Kanishka Raffel and the Sydney Anglican Synod promise to stand with Christians who defy conversion practices laws

John Sandeman reports on Monday night’s gathering of the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney –

“Clergy, church workers, and any Christian taken before a tribunal when accused of breaching the Conversion Practices Ban Act in NSW have been assured by Archbishop Kanishka Raffel and the Sydney Anglican Synod that they will be supported. ‘I concluded by saying, and I want to say this clearly and publicly to you all, that I will stand by any clergy person or church worker who finds themselves brought before a tribunal or court because of this poorly conceived law,’ the Archbishop declared in his presidential address to the Synod, repeating an assurance he had sent to his clergy as the new law began to operate.

‘We must not be silenced’, he added. ‘We must not be silenced or intimidated from teaching God’s good plan for human sexuality and relationships. We will insist on the freedom to do so respectfully, but without fear, we will obey God. We can do nothing less.’ During the debate, Raffel made it clear his support extended to lay people caught up in tribunal hearings as well. …”

– Do read it all on this important issue.

Image: Archbishop Raffel during his Presidential Address.

Do Christians have freedom to pray?

“Before the last election, Christians and other people of faith were assured  that ‘an individual of their own consent seeking guidance through prayer will not be banned’.

Now, this promise in relation to the Conversion Practices Ban Act, appears to have been breached by guidelines surrounding the act from Anti Discrimination NSW (ADNSW). …”

– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net has this important update.

Do watch the embedded video.

Freedom for Faith conference 2025

A reminder from Associate Professor Neil Foster with a reminder of the upcoming conference –

“Freedom for Faith is holding its annual conference on religious freedom and the law on September 27th, and is offering a student ticket discount. There is a great line-up of speakers- do come along!

The conference will be held on Saturday September 27th, 10am-3:30pm, at Village Church Annandale (Sydney) and the Student price: is $45.

Speakers include Prof Patrick Parkinson and Ass Prof Alex Deagon – both of whom will be launching books – as well as Monica Doumit, the head of public affairs for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.

There will also be a conversation between Julian Leeser MP, the Federal Liberal Member for Berowra and Shadow Attorney General, and Dr Hugh McDermott, the NSW Labor Member for Prospect and Parliamentary Secretary (Assistant Minister) to the NSW Attorney General. …”

– Details here.

Are You Willing to Walk for the Unborn?

“I often talk to people who question why it took the Christian church so long to abolish slavery. They then quickly add that if they had been alive back then, then they would have definitely stood up and said something.

But I often wonder whether they really would …”

– Mark Powell shares details of the next Love Sydney Walk for Life – at AP, the online Presbyterian journal.

Double Vision

“What should we be asking God to do in Australia over the next ten-to-twenty years?

A few weeks back TGCA got together about forty people to give the better part of a day to thinking and praying about that question. We asked what, if anything, we might be able to achieve by working together that would not be possible apart. It was a stimulating day and the ideas that have begun to emerge are, I believe, exciting.

I want to share one of them with you here. …”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Rory Shiner shares an ‘ambitious but modest’ idea which emerged from the meeting.

Donison Down Under Tour — November 2025

A prayer point from Gafcon –

“We pray for the upcoming November visit to Australia and New Zealand by our General Secretary, The Rt Revd Paul Donison, as he presents the ‘Gafcon Global Vision’ events, and visits key leaders in the two countries.

Bishop Paul will be speaking at free evening events this November in Melbourne (Tuesday 18th), Hobart (Wednesday 19th), Perth (Thursday 20th), Adelaide (Friday 21st), Sydney (Wednesday 26th), Brisbane (Friday 28th), and Christchurch (Saturday 29th).

Pray that this two-week visit will energise and inspire Aussies and Kiwis as they hear important updates about our movement, and that it will help grow their Gafcon Global Vision as they hear of the many opportunities to partner with brothers and sisters around the world in generous fellowship.”

– Prayer point and photo: Gafcon. Might be good to pop in your calendar.

More prayer points and stories from Gafcon here.

Is 5% Enough?

“There seems to be a change in the cultural atmosphere in much of the West.  It may be that people are more open to the Gospel.  The question is, how should we take advantage of that?  How do we use this cultural moment to bring the gospel to those who are lost?  We always need to humbly remember that ‘many are the plans in the heart of a man, but it is the Lord’s purpose that stands’ (Proverbs 19:21).

This year’s General Assembly of the NSW Presbyterians accepted a motion I put forward to reflect on how we do evangelism.  The Assembly ask the Mission Committee to evaluate the status of evangelism within the Presbyterian church of NSW and to report back to the 2026 GA with recommendations which will help the whole church work together to bring the Gospel to all the people of NSW.

The Assembly also heard a call for the Presbyterian church to double in 20 years.  Providentially the Gospel Coalition recently held a summit where the same doubling in 20 years was agreed.  They declared that this could be done by seeing 5% conversion growth in each church over a period of 20 years.

