Praying for the Melbourne Election Synod

Posted on May 19, 2025 
Filed under Australian dioceses

The Election Synod of the Diocese of Melbourne meets on Friday and Saturday of this week (23 and 24 May) to elect a new Archbishop.

They ask for your prayers in this process.

Last week, the Board of Nominators released their report to Synod which contains the names of the Candidates for election. The list of Candidates is not public. As the Board of Nominators explains:

“The information about the Candidates is confidential to Synod members. 

We are conscious that when candidates agree to be part of the process there is the potential for disruption to their current and ongoing ministry. Therefore we offer them confidentiality as a gesture of love and care for them and their pastoral ministries. The names of the candidates are not public and we ask that Synod members keep them confidential to other Synod members only.

However, candidates themselves have always been free to share information about their own candidacy with others.…”

Lists circulated online (and easily found by searching) suggest that four candidates will be considered by the Election Synod.

The Board of Nominators has published this prayer:

“For the members of our Synod, as it elects a new Archbishop:

Loving Lord Jesus, who seeks for your people to be one,
as you and the Father are one: grant to the members of our Synod
the same unity of heart and spirit that is your will
as they elect a new Archbishop for our Diocese.
Enable them to discharge their weighty duties with care,
each member voting without fear or favour for the person
who, before God, they believe ought to be chosen as our chief pastor.
For you are alive, with the Father and the Spirit, now and forever. Amen.”