And so it begins — Archbishop of Sydney Election Synod
“The four nominees for the election of the next Archbishop of Sydney sat quietly in the public gallery as the Election Synod got underway.
The first session, which was the only session open to the public, included a Bible study by the Reverend Simon Manchester and an address by the Synod President, Bishop Peter Lin. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net Russell Powell reports on the start of the Election Synod.
Your prayers for each of the men pictured above, and for the election process, would be greatly valued.
The future is face-to-face
“As a COVID-shortened Synod opened in Sydney and the delegates prepare to elect a new Archbishop, the Administrator, Bishop Peter Hayward has covered plenty of ground in his Presidential Address.
The one day Synod – postponed from October last year – got underway on Monday, May 3, at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour – a venue suitable for the more than 600 delegates to meet with COVID-safe practices.
Bishop Hayward, who is the Administrator until a new Archbishop is inaugurated, gave the traditional Synod report …”
– Read Russell Powell’s report on the one-day Sydney Synod, and please continue in prayer for the Election Synod beginning tomorrow.
Australian Church Record Journal for Autumn 2021
The latest Australian Church Record Journal (for Autumn 2021) has been posted on their website.
This issue focusses on topics relating to the election of the next Archbishop of Sydney.
(Note that the ACL does not have a preferred nominee but encourages continued prayer for the Election Synod and each of the Nominees.)
Common Prayer for Homes — a new resource
Repost: Originally posted 04 April 2020 – a reminder of this locally produced resource:
From the Better Gatherings website (an initiative of the Diocese of Sydney), here is a very helpful addition to use when you can’t meet in church.
“A new liturgical resource has been completed which provides flexible forms of household worship to serve the churches, by complementing the spiritual resources already being offered during this difficult period: Common Prayer for Homes: Resources for Family Worship.
We trust it will be of some assistance to the ministry already taking place in homes, and ultimately we hope that it provides some good benefit to the spiritual lives of Christ’s flock.”
“Common Prayer for Homes” contains:
- HOUSEHOLD WORSHIP – 1ST ORDER
a classic approach to Christian worship, easily modified for any household - HOUSEHOLD WORSHIP – 2ND ORDER
another classic approach to Christian worship, with various options to suit many households - HOUSEHOLD WORSHIP WITH KIDS
a simple approach to Christian worship which is suitable and easily adaptable for young children - MORNING PRAYERS FOR EVERY DAY
an all-in-one guide to morning prayers for each day of the week, for group or individual use - VARIOUS PRAYERS FOR THE HOME
a short collection of prayers which can be prayed in our homes - COLLECTS
this traditional name is given to short and beautiful prayers which cover the whole year, and special occasions.
Download “Common Prayer for Homes” from Better Gatherings. – and do share widely.
Here is some encouragement from the back cover:
Read the Holy Scriptures humbly with a meek and lowly heart, to the intent that you may glorify God, and not yourself, with the knowledge of it. And read it not without daily praying to God, that he would direct your reading to good effect.
– Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556)
Therefore, confident in your holy teaching and promises, and all the more since we are gathered here in your presence and in the name of your Son our Lord Jesus; we fondly plead with you, our good God and Father, that in the name of our only Saviour and Mediator, by your infinite mercy, you would freely forgive our transgressions and so draw and lift our thoughts and desires to you, that from our whole heart we may seek you, and that according to your good pleasure and will, which alone is reasonable.
– John Calvin (1509-1564)
The Almighty Lord, which is a most strong tower to all that put their trust in him, to whom all things in heaven, in earth, and under earth, do bow and obey: be now and evermore your defence, and make you know and feel, that there is no other name under heaven given to man, in whom, and through whom, you may receive health and salvation, but only the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
– from the Book of Common Prayer (1549)
Related:
We ask Mark Earngey about ‘Common Prayer for Homes’
PM and Premier join in prayer for the Royal Family
“It was to have been a normal Sunday at St Andrew’s Cathedral, but then news broke, late on Friday night, of the death of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The service was expanded, not as a memorial service, but as an opportunity to pray for the Royal Family and express sympathy, love and respect on the Duke’s passing…”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell reports on this morning’s service at the Cathedral.
Photo: Bianca De Marchi, NCA Newswire via SydneyAnglicans.net
Mourning Prince Philip (updated)
From SydneyAnglicans.net –
The Commonwealth is in mourning after the death of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh.