The Pastor’s Heart, a fascinating and helpful podcast presented by Dominic Steele, has recently had three podcasts focusing on this numerical target …”

– At AP, the online Presbyterian journal, David Robertson reckons we should ‘go for glory’.

Bible Society sells its main property, Hillsong the likely buyer

“An office and former warehouse tenanted by Hillsong and smaller renters in Macquarie Park in Northern Sydney has been sold by the Bible Society. It was the former Headquarters for the NSW Bible Society. …”

– John Sandeman reports on a recent sale.

Image: OpenStreetMap.

Victorian Inquiry into Cults

“A new submission by Freedom for Faith warns that the Victorian Government’s inquiry into cults, coercive control, and high-demand groups may pose serious risks to religious freedom if not carefully scoped and defined.

While commending the inquiry’s aim to protect individuals from abuse, the submission emphasises that poorly drafted laws could stigmatise or even criminalise legitimate religious practices. …”

– Read more at Freedom for Faith (especially if you are in Victoria).

NSW Budget Pathetic on Pokies Harm

“It’s time to put airbags on pokies!

Today’s NSW Budget is pathetically weak on gambling harm.

In fact, NSW tax revenue from pokies in pubs and clubs will reach a record level – $2.6 billion in the next financial year! That’s rising by 6% per annum – faster than the inflation rate.

This comes off the back of NSW residents who lose over $24 million every day on poker machines — more than $1 million an hour! …”

– Here’s this week’s media release from the Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant.

Photo: Wesley Mission’s Stuart Cameron and Anglican Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant in 2022, courtesy SydneyAnglicans.net.

Double the number of reformed evangelicals in Australia over twenty years

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“In a bold move, a meeting of movement leaders from across Australian Reformed Evangelicalism has resolved to work together to see their numbers double over twenty years, through seeing sinners saved.

Leaders gathered for a mini summit organised by The Gospel Coalition Australia at Sydney’s Moore Theological College last week.

Gospel Coalition Australia Chair Rory Shiner says given the unparalleled theological and missional unity between the different organisations there’s a significant window of opportunity to work productively together for God’s glory.

They agreed to work towards an effective target of growing five percent per year through conversion growth. …”

– Rory Shiner, Sarah Kuswadi, Andrew Heard and Gary Millar join Dominic Steele.

Watch or listen here.

Joint statement on the NSW floods

Joint statement on the NSW floods

Our hearts ache for the people of the Mid-North, Hunter and other areas of New South Wales suffering in the current flood crisis.

We pray for the tireless work of emergency workers and first responders as they guard and save lives. May God give them strength and endurance. We cry out to God for families grieving the loss of loved ones, homes and businesses. May they find comfort and hope.

We give thanks for the countless acts of neighbourliness, kindness and help, and for the resilience of these communities.

As Anglicare, Samaritans and local churches gear up for the recovery operation ahead, may God bless their efforts to share the love and compassion of Christ with a hurting community.

May those who suffer cling to the hope of restoration through the God who makes all things new.

The Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of NSW

The Right Reverend Dr Peter Stuart, Bishop of Newcastle

The Right Reverend Dr Murray Harvey, Bishop of Grafton

23 May 2025.

– via SydneyAnglicans.net

Sydney Diocese Media release: Abortion Bill amendments

The Archbishop of Sydney is grateful for progress made, and urges Lower House MPs to reject the amended bill.

Anglican Diocese of Sydney
Archbishop’s statement re the amendment of the Greens’ abortion Bill

I am thankful to those MPs who upheld freedom of conscience for doctors and amended the Greens’ abortion bill in the NSW Upper House.

But the burden will now also fall on nurses and midwives to be involved in something at odds with their vocation.

So, I urge lower house MPs to protect the unborn and reject the bill entirely.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel

9 May, 2025.

NSW Abortion bill ‘gutted’

From John Sandeman:

“The debate over the Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025 introduced by Greens’ member Amanda Cohn into the NSW Upper house, has seen several amendments.

Lyle Shelton reports: ‘I’ve been watching the NSW Parliament live feed as MLCs have debated the Greens’ abortion bill. Amendments carried tonight seem to have all but gutted the bill. It seems pro-life hospitals will now not be forced to perform abortions and pro-life heath practitioners will not have to be complicit in them.’…”

– at The Other Cheek.

Image from NSW Parliament website.

Abortion bill protest draws fired-up crowd

“A Greens bill to require doctors who object to abortion to be forced to formally refer patients to somone who will perform a termination, and allow midwives and nurse practitioners to prescribe abortion pills, drew a large protest outside the NSW Parliament last night. Religious leaders, and a former prime minister addressed the 6,000 strong crowd. …”

– At The Other Cheek, John Sandmen reports on the Abortion bill protest we mentioned previously.

Photo: John Sandeman.

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