Strategic appointments to boost gospel outreach

From Russell Powell –

“The newly established Evangelism and Ministry Partnerships (EMP) organisation has announced two key appointments aimed at strengthening communications and expanding gospel opportunities among unreached people groups.

Interim EMP director, the Rev Phil Colgan has announced Francis Loh will be the Director of Media and Communications.

Mr Loh has more than 25 years of experience in communications, branding and creative strategy in various leadership roles. …

Alongside the communications appointment, Bishop Peter Hayward, who has just retired as Bishop of Wollongong, will join EMP in a part-time role, focussed on efforts to reach people with low access to the gospel. …”

– Read it all at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Reflections from the 2026 Sydney Synod

From The Australian Church Record –

“The Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney ran this year from ran this year from 14 to 22 September, with sessions held over five days.

The ACR caught up with Greta Morris, a lay member of Synod from St Paul’s Canterbury, and Andrew Levy, rector at St Anne’s Ryde, to hear what stood out to them during Synod, what encouraged or challenged them, and what they are praying for as the Diocese of Sydney looks to the future. …”

– Read their reflections here.

Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net.

See also the Synod Summary for Rectors, Synod representatives, wardens and parish councillors.

“The Synod made 58 resolutions, passed 3 ordinances, and filled 256 positions on boards, councils, and committees. This circular outlines the key features of the Synod’s proceedings with respect to parishes.”

Matt Brain elected Bishop of Bunbury

Bishop of Bendigo, Bishop Matt Brain, has been elected Bishop of Bunbury in Western Australia.

In a message today to the people of the Diocese of Bunbury, Archdeacon and Administrator of the Diocese the Ven. Geoff Chadwick writes  –

“Dear all,

No doubt you have been waiting to know who has been elected as our next Bishop.

It is my pleasure to announce that it is The Very Rev Dr Matthew Brain. He comes to us from the Diocese of Bendigo having previously been the Assistant Bishop of Canberra/Goulburn, Rector of Kambah and the Diocesan Youth Minister and Rector of Kalbarri.

He has experience in ministry training and development.

He is married to Rachael and has five adult children.

His other interests include cycling and he takes pleasure in playing the guitar.

I can assure you that we in the Diocesan Office will do all that we can to make him and Rachael welcome.

The date of his installation will be decided in due course.

May I also advise you not to contact him until he is installed. He will have much to do in Bendigo as he navigates his departure.

I look forward to working with him as we discover where God is leading the Diocese Please pray for him, his wife Rachael and the Diocesan team during this time of transition.

With Blessings.

Geoff

Archdeacon and Administrator.”

See also this pastoral letter from Bishop Brain to the Diocese of Bendigo. (PDF file.)

Top photo from the August 2026 issue of The Spirit from the Diocese of Bendigo.

Earlier:

Four Australian dioceses pray for wisdom in seeking new leaders – 03 September 2026. Now add prayers for Bendigo.

“What does a bishop do?”

From SydneyAnglicans.net –

“Hundreds gathered to farewell Bishop Peter Hayward and his wife Julie at Figtree Anglican Church in Wollongong as tributes praised his faithful pastoral leadership and unwavering commitment to God’s people. …”

– Report from Russell Powell.

Archbishop Raffel announces key ministry appointment

“The Rev Caroline Litchfield has been appointed Archdeacon for the Ministry of Women in the Diocese of Sydney, bringing more than two decades of ministry experience to a role supporting hundreds of women serving across churches and diocesan organisations.

‘This is a key role encouraging and promoting the ministry of women in our diocese,’ said Archbishop Raffel in making the announcement. …”

– Story from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Australian and English evangelicals: A conversation with Andrew Atherstone

From Lionel Windsor at The Australian Church Record –

“Andrew Atherstone is Professor of Modern Anglicanism at the University of Oxford. He has been in Sydney for the Annual Moore College Lectures, held in August 2026, on Anglican Evangelicalism in the Age of John Stott, Jim Packer and Dick Lucas: Surviving and Thriving in a Mixed-up Denomination.

The lectures explored the recent history of Anglican evangelicals in England and the question of whether to stay or leave in the face of liberal and heterodox bishops.

In this interview, the ACR asked Andrew particularly about the mutual influence between Australian and English evangelicals, and the contribution of some key Australian figures. …”

– Read the interview here.

(Interestingly, he mentions a link to the Diocese of Bathurst.)

Love for our Jewish neighbours

Russell Powell reports from Sydney Synod:

“Symbolically moved on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney has rejected anti-semitism and called for prayer for ‘our Jewish neighbours’ in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.

Moved by the Rev Andrew Bruce, the Synod lamented anti-semitism in Australia and ‘encourages all Sydney Anglicans to guard against any form of racism in our lives or in our churches’. …”

– Read the full story here.

