Presidential Address — Bathurst Synod 2025

Video of Bishop Mark Calder’s Presidential Address to the Bathurst Diocesan Synod today is now available.

– Watch here.

See also:

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s sermon at last night’s Synod service – and his Saturday morning Synod Bible Study.

Thanksgiving in Sydney Synod as Bathurst Diocese shares what God has been doing

On Tuesday of this week, three representatives of the Diocese of Bathurst were welcomed to the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney – Bishop Mark Calder, Dr Warwick Baines (Registrar) and Adrian Ahern (Chancellor).

As shared with the Diocese of Bathurst via their Facebook page –

“Bishop Mark reported on all that God has been doing among us for his glory as we prioritise Sharing Jesus for Life.

He also thanked the Diocese of Sydney for their generous financial and prayerful support, which makes such a significant difference to the ministry here.

Finally, he shared the great need for more gospel workers, noting this would wonderfully maximise Sydney’s financial investment.”

 

These slides were used by Bishop Calder in his presentation –

The summary and further images can be seen at the Bathurst Facebook page.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, travelled to Bathurst Cathedral to speak at their Synod service tonight.

It’s all a great reminder to pray for the eternal welfare of the men and women of this huge area of NSW, and for the churches of the diocese as they are committed to Sharing Jesus for Life.

Thanks to the Diocese of Bathurst for the images.

“We will obey God”

From SydneyAnglicans.net –

“The Act purports to give churches, schools and parents permission to teach about sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual activity and religion. But, respectfully, we do not need the permission of the government to teach about such things,” said Archbishop Kanishka Raffel, drawing a line in the sand in his opening address to the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney.

“I want to state clearly and publicly to you all – that ‘I will stand by any clergyperson or church worker who finds themselves brought before a tribunal or court because of this poorly conceived law. 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”

The act being referred to was the NSW Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 which Premier Chris Minns promised would not restrict churches in prayer or preaching. That pledge has now been undercut by Anti-Discrimination New South Wales (ADNSW). …

– Russell Powell reports.

Kanishka Raffel and the Sydney Anglican Synod promise to stand with Christians over 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.

Related:

Living Faith website.
“Living Faith is a Sydney Anglican ministry to Christian persons who experience attraction to the same sex and/or gender incongruence.”

Image: Archbishop Raffel during his Presidential Address.

Sydney Synod greenlights a five-year focus on raising church attendance – and disciples

“In yesterday’s afternoon session, Synod approved a motion encouraging parishes in the Diocese to focus on increasing church attendance by 5 per cent each year until 2030.

This grew from a report prepared in response to attendance decline in diocesan churches between 2013 and 2023, and a motion at last year’s Synod expressing repentance for where ‘we have fallen short in not giving sufficient priority, attention, reflection and resources to seeing the lost throughout the Diocese of Sydney saved by Jesus’. …”

– Judy Adamson has this report at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Keeping the main thing the main thing

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel delivered his Presidential Address at Sydney Synod tonight.

Russell Powell reports –

“I believe in conversion” was the first thing Archbishop Kanishka Raffel said to the crowd of more than 700 delegates gathered for the Sydney Anglican Synod.

“I believe in conversion because the first recorded words of Jesus’ public ministry are words that call on his hearers to be converted,” the Archbishop said. “Mark records: ‘… Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel.”’ ’ (Mark 1:14) For the first time in Mark’s narrative Jesus speaks, ‘Repent and believe the gospel’.”

Recalling his own conversion from Buddhism forty years ago, the Archbishop described “Reading the Gospel alone in my room, not because I was on a search for God, but because God was on a search for me. Not knowing, despite having been told, that another friend who had been converted by the Lord when we were fourteen, had started to pray for the conversion of his Buddhist friend, and hadn’t stopped.” …

– Read it all here.

And take the time to watch the Archbishop’s full address:

Southern Cross September-October 2025

The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine – for September-October 2025 – is now available for your encouragement.

Grab a copy at your church – or see it online here.

BCA Information Night – October 13 2025

The Bush Church Aid Society is holding an Information Night on Monday October 13.

