVE is a movement led by Evangelism & New Churches (ENC) and fuelled by local churches across Australia.”

Here’s the promo video:

All Saints’ Cathedral Bathurst seeks its next Dean

Via the Diocese of Bathurst Facebook account –

“All Saints’ Cathedral Bathurst is seeking its next Dean.

The Cathedral is both the principal church of the Diocese of Bathurst and a parish church serving the city and surrounding communities. We are looking for a prayerful and resilient leader who will bring clear Biblical preaching, a love for people, appreciation and affection for both traditional and contemporary Anglican worship, and a vision for growing and unifying the Cathedral’s ministry.

The Dean works collaboratively with the Bishop and diocesan leadership and leads a ministry team of clergy, staff and volunteers as together we seek to SHARE JESUS for LIFE.

God is at work in the diocese and cathedral, and it may be that the Lord is preparing you to join us. We’d love to hear from you.

Expressions of interest, including a CV and links to recent sermons, should be sent to Archdeacon Andrew Thornhill at rector@dubboanglicanchurch.org.”

– And the Parish Profile for the Cathedral can be seen here (PDF file).

Learning from History

David Cook shares some important lessons from our not-so-distant history –

“In 1961 my father, at the age of 46, became a follower of Jesus Christ.

Within a week my mother stood at his side, having been converted at an evangelistic business dinner.

My father led us back to the local Presbyterian church at which his grandfather had been a foundation elder. My dad was soon to become an elder at that church and was in the vanguard of promoting involvement in the forthcoming Billy Graham meetings in Sydney in 1968.

However, such was the state of the church, enduring a long history of liberalism, involvement in the Graham meetings was opposed and any advertising of the event was resisted.

The minister at the time was an immigrant whose English was not good, and though orthodox, was not influential and was overshadowed by other more liberal leaders in the church.

I heard many preachers at that time whose theological commitment was liberal and was greatly helped to recognise it for the poison it was and to resist it, by our local youth leader.

Here is what I remember about it …”

– Read it all at The Expository Preaching Trust.

Illustration: J I Packer, Billy Graham, Marcus Loane, Graham Miller (below), Broughton Know, John Chapman (below), T C Hammond.

Bishop Mark Calder — “I want Sydney Synod to know what a difference their partnership has made”

Mark Calder, Bishop of Bathurst, retires on Saturday 19th September.

In his last Bishop’s Newsletter, he writes to Christians across the diocese:

Dear friends,

On Wednesday 16 September, I have the opportunity to visit the Sydney Diocesan Synod to say, “thank you”.

When I arrived in Bathurst nearly seven years ago, the Diocese of Sydney had already committed to supporting us with an extraordinarily generous gift of $250,000 each year. That support continues through to 2030.

I want Sydney Synod to know what a difference their partnership has made.

It has not simply helped us balance a budget. It has given us breathing space to rebuild and strengthen ministry, and to keep our focus where it ought to be: Sharing Jesus for Life.

So, there is much for which we are SO thankful to God.

Average weekly attendance across the Diocese has recovered from just over 1,000 in 2021 to more than 1,500. Bible study groups have grown from 35 in 2019 to 66, with more than 500 people now attending. In 2019, only 7 per cent of our parishes had a weekly children’s or youth ministry. Today that figure is 57 per cent.

Of course, we still have some small parishes without clergy which face an uncertain future, and the financial challenge of redress is enormous.

And yet, despite these challenges, I’m glad that before I finish, I can thank Sydney Synod for their generosity and prayers; for the people they have sent to serve among us, and for believing that gospel ministry in central and western NSW, matters.

Above all, we thank God for what he has done among us.

Mark.

Also from the newsletter:

Please pray for ongoing wisdom and the Lord’s guidance for the Bishop’s Election Board.

