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.

Ministry mentor takes on training role

“Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has announced that the Rev Mat Yeo will be the new Director of Ministry Training and Development, starting in 2026.

‘I’m delighted that Mat has accepted my invitation,’ Archbishop Raffel said. ‘Mat has been involved with recently ordained clergy as a Ministry Mentor and has a passion for seeing people recruited, equipped and supported in local church ministry in our Sydney Anglican fellowship.

‘He has been a fruitful and much-loved pastor at Hurstville Grove for over twenty-two years and will bring to this role a wealth of experience in training and equipping people for ministry.’ …

In paying tribute to MT& D Director Gary O’Brien, who retires at the end of the year, the Archbishop said ‘I’m deeply thankful to the Lord for the work that has been done by Gary O’Brien over the last 11 years.’…”

– Story from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

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.

Joint statement on the NSW floods

Joint statement on the NSW floods

Our hearts ache for the people of the Mid-North, Hunter and other areas of New South Wales suffering in the current flood crisis.

We pray for the tireless work of emergency workers and first responders as they guard and save lives. May God give them strength and endurance. We cry out to God for families grieving the loss of loved ones, homes and businesses. May they find comfort and hope.

We give thanks for the countless acts of neighbourliness, kindness and help, and for the resilience of these communities.

As Anglicare, Samaritans and local churches gear up for the recovery operation ahead, may God bless their efforts to share the love and compassion of Christ with a hurting community.

May those who suffer cling to the hope of restoration through the God who makes all things new.

The Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of NSW

The Right Reverend Dr Peter Stuart, Bishop of Newcastle

The Right Reverend Dr Murray Harvey, Bishop of Grafton

23 May 2025.

– via SydneyAnglicans.net

The Christian’s daily battle

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  (Titus 2:11-13)

“Paul’s letter to Titus takes as one of its central themes ‘knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness’ (Titus 1:1).

The apostle is eager to show the relationship between the ‘grace of God that has appeared’ in Jesus, and the ‘self-controlled, upright and godly lives’ that are the fruit of God’s grace in the lives of those who ‘wait for the blessed hope’. …”

– Archbishop Kanishka Raffel writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.

(Also in the print edition of Southern Cross magazine, May-June 2025.)

The foreigner, the fatherless, the widow

“As I read the Bible, I’m struck by God’s heart for the most vulnerable.

In the Old Testament, we repeatedly see God’s tender care for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. These groups were particularly vulnerable, not just because they lacked money and possessions, but because they had lost important relationships – and the security, provision, and love these relationships bring.

Throughout the Bible, God calls his people to care for these groups of people. And today, around the world, compelled by Christ’s love, Anglican Aid’s partners are taking this to heart. …”

– Anglican Aid’s Canon Tim Swan introduces their End of Financial Year Appeal.

Praying for the Melbourne Election Synod

The Election Synod of the Diocese of Melbourne meets on Friday and Saturday of this week (23 and 24 May) to elect a new Archbishop.

They ask for your prayers in this process.

Last week, the Board of Nominators released their report to Synod which contains the names of the Candidates for election. The list of Candidates is not public. As the Board of Nominators explains:

“The information about the Candidates is confidential to Synod members. 

We are conscious that when candidates agree to be part of the process there is the potential for disruption to their current and ongoing ministry. Therefore we offer them confidentiality as a gesture of love and care for them and their pastoral ministries. The names of the candidates are not public and we ask that Synod members keep them confidential to other Synod members only.

However, candidates themselves have always been free to share information about their own candidacy with others.…”

Lists circulated online suggest that four candidates will be considered by the Election Synod.

The Board of Nominators has published this prayer:

“For the members of our Synod, as it elects a new Archbishop:

Loving Lord Jesus, who seeks for your people to be one,
as you and the Father are one: grant to the members of our Synod
the same unity of heart and spirit that is your will
as they elect a new Archbishop for our Diocese.
Enable them to discharge their weighty duties with care,
each member voting without fear or favour for the person
who, before God, they believe ought to be chosen as our chief pastor.
For you are alive, with the Father and the Spirit, now and forever. Amen.”

Diocese of North Queensland “on the brink of financial collapse” — report

“The Anglican Diocese of North Queensland is on the brink of financial collapse as it struggles to pay millions of dollars in compensation to victims of child sexual abuse.

Bishop Keith Joseph has revealed the diocese, which covers more than a third of Queensland, needs to find about $8 million to pay its victims.

The diocese is now preparing a Supreme Court application to formally restructure so it can sell assets to pay the compensation. …”

– Report from ABC News.

Map with thanks to the Diocese of North Queensland.

Authentic Anglicanism

What is an Anglican? How is Anglicanism being stretched out of shape to be unrecognisable? Sydney’s Doctrine Commission has produced a report on authentic Anglicanism and the following is an abridged version, with some language simplified for general reading.

“ ‘Anglicanism’ is the label attached to a form of Christian corporate life that traces its theological convictions and ecclesiastical practice to the New Testament, with an especially formative period during the English Reformation.

Its congregations are part of the ‘one holy catholic and apostolic church’ confessed in the ecumenical creeds, yet they share distinctives that mark them out from other communions and denominations. …”

– Dr Mark Thompson writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.

(Mark is Chairman of the Sydney Doctrine Commission.)

Southern Cross May – June 2025

The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine (May – June 2025) is now downloadable from SydneyAnglicans.net.

If you attend a Sydney Anglican church, you should be able to pick up a printed copy there.

 

Bishop of Bathurst’s Newsletter: HOPE25 Edition – May 2025

Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder has released the latest Bishop’s newsletter for your prayers and encourgament.

– Read it online here. Or download the PDF file.

 

Malawi: A graduate’s holistic ministry

“Visiting Anglican Aid projects at the end of last year was a joy! I witnessed how God is working through your support to grow and strengthen his church in some of the world’s poorest nations. I could see how our long-term partnerships in the gospel were bearing fruit.

I was encouraged to meet Rev. David Mponda, Pastor of Thyolo Parish in the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi …”

– Canon Tim Swan shares great encouragement from Malawi.

Broken plates illuminate gospel message

“Broken plates transformed with gold helped participants explore Easter’s redemption story at a workshop hosted by St Jude’s Parkville last month.

More than 40 people attended the kintsugi workshop where they repaired cracked plates while reflecting on how Christ’s sacrifice mends human brokenness. …”

– At The Melbourne Anglican, Hannah Felsbourg shares news of an innovative way of sharing the gospel.

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