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.

Three key positions for your prayers

For your prayers – three strategic positions to be filled in the not-too-distant future –

• As readers of our website will know, Dr Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore Theological College, will retire at the end of 2027.

• Bishop Mark Calder, Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst, is concluding his term as Bishop on 19 September 2026. (Bishop’s Election Board.)

• And in the Presbyterian world, Dr Ian Smith, Principal of Christ College (the NSW Presbyterian theological college, at Burwood) will also retire at the end of 2027. (Applications.)

Please do uphold these men in your prayers, and pray for the bodies responsible for finding their successors, so that Christ is honoured, so that churches are strengthened, and so that many hear and believe the gospel, are saved, and grow as disciples.

 

Tasmania: Ten Problems with the Greens’ Anti-Conversion Bill

At AP, the national online Presbyterian journal, Mark Powell shares his concerns about legislation which is being proposed for Tasmania –

“Can I ask that you would stop what you’re doing and please pray for Tasmania? As with what we have seen occur in many other states in Australia, the Greens are seeking to introduce an ‘anti-conversion’ bill and it should be of serious concern to everyone and especially to people of Christian faith. …”

– Read it all here.

How Katoomba shaped a generation of Sydney Evangelicals with Phillip Jensen, David Cook and Al Stewart

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“For a generation of Sydney evangelicals, the Katoomba Christian Conventions weren’t just events in the calendar – they shaped church programs across the city.

In the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, thousands gathered under the circus tent and then later in packed auditoriums to hear the Bible taught, sing with conviction and be raised up for ministry.

But how did Katoomba become such an influence in Sydney evangelicalism? What decisions shaped its extraordinary impact? And what lessons are there for today.

We start a new occasional oral history series on the Pastor’s Heart, with former Katoomba Chairs Philip Jensen, David Cook and Al Stewart, reflecting on Katoomba’s phenomenal influence, the priority of expository preaching, the importance of guarding the platform and why ‘we teach the Bible’ became a defining conviction.”

– Watch here.

Much cause for thanksgiving, as well as some sobering memories, and a reminder to pray for the continued work of the Katoomba Christian Conventions.

23 volunteers, five languages, one mission

From Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net –

“Peter Au knows the stones and stories of St Andrew’s Cathedral better than almost anyone. But for him and his team of 23 welcomers, a visit is never just about the architecture – it’s about the Architect.

Earlier this year, The Daily Telegraph newspaper recommended that people visit the Cathedral, on the corner of George and Bathurst streets. ‘Plenty of history in this place as the host of countless state funerals and royal visits,’ the paper said. ‘Pop in when you’re next in the city. Soul-cleansing stuff.’

The writers may not have realised just how literally the welcomers take that description. …”

– Read about this strategic ministry.

Related:

St. Andrew’s Cathedral history.

The Sydney Family Album – 8, Howard Mowll – Dr Mark Thompson.

Bathurst Diocese Bishop’s Newsletter June 2026

The latest Bishop’s Newsletter from the Diocese of Bathurst has been published. PDF file at this link.

Among other important topics is this request – “Please pray for great wisdom and the Lord’s guidance for the Bishop’s Election Board.” (Bishop Mark Calder retires on 19th September.)

In this newsletter, Bishop Calder writes,

“It’s been a joy and privilege to preach through Romans these past weeks; something I’ve not done before. It quickly became clear to me that Romans is not simply a detailed theological document. It is a deeply pastoral letter, written to ordinary Christians learning what it means to live in the King’s kingdom.

Again and again, Paul takes us back to the gospel: our universal sinfulness, God’s astonishing grace, justification by faith, peace with God, life in the Spirit, and the certain hope of future glory. Yet Romans never leaves these truths in the realm of theory. The gospel transforms how we think, how we worship, how we suffer, how we relate to governing authorities, how we love one another, and how we live together as God’s people.

I soon realised how determined Paul is to remove every ground for boasting in ourselves. We cannot boast in law-keeping, our religious background, or any effort to make ourselves right with God. Instead, we are reminded again and again that it is only through Jesus’ sacrifice that we are declared right with God. If we are to boast at all, we boast in the Lord.

Romans also reminds us that God’s saving purposes are far bigger than we often imagine. Through Christ, God is creating one people from many peoples, united not by background, culture, tradition, or personal preference, but by faith in his Son. We are to serve one another in humility and love our enemies generously.

My prayer is that this series has helped us to more clearly see the greatness of Jesus and what he has done for us, that we might with one mind and one voice, glorify him.”

Also on the diocesan website, and for your prayers and consideration, there’s a reminder of this parishes which are seeking leaders –

Bishop Richard Condie’s 2026 Presidential Address to the Synod of the Diocese of Tasmania

Bishop of Tasmania Richard Condie delivered his Presidential Address at the 2026 earlier this month.