Please pray for our Synod on 18– 19 Sept. Pray for a sense of unity and excitement as we gather as Synod. Pray for the Bishop’s Synod address that it will be clear and helpful, for wisdom in dealing with the motions and legislation, and that we will work together well as we seek to strengthen the cause of the gospel. Pray that we’ll respond to the challenge of redress with compassion for victims and deep trust in God. Pray that the closing service in the Cathedral will be a time of blessing and encouragement as we praise God and hear his word.

Download the newsletter here – and please uphold in prayer Mark and Susan and the churches across the diocese.

Lastly:

James Daymond reflects in Mark’s episcopacy in the Australian Church Record’s Synod 2026 Journal –

“One by one, new ministers were appointed. …

As time marched forward with a friendly step, parishes began to think more intentionally about their ministry priorities and came to adopt the mission statement for the diocese, ‘Sharing Jesus for Life’. In God’s goodness, people started coming to church. Some congregations experienced significant increases. Intro- ductory courses and Bible studies were introduced. Gospel partnerships were further developed beyond the diocese. …”

– The whole issue is worth reading, but don’t miss this report on pages 52-56. (3.5MB PDF file.)

Also on the Bathurst diocese website.

 

Four Australian dioceses pray for wisdom in seeking new leaders

Bishop Garry Weatherill of the Diocese of Ballarat is retiring.

Consequently, “prayers have been prepared for use in the Diocese of Ballarat during the time of discernment and election of a new bishop” and published on the diocesan website.

In addition, Bishop Donald Kirk retired from his role as Bishop of the Diocese of Riverina last Thursday, 27th August.

And, as readers of our website will know, Diocese of Bathurst’s Bishop Mark Calder will conclude his time as bishop on Saturday 19th September.

Update:

We hear that the Bishop of the Diocese of Bunbury in Western Australia is also retiring – Bishop Ian Coutts laid up his pastoral staff last Saturday, 29th August.

Without doubt the churches of the dioceses of Ballarat, Riverina, Bathurst and Bunbury would desire your prayers for them in this time of transition.

Top graphic adapted from the Ballarat diocese website.
Map of Australian dioceses adapted from the Anglican Church of Australia website.

Nungalinya College Darwin seeking an Assistant Principal

Nungalinya College in Darwin is seeking a new Assistant Principal. Applications close at the start of November.

Might you, or someone you know, be the right person for the job?

From the advertisement on the College website:

“Nungalinya College is the premier training institution for Indigenous church leaders, located in Darwin. Nungalinya is formally supported by the Anglican, Uniting and Catholic churches of the Northern Territory.

As a theological college, Nungalinya provides education and training within a Christian context, with students coming from remote Northern Territory communities. The College is committed to providing a culturally respectful, supportive and inclusive learning environment and works sensitively within an ecumenical environment that values Indigenous cultures and First Languages.

The College is seeking an experienced and committed Christian leader to support the Principal in the effective strategic and operational management of the College.

The successful applicant will contribute to the College’s academic leadership, staff development, RTO compliance and continuous improvement, while fostering a Christ-centred learning environment that honours and supports Indigenous students, communities and culture.…”

– See the website for further details.

A reminder to pray for Nungalinya College Darwin — and for BCA

Nungalinya College in Darwin reports that Bush Church Aid’s National Director, Greg Harris, visited the college yesterday.

It’s a good reminder to pray for Nungalinya College in their key role of equipping indigenous men and women for gospel living and leadership.

It’s also a good reminder to pray for the strategic ministry of the Bush Church Aid Society.

Top photo: Greg Harris speaks at the college.
Second photo: Greg is welcomed by Nungalinya Principal Dr Yane Damanik.

Photos via the college Facebook account.

Related:

BCA says farewell to long-term Field Staff – by National Director Greg Harris

“It’s with a heavy heart that I write to let you know that David & Lauren Horne and James & Brittany Daymond are set to conclude their service with Bush Church Aid. …”

That news about the Daymonds is also a reminder to continue to pray for gospel ministry in the Diocese of Bathurst.

Next Page →