November – December 2026 Southern Cross

The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine is now available from the Diocese of Sydney.

Copies will be available in parishes – and you can also read it online.

New Creation Kids — a new resource from Youthworks

Next week, Youthworks is launching New Creation Kids, a Bible-centred children’s ministry curriculum designed to help churches teach the whole Bible as one connected story, with Jesus at its centre.

We’re glad to share this information from Youthworks –

A new creation for the next generation

It started with three questions children’s ministry leaders kept asking. Eighteen months later, Youthworks’ answer is ready for churches.

If you’ve ever led a kids’ church program, you’ll know the moment. A seven-year-old puts up her hand halfway through the lesson and asks a question so sharp you have to stop and think. Children grow as disciples of Jesus when church, home and their wider church family are all opening the same Bible with them. That conviction sits at the heart of New Creation Kids, a new children’s ministry curriculum from Youthworks Media that opens to churches on 2nd November.

Three questions

It began with listening. In the churches Youthworks partners with, children’s ministry leaders kept raising the same three questions. What curriculum should we use? How can we train and grow our leaders? And how can we better partner with families in discipling our kids?

Rather than answer them one at a time, Youthworks’ Ministry Support Team set out to answer all three together. For the last 18 months they have been working alongside children’s ministry workers in local Australian churches, building one curriculum that teaches the Bible richly, invests in the leaders who teach it and brings families into the conversation. Volume 1 is now ready for use in 2027.

“Our hope is that New Creation Kids will grow leaders who love discipling children and are equipped to create age-appropriate, engaging and Jesus-centred teaching times. From the beginning, we wanted to build in leader training and provide practical ways to partner with families — something that can often feel overwhelming for busy kids’ ministry teams.” – Annemarie Rivers (Children’s Ministry & Primary SRE Advisor)

The whole story, with Jesus at the centre

Children love a good story, and the Bible is the greatest one there is. New Creation Kids takes children through all of it over three years, with six months in the Old Testament and six in the New Testament each year. Along the way they work through the Old Testament narrative, the Gospels, the early church and some key topical series. Each year has four 12-week units, plus a holiday series and an Advent series. Year 1 begins in Luke and Acts, then heads back to Genesis and Exodus.

Each week, children see how that Sunday’s passage fits into one great story with Jesus at the centre. Youthworks is convinced that children aren’t disciples-in-waiting. They can know God, understand the gospel and grow in faith now, so the lessons are written to stretch them, not just keep them busy.

Leaders who grow as they teach

Children’s ministry in our churches runs on faithful volunteers, and many of them learned to prepare a Bible talk at Youthworks’ LIT conferences. New Creation Kids builds on that same training. Each week’s leader notes use the LIT Teaching Target, and instead of one scripted lesson, leaders get several teaching approaches, discussion guides, games, activities and craft ideas to make the week their own.

Every series opens with an overview of its theology, and a podcast episode for every week talks through the passage and how to bring it to life for children. Picture a leader listening on the drive home on a Thursday and walking into kids’ church on Sunday already excited about the passage.

“I’m excited for leaders to spend time in the Bible for themselves as they prepare. For leaders to have all the pieces they need for teaching children and then to create a way to teach the Bible to the specific kids in front of them each week.” – Cam Harte (Children’s Ministry & Primary SRE Advisor, Southern Sydney Region)

Sunday at church, Tuesday at the dinner table

Kids church has one hour on a Sunday morning. Families have the rest of the week. Therefore, every week comes with home reading cards for children, a weekly family discussion guide and a parent devotional that follows along with what children are learning. The passage a child hears at church can be the one the family opens together over dinner during the week. 

Every lesson has a primary school version and a preschool adaptation on the same passage, so the whole children’s ministry is in the same part of the story. That works whether a church has one mixed group or separate classes for every age, and it means parents with a four-year-old and a nine-year-old get to have one conversation, not two.

Ready for 2027

The New Creation Kids site opens on 2 November, and churches can start teaching it in January 2027, in time for the new ministry year.

In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul writes that if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. That’s the hope New Creation Kids is built around: that the children in our churches will come to know God for themselves.

