The Australian Church Record’s Synod 2026 Journal

Lionel Windsor, Editorial Director of The Australian Church Record, introduces the ACR’s Synod 2026 Journal –

Dear friends,

Many readers will know 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” Yet Paul writes these words amid opposition to gospel truth, rejection of godly living and persecution. He therefore urges Timothy: “Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it” (2 Timothy 3:14).

We are encouraged to remember both the biblical truths we have learned and those through whom God has taught us. As I take on the role of editor of the ACR, I am conscious of this rich heritage. This year marks 100 years since it became the Australian Church Record, building on generations of faithful evangelical witness. We give thanks for those who have stood for the gospel, most recently including Mike Leite, under whose leadership the ACR has grown and flourished.

Though today’s challenges differ, the need to hold firmly to God’s word remains. I trust this edition will encourage us to do just that.

Peter Orr examines the nature and importance of the pastoral office, while Simon Hingston considers biblical clarity in evangelism. Jen Richards offers practical encouragement for regular public Bible reading, and James Chen explores how our gatherings and the sacraments point us back to Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice and forward to our future hope.

With a new Sydney synod triennium beginning, we include key sections from the Standing Committee’s report on the theological and historical purpose of synod. We have also published this on our blog as a resource that can be used in preparation for synod.

We also hear encouraging accounts of gospel ministry from Vic Colgan in Carlton, Steve Thurgar in Eagle Vale and James Daymond in the Diocese of Bathurst.

Looking beyond Australia, Rod Chiswell reflects on the recent Abuja meeting and its significance for the worldwide Anglican Communion. Finally, Peter Adam reviews Tony Payne’s Let the Word Dwell Richly, on the vital ministry of Christians speaking God’s word to one another.

I trust this edition will encourage you to continue in what you have learned, and to give thanks for those from whom you learned it.

With deep gratefulness to the Lord for our contributors,

Lionel Windsor
Editorial Director

– After reading the above, you’ll absolutely want to download your own copy of the ACR’s Synod 2026 Journal.

You can do that by clicking this link (3.5MB PDF file). (Good to share too.)

Four Australian dioceses pray for wisdom in seeking new leaders

Bishop Garry Weatherill of the Diocese of Ballarat is retiring.

Consequently, “prayers have been prepared for use in the Diocese of Ballarat during the time of discernment and election of a new bishop” and published on the diocesan website.

In addition, Bishop Donald Kirk retired from his role as Bishop of the Diocese of Riverina last Thursday, 27th August.

And, as readers of our website will know, Diocese of Bathurst’s Bishop Mark Calder will conclude his time as bishop on Saturday 19th September.

Update:

We hear that the Bishop of the Diocese of Bunbury in Western Australia is also retiring – Bishop Ian Coutts laid up his pastoral staff last Saturday, 29th August.

Without doubt the churches of the dioceses of Ballarat, Riverina, Bathurst and Bunbury would desire your prayers for them in this time of transition.

Top graphic adapted from the Ballarat diocese website.
Map of Australian dioceses adapted from the Anglican Church of Australia website.

Nungalinya College Darwin seeking an Assistant Principal

Nungalinya College in Darwin is seeking a new Assistant Principal. Applications close at the start of November.

Might you, or someone you know, be the right person for the job?

From the advertisement on the College website:

“Nungalinya College is the premier training institution for Indigenous church leaders, located in Darwin. Nungalinya is formally supported by the Anglican, Uniting and Catholic churches of the Northern Territory.

As a theological college, Nungalinya provides education and training within a Christian context, with students coming from remote Northern Territory communities. The College is committed to providing a culturally respectful, supportive and inclusive learning environment and works sensitively within an ecumenical environment that values Indigenous cultures and First Languages.

The College is seeking an experienced and committed Christian leader to support the Principal in the effective strategic and operational management of the College.

The successful applicant will contribute to the College’s academic leadership, staff development, RTO compliance and continuous improvement, while fostering a Christ-centred learning environment that honours and supports Indigenous students, communities and culture.…”

– See the website for further details.

20% attendance growth in three years — Craig Roberts — The Pastor’s Heart

From The Pastor’s Heart this week –

“After a decade of decline, Sydney Anglican church attendance has grown by more than 20% in just three years. This is now higher than at any point since 2013.

