Bishop Mark Calder — “I want Sydney Synod to know what a difference their partnership has made”

Posted on September 6, 2026 
Filed under Bathurst Diocese, for your prayers

Mark Calder, Bishop of Bathurst, retires on Saturday 19th September.

In his last Bishop’s Newsletter, he writes to Christians across the diocese:

Dear friends,

On Wednesday 16 September, I have the opportunity to visit the Sydney Diocesan Synod to say, “thank you”.

When I arrived in Bathurst nearly seven years ago, the Diocese of Sydney had already committed to supporting us with an extraordinarily generous gift of $250,000 each year. That support continues through to 2030.

I want Sydney Synod to know what a difference their partnership has made.

It has not simply helped us balance a budget. It has given us breathing space to rebuild and strengthen ministry, and to keep our focus where it ought to be: Sharing Jesus for Life.

So, there is much for which we are SO thankful to God.

Average weekly attendance across the Diocese has recovered from just over 1,000 in 2021 to more than 1,500. Bible study groups have grown from 35 in 2019 to 66, with more than 500 people now attending. In 2019, only 7 per cent of our parishes had a weekly children’s or youth ministry. Today that figure is 57 per cent.

Of course, we still have some small parishes without clergy which face an uncertain future, and the financial challenge of redress is enormous.

And yet, despite these challenges, I’m glad that before I finish, I can thank Sydney Synod for their generosity and prayers; for the people they have sent to serve among us, and for believing that gospel ministry in central and western NSW, matters.

Above all, we thank God for what he has done among us.

Mark.

Also from the newsletter:

Please pray for ongoing wisdom and the Lord’s guidance for the Bishop’s Election Board.

Please pray for our Synod on 18– 19 Sept. Pray for a sense of unity and excitement as we gather as Synod. Pray for the Bishop’s Synod address that it will be clear and helpful, for wisdom in dealing with the motions and legislation, and that we will work together well as we seek to strengthen the cause of the gospel. Pray that we’ll respond to the challenge of redress with compassion for victims and deep trust in God. Pray that the closing service in the Cathedral will be a time of blessing and encouragement as we praise God and hear his word.

Download the newsletter here – and please uphold in prayer Mark and Susan and the churches across the diocese.

Lastly:

James Daymond reflects in Mark’s episcopacy in the Australian Church Record’s Synod 2026 Journal –

“One by one, new ministers were appointed. …

As time marched forward with a friendly step, parishes began to think more intentionally about their ministry priorities and came to adopt the mission statement for the diocese, ‘Sharing Jesus for Life’. In God’s goodness, people started coming to church. Some congregations experienced significant increases. Intro- ductory courses and Bible studies were introduced. Gospel partnerships were further developed beyond the diocese. …”

– The whole issue is worth reading, but don’t miss this report on pages 52-56. (3.5MB PDF file.)

Also on the Bathurst diocese website.