Find out more at newcreationkids.org.

Giving thanks for Daniel Willis

From Gafcon:

“The Global Anglican Communion gives thanks to God for the life and faithful ministry of the Revd Canon Daniel Lawrence Willis, who went to be with the Lord on 26 October 2026, aged 72.

Daniel served as the Conference Director for GAFCON III in Jerusalem in 2018, bringing together nearly 2,000 Anglican leaders and delegates from around the world for a historic gathering. His exceptional organisational abilities, strategic insight and commitment to the gospel made an invaluable contribution to the success of that conference.

In March 2020, Daniel commenced his role as Gafcon’s Global Operations Manager, serving until his retirement in 2024. During these years, he provided dedicated service to the Global Secretariat, navigating the considerable challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic while supporting the growing fellowship of orthodox Anglicans around the world. He also played a significant role in the preparations for GAFCON IV in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2023.

Daniel will be remembered for his faithful service to Christ, his considerable organisational and strategic gifts, and his deep commitment to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ among the nations.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Daniel’s wife, Karen, their children Bec, Flick and Josh, and their seven grandchildren. Please join us in giving thanks to God for Daniel’s life and ministry, and in praying that his family will know the comfort and certain hope of the resurrection through our Lord Jesus Christ.

‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ (Matthew 25:21).”

– From Gafcon’s Facebook page.

In addition to all that’s outlined above, we give much thanks to the Lord for Daniel’s many years of ministry in Sydney, including at Frenchs Forest, the Cathedral, and with the Bible Society, as well as on the ACL’s Council.

Inside Sydney — by Bruce Ballantine-Jones — free e-Book download

In 2016, former ACL President Bruce Ballantine-Jones OAM published a significant history of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney.-

Inside Sydney: An Insider’s view of the changes and politics in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, 1966-2013

Bruce has made an e-Book version available for free download.

It’s available on this page in our Resources section.

(Thanks to SydneyAnglicans.net for the photo of Bruce.)

Lessons, Bruises & Wins: 15 years of Vine Church with Toby Neal

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“They said a Bible-believing church would never grow in Sydney’s secular heartland.

But 15 years after planting Vine Church in Surry Hills with just 12 adults, Toby Neal leads a church community of more 380, with over 160 professions of faith.

Yet the journey has been anything but smooth — hostile media coverage, a controversial merger and a church that suddenly stopped growing.

Senior Pastor & planter Toby Neal says the most confronting discovery was that he himself had become the barrier to further growth — so what went wrong and how did he need to change?”

– Watch here.

No excuses on Gambling

“Sydney Anglicans delivered a firm message to the Federal Parliament, demanding a total ban on online gambling advertising and inducements.

Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant, who chairs the Diocesan Social Issues Committee, urged a senate inquiry to fully adopt the recommendations of the landmark parliamentary inquiry chaired by the late MP Peta Murphy, titled ‘You Win Some, You Lose More’. …”

– Story by Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Strategic appointments to boost gospel outreach

From Russell Powell –

“The newly established Evangelism and Ministry Partnerships (EMP) organisation has announced two key appointments aimed at strengthening communications and expanding gospel opportunities among unreached people groups.

Interim EMP director, the Rev Phil Colgan has announced Francis Loh will be the Director of Media and Communications.

Mr Loh has more than 25 years of experience in communications, branding and creative strategy in various leadership roles. …

Alongside the communications appointment, Bishop Peter Hayward, who has just retired as Bishop of Wollongong, will join EMP in a part-time role, focussed on efforts to reach people with low access to the gospel. …”

– Read it all at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Reflections from the 2026 Sydney Synod

From The Australian Church Record –

“The Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney ran this year from ran this year from 14 to 22 September, with sessions held over five days.

The ACR caught up with Greta Morris, a lay member of Synod from St Paul’s Canterbury, and Andrew Levy, rector at St Anne’s Ryde, to hear what stood out to them during Synod, what encouraged or challenged them, and what they are praying for as the Diocese of Sydney looks to the future. …”

– Read their reflections here.

Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net.

See also the Synod Summary for Rectors, Synod representatives, wardens and parish councillors.