“The passing of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh is an immense sadness and our thoughts immediately turn to Her Majesty, the Queen and the Royal Family in their grief,” said Bishop Peter Hayward, the Administrator of Sydney Diocese, in a statement soon after the news was announced.
“A marriage of over 70 years standing and a life of service to the Commonwealth through war and peace, is a testament to Prince Philip’s loving care and strong sense of duty. We are praying for Her Majesty, the Queen and her family, that they may know the comfort of Christ at this difficult time. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Ps 91:1”
An official memorial service is not likely until funeral arrangements have been finalised in London. However, the Governor-General, the Prime Minster and the Premier will be attending St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney tomorrow morning, taking the opportunity to pray for Her Majesty, the Queen, and the Royal family.
Photo: The condolence book and portrait standing in the Cathedral.
The service will be livestreamed from the cathedral and will be led by the Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel and Bishop Hayward will preach.
Update:
The Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, has written these prayers which you may wish to use in church tomorrow. (PDF file via SydneyAnglicans.net)
Continued prayers urged for Nominees for Archbishop of Sydney
The election Synod to elect the next Archbishop of Sydney begins on Tuesday 4th May 2021. Read more
Archbishop Glenn Davies’ Easter Message 2021
Just before his retirement last week as Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Glenn Davies recorded this 79 second Easter message.
Great to share! Include it in your church service or video for this weekend! (The 38MB mp4 file can be downloaded here for use in church services.)
Here’s the full text, courtesy of SydneyAnglicans.net.
Easter the perfect lockdown that broke the chains of death, church says – SMH
“One church has characterised the death and resurrection of Christ celebrated at Easter as the perfect three-day lockdown that broke the chains of death. …”
– This Sydney Morning Herald story highlights the Easter ‘sign’ at All Saints Nowra.
Standing Committee speeches in appreciation of Archbishop Glenn Davies
The meeting of the Standing Committee of Sydney Diocese on Monday 22 March 2021 was the last presided over by Archbishop Glenn Davies before his retirement.
Canon Sandy Grant and Dr Karin Sowada proposed the following motion.
“Standing Committee, noting that this is Archbishop Glenn Davies’ last meeting as President of the Standing Committee, records its gratitude to God for the Archbishop’s significant work and ministry over many years, including –
- his ministry in the parish of Willoughby between 1981 and 1982,
- his service, as Lecturer at Moore Theological College from 1983 to 1995,
- his ministry in the parish of Miranda between 1995 and 2001,
- from 2002, his ministry as Bishop of North Sydney until 2013, and
- from 2013 his ministry to us as Archbishop, including his presidency of the Synod and the Standing Committee, his leadership of the Sydney Diocese at General Synod, his ministry and leadership as Metropolitan of NSW, and to the global Anglican church through GAFCON and the Global South Anglican Fellowship (GSA).
The Standing Committee gives thanks in particular for his faithful service, including his willingness to postpone retirement in a time of exceptional need, his commitment to good and godly order in the business of the Diocese, his pastoral heart, sense of humour, and ability to foster and maintain relationships.
The Standing Committee sends its best wishes to Glenn and Dianne, and prays for God’s continued blessing on them and the new ministries they will exercise in future.”
With thanks to Sandy and Karin, here are the notes from their speeches to move and second the motion –
Canon Sandy Grant:
I first met Glenn Davies as a 21 year old Moore College student, who had the blessing of being assigned to his chaplaincy group in first year. Aided by a lovely mix of more senior students, it was in no small measure due to Glenn’s energetic, friendly and caring ministry that this chaplaincy group was the best of my four great years at Moore College. I recall a personal, pastoral visit he paid to my room in single quarters, well after hours. I have no idea of the substance, but I knew he cared.
It is about 30 years later, and it is a mark of Glenn’s profound Christian character that someone like me has been asked to move this motion of appreciation, since I have sometimes been a critic of a decision Glenn made, or some policy move he pushed. (Other times it is just pedantry of a lesser standard, or should I say, more precisely, a grasp of intricate detail that is less gifted and less incisive that may have irritated!) But Glenn has always engaged with feedback and criticism, even when it must have been a pain to do so amongst the enormous weight of meetings and correspondence that lands on an Archbishop’s desk. More than that, he has never made anything personal and has always given generous encouragement to keep contributing. Thank you.
I also mention my deep appreciation for Glenn and Dianne’s prayers for the children of clergy and lay ministers, while they have been sitting the HSC exams, from which my own three daughters and many others benefitted.
