Religious freedom concerns raised at cult inquiry
“Religious freedom advocates have warned recommendations to criminalise coercive control in cults could target mainstream churches and faith communities.
The Victorian Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee’s inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups is holding public hearings. …
In hearings on 21 October, the Australian Christian Lobby and Freedom for Faith raised fears the inquiry’s outcome would affect how Christians practice and teach their faith. …”
– Hannah Felsbourg writes at The Melbourne Anglican.
Adelaide Synod 2025: walking together into another year
The Diocese of Adelaide held its 2025 Synod last weekend. It was the last for Archbishop Geoff Smith, who concludes his time as Archbishop on 1st November:
“The Adelaide Anglican Synod for 2025 concluded its annual session on Sunday, marked by an emphasis on synodality, youth engagement, and a move toward streamlined ministry governance.
Held once again at Starplex at Trinity College Gawler, due to the very high satisfaction survey last year, the session was, once again, affirming for Synod members to listen carefully, and speak respectfully, acting synodically – flourishing and united in God’s Love.
The weekend began with the Synod Eucharist held on Friday 16 October at St Peter’s Cathedral. During the beautiful service a new Archdeacon was collated, four new area Deans for the Triennium were commissioned and four members of the laity were awarded Diocesan extraordinary service ‘Archbishop’s Pins’.…”
– Secretary of Synod Joe Thorp reports at The Adelaide Guardian.
See also:
Archbishop Geoff Smith’s final Presidential Address to Synod – PDF.
Bathurst Diocese Ministry Opportunities October 2025
The Diocese of Bathurst has posted its latest page of Ministry Opportunities.
New to the list is the parish of Blayney, Millthorpe, Barry and Trunkey.
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.
The Anglican future is here
“In a much anticipated announcement, the leaders of the Global Anglican Future Conference who represent the majority of Anglicans worldwide have begun the re-ordering of the Anglican Communion.
‘The future has arrived,’ said GAFCON in an eight-point plan symbolically released on the day of Commemoration of the martyrdom of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, Anglican leaders who stood for biblical truth. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell reports on the Gafcon announcement, as well as reactions from Sydney.
See also (and quoted in the above article), this Media release from Bishop Peter Hayward, Commissary for the Archbishop of Sydney:
The Global Anglican Future statement on the Anglican Communion
In an initial statement responding to the announcement by Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, Bishop Peter Hayward, Commissary for the Archbishop of Sydney, said:
“We are thankful to God for the biblical faithfulness and clarity of the GAFCON primates. Their decisiveness at such a critical time gives comfort to orthodox Anglicans worldwide and supports mission with authentic, loving and truthful witness.”
Bishop Peter Hayward
Commissary for the Archbishop of Sydney (on leave)
18 October 2025.
Photo: The first GAFCON gathering in Jerusalem, 2008.
Finance industry leader to head Sydney Anglican Services
From SydneyAnglicans.net –
“Andrew Macey, an experienced banking executive, has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Sydney Anglican Services (SAS), the key support organisation for the Sydney Diocese.
Mr Macey has held senior roles for Westpac for more than 20 years, including in specialist finance, human resources and, since 2024, as CEO of the Westpac subsidiary RAMS Financial Group. …”
– Read the full story by Russell Powell.
My story, God’s story
“Your story is unique. Sharing your story is one of the most authentic ways you can witness to your faith and confidence in Jesus. It is so adaptable to different situations from sharing one-on-one at a cafe? or sharing to a group of people at an event, or even in written form. And when it’s our story, it’s not a debate, or pushy, or fake and, if it comes from the heart, it will be personal, engaging and real.
I am convinced that personal stories (testimonies) are a very powerful tool that the Holy Spirit uses to stir spiritual interest and to draw people towards Jesus. …”
– David Bassett, Assistant Bishop in Perth, writes to encourage Christians to share their story – and offers some simple principles to help.
On page 2 of The Messenger from the Diocese of Perth, for October 2025.
Appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury — Response from Sydney
Appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury
We acknowledge the appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury with a spirit of prayerful reflection and gospel-centred concern.
We commend Dame Sarah’s distinguished record of public service in healthcare and recognise her achievements in administrative leadership.
However, we also recognise that this appointment comes at a time of profound theological tension within the Anglican Communion. The recent trajectory of the English Church–particularly regarding issues of human sexuality, biblical authority, and unity–has caused deep concern among those who hold to the historic and reformed teachings of Scripture.
