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.

A prayer for Nepal

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has released this prayer for all affected by the disaster in Nepal yesterday –

“Sovereign Lord and heavenly Father, in whose hands are life and death,

Our hearts ache for the families waiting for news of loved ones caught in the Nepal flash floods.

Preserve life, O Lord. May many of the missing be found safe and returned to their homes.

Grant strength, endurance and skill to emergency workers and search teams. May they reach many who are still alive.

We pray especially for Australian tourists caught up in this disaster, and for Nepali Australians with loved ones in the affected areas.

In the midst of uncertainty, grant them courage. Be their refuge and strength in this time of distress and sorrow, O Lord.

Amen.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
August 27 2026.”

– Via Anglican Media Sydney, where there is also a link to the prayer focus at the Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid.

Praying for Bathurst Diocese — Prayer diary August 2026

If you pray for the ministry of the gospel, and the salvation of men and women, across the Diocese of Bathurst, this prayer diary will be a help!

Download here (PDF file).

And here’s a map to help visualise the locations you’re praying for –

Australian Anglicans become more evangelical, redress debts mount

General Synod in Melbourne wrapped up yesterday. John Sandeman at The Other Cheek filed his last (?) report from the meeting –

“The Anglican Church of Australia is tilting further and further towards evangelicalism, an analysis of the election results from the General Synod (national church parliament) shows. This is seen clearly in the election of members to the Standing Committee of the General Synod. A quirk in the first-past-the-post method of elections makes changes in the [churchmanship] of the synod transparent, as it displays trends easily. …”

– Read here.

We need to be reminded that the story is bigger than numbers and ‘politics’ and pray that – despite the enormous challenges mentioned in this article – men and women, boys and girls, across Australia will hear the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ and be saved for eternity.

In it to win it—or quit now? with Andrew Atherstone

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“For evangelical Christians in the Church of England, the question of whether to stay, resist, or leave is a live crisis.

If you’re deciding whether to head into C of E ministry or carve out a path in independence, or if you’re a pastor navigating a “mixed denomination,” how do you maintain gospel integrity when institutional leadership turns away from historic orthodoxy?

Church historian Dr. Andrew Atherstone (Wycliffe Hall, Oxford) to look back at six decades of evangelical oral history—and what it teaches us about our current crossroads.

We cover:

Dr Atherstone has been presenting on this at Sydney’s Moore College Lectures.”

– Watch or listen here.

More to come next week!

Related:

The Thirty Nine Articles.

Gafcon Prayer Update: GFCA Trustees

Gafcon Prayer Update from a couple of days ago –

“Please give thanks to God for the faithful ministry of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GFCA) Trustees, whose governance and oversight provide the practical foundation that supports the life and work of the Global Anglican Communion. Give thanks for Bishop John Guernsey, the Trustees Chair, and Dr Laurie Scandrett, the Honorary Treasurer, as they provide wise and faithful leadership.

Pray for the Trustees serving from Australia, Canada, Nigeria, Rwanda, the United Kingdom and the United States. Pray that God will grant them wisdom, integrity and unity as they steward the resources entrusted to this global movement and exercise careful oversight of its ministry.

Please pray especially for the Trustees as preparations continue for GAFCON V in Athens in April 2028. Ask God to give them wisdom and discernment as they oversee the many financial and governance decisions already being made, provide every resource that is needed, and establish this significant gathering for the strengthening of his Church and the advance of the gospel.”

– A reminder that Gafcon Prayer updates can be found on their website – and if you use the free PrayerMate app on your phone, you can subscribe to their prayer feed.

Photo: Gafcon.

Bathurst Bishop’s Newsletter — August 2026

Read the latest from the Diocese of Bathurst in The Bishop’s Newsletter for August 2026 – including –

“We give great thanks to God for the upcoming ordinations and commissioning on 22 August at 11am. …

Bishop Mark’s final service: A service of Praise, Prayer and Proclamation, 1.30pm, Sat 19 Sept at All Saints Cathedral. All welcome.

At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Mark will officially lay up his pastoral staff and his time as bishop will conclude.

The bishop’s election board recently reported: ‘We have met several times, and we believe, under God’s hand, that we have identified a number of suitable candidates. We appreciate your continued prayers for wisdom and discernment’…”

And from Bishop Mark Calder –

“Dear friends,

Four years ago last month, we launched Sharing Jesus for Life. It was never intended to be just another diocesan slogan or a strategic document that sat on a shelf. It was, and remains, a reminder of why we exist as churches: to share the Lord Jesus so that people might find life in him. …”

– Please be encouraged to download the newsletter and use it in your prayers, particularly in this coming time of transition for the diocese, for the eternal welfare of men and women, boys and girls, across this huge region of New South Wales.

Ordinations for Bathurst Diocese announced for 22 August

From the Diocese of Bathurst –

“Bishop Mark [Calder] has announced today that, God willing, five people will be ordained at All Saints’ Cathedral, Bathurst, on Saturday 22 August at 11am.

Robert Yemm, Xanthe Yemm and Justin Baker will be made Deacons,
and Robbie Nichols and Jim Kapetangiannis will be ordained Priests.

Please join us in thanking God for each of them and praying that the Lord will strengthen and sustain them as they prepare for this significant step in their ministry.

(Steve Cimarosti will be commissioned as Archdeacon in this service.)”

–Source, Bathurst Diocese Facebook page.

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