Annette Anderson to be Anglican Dean at Nungalinya College, Darwin
“We are delighted to share that Annette Anderson will be taking up the position of Anglican Dean at Nungalinya College from Monday 10 November 2025.
Annette faithfully served as a CMS missionary from 1995 -2006 in both Darwin and Numbulwar and is no stranger to Nungalinya College, having worked there as a valued teacher since 2015. The 11 years she has dedicated to the college has provided Annette with a deep knowledge of the courses, students, and churches they come from.
Annette will serve all the remote Aboriginal Anglican parishes in the Northern Territory, facilitating the next generation of Church Leaders and Lay people to travel to Nungalinya where she will continue to support them during their studies.
Annette is married to Bishop Greg Anderson and has four children.
Please join us in congratulating Mrs Annette Anderson and upholding her in our prayers.”
– From the Diocese of the Northern Territory.
And a good reminder to give thanks for, and to pray for, the ministry of Nungalinya College.
Southern Cross November-December 2025
The latest copy of Southern Cross magazine from the Diocese of Sydney is now available.
If you don’t see a copy in your local church, you can read it online.
State Funeral for John Laws
The State Funeral for John Laws CBE will be held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral on Wednesday 19th November at 1:30pm.
Good to keep all involved in your prayers.
Antisemitic slurs must be rejected
Here is a media release from the Diocese of Sydney:
Antisemitic slurs must be rejected
The rally staged outside the New South Wales Parliament on Saturday has rightly drawn condemnation from across the community – particularly as it occurred on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the 1938 pogrom against Germany’s Jewish community.
The black-uniformed protestors, carrying banners with the slogan ‘Abolish the Jewish Lobby,’ were clearly intent on spreading fear and antisemitism.
Authorities must investigate whether Saturday’s neo-Nazi rally in Sydney breached laws against inciting racial hatred.
Christians are defenders of free speech. We prize the freedom to declare ‘the praises of Him who called (us) out of darkness into his wonderful light’.
This includes defending the freedom of others to disagree with us, and even to mock the truth we proclaim.
But speech that incites hatred is illegal in New South Wales.
Antisemitism has traded in lies, hate and violence for centuries. When it appears in modern day Australia it must be named, resisted and rejected.
Antisemitism—whether from the far left or far right—has no place in Australian society.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
10 November 2025.
– from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Since God so loved us – Sandy Grant and Rob Elder
“St Andrew’s Cathedral has always played a significant role in Sydney caring for the needs of the surrounding community. During and after World War II (1940-1947), approximately 3.5 million meals were given to active and returning soldiers in temporary Nissen huts erected on Cathedral grounds – the combined efforts of approximately 900 volunteers working for the Church of England National Emergency Fund (CENEF).
Over the last couple of decades, like many other church communities, the Cathedral has offered free English classes to serve the needs of overseas migrants and visitors. Bible reading is included as part of the approach – very appropriately, since the Bible and its message is so influential on our language, laws and culture.
Most recently, we have been especially delighted with the impact of Reverend Rob Elder on our ministry. Rob, a Moore College graduate, was appointed Community Chaplain at the start of 2024, and his position is funded by the Myfanwy Peters Estate for the relief of the needy in CBD of Sydney. …”
– Learn about and pray for this important ministry. Via the Moore College website.
Melbourne Diocese plans 30 new churches, 30 revitalisations by 2030
From The Melbourne Anglican:
“The Melbourne diocese has a vision to plant 30 new churches and revitalise 30 existing ones by 2030 as growth corridors expand without an Anglican presence to serve them.
The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne Church Planting vision and strategy was officially launched at a Melbourne Anglican Foundation fundraising event on Thursday, 23 October. …”
Image: Archbishop-Elect Ric Thorpe at The Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication in the United Kingdom. Although this Melbourne plan predates the new Archbishop’s arrival, it aligns closely with what he has been working to do in London.
(Archbishop Thorpe will be installed at St Paul’s Cathedral on Advent Sunday 30 November 2025.)
Adelaide bids fond farewell to Archbishop Geoff Smith
“The Anglican Diocese of Adelaide on Saturday 1 November bid a very fond farewell to the Most Reverend Geoffrey Smith, who has served as Archbishop for more than eight years. …”
— Report and photo from the Adelaide Diocese Guardian.
Doubtless, members of the Diocese of Adelaide would crave your prayers as they move to elect a new Archbishop to lead the diocese.
Photo: Archbishop Geoff Smith greets the Governor of South Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson.
Anglican Aid — In fellowship with GAFCON
From The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid:
“Anglican Aid gives thanks to God for the gospel faithfulness of the leadership of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), following their recent statement regarding the future of the Anglican Communion. This announcement is a declaration that the Anglican Communion would not centre around a person or an office, but rest on a single foundation: the Word of God.
