GSFA Statement on the Appointment of the Rt Revd Dame Sarah Mullally as the Archbishop of Canterbury
Posted on October 4, 2025
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From the Global Fellowship of Anglican Churches –
“While we shall of course pray for Bishop Mullally as she assumes this historic position, we feel compelled to say that we feel this appointment is a missed opportunity to reunite and reform the Anglican Communion.
In June, we issued an open letter to the Crown Nominations Commission urging that ‘the next Archbishop of Canterbury should be someone who will uphold the orthodox faith shared by the great majority of global Anglicans’. So we are deeply saddened that the person still perceived by many to be the spiritual leader of now some 100 million Anglicans worldwide has played a leading role in the Church of England’s departure from Anglican tradition and the clear teaching of Scripture in matters of marriage and sexuality.
When the Church of England’s General Synod opened the door to the blessing of same sex relationships at its February 2023 General Synod she described this as ‘A moment of hope’. For us, it was a moment of lament because we believe that the teaching of Jesus and the whole of Scripture is fundamental to human flourishing, both now and for eternity, and should not be compromised by the pressures of a particular culture.
Sadly therefore, our position must remain as it was in our Ash Wednesday statement of February 2023 when we stated that we were no longer able to recognise the then Archbishop of Canterbury as the ‘first amongst equals’ leader of the global Communion.
Grievous though this turn of events is, it is not unexpected and is one further symptom of the crisis of faith and authority that has afflicted the Anglican Communion for the past quarter of a century. To remedy this, the GSFA offers to all orthodox Provinces a framework of covenanted relationships, rooted in an explicit commitment to orthodox Anglican doctrine and mutual accountability which we commend to the whole Communion as a matter of urgency. Only in this way, we believe, will it be possible to restore confidence, clarity and unity as we continue to obey our Lord’s Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
The Most Rev Dr Justin Badi Arama
Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and
Chairman of GSFA”
– Source.
Canterbury Appointment Abandons Anglicans — Gafcon responds to the appointment of the new Archbishop of Canterbury
Posted on October 3, 2025
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From Gafcon:
To my dear brothers and sisters in our Gafcon family,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The news has finally arrived after months of prayer and long waiting. But it is with sorrow that Gafcon receives the announcement today of the appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury. This appointment abandons global Anglicans, as the Church of England has chosen a leader who will further divide an already split Communion.
For over a century and a half, the Archbishop of Canterbury functioned not only as the Primate of All England but also as a spiritual and moral leader of the Anglican Communion. In more recent times, the See of Canterbury has been described as one of the four “Instruments of Communion,” whilst also chairing the other three Instruments, namely the Lambeth Conference, the Primates Meeting and the Anglican Consultative Council.
However, due to the failure of successive Archbishops of Canterbury to guard the faith, the office can no longer function as a credible leader of Anglicans, let alone a focus of unity. As we made clear in our Kigali Commitment of 2023, we can “no longer recognise the Archbishop of Canterbury as an Instrument of Communion” or the “first among equals” of global Primates.
We had hoped that the Church of England would take this into due consideration as it deliberated over the choice of a new Archbishop of Canterbury and would choose someone who could bring unity to a divided Anglican Communion. Sadly, they have not done so.
Though there are some who will welcome the decision to appoint Bishop Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy. Therefore, her appointment will make it impossible for the Archbishop of Canterbury to serve as a focus of unity within the Communion.
However, more concerning is her failure to uphold her consecration vows. When she was consecrated in 2015, she took an oath to “banish and drive away all strange and erroneous doctrine contrary to God’s Word.” And yet, far from banishing such doctrine, Bishop Mullally has repeatedly promoted unbiblical and revisionist teachings regarding marriage and sexual morality.
In 2023, when asked by a reporter whether sexual intimacy in a same-sex relationship is sinful, she said that some such relationships could, in fact, be blessed. She also voted in favour of introducing blessings of same-sex marriage into the Church of England.
Anglicans believe that the church has been given authority by God to establish rites and ceremonies and to settle doctrine controversy, “and yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God’s Word” (Article XX). The church cannot bless or affirm what God has condemned (Numbers 23:8; 24:13). This, however, is precisely what Bishop Mullally has sought to allow.
Since the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury has failed to guard the faith and is complicit in introducing practices and beliefs that violate both the “plain and canonical sense” of Scripture and “the Church’s historic and consensual” interpretation of it (Jerusalem Statement), she cannot provide leadership to the Anglican Communion. The leadership of the Anglican Communion will pass to those who uphold the truth of the gospel and the authority of Scripture in all areas of life.
Gafcon gathered in Jerusalem in 2008 to reset the Anglican Communion back onto its biblical foundations. Today’s appointment makes it clearer than ever before that Canterbury has relinquished its authority to lead. The reset of our beloved Communion is now uniquely in the hands of Gafcon, and we are ready to take the lead.
