Bathurst Diocesan Prayer Diary — July 2025

The Bathurst Diocesan Prayer Diary has been updated with the latest points for prayer and thanksgiving.

Maybe you could use it to help you pray for the work of the gospel in this huge area of New South Wales.

“Please pray for our diocese as a whole, that the Lord
…would fill us with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that we may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.
See Colossians 1:9-10”

Download here (PDF file).

Moving to a five-day working week for the welfare of clergy

“We have always made clear to our new clergy that their stipend is not a salary for ‘services rendered’, but rather an allowance so they don’t have to work for a living.

Set free from that burden, they are able to adopt that particular lifestyle which is ministry—that is, giving of themselves to shepherding their sheep and seeking the lost…”

– Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder shares his thoughts on the advantages of having a five-day working week for clergy.

Mark Short elected Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia

From John Sandeman at The Other Cheek:

“Mark Short, the Bishop of the Canberra-Goulburn diocese, is the new Primate – titular head – of the Anglican Church of Australia.

He is an alumnus of Moore Theological College, and was elected as Bishop of Canberra in 2019. Prior to that, he served as National Director of the Bush Church Aid Society from 2011.

His election means that the head of the Australian Anglicans is once more an evangelical. Short has been involved in EFAC, the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion. …”

– More here.

Read some of Mark’s addresses on the Canberra Goulburn Diocese website.

Update:

The Melbourne Anglican has this story.

Grafton and Riverina adopt five-day week for thriving clergy

“Clergy health and safety has been behind the decisions two dioceses in NSW recently made to reduce the number of days their ministers worked.

The synods of the Anglican Dioceses of Grafton and Riverina both voted to embrace five-day working weeks for clergy in June. …”

– Story from The Melbourne Anglican.

Bishop of Tasmania’s 2025 Synod Presidential Address

Bishop Richard Condie gave this Presidential Address to the Synod of the Diocese of Tasmania, meeting in Launceston on 13 and 14 June 2025 –

“ You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

What an encouragement to us as we commence our Synod to know we are joined together as citizens with God’s people, as brothers and sisters in his household, and indwelt by the Spirit of God himself, gathered around Jesus as our cornerstone, our guide and the reference point for all that we do. …”

– Bishop Condie shares the latest encouraging developments in the Diocese of Tasmania.

Food for your prayers.

Image: Richard Condie in a Hope25 message for the Diocese of Bathurst.

Prisoners seek Prayer

From the Diocese of North West Australia:

“Inmates at Greenough Prison are turning to the chaplain for prayer and encouragement.

Geraldton Assistant Minister Mal Walker has begun filling in as prison chaplain two days a week and says the experience has shown him God’s immense love for people.…”

– This and other matters for prayer and thanksgiving on the website of the DNWA.

Bishop of Bathurst’s Newsletter — HOPE25 Report edition

From the Bishop of Bathurst.

– Read it here.

In uncertain times – the message of Hope everyone needs to hear

“Here’s 3 minutes from this weekend’s message. Given the USA’s intervention in the Israel–Iran conflict, I suspect some will find this helpful to hear today. A reminder that even in global uncertainty, Christ remains supreme — and our hope is secure in him.”

– Bishop of Bathurst Diocese, Mark Calder, shares this excerpt from the coming weekend’s message.

Whatever your views about aspects of the current conflict, and whatever might have happened by the time you see this, Bishop Calder brings us back to what is the most important message of all.

See it on Facebook – or watch the full message here.

Archdeacons commissioned in Bathurst Diocese

This morning, a special service was held at Holy Trinity Dubbo to commission The Ven Andrew Thornhill as Diocesan Archdeacon, and The Rev James Daymond as Archdeacon of the North West.

Video here.

It’d be good to continue to pray for these men and for the continued work of proclaiming Christ is this huge area of NSW.

TMA introduces Archbishop-elect Ric Thorpe

The June 2025 issue of The Melbourne Anglican introduces Archbishop-elect Ric Thorpe:

“The Archbishop-elect of the Diocese of Melbourne has urged its members to pray for strength to be aligned with God’s purpose as the Church entered a new season.

London Bishop Ric Thorpe was elected Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne at an election synod comprising more than 700 clergy and lay leaders in May.