As the overseas aid, development, and ministry support agency of the Sydney Anglican Diocese, Anglican Aid is committed to resourcing churches in the world’s poorest countries with faithful servants trained in the word of God. We are building and resourcing theological colleges and supporting the training of over 2,500 people for various ministries. Anglican Aid longs to see the word of God faithfully proclaimed to the nations. …”
Photo: Anglican Aid CEO Tim Swan with Archbishop Ande from the Anglican Church of Congo.
Bathurst Newsletter: All Saints 2025
“All Saints’ – because we are ALL Saints!”
The latest Bathurst Diocesan Newsletter is available on their website.
Religious freedom concerns raised at cult inquiry
“Religious freedom advocates have warned recommendations to criminalise coercive control in cults could target mainstream churches and faith communities.
The Victorian Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee’s inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups is holding public hearings. …
In hearings on 21 October, the Australian Christian Lobby and Freedom for Faith raised fears the inquiry’s outcome would affect how Christians practice and teach their faith. …”
– Hannah Felsbourg writes at The Melbourne Anglican.
Adelaide Synod 2025: walking together into another year
The Diocese of Adelaide held its 2025 Synod last weekend. It was the last for Archbishop Geoff Smith, who concludes his time as Archbishop on 1st November:
“The Adelaide Anglican Synod for 2025 concluded its annual session on Sunday, marked by an emphasis on synodality, youth engagement, and a move toward streamlined ministry governance.
Held once again at Starplex at Trinity College Gawler, due to the very high satisfaction survey last year, the session was, once again, affirming for Synod members to listen carefully, and speak respectfully, acting synodically – flourishing and united in God’s Love.
The weekend began with the Synod Eucharist held on Friday 16 October at St Peter’s Cathedral. During the beautiful service a new Archdeacon was collated, four new area Deans for the Triennium were commissioned and four members of the laity were awarded Diocesan extraordinary service ‘Archbishop’s Pins’.…”
– Secretary of Synod Joe Thorp reports at The Adelaide Guardian.
See also:
Archbishop Geoff Smith’s final Presidential Address to Synod – PDF.
Bathurst Diocese Ministry Opportunities October 2025
The Diocese of Bathurst has posted its latest page of Ministry Opportunities.
New to the list is the parish of Blayney, Millthorpe, Barry and Trunkey.
Sydney Standing Committee welcomes Gafcon announcement
From SydneyAnglicans.net, a Public Statement from the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Sydney –
“Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Public Statement
At its meeting on 20th October, 2025 passed the following resolution welcoming Gafcon’s announcement on the future of the Anglican Communion.
‘Standing Committee –
(a) welcomes the attached 16 October 2025 statement by the Most Rev Laurent Mbanda, the Chairman of the Gafcon Primates Council, entitled ‘The Future has Arrived’, and commits itself to pray for the Global Anglican Communion,
(b) humbly prays that the Scriptures – the authoritative and life-giving word of Christ – may be firmly established at the heart of every parish and diocese within the Anglican Church of Australia. To this end, we commit ourselves to working faithfully through the structures of the Australian Church, and
(c) encourages all Sydney Bishops to attend the GAFCON gathering of the world’s orthodox Anglican Bishops in Abuja, Nigeria, from 3 to 6 March 2026.’
Sydney, October 20, 2025.”
– Source.
The Anglican future is here
“In a much anticipated announcement, the leaders of the Global Anglican Future Conference who represent the majority of Anglicans worldwide have begun the re-ordering of the Anglican Communion.
‘The future has arrived,’ said GAFCON in an eight-point plan symbolically released on the day of Commemoration of the martyrdom of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, Anglican leaders who stood for biblical truth. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell reports on the Gafcon announcement, as well as reactions from Sydney.
See also (and quoted in the above article), this Media release from Bishop Peter Hayward, Commissary for the Archbishop of Sydney:
The Global Anglican Future statement on the Anglican Communion
In an initial statement responding to the announcement by Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, Bishop Peter Hayward, Commissary for the Archbishop of Sydney, said:
“We are thankful to God for the biblical faithfulness and clarity of the GAFCON primates. Their decisiveness at such a critical time gives comfort to orthodox Anglicans worldwide and supports mission with authentic, loving and truthful witness.”
Bishop Peter Hayward
Commissary for the Archbishop of Sydney (on leave)
18 October 2025.
Photo: The first GAFCON gathering in Jerusalem, 2008.
Finance industry leader to head Sydney Anglican Services
From SydneyAnglicans.net –
“Andrew Macey, an experienced banking executive, has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Sydney Anglican Services (SAS), the key support organisation for the Sydney Diocese.
Mr Macey has held senior roles for Westpac for more than 20 years, including in specialist finance, human resources and, since 2024, as CEO of the Westpac subsidiary RAMS Financial Group. …”
– Read the full story by Russell Powell.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…