Perhaps you, or someone you know, would like to find out more about BCA’s work across Australia, with the possibility of going.

Click the image above, or go to this link and scroll down to “Nation Wide”.

(Via the Diocese of Bathurst Facebook page.)

Australian Church Record Journal — 2025 Synod edition

In time for this year’s gathering of the Sydney Synod, The Australian Church Record has released their Synod edition of the ACR Journal.

The theme of this issue: Be Careful How You Build.

“As leaders in Sydney gather for Synod and consider the future shape of our churches, we must ask: are we building with gospel wisdom?

Inside this issue:

– from The Australian Church Record. (Direct link to PDF file.)

John Barnett (1837-1905) an unremarkable but important life

“John Barnett (1837-1905) was born in Stepney, Middlesex, England, on 21 February 1837, the son of John Barnett (Senior) (1810-1858), Grocer and Sugar Refiner and Ann Eliza Winkworth (1807-1842).

In December 1859, John married Janet Gowanlock Smith (1840-1927) at Waverley, Sydney, and they were to have eight children, four of whom lived to adulthood.

John’s parents, together with his 6-year-old sister Elizabeth and his 3-year-old self, had emigrated from England to Sydney in New South Wales (NSW), arriving on the Ann Gales on 12 July 1840. …”

– At Philanthropists and Philanthropy in Australian Colonial History, Paul F. Cooper, Presbyterian minister and Research Fellow at Christ College in Sydney, shares insights into the life of John Barnett, who played a role in the founding of St. Barnabas’ Broadway.

Read it here.

Matthew Gospel hits the stage

“An engaging stage dramatisation of the gospel produced kingdom fruit in Geraldton.

Geraldton Anglican Cathedral member Eugenie Harris produced The Matthew Drama, a 90-minute retelling of the Gospel of Matthew with a cast of 15 local Christians.

‘More than 200 people attended the two performances which happen as theatre-in-the-round so the audience is central to the action,’ she said. …”

– Encouraging news from the Diocese of North West Australia.

Hear the ACL Synod Briefing Podcast

A Bounceback in Attendance – and a clear mission goal

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“Twelve months ago we heard the sobering news of a significant attendance drop in Sydney Anglican Churches. Over the decade from 2013 to 2023, weekly attendance fell by 7% – and when you factor in population growth, attendance was 14% behind.

At last year’s Sydney Anglican Synod, the mood was serious. A resolution was passed calling for confession and humble repentance – acknowledging that their hadn’t been sufficient priority, attention, reflection, or resources to seeing the lost saved by Jesus. Synod called for a five-year focus to reverse the decline – putting prayer, evangelism, church health, and leadership development at the very centre of priorities.

Ahead of this year’s Synod, there is a response. The Standing Committee appointed a subcommittee, led by the Archbishop, to bring forward concrete proposals. And what they have come back with is significant:

• A galvanising target – to pursue 5% annual growth through conversion for the next five years.
• A range of initiatives and actions designed to support churches, leaders, and congregations in this mission.

Our guests are Pete Stedman, senior minister at Norwest Anglican Church, and a member of the Archbishop’s subcommittee that has proposed the new goal, Jon Kwan, lead pastor at St. David’s Forestville and Jo Gibbs, senior consultant with Reach Australia.”

– Watch or listen here.

Evangelism and Ministry Partnerships moves to next stage

“A move to bring together the ministries of Evangelism and New Churches, Ministry Training and Development, and Anglican Media has taken a step forward with the announcement of an interim director.

The provisional board of the new Evangelism and Ministry Partnerships (EMP) group has announced that the rector of St George North, the Rev Canon Phil Colgan (pictured above), will begin as its interim head on September 1. …”

– Report and photo from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Anglican Diocese of North Queensland enters receivership

“A church diocese covering a third of Queensland has entered receivership to help fund ongoing compensation payments to victims of child sex abuse.

The Anglican Diocese of North Queensland covers 75 congregations, from the Torres Strait to Mackay and west to Mount Isa. …”

– Report from ABC News.

(The ABC report does not outline how this move will affect parishes, but notes that “schools and aged care service providers” will not be directly impacted.)

Image derived from the North Queensland Diocese website.

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