Her public comments show she has strayed from the clear teaching of scripture and promoted serious error that will neither advance unity nor the mission of the church.
The office of the Archbishop of Canterbury once held a symbolic leadership role in the global Anglican Communion. However, due to a tragic failure to uphold biblical teaching, successive Archbishops have forfeited the trust of orthodox Anglicans, who now look to other leaders.
The Church of England and its new leadership must urgently return to the message of faith, hope, and love entrusted to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bishop Peter Hayward
Commissary for the Archbishop of Sydney (on leave) 4 October 2025
Bathurst Synod 2025 edition of the Bishop’s newsletter
See the Synod edition of the bishop of Bathurst’s latest newsletter – at this link.
Related:
Number of Bible studies doubles in Bathurst – Tara Sing at SydneyAnglicans.net.
And Bishop Mark Calder spoke at the closing service of the Armidale Synod on Sunday morning.
He is seen here with Bishop Rod Chiswell. (Other images on the Bathurst Facebook page.)
Lawyers Task Force Leader Honoured
From Gafcon:
“We give thanks to God for the ministry of Dr Robert Tong AM, who continues to serve as the Leader of our Gafcon Lawyers Task Force.
Dr Tong was honoured this week at the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia, as he retires from his formal ministry in their Synod after 55 years of service.
Join us in thanking God for his strategic mind, theological wisdom, extensive knowledge of church law, and the personal example of faith and integrity he has provided throughout his years of service.
We continue to pray for the important ministry of The Gafcon Lawyers Network, as they provide legal and canonical counsel and resources to the Primates, bishops, clergy and other leaders of Gafcon as we seek to live out the Jerusalem Declaration and its implications for our life and ministry together under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the supremacy of the Holy Scriptures.”
– From Gafcon.
ACL members continue to be thankful for Robert’s long term commitment to advancing the reformed and evangelical character of the Anglican Church of Australia, particularly in the Diocese of Sydney, through Anglican Church League, including his continued service as Chairman.
Archbishops: Installed or enthroned?
“It is all about a seat! A ‘cathedra’ is the proper name for the seat of a Diocesan Bishop or Archbishop, hence cathedral is the building in which it is placed. Its origin is the Greek, then Latin, word for a seat with arms. Why a seat? What should a bishop do when sitting in their seat?
The seat is often described as a ‘throne’, hence the words, ‘enthronement’ or ‘enthronisation’. This implies that the bishop rules the diocese from this seat, a symbol of authority. …”
– At The Melbourne Anglican, Dr Peter Adam explains how much evidence he finds in the New Treatment for “Diocesan Bishops as rulers with thrones”.
He also shares some “New Testament instructions which are relevant to a bishop’s role”.
Image: St Helen’s Bishopsgate.
Musician glorifies God
“From outback North West Australia, singer/songwriter Tenielle Neda puts scripture to song so that God is glorified and his Church is built up.
Tenielle recently moved from Karratha to Geraldton where she is part of the Cathedral congregation with her young family. She is a blessing to the Christian community, having produced a catalogue of songs that bring bible truths to bear on the heart and mind. …”
– Good news and photo from the Diocese of North West Australia.
Diocese of Armidale Synod begins tomorrow
The Synod of the Diocese of Armidale meets this weekend (Friday 26 – Sunday 28 September).
“Bishop Mark Calder (Bathurst Diocese) will join us on Sunday to preach at our concluding service.”
– It’d be good to uphold the Anglican churches of that diocese in your prayers.
What Sydney means to us – and what we mean to Sydney
“The relationship between Uganda and the Sydney Diocese goes back to 1959, and the first visit by Bishop Festo Kivengere.
The strong bonds established then continue to this day. Bishop Alfred Olwa of Lango Diocese, who is also chairman of Uganda Christian University, spoke at Synod to the Rev Dr Simon Gillham. …”
– Encouragement from SydneyAnglicans.net.
ACL Synod Dinner 2025 audio
If you missed the panel discussion at the ACL Synod Dinner on 15ht September, with the topic of Hope from the Coal Face, the audio recording is available here:
Our panel speakers:
The Rev Canon Bruce Morrison has been the Senior Minister at St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Parramatta for over twenty years.
The Rev Jason McPhail is the Assistant Minister at St John’s, Keiraville International Church.
Mrs Wendy Potts is the Anglicare Sydney Learning Consultant – Evangelism.
Jason McPhail and Wendy Potts contributed to the recent Hope for the Illawarra Mission.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…