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.

‘There are no rocks being thrown from this corner’ – Dominic Steele on Sam Allberry

From Dominic Steele at The Pastor’s Heart – a compassionate and pastorally sensitive, gospel informed response.

Biblical Theology is Key

Peter Jensen writes at the Moore College website –

“The mere fact that our College is 170 years old this year does not mean that it is excellent. Many an institution has fallen badly away from its founding principles over such a period. Moore has had its ups and downs over its history, and there are other colleges that may be quite young, but are worth supporting.

Nonetheless, we rightly rejoice. Over many years, our College has stayed true to its origins. I think Bishop Barker, who had so much to do with its founding in 1856, would also be rejoicing. …”

– Read it all here.

Also in the Autumn 2026 edition of Moore Matters –

Top photo: Bill Dumbrell teaching at Moore College in the early 1980s.

Bathurst Diocese newsletter — Easter 2026

The Easter 2026 Bishop’s Newsletter from the Diocese of Bathurst is now available for your interest – and for your prayers.

– PDF file at this link.

Anglican board directs Bishop of The Murray to step down

From John Sandeman at The Other Cheek, a report on Bishop Keith Dalby of The Diocese of The Murray –

“Following the diocese becoming aware of his secret marriage to Alison Dutton in August 2023, Bishop Keith Dalby had stepped aside from his office as Bishop of the Diocese of The Murray with effect from 9 December 2023. In his statement, Bishop Murray expressed his ‘deep regret for the impact of my actions on the Diocese of the Murray, its clergy, and its people.’ …

[Bishop Dalby responds] ‘I am considering my position in light of the Board’s determination and will respond within the required timeframe. I ask for prayers for all those affected by this matter, including the people and leadership of the Diocese of the Murray.’”

– Story here.

Easter bloodshed in Nigeria

From George Conger at Anglican.ink –

“Nigeria’s Holy Week was marked by bloodshed, with coordinated attacks on churches and Christian communities across Nigeria’s Middle Belt leaving more than 50 dead from Palm Sunday through Easter. As graphic accounts emerged from Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states, worshippers faced one of the most violent Holy Weeks in recent years, raising urgent questions about security and the government’s ability to protect Christian communities. …”

– Read it here.

The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof

Commander of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, Reid Wiseman, took this photo of the Earth yesterday, shortly after the crew had fired their engine to leave Earth orbit to travel to the vicinity of the Moon. (Image credit: NASA.)

The photo has been widely shared in the media. It shows the night-time side of the Earth, illuminated by the full Moon, which is behind the spacecraft. The Sun is hidden behind the Earth.

The planet Venus is the bright point at top left, and a reflection of something inside the cabin is the bright spot just below the centre of the picture. Auroras are visible at both poles, and stars can be seen in the blackness of space.

As published, the photo has usually been shown with north at the bottom, making identification difficult. The image above is rotated to north at the top. A comparison might help in working out what is what.

Psalm 24 reminds us that “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein…”

If you look closely at the picture (click for a larger version – or see the unrotated original here), you can pick out the lights of cities across NW Africa  and the Iberian Peninsula. Madrid is the brightest light there.

Each of those lights represents thousands – or millions – of people. People who need to come to know the Lord Jesus who died and rose again for them.

As well as praising the Lord for the wonder of his creation, praying for the people framed in that photo would be a good way to pray this Easter.

Update:

Astronaut Victor Glover onboard Artemis 2 was asked for his reflection this Easter Sunday –

Why I returned to the Middle East

“As I stepped onto the plane, it was noticeably empty. It seemed many regular travelers had decided to stay back that day. Probably because I was heading to the Middle East.

I’ve lived in this region for almost two years, having moved here for the opportunity to serve in evangelism and discipleship among university students. …”

–At The Gospel Coalition, an unnamed believer shares his or her reasons for going back.

“ My reflections aren’t only relevant to those living in this region or serving in cross-cultural ministry.”

Image courtesy adsbexchange.com showing air traffic, 29 March 2026.

Prayers requested for the Bathurst Bishop’s Election Board

Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder – as foreshadowed late last year – will be retiring from that role in six months,

Today he submitted his letter of resignation, effective 19 September 2026, to the Metropolitan, Archbishop Kanishka Raffel.

He also wrote to members of the Diocese,

“This marks the beginning of an important time for the Diocese. Please pray for the Bishop’s Election Board as their work now begins in earnest.

Clergy: Andrew Thornhill (Chair), Tim St Quintin, Phil Howes, Andy Martin, James Boardman, Bob Cameron.

Lay people: Jane Francis, Mark Galbraith, Ray Haigh, Lisa Milton, Sandy White, Eliot Harper.

It has been a great joy and privilege to serve as your Bishop. I will continue in this role over the coming six months and would value your prayers that this may be a time of wise preparation for the next chapter in the life of the Diocese.

Thank you for your support and encouragement over these years.”

– As he requests, please continue to pray for Bishop Calder in these next six months, for continued strength and encouragement and wisdom – for the Bishop’s Election Board and all involved in one way or another in choosing the next Bishop of Bathurst.

Pray that the Lord will be glorified in all this, that the churches of the Bathurst Diocese will be strengthened, and that many in the region will come to know Christ in the days and years ahead.

Abuja 2026: A Turning Point for Global Anglicanism — The Pastors Heart

Here’s the first of Dominic Steele’s reports from Abuja in Nigeria –

“Dominic Steele reports from Abuja, Nigeria, as nearly 500 Anglican leaders gather for GAFCON 2026 in what many believe could prove a decisive moment in the reshaping of the Anglican Communion. Delegates have arrived from across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australasia, despite significant travel disruption caused by the US–Iran conflict and Middle Eastern airspace closures. For many Australians, flights were cancelled only hours before departure.

This preview episode of The Pastor’s Heart sets out what is expected in the coming days: proposals for the structure and operation of a new Global Anglican Communion, distinct from Canterbury.
The story stretches back through the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008 and the strong Kigali statement of 2023, in which leaders representing the majority of the Communion expressed no confidence in the existing Instruments of Communion. This week, foundations for a renewed and confessionally orthodox global fellowship are anticipated to be agreed.

Steele outlines the program for the week, including plenary sessions, presentations and votes on doctrine, fellowship and leadership structures. Particular attention will be given to the biblical basis of communion, the failures of current Canterbury-centred mechanisms and how future alignment will be defined. Questions around governance, canonical relationships and financial partnerships are also expected to be addressed.

Over the next five days, The Pastor’s Heart will release daily 30-minute reports with interviews from primates and key leaders, alongside full-length conversations on YouTube. Coverage is brought in partnership with Anglican Aid. This episode provides essential background to what may become a defining chapter in modern Anglican history.”

– Be sure to watch here.

Please do uphold this key gathering in your prayers.

Some are still travelling, affected by global travel disruptions due to events surrounding Iran. Please pray for safety in travel.

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