But underneath the encouraging headline, the picture is uneven. Larger churches have grown fastest. Around 13% of churches reached an approximate proxy for the report’s 5% conversion target.

Plus, a significant group of churches remain in long-term decline.

So what’s driving the turnaround? Are people actually coming to faith in Jesus? Or are Christians moving between churches? And why are churches with stronger children’s and youth ministries growing faster?

Craig Roberts, CEO of Anglican Youthworks and chair of the committee behind the new Sydney Anglican attendance report, says there’s much to thank God for, but there’s also some challenging numbers, as Sydney Anglicans pursue the ambitious goal of 5% annual attendance growth through people coming to faith in Jesus.”

– Watch or listen at The Pastor’s Heart.

Hear this year’s ACL Synod Podcast

Hear this year’s ACL Synod podcast — 30 minutes to encourage and equip Sydney Synod members.

There are also links to book for the ACL Synod Dinner, the Synod Survival Guide and other resources.

Synod Survival Guide – download your copy

Many have found The Synod Survival Guide by Dr Robert Tong to be a very helpful introduction to Sydney Synod.

It’s presented by the Anglican Church League as a service to the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney.

– Download your copy here. (PDF file.)

The purpose and role of Synod

From The Australian Church Record –

“This year marks the first session of the 54th Synod of the Diocese of Sydney.

To help new members of the Synod to think theologically and contextually about Synod as they prepare to participate, with the permission of the Sydney Diocesan Secretary, we are republishing a condensed form of a report to the Synod from 2021. It contains helpful theological and historical reflections about what a synod is and what it is for. …”

– Read it here.

Photo: Sydney Synod 2023, with thanks to Russell Powell.

The Sydney Family Album 9 — T.C. Hammond

In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, published a series of posts, entitled “The Sydney Family Album”, for his website, Theological Theology.

We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.

Here’s the ninth and last in the series, on T.C. Hammond, Principal of Moore College, 1935 – 1953.

One of the most important of Howard Mowll’s many influential appointments was that of Thomas Chatterton (T. C.) Hammond as Principal of Moore College.

Appointed at a time when the College seemed to be shifting its theological position, Hammond, who already had a worldwide reputation as an evangelical preacher, teacher and apologist, would be, it was hoped, precisely the kind of leader who would strengthen the College and set its course firmly in the mainstream of evangelical Anglican theology. He would meet all of these expectations and surpass them.

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series are in our Resources section.

Photo: T.C. Hammond standing at the Moore College gate on Carillon Avenue, Newtown. Frame from late 1940s movie film digitised by the Moore College Archives.

The Sydney Family Album 8 — Howard Mowll

In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, published a series of posts, entitled “The Sydney Family Album”, for his website, Theological Theology.

We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.

Here’s the eighth in the series, on Howard Mowll, Archbishop of Sydney, 1934 – 1958.

It really is rather hard to overplay the contribution of Howard Mowll to the shape and character of the contemporary Anglican Diocese of Sydney.

His election as Archbishop in April 1933 was a critical moment in the diocese’s history, a decision for its evangelical heritage rather than the more eclectic theology others were advocating at the time. His tenure of the office during World War II and the equally critical post-war years set directions, embedded principles and fostered a new generation of leaders who enabled Sydney Anglicanism to remain unambiguously Protestant and evangelical while engaging seriously with the challenges of a new era.

Among so many other things gifts to the diocese, he was the driving force behind the invitation to Billy Graham to come to Sydney in 1959, though Mowll died six months before the Crusade began.

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series (as we add them) are in our Resources section. There is still one more to go!

Photo: Archbishop Howard Mowll, from his biography by Marcus Loane.

The Sydney Family Album 7 – Nathaniel Jones

In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, published a series of posts, entitled “The Sydney Family Album”, for his website, Theological Theology.

We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.

Here’s the seventh in the series, on Nathaniel Jones, Principal of Moore College, 1897–1911.

Nathaniel Jones brought to Moore College a passion for serious theological education. He immediately set about raising the academic standard at the College, preparing students for the Oxford and Cambridge Preliminary Examination for Holy Orders.

He was concerned to give his students the theological resources necessary to meet the challenges of liberal theology, which was already being exported to Australia from England and from America.

