Aged Care, VAD, Religious Freedom and s 109

“Should a religious aged care provider be able to operate in accordance with its religious convictions?

This issue is being debated in NSW at the moment in the context of the law allowing “voluntary assisted dying”.

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022 (NSW) allows persons with a terminal illness to choose death, which can be self-administered or administered by a health professional. Many health professionals have religious convictions which mean that they find the procedures for persons to choose death morally unacceptable. They do not wish to be involved in the process.

Under the legislation there is a right for individual health professionals to conscientiously object to the procedures, and to decline to be involved: see sections 9, 21 and 32. Faith-based hospitals may also decline to be involved in VAD procedures. However, at the moment faith-based aged care facilities are obliged to allow medical practitioners onto their premises to administer VAD. …”

– Associate Professor Neil Foster writes at Law and Religion Australia.

Related:

Contact your MP – via Freedom for Faith.

Antisemitic slurs must be rejected

Here is a media release from the Diocese of Sydney:

Antisemitic slurs must be rejected

The rally staged outside the New South Wales Parliament on Saturday has rightly drawn condemnation from across the community – particularly as it occurred on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the 1938 pogrom against Germany’s Jewish community.

The black-uniformed protestors, carrying banners with the slogan ‘Abolish the Jewish Lobby,’ were clearly intent on spreading fear and antisemitism.

Authorities must investigate whether Saturday’s neo-Nazi rally in Sydney breached laws against inciting racial hatred.

Christians are defenders of free speech. We prize the freedom to declare ‘the praises of Him who called (us) out of darkness into his wonderful light’.

This includes defending the freedom of others to disagree with us, and even to mock the truth we proclaim.

But speech that incites hatred is illegal in New South Wales.

Antisemitism has traded in lies, hate and violence for centuries. When it appears in modern day Australia it must be named, resisted and rejected.

Antisemitism—whether from the far left or far right—has no place in Australian society.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
10 November 2025.

– from SydneyAnglicans.net.

Why we can’t have the Prayers of Love and Faith after all

“The Church of England has finally published the theological papers and legal advice that the House of Bishops saw before its October meeting.

At that meeting, the bishops gave in to the inevitable and concluded that they weren’t going to be able to go any further without going through the proper legal processes. Just what was in the papers that led to this about-face?

The papers consist of three theological papers produced by the Faith and Order Commission (FAOC) and one legal paper produced by the Church of England’s Legal Office. …”

– At the Church Society website, Michael Hayden shares what has been learned from the information released by the House of Bishops.

His conclusion: “Those of us opposed to the whole project have been saying for years now that they can’t do what they’re attempting to do, and they certainly can’t do it in the way they’ve been attempting to do it. These papers only confirm what we’ve been saying all along.”

Prayer for the Persecuted Church

From Gafcon:

“This Sunday marks the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Across the world, faithful Anglicans and other believers face hardship and danger for the name of Jesus. Yet they remain steadfast, trusting that the Lord is their refuge and strength, and that nothing can silence His gospel.

As the global Gafcon fellowship, we stand with them in love and prayer. We thank God for their courage as they continue to guard God’s gospel in the face of pressure and persecution. Their witness reminds us that the Word of God is not chained, and that His Church endures by His power alone.

Pray that the Lord will uphold His persecuted people with faith, endurance, and peace. May their steadfast hope inspire us all to proclaim Christ faithfully to the nations, whatever the cost.”

Image: Last year’s World Watch List from Open Doors.

An honourable approach to dishonourable laws

“Australian Christians face increasing challenges in balancing our obligations to civil authority and God’s word. The question of when to obey God rather than government has become one of the most significant issues confronting the modern church. What the government does is one thing; how the church responds is another.

We must tread carefully, courageously, and biblically, remembering that it is in the Christian DNA to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Taking up the cross must at least include a willingness to suffer under the hand of an unjust government, laws, or abuses of those laws, as we seek the salvation and good of others and live for God’s glory. If Jesus was willing to die, we must at least be willing to go to jail. …”

– The Australian Church Record highlights this article by Andrew Barry, first published in their 2025 Synod Journal.