He called on Melbourne Anglicans to ask God to strengthen the diocese’s foundation and their spiritual lives during the transition. …”

– Read here.

See also:

Can the new Melbourne Anglican Archbishop revive a shrinking church? – Bishop Ric Thorpe is interviewed in this 16 minute segment from ABC’s The Religion and Ethics Report, published 11 June 2025.

Helping out at Condobolin

From the Diocese of Bathurst:

“Bishop Stuart Robinson, along with Janie, began their 6 months in Condobolin [on Saturday] afternoon with a full church, joyful singing (thanks to the West Wyalong crew!), and warm fellowship.

They were blessed to have members of the local Presbyterian church join them, and everyone enjoyed an ‘Italian banquet’ of pizzas in the rectory after the service. Please pray that many will return and that this time will be Christ-honouring and kingdom-building.”

– via the Bathurst Diocese Facebook page. For your prayers.

How to face dying with joy and confidence — rather than fear and dread

Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder shares this message in his HOPE25 series.

He speaks from John 11:17-45. He also mentions Titus 3:5.

Good to watch, even better to share.

Did Melbourne just see a sign?

Murray Campbell at Mentone Baptist Church in Melbourne reflects on events in Melbourne, including the election on Saturday of Bishop Ric Thorpe as the next Anglican Archbishop –

“Melbourne needs more churches. Melbourne needs 100s more Christ-centred, Gospel-believing and preaching, people-loving churches.

I’m not an Anglican so feel free to take my observations with the same volume of water found in a baptismal font (bad joke). My Melbourne Anglican friends are overwhelmingly encouraged and thankful for all candidates and the outcome, even as the Diocese looks over troubled waters. Like all our Christian denominations, much deep work of theological and spiritual reform needs to take place. Theological liberalism and moral progressivism is like sand in the car after a day at the beach …”

– Read it all here.

Bishop Ric Thorpe from London elected Archbishop of Melbourne

News from The Melbourne Anglican:

“The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne has today announced the election of the Right Reverend Dr Richard (Ric) Thorpe.

The Administrator Bishop Genieve Blackwell was pleased to announce the decision following the deliberations of the Archbishop Election Synod.  The synod, comprising approximately 760 people of the diocese, consisting of clergy and lay parish representatives, began its work on Friday 23 May.

Archbishop-elect Ric, currently serves in a special episcopal role as Bishop of Islington in the Diocese of London.  It encompasses diocesan, national and international responsibilities, held together within the Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication with a focus on church planting.

Ordained in the Diocese of London, Bishop Ric did his undergraduate theological studies at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University and his doctorate through Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky United States.

Archbishop-elect Ric says, ‘We have come to love Melbourne over the years, as we have served and ministered in the diocese, in other denominations, and across the nation.’

Dr Thorpe’s passion is ‘seeing the whole Church of God thrive, enabling churches to be healthy, new congregations planted, and struggling churches revitalised.’

The Chair of the Board of Nominators, Dr Jenny George, described Archbishop-elect Ric as ‘an experienced and visionary leader. Ric has been personally involved in revitalising small or shrinking parishes and planting new churches.  His commitment to developing future leaders is seen in his local and global training of church planters and other leaders.’

He will succeed Archbishop Philip Freier who retired in February after serving 18 years in office, once it completes some internal processes to confirm his election.

Bishop Thorpe will be installed as Archbishop in St Paul’s Cathedral later in the year at a date to be advised.  Bishop Blackwell will continue to serve as Administrator until that time.

The Right Reverend Genieve Blackwell
Administrator of the Melbourne Diocese.”

– Source.

Here’s some background from The Diocese of London.

And a video by Bishop Thorpe from The Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication. (Above image from the video.)

From 2015: New church plant bishop will be Rev Ric Thorpe – by Ruth Gledhill gives some more background.

Please pray that the outcome of this election will be that the churches of Melbourne will be greatly encouraged to lovingly and clearly proclaim Christ across that city, and the Lord will be glorified as men and women turn to him.

Prayer reminder: Diocese of Melbourne Election Synod begins tonight

Here’s a reminder to uphold in prayer the members of the Melbourne Synod as they meet tonight (Friday), tomorrow – and longer if necessary – to elect the next Archbishop of Melbourne.

They value and seek your prayers.

We will aim to post any public news on our website as it becomes available.

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