Now I have spoken to a number of clergy on the Standing Committee, and in what follows, I am often paraphrasing them or quoting them directly, as I express our thanks to God in appreciation for Glenn’s ministry especially as Bishop and Archbishop.
One rector from the Northern Region said, “I’m grateful that Glenn seized opportunities to proclaim Christ and so supported a local church in their ministry…including a time while as Bishop of North Sydney, he agreed to baptise some young adults in the harbour just near Neutral Bay wharf.” (By the way, as an editorial comment from a fellow stickler for process, it must have given that rector great comfort to know that the bishop judged that the circumstances of that particular outdoors baptism met all the canons, ordinances, regulations and protocols that we operate under!) Anyway, I’m told that as Glenn waded out in his episcopal ‘boardies’, a group of 30 partygoers on an overlooking balcony fell silent, and Glenn used the baptism liturgy as a framework to unashamedly preach the gospel to all within earshot.”
Moving on to the context where many of us have experienced Glenn most often in recent years, to the arenas of Synod and Standing Committee, fellow clergy mentioned these attitudes and attributes. And the first is to underline what I already said:
- “Thankful for the fact that he doesn’t allow difference of opinion on a specific issue to go any further than that issue itself. Even if Glenn doesn’t agree with what I’ve said, it doesn’t change our ongoing interactions.”
- Another incisive comment was regarding the necessity for transition from Standing Committee member to its president. This “has required Glenn to go from participant in debate to presider over debates. Glenn has been able to curb his own opinions and allow the Standing Committee to chart its own course with minimal interference.” For someone with your remarkable gifts and personality, we might that this observe this may have taken significant and admirable discipline.
- Unsurprisingly several noted things like: “Thankful for his commitment to the importance of good governance” / “He got us through long and complex agendas, with us (generally) being able to focus in the right places” / “Ability to guide the SC through complex agenda items, ensuring best process”
- Supporting this were these observations: “Glenn was (most of the time) sensitive to the issues going on behind the scenes.” / “He would often work prior to the meeting to make the meeting smoother.” / I’m thankful for his quiet words of encouragement in breaks and out of meetings.”
- Thinking more widely, one wrote: “I think of Glenn’s faithful leadership in the public sphere especially in relation to abortion and marriage, and his promotion of the gospel and the authority of Scripture in the life of the national church including the Bishops’ Conference and General Synod.
One last thing to note is that Glenn has worked so incredibly hard through the Coronavirus pandemic, going more than an extra mile, but rather a whole extra eight months in what I consider was the hardest year I can recall in my own 27 years of ordained ministry.
Just in the last month, he led a delegation of various faiths to meet the Education Minister, led the meeting, and secured significant gains for SRE in our public schools. So right to the end of his tenure, Glenn’s passion to advocate for the gospel is undiminished.
In the two ordinances I have carriage of tonight, even in the last week, Glenn has worked behind the scenes for a breakthrough on one where things seemed intractable even on Friday, and to grasp and support the re-working of tricky detail of the other.
And lastly and preciously to me and so many, Glenn has been fighting tenaciously for the fair treatment of our churches during COVID and most recently for a lifting of what now seems like unreasonable restrictions on singing inside of churches.
I am very tempted to end by asking Glenn what his favourite hymn is and suggesting we sing it acapella together, since I believe we are in a secondary educational institution here, and there are no restrictions on singing in schools.
But suffice it to say, we give thanks for you, Glenn, dear brother in Christ, along with all that Dianne has meant for you and done for us, in supporting you in your ministry.
And because this is not the end, and only the closing of a chapter, we look forward on the basis of Christ’s triumphant resurrection from the dead and paraphrase Paul to say:
Therefore, our dear brother, continue to stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:58)
Sandy Grant
St Michael’s Cathedral
Wollongong
Dr Karin Sowada:
I second the motion and in doing so extend my personal thanks and appreciation for your leadership over the last 8 years. We first met when you joined Standing Committee as Rector of Miranda in 1996 – 25 years ago – when Harry Goodhew was Archbishop. Even then you were keen on lay administration and the finer points of English grammar.
Relative to some of your predecessors, 8 years as Archbishop and chair of Standing Committee is a short period but we have seen so much social change during that time, change that has required steady, consultative, yet decisive leadership.
To a degree we saw this coming in 2013, but who would have thought same-sex marriage and transgender issues would so challenge religious freedoms to the point where policies were needed for our schools & organisations to protect them from legal action and the ability to live out the Scriptures? Your leadership inside the Diocese and in the public square has enabled the church to meet these challenges through godly wisdom and judgment, and by bringing the best minds to bear on matters of policy, doctrine and through extensive consultation, evidence of which is on our business papers tonight.