Anglican Aid’s Annual Report 2025-26

The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid has published it sAnnual Report for 2025-26.

“Your gifts and prayers have helped to strengthen churches and transform communities in the world’s poorest nations.

You have helped provide clean water, food, emergency supplies, access to education, medical care, and Bible training to participants of more than 140 projects in 30 countries. …”

Download your copy to understand better what this key organisation is doing on behalf of Sydney Anglicans.Very encouraging and much cause for thanksgiving.

Archbishop Ric Thorpe’s sermon at Melbourne consecrations today

As he assembled his new episcopal team, Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Ric Thorpe, consecrated three new assistant bishops in Melbourne’s St. Paul’s Cathedral today.

– The Archbishop’s sermon at the service can be seen here.

Speaking to the new bishops, he says,

“You are being sent on the mission of Jesus Christ. You’re called to help the church make disciples – people who know, trust, and follow Jesus, and to help others, to follow him.

And this is the good news.

Although we have turned away from God. He has not turned away from us.

Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again. Through him, there is forgiveness from the past.

There is reconciliation with God. We can have a new life today and a hope for the future.

This gospel is the message by which the church lives, and the good news Melbourne and Geelong need to hear through God’s people.

Our diocesan vision, which is emerging right now, is clear. We seek to be a renewed church, proclaiming Christ across Melbourne and Geelong, so that every person might encounter the love of God.

And that vision is not a slogan. It’s an invitation to join in with God’s mission. …”

Some background of those consecrated is printed in the Order of Service.

It’s a reminder to pray for the progress of the gospel in Melbourne (and Geelong, and the whole country).

Gafcon gives thanks for Sydney Synod formally welcoming the Abuja Affirmation

From Gafcon:

“Praise God that this week the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia passed a motion formally welcoming the Abuja Affirmation and giving thanks for the reordering of the Anglican Communion as the Global Anglican Communion.

We rejoice in the Synod’s recognition of Sydney’s ‘joyful partnership with the Global Anglican Communion’, flowing from its longstanding partnership with Gafcon since the lead-up to Jerusalem 2008, its commitment to the Jerusalem Declaration, and its practice of principled disengagement from the Canterbury Instruments of Communion.

Please pray for The Most Revd Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of New South Wales, as he serves as a member of the Global Anglican Council. Pray for wisdom and faithfulness at this significant moment in the establishment of the Global Anglican Communion, strengthening faithful Anglicans and advancing the proclamation of Christ throughout the world.”

– Source. Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net.

Related: The Abuja Affirmation.

A surprise visitor

“A few months ago, a Carnarvon man walked into church for the first time and said, ‘My family has been praying for me, and I thought I’d come to church today.’…”

– Here’s a short, but wonderfully encouraging, story from the Diocese of North West Australia.

Thanks from Bathurst

From the Diocese of Bathurst –

“This afternoon Bishop Mark addressed Sydney Synod to say ‘thank you’.

Reflecting on what Christ has accomplished across the Diocese over the past seven years — new gospel workers, growing attendance and Bible study groups, and a significant increase in children’s and youth ministry — he warmly thanked Archbishop Kanishka and members of Synod for their extraordinary partnership:

‘Without your vision and generosity, none of this would have been possible. Thank you for believing that gospel ministry in regional and rural New South Wales, matters. To God be the glory!’ ”

– Text and photo from the Bathurst diocese Facebook page.

We want to commend Christ without compromise

“When the Apostle Paul asserted his rights as a Roman citizen, he wasn’t standing on pride – he was clearing a path for the gospel. That same strategy drove discussions at Sydney Synod this week as members confronted rising threats to freedom of conscience. …”

– Russell Powell reports from Sydney Synod.

“A glimpse of what God is doing among us”

Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net reports on Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s 2026 Presidential Address to Synod on Monday 15th September –

“A Mandarin-speaking woman who first encountered church through AI translation and two young men who decided to read the Bible together before seeking baptism were among the stories highlighted by Archbishop Kanishka Raffel in his Presidential Address to Synod.

Weaving together statistics and personal testimonies, the Archbishop pointed Synod members to evidence of God’s work across the diocese.

Referring to Synod’s goal of 5 per cent growth through conversion, Archbishop Raffel said churches were increasingly reaching people from overseas backgrounds, who make up 31 per cent of the population. …”

– Read his report.

You can also read the full text of the Archbishop’s address or  see the full video.

Thanks, as always, to SydneyAnglicans.net.

ACR’s Synod 2026 Journal

Sydney Synod begins today and, as always, all involved would be very glad of your prayers.

If you missed it, The Australian Church Record’s Synod 2026 Journal is available for download.

Good reading from our friends at the ACR, whether you are a Sydney Synod member or not!

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