Image: Menai Anglican Church.

Anglican Aid — In fellowship with GAFCON

From The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid:

“Anglican Aid gives thanks to God for the gospel faithfulness of the leadership of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), following their recent statement regarding the future of the Anglican Communion. This announcement is a declaration that the Anglican Communion would not centre around a person or an office, but rest on a single foundation: the Word of God.

As the overseas aid, development, and ministry support agency of the Sydney Anglican Diocese, Anglican Aid is committed to resourcing churches in the world’s poorest countries with faithful servants trained in the word of God. We are building and resourcing theological colleges and supporting the training of over 2,500 people for various ministries. Anglican Aid longs to see the word of God faithfully proclaimed to the nations. …”

– Read it all here.

Photo: Anglican Aid CEO Tim Swan with Archbishop Ande from the Anglican Church of Congo.

Reformation Revisited — Gafcon Australia

Here’s an announcement from the Board of Gafcon Australia, 31 October 2025 (Reformation Day):

“Dear brothers and sisters,

On 16 October the Gafcon Primates Council released a statement about the Global Anglican Communion. In this statement, they announced a ‘reordering of the Anglican Communion’ centred on the Bible. As the Gafcon Australia Board, we welcome this announcement and look forward to working with our brothers and sisters around the world to reorder the Communion.

Gafcon has been calling the Instruments of Communion (the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates’ Meeting) to repent of their drift from historic, biblical Christian teaching since 2008. In the absence of such repentance and in light of the continued direction of the Canterbury Communion, they have decided that it is time for decisive action.

The Gafcon Primates Council have now officially rejected the Instruments of Communion …

The Anglican Church of Australia remains ‘in Communion’ with the See of Canterbury by virtue of our Constitution. That can only be changed by the General Synod with the agreement of three quarters of all the Dioceses, including all five Metropolitan Dioceses.

That is unlikely to occur in the near future. However, our ‘fellowship’ with Canterbury and other Anglican Churches has been seriously impaired for some time. …”

– Read it all here.

Global South Missions Consultation in Uganda

“The second Global South Mission Consultation Roundtable (MCR 02) with Mission Partners has today officially opened at Lweza Training and Conference Centre in Uganda, bringing together mission representatives and partners from across the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) to strengthen collaboration in advancing the Gospel. …

… Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, emphasized that the Church’s vitality depends on its commitment to Mission.

‘The Church survives or dies because of its focus or lack of focus on mission. We are called to make disciples of all nations. We can’t do that if we remain in our Provinces. We must spread our wings, learn best practices from others, and seek like-minded partners to evangelize the world.’ Archbishop Kaziimba said. …”

– Read it all here.

2025 Global Vision Tour with Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison

A few months ago, we noted that Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison would be speaking at events across Australia and in New Zealand in November.

Details are now available – via the Gafcon Australia website.

“Hear about Gafcon’s Global vision – challenges and opportunities from Bishop Paul Donison and your local Gafcon leaders.

The 90-minute presentation will provide an opportunity to deepen your understanding of Gafcon and connect with others.

Admission to this public event is FREE, and a light supper will be served at the conclusion.”

November 2025

Melbourne
Tuesday 18th  7.30 pm Ridley College, 170 The Avenue, Parkville

Hobart
Wednesday 19th  7.30 pm Wellspring Anglican, 43-47 Grosvenor St, Sandy Bay

Perth
Thursday 20th  6 pm Dalkeith Anglican, 56 Viking Rd, Dalkeith

Adelaide
Friday 21st  7.30 pm St Bart’s Norwood, 77 Beulah Rd, Norwood

Sydney
Wednesday 26th 7.30 pm Moore College, 1 King St, Newtown

Brisbane
Friday 28th 7.30 pm St Phil’s Rochedale, 270 Rochedale Rd, Rochedale

Christchurch, NZ
Saturday 29th November Trinity Church

See also this message from The Rev. Peter Smith, Chair of Gafcon Australia.

