Sydney diocese votes for lay and diaconal presidency – again
“The General Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia, has voted ‘overwhelmingly’ in favor of lay and diaconal presidency, which means that lay people and deacons could be permitted to administer the sacraments at Holy Communion – a role that is usually limited to priests.
In the motion, the synod affirmed ‘its conviction that lay and diaconal administration of the Lord’s Supper is consistent with the teaching of Scripture, and that the Lord’s Supper in this diocese may be administered by persons other than presbyters…”
– Episcopal Church’s coverage of Sydney Synod’s vote.
The Jerusalem Declaration: Available for download
Last night, Sydney Synod enthusiastically endorsed GAFCON’s Jerusalem Declaration.
During the debate, it was suggested that the Declaration could be made available for churches – either to give copies to members or to display one in your church.
For your convenience, you can now download the Declaration as a PDF file – it’s formatted to fit two A4 pages – an 80kb download.
Sydney Synod overwhelmingly endorses GAFCON Jerusalem Declaration
Tonight a packed meeting of the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney very strongly supported the Jerusalem Declaration.
Read the Media Release by Russell Powell. See also this story.
Related: The Jerusalem Declaration.
Sydney Synod set to support GAFCON
This evening, Sydney’s Synod will vote on whether or not to endorse the Jerusalem Declaration, a statement overwhelmingly supported by those who attended GAFCON in June. …
This week, as some GAFCON churches continue to be targeted by the liberal dioceses in which they find themselves, Sydney Synod is likely to uphold the historic communiqué…
– Report by Nathasha Percy at SydneyAnglicans.net. (GAFCON photo: Russell Powell.)
Sydney affirms women’s ministry
Synod has strongly affirmed the ministry of women in the Diocese after the Rev Chris Albany’s motion calling the Archbishop to consider how different views on women’s involvement in ministry can be “creatively lived out” in the Diocese was lost…
– Full report on yesterday’s Synod debate from SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo: Anglican Media Sydney.)
Mateship doing it tough as cash cult cracks
Traditional Australian values of mateship, good neighbourliness and offering a helping hand to those in need could be seriously tested by the economic downturn, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, has warned…
– The Sydney Morning Herald reports on last night’s Presidential address at Synod.
Archbishop Peter Jensen’s 2008 Synod Presidential Address
The audio file of Archbishop Peter Jensen’s Presidential Address to the 2008 Synod meeting of Sydney Diocese – given late this afternoon – is now available at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Connect09 and GAFCON were among the key topics covered. Worth hearing – the 28MB file runs for 80 minutes.
The text of Archbishop Jensen’s address is also available. (Photo: Anglican Media Sydney.)
The Archbishop speaks about Canon RBS Hammond, Rector of St. Barnabas’ Broadway in the 1930s. “RBS” is mentioned in this story about Arthur Stace, “Mr. Eternity” – a man who made Sydney his mission field in an innovative way.
ACL Synod Dinner and Synod Survival Guide
Get your invitation to the ACL’s Synod Dinner on Monday 13th October. (RSVP Thursday Oct 9th.)
– and also grab a free copy of The Synod Survival Guide (4th edition) by Robert Tong
– by clicking on the images at left.
Words of comfort for faithful feeling stress
“The Anglican Church should expect its congregations to experience more anxiety than has been seen for many years because of the economic crisis facing Australia and the world, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, is expected to tell the Sydney Anglican synod today.
Dr Jensen’s warning about the stress parishioners could face in coming weeks and months will be part of his address at the synod, which will focus on the Church’s multimillion-dollar mass evangelisation campaign, called Connect09…”
– Report from The Sydney Morning Herald. (Photo: Joy Gwaltney)
Time for lay administration
“When I first attended our diocesan Synod (= denominational ‘parliament’) 10 years ago as a new Anglican Parish Rector (= Senior Pastor), I expected to sit quietly and get a feel for how things worked, reading the business papers and listening to speeches from ‘old hands’ to shape how I’d vote on the various motions and ordinances (= denominational laws).
Somewhat to my surprise, I found myself on my feet, seeking the chance to enter a debate.…”
– Sandy Grant, Rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral Wollongong, writes at the Sola Panel.
GAFCON Theological Resource Group at work
Natasha Percy at SydneyAnglicans.net has posted a report on the GAFCON Theological Resource Group meeting last week.
ACL President Dr Mark Thompson has just returned from the meeting in Uganda.
– Read the article here. Related: The Jerusalem Declaration.
Why Anglican? – Phillip Jensen
It is a strange phenomenon when your friends and enemies agree about you. But Sydney Anglicans enjoy this peculiarity. Neither friends nor enemies think we believe in Anglicanism. …
Anglican Christians have never believed in the sociological Anglicanism. We have always been Confessional Anglicans. We are Anglicans because we profess the Anglican beliefs of the Book of Common Prayer and the 39 Articles of Religion. These include the great creeds of the ancient worldwide church (the Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds). …
– Phillip Jensen, Dean of Sydney, writes in this weekend’s Cathedral newsletter.
Jensen on responding to Driscoll
Recently Sydney has had the pleasure of hearing an American preacher, Pastor Mark Driscoll. In a two-week period he spoke in many venues, including the Cathedral.
In the Cathedral he twice addressed a packed gathering of Christian workers. His second address was a challenge to our evangelistic ministry of the gospel in this city. He lovingly told us of eighteen problems that he saw we had. It was an address that has caused some considerable discussion amongst Sydney’s evangelical community.
Since that address I have been approached by many people wanting my opinion on Mark Driscoll and in particular on his critique of Sydney’s evangelism.…
– Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, writes in the Cathedral newsletter.
(Image: Anglican Media Sydney.)
Synod Survival Guide now online
Many members of Sydney Synod have expressed their appreciation for the previous editions of Robert Tong’s The Synod Survival Guide.
Published by the ACL as a service to members of Synod, the Guide is a clear and helpful introduction to what goes on at Synod and is highly recommended for new members of Synod.
Now in its 4th edition, it is available now as a free PDF download.
As well, Synod members can request a free printed copy – and we’ll mail it as soon as we get it back from the printers. And copies will also be available at the ACL Synod Dinner (PDF invitation).
Go to our Synod Survival Guide section for details.
ACL Synod Dinner bookings now open
The 2008 ACL Synod Dinner is set for Monday 13th October – in the Chapter House of St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
The dinner is open to all Synod members, all ACL members, and others who would like to hear about ‘GAFCON – the inside story’. Allison Street and Bishop Glenn Davies – members of the Sydney team at GAFCON – will be sharing on what really happened at this crucial Anglican meeting.
Tickets only $15 each. Pay at the door, but bookings essential.
Download your invitation for details on how to reply – a 265kb PDF file.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…