The Rev Dr Ed Loane appointed the 12th Warden of St Paul’s College

News from Mr Mark Elliott, Chairman of the Council of St. Paul’s College at the University of Sydney:

“The St Paul’s College Council is delighted to announce the appointment of the Rev Dr Ed Loane as the 12th Warden of St Paul’s College.

Following an extensive and thorough search, which yielded many high quality applications, we have found the right candidate to lead this exciting next chapter at St Paul’s. …”

– Read it all here.

New role for Bishop Ivan Lee

“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has announced he is seconding Bishop Ivan Lee to work on strengthening church growth in the Diocese, in a new portfolio for the experienced Bishop.

Bishop Lee, who was appointed by Archbishop Jensen in 2003, is the longest-serving Assistant Bishop in Sydney. …

Archbishop Davies is planning, with the concurrence of the Standing Committee, to appoint a new Bishop for Western Sydney by the end of the year.”

– News from SydneyAnglicans.net – and a reminder to uphold Ivan in your prayers.

True Discipleship and The 51st Synod

“He said what?!

By now, most of you would have heard about Archbishop Glenn Davies’ address at the 51st Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney.  It has been quoted and misquoted on social media, the Sydney Morning Herald, and has even reached British shores where I am living, with an article in the Guardian from former Sydney pastor Joel Hollier.

As he has made clear, Archbishop Davies was not calling on those struggling with same-sex attraction to leave the church. We all struggle with sin, which is why the grace and mercy of Christ is such a wonderful message to the world. But there is a difference between struggling with sin, and declaring something not to be a sin. …”

– Tom Habib cuts to the heart of the matter at The Gospel Coalition Australia. Be sure to read it all.

By sad contrast:

“The Bishop of Liverpool [in the Church of England] told the Guardian: ‘I still hope that bishops from Sydney will attend the Lambeth conference next year so that we can all talk together and learn from one another there.

‘Meanwhile, I’m glad that other parts of the Australian church are engaging in dialogue with Sydney and are advocating for a greater inclusion and a wider and more diverse church. It’s good to be in the same communion with all these people.’

Other Church of England bishops declined to comment on Davies’ comments, saying they did not represent mainstream views within the church.”

– from The Guardian.

A Model of Convictional Courage

In his The Briefing podcast for Friday 18 October 2019, Albert Mohler spoke about Archbishop Glenn Davies’ Presidential Address.

“I can only say that I pray for the day that the average evangelical pastor in the United States of America would summon the courage to speak as courageously as the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney on these central and unavoidable issues that are necessary to our understanding of sin and sexuality, but also to gospel and church.”

The segments starts at 09:32 into the programme. Listen or read the transcript.

Marriage motions passed as General Synod support questioned

“If we abandon God’s Word we have nothing to offer the world. That is why this motion is before you tonight,” said the Dean of Sydney Kanishka Raffel as he introduced one of the key motions of the 2019 Synod, one which he said he moved ‘with a heavy heart’.

“My heaviness of heart is because the motion before you addresses not a departure from God’s word in the laws of the land but a departure from God’s word that is being promoted by Bishops and Synods in our Church.” Dean Raffel said. “There is one God and Father of us all, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism – but Bishops and Synods in our church nationally, risk rending the fabric of our fellowship by promoting a theology of marriage that is contrary to Scripture.”

The motion followed the Archbishop’s Presidential Address where he spoke of at least two Dioceses pushing to bless same-sex relationships. A ten-point motion, seconded by Bishop Michael Stead, reaffirmed man/woman marriage as the doctrine of scripture and of the Anglican Church, declared that blessings or affirmations of same-sex marriage are contrary to scripture and called for action where the doctrine was not being upheld.…

– Read the full report by Russell Powell at Anglican Media Sydney.

My words were for the bishops and I stand by them — Archbishop Glenn Davies


“Every year at about this time I am asked, ‘Why don’t you update what you believe – it doesn’t fit with modern Australia.’ The subject lately has been same-sex marriage, but it has been a kaleidoscope of issues over the years.

When representatives of our churches meet at our annual Synod, we do so publicly. Our churches are open to all people in the suburbs of Sydney, the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains, so our governing body is public as well. We do not hide our beliefs, nor are we ashamed of them. People know what we believe and are free to comment on what we do and what we believe. …”

– Archbishop Glenn Davies has written this opinion-piece for The Sydney Morning Herald, regarding reporting of what he said in his Synod Presidential Address on Monday 14th October.

Archbishop Davies was also interviewed on Sydney’s Radio 2GB by Ben Fordham.

Video of Archbishop Glenn Davies’ 2019 Presidential Address

Courtesy of Anglican Media Sydney, watch the full 2019 Presidential Address to Sydney Synod by Archbishop Glenn Davies. Delivered on Monday 14th October. Watch it all. Link to Vimeo. Full text here (PDF file).