It’s now on the diocesan website –

“Synod is about partnership. We each have our roles to play, as we bring our spiritual gifts to bear on our ministry and leadership. Each Parish and sector ministry, each chaplaincy and school has a unique context with unique mission challenges. But Synod reminds us that we do not labour alone, but alongside each other in partnership in the gospel. Paul was very aware of this as he wrote to the Philippian church. He was not a solo missionary, nor was the church in Philippi all on its own. Rather, Paul gives thanks to God for their partnership, their fellowship, their communion in the Gospel, right through his association with then. They were in this together, and so are we.

I am so thankful for your partnership and prayers and give thanks to God for them. I have been especially aware of this in recent days as we have begun to address our challenges around redress, but also in the development of our renewed shared Vision that we will launch at this Synod. We genuinely do this work together and it is a great joy. …”

Bishop Condie speaks around three points –

  1. Where we have come from
  2. Where we are now – redress
  3. The Future – Launching Tasmanian Anglicans 2031.

Under the third heading, he outlines –

– Read it all here.

Plenty of food for prayer for our brothers and sisters and the progress of the gospel in Tasmania.

Image thanks to the Diocese of Bathurst.

St Barnabas’ Orange East at 100

The parish of St Barnabas’ Orange East celebrated the centenary of the parish and Christian ministry in this key central west city on Sunday.

Photo: Cutting the celebration cake. The Rev’d Bob Cameron, immediate past Rector, Bishop the Rt Rev’d Mark Calder, and the Rev’d Ben Mackay, current Rector.

Via the Bathurst Diocese Facebook page.

Moore College Principal to retire at end of 2027

Announcement from SydneyAnglicans.net –

“The Principal of Moore College, Dr Mark Thompson, has announced he will retire at the end of 2027.

The announcement was made at Moore College on Friday, June 5, as Dr Thompson told staff and students.

‘After discussions with the Archbishop and the Governing Board, we have decided that 2027 will be the last year that I serve as the 13th Principal of Moore College,’ Dr Thompson said. ‘No doubt there will be much more that will be said and written over the next eighteen months. But I wanted to let you know at this point, so that you won’t be surprised when advertisements for the position begin to appear in the second half of this year, and so that you might pray as the process of choosing the 14th Principal unfolds.’…”

– Read it all here. It would be really good to pray for Mark and Kathryn, for the College, and for whoever will be appointed the 14th Principal.

Also announced through the College website:

Retirement announced.

Help for Nyngan?

From the Diocese of Bathurst Facebook page:

“Friends, Nyngan currently has no Sunday services, as they have no clergy and no licenced lay minister. We struggle to know how to help such churches. Would you be up for a chat about helping?”

A matter for prayer.

The ‘senior pastor loneliness problem’ – with Sheridan Voysey

An important topic from The Pastor’s Heart –

“The loneliest person in church may be the one standing at the pulpit.

Pastors spend their lives surrounded by people, but ministry can make real friendship strangely difficult.

Confidentiality, responsibility, expectations, perceived favouritism and the pressure to “have answers but not needs” can leave church leaders profoundly alone.

Sheridan Voysey says pastors don’t just need supervision, systems or resilience strategies. They need real friends: people they can talk to, depend on, grow with and enjoy. People who know the weight they are carrying. People they can call at 2am when everything has gone wrong.

Sheridan helps us think pastorally and practically about the lonely pastor, the friendship Jesus modelled and how churches can give leaders permission to be human.”

– Watch here.

Spreading God’s word, literally

“Sam Freney, the translation consultant for Bible Society Australia, gave a demonstration of how hard it is for those without a Bible in their heart language, at a recent supporters’ lunch. He began with reading this in Pitjanjatjara:…”

– A vital endeavour. Story via John Sandeman at The Other Cheek.

Also see this excellent Bible Society video which features Nungalinya College in Darwin. From this Bible Society page –

A prayer for DR Congo and the Ebola outbreak

From AnglicanAid –

“A rare strain of the Ebola virus is circulating in DR Congo with Ituri and North Kivu provinces worst affected (in red on map).

As of 20 May, around 600 cases and 139 deaths were reported. Another person died in Kampala, the capital of neighbouring Uganda, after travelling from DR Congo.

Please join in praying that the outbreak will be contained. …”

– AnglicanAid also has a prayer you could use.

Changes in Bathurst Diocese

Today, the Rev Ben Mackay will be commissioned as Rector of St. Barnabas Orange East. Please uphold him and Bron and their family in your prayers – as well as Bob and Fiona Cameron, who served at East Orange from 2017.

– via the Diocesan Facebook page.

Also, The Western Advocate has published a story on the upcoming retirement of Bishop Mark Calder. It’s a great reminder to pray for Mark and Susan and also for the election of the next Bishop of Bathurst.

– via the Diocesan Facebook page.

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