Key Gafcon stories from the last week

In case you missed them, here are some key posts related to last week’s Gafcon announcement. Each will open in a new window  –

The Future Has Arrived — Gafcon Communique 16 October 2025.

Enough’s Enough! — A Bible-Centred Reordering of Global Anglicanism — The Pastor’s Heart with Archbishop Laurent Mbanda.

A Long Awaited Future – Dr Mark Thompson.

The Anglican future is here – SydneyAnglicans.net with a Media Release from Bishop Peter Hayward, Commissary for the Archbishop of Sydney.

Gafcon Reboots the Communion – Anglican Unscripted.

The patience of Gafcon – some historical background.

The Future of Anglicanism Has Arrived: What GAFCON’s Statement Means for Evangelicals – Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison.

Sydney Standing Committee welcomes Gafcon announcement – SydneyAnglicans.net.

Gafcon photo.

Airbags on Pokies

At the Cathedral website, Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant, has published his letter to Members of the Legislative Council of NSW.

“I write to request your support for the Gaming Machines Amendment (Mandatory Shutdown Period) Bill 2025, which I understand has been introduced into the Legislative Council of the NSW Parliament.

This bill would enact reforms that the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney has been unanimously calling for, for several years. We represent over 250 Anglican parishes throughout Sydney, the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, Wollondilly, the Southern Highlands and Blue Mountains. …”

– Read the full letter here.

Sydney Standing Committee welcomes Gafcon announcement

From SydneyAnglicans.net, a Public Statement from the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Sydney –

“Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney

Public Statement

At its meeting on 20th October, 2025 passed the following resolution welcoming Gafcon’s announcement on the future of the Anglican Communion.

‘Standing Committee –

(a)       welcomes the attached 16 October 2025 statement by the Most Rev Laurent Mbanda, the Chairman of the Gafcon Primates Council, entitled ‘The Future has Arrived’, and commits itself to pray for the Global Anglican Communion,

(b)       humbly prays that the Scriptures – the authoritative and life-giving word of Christ – may be firmly established at the heart of every parish and diocese within the Anglican Church of Australia. To this end, we commit ourselves to working faithfully through the structures of the Australian Church, and

(c)       encourages all Sydney Bishops to attend the GAFCON gathering of the world’s orthodox Anglican Bishops in Abuja, Nigeria, from 3 to 6 March 2026.’

Sydney, October 20, 2025.”

– Source.

Global South Anglican Bishops Gather in Uganda for Formation Retreat

“Bishops and their spouses from eight Anglican Provinces across the Global South have converged at Lweza Training and Conference Centre, Kampala, Uganda, for the third Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) Bishops Formation Retreat.

The retreat, held under the theme, ‘Formed in Christ to Guard the Gospel and Lead God’s Mission’ (2 Timothy 1:13–14), running from 18th to 24th October 2025 was organized to equip, affirm, and strengthen Bishops for faithful and effective leadership in today’s rapidly changing world. …”

– It’d be good to keep in your prayers the Global South Bishops as they meet and discuss.

GAFCON Anglicans Seek to Lead, Who will Follow?

“A group of leading Anglican traditionalists this month announced a reordering of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Top bishops (primates) of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), a renewal movement composed of both historic Anglican provinces and newly inaugurated Anglican churches, are seeking to bind the Anglican family not around a common tie to the See of Canterbury but around shared theological commitments. Among them the centrality of holy scripture. …”

– While we might not warm to the ‘traditionalists’ label, Jeffrey Walton at Juicy Ecumenism finds ‘encouragement in this month’s necessary step’.

The Future of Anglicanism Has Arrived: What GAFCON’s Statement Means for Evangelicals

“On October 16, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, the leaders of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) released a statement beginning with the striking words: ‘The future has arrived.‘

For many outside Anglicanism, this may sound like insider church politics. But the statement represents something much larger: a historic reordering of the Anglican Communion that has profound significance for global evangelicalism. …”

– On Saturday, Australian time, The Gospel Coalition published this piece by Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison.

He shares a way forward for those who find themselves in provinces or diocese who do not align with the Global Anglican Communion.

Photo: Bishop Paul Donison, courtesy Gafcon.

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