Glenn in so many ways you have shown us this measure in good and difficult times. On speaking with some of the laity on Standing Committee, the same themes emerge. Repeatedly, your chairing of meetings and your participation in other entities – Standing Committee, Synod, General Synod Standing Committee – is characterised by many qualities. ‘Steadiness in controversy’, ‘a humble listener and non-interventionist, willing to hear all the voices even if it takes a long time and you have a strong view on the matter’, are words that resonate with many in this room.
Impartiality in the oversight of meetings has been a hallmark of your leadership. One member observed that despite what is said, you never hold a grudge (you can ask me later who said that). But seriously, behind that comment is trust on the part of those in the room because it speaks to your capacity to bring fairness and balance to all the issues before you, and ultimately act within the rubrics of good order, what’s best for the Diocese, and what’s best for the gospel.
Others reflected on your sense of humour and your desire to get the words right. One member even described your humour as cheeky and disarming. Well it definitely diffuses moments of confusion. We have all witnessed you juggling many amendments to the same matter, having to assist said movers with finding the correct words or standing orders, and bringing order into chaos in how to frame decisions for the meeting. In such times I am sure even the Committee Chairs were glad it was you doing it and not them. If that wasn’t enough, you then corrected all the loose grammar, including where to place ‘dangling modifiers’ in the text … someone else’s words not mine!
Others named your sense of humour as helping the business flow, with your disarming laugh and quick wit, especially in moments when humour as encouragement helped dissolve nervousness on the part of a first-time speaker or staff member about to take the microphone.
One final reflection made by a member of the laity was this. You set an expectation in word and deed of courtesy as a value. In this, you treat others with courtesy, and by extension expected that behaviour of others. Indeed I think we have all learned from this model at Standing Committee, an example which has resulted in very few occasions when adverse remarks made during a speech have had to be withdrawn by the speaker. Such an approach produces effective working relationships even in the face of disagreement. This is one of the reasons why you are so widely respected in the halls of political power, the national church and global Anglican church – despite the rifts in theology and ideology.
In closing, I appreciated the way you always finished our meetings with the words of The Grace, delivered with gusto and a smile, despite having endured a tiring night. Tragically, I can hardly hear The Grace now without thinking of these meetings. But in this moment as we say farewell to you and Di, the following words from Numbers 6 seem right –
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
AMEN
Thanking God for Glenn
“Archbishop Glenn Davies and Mrs Di Davies sat in the centre of St Andrew’s Cathedral before a COVID-capped audience which included former Prime Minister John Howard, the Lord Mayor Clover Moore and representatives of Federal and State government as they were given a diocesan send-off to remember.
It was fitting that the Cathedral was given an exemption to allow singing as Dr Davies’ term had been extended due to COVID, and he had campaigned for churches to be allowed to serve their communities as much and as safely as possible. …”
– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net reports on last night’s Farewell Service for Archbishop Glenn and Mrs Di Davies.
Farewell Service for Archbishop Glenn and Mrs Dianne Davies
Archbishop Glenn and Mrs Dianne Davies will be farewelled at a special Service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney this evening (Friday 26th March 2021) from 7:00pm.
Since seating at the Cathedral is at capacity, the proceedings will be streamed live here.
Goodhew, godliness and the Gong
“Three living Archbishops of Sydney were in attendance but the spotlight was firmly on the oldest of them, Harry Goodhew, who had turned 90 just that week. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell reports on the launch of a biography of former Archbishop of Sydney Harry Goodhew.
Sing your heart out this Easter
“The NSW Premier has announced churches will be allowed to sing again without masks this Easter.
Singing has been under a cloud since the start of COVID and even the concessions of masks were reeled back at the outbreak in Sydney’s North Beaches late last year.
Now, the Premier says restrictions on singing at places of worship will be lifted, from next Monday, March 29. …”
– Russell Powell has good news at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Prayers for the Nomination of Candidates for Archbishop of Sydney
The period for Synod members to nominate candidates for election as Archbishop of Sydney is almost over.
Nominations must be received by the Nomination Officer by 5:00pm on Tuesday 23rd March 2021.
Please pray for all who may be considering nominating someone, and those who may be nominated.
Please pray that the whole process will be to the Lord’s honour and glory.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…