Archbishop Davies received a standing ovation from the Synod at the conclusion of his address (as well as sustained applause, at 26:20, after his remarks about bishops who abandon the plain teaching of Scripture).

See also: My words were for the bishops and I stand by them.

ACL Synod Dinner Address 2019

Jay Behan Bishop-elect of the Diocese of the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand, spoke to a packed gathering at the Anglican Church League’s Synod Dinner in Sydney on Monday 14th October.

Jay will be consecrated on Saturday in Christchurch.

Synod members will look forward to next year’s ACL Synod Dinner.

A friendly welcome!

Jay Behan addresses a capacity crowd.

Guarding the faith in a changing world – Archbishop Glenn Davies

“Archbishop Glenn Davies has spoken of the challenges to Christian faith within the Anglican Church in his final Presidential Address to the 2019 Synod of the Diocese of Sydney.

Taking his inspiration from the Pastoral Epistles, which he said had been a regular source of comfort throughout his ministry, Dr Davies said ‘The first priority of the Archbishop of Sydney is to be a guardian of ‘the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints’ (Jude 3). This is true of all those who hold office as a bishop in the church of God.’…”

– Russell Powell has the story on Archbishop Glenn Davies’ Presidential Address.

Read the full text here (PDF file). Well worth reading in full.

or watch the address, courtesy of Anglican Media Sydney.

Moore College Spring Carnival, Saturday 26 October

“A day to come along and check out the College, get an insight into Moore’s in-depth theological training, tour our new building, plus have all your questions answered by faculty and students. A presentation overviewing the College is followed by a tour of the new building with lunch to follow. Meals are our shout, but RSVP is essential for catering purposes.”

– Details from Moore College.

The ACL’s Pre-Synod Podcast

Check out the ACL’s 2019 Pre-Synod Briefing Podcast to get a feel for some of the key issues coming up at Sydney Synod.

Produced by the Anglican Church League as a service to members of Synod.

Listen here.

Religious discrimination bill so flawed it cannot be supported, Anglicans say

“The flaws in the Coalition’s religious discrimination bill are ‘so serious’ it cannot be supported in its current form, the Sydney Anglican diocese has warned. …

In a separate submission, the Freedom for Faith group has claimed the bill fails a commitment by the prime minister, Scott Morrison, ‘that the law would not take faith groups backwards in terms of protection of religious freedom’. …”

– Story from The Guardian.

The passing of new abortion laws — Statement from Archbishop Glenn Davies

Anglican Diocese of Sydney

Media Statement

Abortion laws pass the NSW Parliament

I want to thank the people of NSW who have petitioned, rallied and written to their parliamentary representatives during the recent debate on abortion.

Much has been achieved through these efforts so that the Bill that was finally passed by the Parliament is a far better Bill than what was introduced eight weeks ago.

We said at the time that it was unconscionable to attempt to rush this through the Lower House in the originally proposed timeframe, without any public consultation. We are grateful for the time that both Houses gave to the Bill and for the amendments made in both Houses.

Yet we are deeply saddened by the passing of these laws and the abortion-on-demand regime they introduce. The life of both a mother and her child in the womb are precious to God. We must love them both and protect them both.

May God have mercy on us.

Dr Glenn N Davies, Archbishop of Sydney, 26 September 2019

– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.

‘A virus in the Australian national church’ – Sydney Archbishop Glenn Davies calls out revisionist mavericks

Archbishop Glenn Davies was today’s guest on The Pastor’s Heart.

Well worth watching.

Sydney Archbishop Glenn Davies shares openly about –

On the sexuality crisis in the Australian Anglican Church, Dr Davies –

Finally Dr Davies reflects on his own time as Archbishop in the lead up to his final Synod. Dr Davies says he’s been inspired by the boldness of Paul, and is so thankful for those many people who have prayed for him.

ACL Synod Dinner 2019 Bookings Open

The Anglican Church League invites you to the 2019 ACL Synod Dinner.

Monday 14th October, 5:30pm (or when Synod rises), at the Bishop Barry Centre, 51 Druitt Street, Sydney.

Hear the Rev Jay Behan speak on “Gospel decisions in a compromised age – the NZ situation”.

Jay Behan is the Bishop-elect of the Diocese of the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand.

(Click here for an interview with Jay Behan on The Pastor’s Heart. He discusses leaving the Anglican Church in New Zealand and the formation of the new Diocese. He will be consecrated a few days after the dinner.)

Dinner bookings are essential.

To come, please book by Wednesday October 9 by pre-paying $25 via PayPal, Mastercard or Visa online at this link.

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