For such a time as this, Gafcon has summoned global orthodox Anglican bishops to Abuja, Nigeria, from 3 to 6 March, 2026, for the G26 Bishops Assembly. This may be the most significant gathering of faithful Anglicans since 2008.
Today’s announcement will cause sadness and dismay among Anglicans worldwide. Yet, every morning, Anglicans throughout the world recite the words of Psalm 95: “Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
Today, that is our prayer for all bishops and leaders within the Anglican Communion, including Bishop Sarah Mullally. We pray that as she takes upon herself the weight of this historic office, she will repent, and earnestly work with the Gafcon leadership to mend the torn fabric of our Anglican Communion.
May all our hearts be softened to hear the voice of God in Scripture, and may we all be inclined to obey, as we move out in gospel mission to a lost and hurting world, for the glory of God.
Yours in Christ,
The Most Reverend Dr Laurent Mbanda
Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council
Friday 3rd October, 2025.
via e-mail.
Moore College Staff and Faculty Thanksgiving Service in the John Francis Cash Memorial Chapel
Posted on October 3, 2025
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“This September, staff and Faculty gathered in the John Francis Cash Memorial Chapel for a Service of Thanksgiving, the first such staff service to be held there in many years. For some, it was the first time they had joined in worship within the Chapel, which made the occasion particularly significant. …”
– Sarah Bingham writes at the Moore College website.
Related –
The John Francis Cash Memorial Chapel 75th anniversary – Moore College archives.
from five years ago –
A unique memorial: the John Francis Cash Memorial Chapel after 70 years – Moore Theological College.
And from 75 years ago –
The opening of the John Francis Cash Memorial Chapel, 22 July 1950. (Governor-General Sir William McKell and Archbishop Howard Mowll are standing in front of the Australian flag.)
Image via footage from Moore College:
NSW Presbyterians and the Conversion Practices Ban Act
Posted on October 2, 2025
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“The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of NSW has adopted a response to the state’s conversion practices legislation, affirming that biblical Christian ministry is ‘neither harmful nor coercive’, and committing to continue teaching the biblical views on sexuality and gender.
Meeting on Friday, September 26, the Assembly passed guidance to church sessions for navigating the legislation while maintaining confidence in proclaiming biblical teachings on marriage, sexuality and identity. …”
– At AP, the Australian Presbyterian online journal, John McClean, Convenor of the PCNSW Gospel, Society and Culture Committee, shares the NSW Presbyterian Church’s response.
Anglican Heroes: Charles Simeon — Church Society podcast
Posted on October 2, 2025
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In the latest podcast from Church Society, Lee Gatiss talks to Ros Clarke about the influential ministry of Charles Simeon.
– Listen here.
Sinclair Ferguson on the Charlie Kirk controversy, John Macarthur, RC Sproul and preaching to the Queen
Posted on October 1, 2025
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“Sinclair Ferguson is speaking across Eastern Australia and joins us to share wisdom that he wishes he’d been given when he started in pastoral ministry in Glasgow 54 years ago.”
Societas 2025
Posted on October 1, 2025
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The 2025 edition of Societas, the Moore College student magazine, is now available.
If you can’t obtain a printed copy from your church, be sure to download it as a PDF file – or read online.
Informative, encouraging, and fuel for your prayers.
Wales: Discerning the Times
Posted on September 30, 2025
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“As this blog reported at the time the appointment of the Rt Revd Cherry Vann as the new Archbishop of Wales has proved very divisive.
Within days, church leaders from across the Anglican Communion made statements decrying the decision, saying the Church in Wales was ‘walking away from the truth’, contradicting ‘the consistent witness of Scripture on sexual ethics and leadership qualifications’, and placing ‘another painful nail in the coffin of Anglican orthodoxy.’
Now a synod has formally joined those voices. …”
– Anglican Futures reports in more responses to the election of Cherry Vann, including that of Sydney.
Marriage in the New Testament
Posted on September 30, 2025
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From Phillip Jensen –
“Once again, we are looking at the New Testament’s treatment of Genesis 1-3; this time, on the subject of marriage.
We had several episodes on this topic, but it is so central to the New Testament understanding that we thought it worth spending an episode thinking on it.”
– Hear (or read the transcript of) Peter and Phillip’s conversation at Two Ways News.
Bathurst Synod 2025 edition of the Bishop’s newsletter
Posted on September 29, 2025
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See the Synod edition of the bishop of Bathurst’s latest newsletter – at this link.
Related:
Number of Bible studies doubles in Bathurst – Tara Sing at SydneyAnglicans.net.
And Bishop Mark Calder spoke at the closing service of the Armidale Synod on Sunday morning.
He is seen here with Bishop Rod Chiswell. (Other images on the Bathurst Facebook page.)
Lawyers Task Force Leader Honoured
Posted on September 28, 2025
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From Gafcon:
“We give thanks to God for the ministry of Dr Robert Tong AM, who continues to serve as the Leader of our Gafcon Lawyers Task Force.