His students would be able to face these challenges with confidence based on a deep grounding in the Scriptures and a clear evangelical Anglican theology of the type being taught at this time at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford by Jones’ lifelong friend W. H. Griffith Thomas…

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series (as we add them) are in our Resources section. There are still two more to go!

Photo: Nathaniel Jones in 1899, detail from a photo held by Moore College. See the post for the full reference.

Australian Anglicans become more evangelical, redress debts mount

General Synod in Melbourne wrapped up yesterday. John Sandeman at The Other Cheek filed his last (?) report from the meeting –

“The Anglican Church of Australia is tilting further and further towards evangelicalism, an analysis of the election results from the General Synod (national church parliament) shows. This is seen clearly in the election of members to the Standing Committee of the General Synod. A quirk in the first-past-the-post method of elections makes changes in the [churchmanship] of the synod transparent, as it displays trends easily. …”

– Read here.

We need to be reminded that the story is bigger than numbers and ‘politics’ and pray that – despite the enormous challenges mentioned in this article – men and women, boys and girls, across Australia will hear the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ and be saved for eternity.

The Sydney Family Album 6 — Thomas Moore

In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, published a series of posts, entitled “The Sydney Family Album”, for his website, Theological Theology.

We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.

Here’s the sixth in the series, on Thomas Moore.

“When the foundation stone [of St. Luke’s Liverpool] was laid (7th April 1818), Thomas and Rachel were present, as well as Governor Macquarie’s four-year-old son, Lachlan.

Thomas and Rachel had been appointed guardians for young Lachlan, should anything happen to his parents while in the colony.”

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series (as we add them) are in our Resources section.

Do pray for General Synod as it meets in Melbourne 9-14 August

The Nineteenth Session of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia will be held from Sunday 9 August to Friday 14 August 2026 in Melbourne.

“The Session will commence with an Opening Service at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, at 5.30 pm on Sunday, 9 August.”

Today and tomorrow, General Synod members will be travelling from all around Australia. Please pray for them as they travel and as they meet for this Session.

Via the GAFCON Australia Facebook page, here are some prayer suggestions –

“Please continue praying with us for General Synod for the Anglican Church of Australia, as it kicks off next week (August 9-14) in Melbourne.

Pray that there would be helpful motions and that godly, competent people will be appointed to all General Synod bodies.

Thank God for faithful people who serve as General Synod members and on General Synod bodies currently.

Pray for wise and gospel-focused decisions about how to respond to dioceses that are struggling financially. Pray that ministry will be prioritised over money.”

And you could pray for each of the members by name, asking for the Lord’s blessing, grace and wisdom, and that Christ will be honoured in all discussions and decisions.

Image: The crests of the Australian dioceses, thanks to the Anglican Church of Australia.

Elizabeth Foord — A woman of “irrepressible joy” in the Lord

From Judy Adamson at SydneyAnglicans.net –

“Small in stature but mighty in faith, Mrs Elizabeth Foord died on July 25 at the age of 97.

A servant of God wherever he placed her, Mrs Foord was known and loved throughout the Diocese and other nations for her love of the Bible, her willingness to talk to anyone about Jesus, her sharp mind and her teaching – both of women, and of groups in partnership with her husband of 55 years, Bishop Dudley Foord. …”

– Read the full tribute here.

Related:

With much thanks for Dudley Foord – September 2013.

Anglican Media CEO Russell Powell to step down

News from SydneyAnglicans.net –

“After almost 20 years in the media and communications arm of the Diocese, former broadcaster and journalist Russell Powell will be stepping down as the CEO of Anglican Media Sydney at the end of the year.

He was appointed CEO in 2010 in addition to his position as the media advisor to the Archbishop of Sydney, which began in 2007.

Over his 19 years of involvement, Mr Powell has guided the organisation through times of peace and major challenges such as the global financial crisis and COVID.

During his time as CEO, the work of Anglican Media has included establishing a social media footprint, solidifying the SydneyAnglicans brand, and refashioning Southern Cross.

He also played a role in communications at the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), from the historic first moments in Jerusalem in 2008.…”

– Read the full story – with prayer points – here.

Photo: Russell interviewing Al Stewart in Galilee during the first GAFCON gathering in 2008.

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