“The Synod made 58 resolutions, passed 3 ordinances, and filled 256 positions on boards, councils, and committees. This circular outlines the key features of the Synod’s proceedings with respect to parishes.”

“What does a bishop do?”

From SydneyAnglicans.net –

“Hundreds gathered to farewell Bishop Peter Hayward and his wife Julie at Figtree Anglican Church in Wollongong as tributes praised his faithful pastoral leadership and unwavering commitment to God’s people. …”

– Report from Russell Powell.

Archbishop Raffel announces key ministry appointment

“The Rev Caroline Litchfield has been appointed Archdeacon for the Ministry of Women in the Diocese of Sydney, bringing more than two decades of ministry experience to a role supporting hundreds of women serving across churches and diocesan organisations.

‘This is a key role encouraging and promoting the ministry of women in our diocese,’ said Archbishop Raffel in making the announcement. …”

– Story from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Australian and English evangelicals: A conversation with Andrew Atherstone

From Lionel Windsor at The Australian Church Record –

“Andrew Atherstone is Professor of Modern Anglicanism at the University of Oxford. He has been in Sydney for the Annual Moore College Lectures, held in August 2026, on Anglican Evangelicalism in the Age of John Stott, Jim Packer and Dick Lucas: Surviving and Thriving in a Mixed-up Denomination.

The lectures explored the recent history of Anglican evangelicals in England and the question of whether to stay or leave in the face of liberal and heterodox bishops.

In this interview, the ACR asked Andrew particularly about the mutual influence between Australian and English evangelicals, and the contribution of some key Australian figures. …”

– Read the interview here.

(Interestingly, he mentions a link to the Diocese of Bathurst.)

Love for our Jewish neighbours

Russell Powell reports from Sydney Synod:

“Symbolically moved on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney has rejected anti-semitism and called for prayer for ‘our Jewish neighbours’ in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.

Moved by the Rev Andrew Bruce, the Synod lamented anti-semitism in Australia and ‘encourages all Sydney Anglicans to guard against any form of racism in our lives or in our churches’. …”

– Read the full story here.

Anglican Aid’s Annual Report 2025-26

The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid has published it sAnnual Report for 2025-26.

“Your gifts and prayers have helped to strengthen churches and transform communities in the world’s poorest nations.

You have helped provide clean water, food, emergency supplies, access to education, medical care, and Bible training to participants of more than 140 projects in 30 countries. …”

Download your copy to understand better what this key organisation is doing on behalf of Sydney Anglicans.Very encouraging and much cause for thanksgiving.

Gafcon gives thanks for Sydney Synod formally welcoming the Abuja Affirmation

From Gafcon:

“Praise God that this week the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia passed a motion formally welcoming the Abuja Affirmation and giving thanks for the reordering of the Anglican Communion as the Global Anglican Communion.

We rejoice in the Synod’s recognition of Sydney’s ‘joyful partnership with the Global Anglican Communion’, flowing from its longstanding partnership with Gafcon since the lead-up to Jerusalem 2008, its commitment to the Jerusalem Declaration, and its practice of principled disengagement from the Canterbury Instruments of Communion.

Please pray for The Most Revd Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of New South Wales, as he serves as a member of the Global Anglican Council. Pray for wisdom and faithfulness at this significant moment in the establishment of the Global Anglican Communion, strengthening faithful Anglicans and advancing the proclamation of Christ throughout the world.”

– Source. Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net.

Related: The Abuja Affirmation.

Thanks from Bathurst

From the Diocese of Bathurst –

“This afternoon Bishop Mark addressed Sydney Synod to say ‘thank you’.

Reflecting on what Christ has accomplished across the Diocese over the past seven years — new gospel workers, growing attendance and Bible study groups, and a significant increase in children’s and youth ministry — he warmly thanked Archbishop Kanishka and members of Synod for their extraordinary partnership:

‘Without your vision and generosity, none of this would have been possible. Thank you for believing that gospel ministry in regional and rural New South Wales, matters. To God be the glory!’ ”

– Text and photo from the Bathurst diocese Facebook page.

Next Page →