Dr Tong was honoured this week at the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia, as he retires from his formal ministry in their Synod after 55 years of service.
Join us in thanking God for his strategic mind, theological wisdom, extensive knowledge of church law, and the personal example of faith and integrity he has provided throughout his years of service.
We continue to pray for the important ministry of The Gafcon Lawyers Network, as they provide legal and canonical counsel and resources to the Primates, bishops, clergy and other leaders of Gafcon as we seek to live out the Jerusalem Declaration and its implications for our life and ministry together under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the supremacy of the Holy Scriptures.”
– From Gafcon.
ACL members continue to be thankful for Robert’s long term commitment to advancing the reformed and evangelical character of the Anglican Church of Australia, particularly in the Diocese of Sydney, through Anglican Church League, including his continued service as Chairman.
Hope for the Illawarra
Posted on September 28, 2025
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“In my time in ministry, I have encountered many people who, while acknowledging Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” feel impossibly ill-equipped, and so are reluctant to do so.
In fact, many of these people further claim that they lack any ability whatsoever to evangelise, presuming the work of evangelism is for those whom God has so gifted. Yet what is apparent is that God typically calls people to himself through the patient, prayerful and consistent sharing of the gospel by regular Christians, despite how prepared they may or may not feel. Having said that, it should be our constant desire to better equip Christians for evangelism to grow their confidence in sharing the gospel with others.
Some of the key ways this can happen is through the encouragement of other believers, through training and equipping one another, but also by engaging with those who have a gift for communicating the gospel clearly and winsomely. Listening to someone who is gifted with communicating the gospel can be an encouragement for Christians, but it can also provide us with a great opportunity to invite someone to hear the gospel taught with clarity and faithfulness.
This was precisely what the churches in the Illawarra were offered when Christian broadcasting organisation Leading the Way invited them to participate in a mass-scale mission campaign, which would culminate in evangelistic outreach events at which Dr Michael Youssef would speak. It was an offer that was gladly accepted. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Ella Leach shares some wonderful encouragement from Hope for Illawarra.
Photo via SydneyAnglicans.net.
When ‘Evangelical’ Means Everything but the Gospel
Posted on September 27, 2025
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“For the past 30 years, I’ve pushed back against the critics who’ve said Christians need to abandon the label ‘evangelical.’ I’ve argued that we shouldn’t let political associations or cultural baggage rob us of a word with such rich theological heritage. The term has deep biblical and historical roots that predate and transcend contemporary controversies.
But even I have to admit the label I love has become nearly meaningless in our current American context. …”
– This article by Joe Carter at The Gospel Coalition (USA) is a reminder that what is meant by ‘evangelical’ by many in the USA has very little in common with what J.I. Packer (for example) – and many Sydney Anglicans – would mean.
Among his conclusions,
“Church leaders can either continue to lament theological compromise or take steps to return to the historic Christian faith that actually deserves the name ‘evangelical.’ The choice will determine whether future generations inherit a robust, biblical faith or an empty shell of cultural Christianity that can tell you whom you should vote for but not how many persons are in the Trinity.”
Archbishops: Installed or enthroned?
Posted on September 26, 2025
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“It is all about a seat! A ‘cathedra’ is the proper name for the seat of a Diocesan Bishop or Archbishop, hence cathedral is the building in which it is placed. Its origin is the Greek, then Latin, word for a seat with arms. Why a seat? What should a bishop do when sitting in their seat?
The seat is often described as a ‘throne’, hence the words, ‘enthronement’ or ‘enthronisation’. This implies that the bishop rules the diocese from this seat, a symbol of authority. …”
– At The Melbourne Anglican, Dr Peter Adam explains how much evidence he finds in the New Treatment for “Diocesan Bishops as rulers with thrones”.
He also shares some “New Testament instructions which are relevant to a bishop’s role”.
Image: St Helen’s Bishopsgate.
The Global Anglican September 2025
Posted on September 26, 2025
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From Church Society:
“In the September edition of The Global Anglican, we commemorate and celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.
Peter Jensen in his editorial looks at some of the lessons we can learn from the Council.
Mark Smith, in his article, Nicaea Then and Now, The Creed and Council after 1700 years, reflects on the legacy of Nicaea. It looks at the doctrinal debates that prompted the council, the proceedings of the council, and the subsequent reception of the creed at following councils and in Anglican liturgy.
Graeme Goldsworthy in his article, Is the Old Testament Trinitarian? considers the implications of the Trinity for authentic Christianity and, in doing so, addresses the role of the Old Testament in the formation and preservation of Christian truth.
Chase Kuhn then proposes a retrieval of the goodness of God being as the foundation of moral reality. Engagement of historical voices is focused on developments around Nicaea and later theologians.
Also included is our usual array of current book reviews.”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…