Archbishop Ric Thorpe’s sermon at Melbourne consecrations today

Posted on September 19, 2026 
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As he assembled his new episcopal team, Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Ric Thorpe, consecrated three new assistant bishops in Melbourne’s St. Paul’s Cathedral today.

– The Archbishop’s sermon at the service can be seen here.

Speaking to the new bishops, he says,

“You are being sent on the mission of Jesus Christ. You’re called to help the church make disciples – people who know, trust, and follow Jesus, and to help others, to follow him.

And this is the good news.

Although we have turned away from God. He has not turned away from us.

Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again. Through him, there is forgiveness from the past.

There is reconciliation with God. We can have a new life today and a hope for the future.

This gospel is the message by which the church lives, and the good news Melbourne and Geelong need to hear through God’s people.

Our diocesan vision, which is emerging right now, is clear. We seek to be a renewed church, proclaiming Christ across Melbourne and Geelong, so that every person might encounter the love of God.

And that vision is not a slogan. It’s an invitation to join in with God’s mission. …”

Some background of those consecrated is printed in the Order of Service.

It’s a reminder to pray for the progress of the gospel in Melbourne (and Geelong, and the whole country).

Bishop Mark Calder’s Presidential Address to the Bathurst Synod 2026

Posted on September 19, 2026 
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Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, who concludes his time as Bishop this afternoon, gave this final charge to his Synod on Friday 18th September –

“The next Bishop will not be the most important person in the future of our diocese – for Jesus is.

And you are a close second.

I said in my 2024 address, that I only had one agenda. Jesus.

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ must be our focus.

And sharing him must surely remain our mission. He must be our ongoing confidence, joy, and motivation.

Our sermons through Romans earlier this year reminded us:
– That only by trusting him are we reconciled to the Father
– That we are so radically loved by Jesus that he died for us while we were still sinners.
– That if we’re in Jesus, there is no condemnation.
– That all things work together to conform us to the likeness of Jesus.
– That because Jesus is for us, no one can stand against us.
– That nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ.

And yes, this may be sounding more like a sermon than a synod address. But I want to urge you brothers and sisters. In this next chapter of the diocese, to make Jesus your agenda: The knowledge of Jesus. The love of Jesus. The comfort of Jesus. The compassion of Jesus. The reconciling work of Jesus. The power, presence and joy of Jesus by his Holy Spirit. The proclamation of Jesus. The life of Jesus, sweeping through you and the central west of New South Wales.

The next bishop will not be the most important person in the future of our diocese, for Jesus is. And you are a close second.

You, the lay people and clergy of the diocese, are the second most important people in the next chapter of the diocese. In your hands, is so much of what will ensure the ministry in this diocese flourishes.  …”

– Hear it all at this link.

And here is the full text.

William Taylor answers questions on the Church of England crisis

Posted on September 18, 2026 
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From St. Helen’s Bishopsgate:

“Following William Taylor’s recent talks on Titus and the Church of England, a number of questions and comments were raised by those who attended. … Leo Elbourne sits down with William Taylor to explore those questions in more detail, clarify his position, and discuss the implications for churches, ministry training, and the future of evangelical ministry within the Church of England.”

– Watch here.

Related:

The sermon about which William is being questioned.

Lee Gatiss at Church Society has a somewhat different approach.

Gafcon gives thanks for Sydney Synod formally welcoming the Abuja Affirmation

Posted on September 18, 2026 
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From Gafcon:

“Praise God that this week the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia passed a motion formally welcoming the Abuja Affirmation and giving thanks for the reordering of the Anglican Communion as the Global Anglican Communion.

We rejoice in the Synod’s recognition of Sydney’s ‘joyful partnership with the Global Anglican Communion’, flowing from its longstanding partnership with Gafcon since the lead-up to Jerusalem 2008, its commitment to the Jerusalem Declaration, and its practice of principled disengagement from the Canterbury Instruments of Communion.

Please pray for The Most Revd Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of New South Wales, as he serves as a member of the Global Anglican Council. Pray for wisdom and faithfulness at this significant moment in the establishment of the Global Anglican Communion, strengthening faithful Anglicans and advancing the proclamation of Christ throughout the world.”

– Source. Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net.

Related: The Abuja Affirmation.

A surprise visitor

Posted on September 18, 2026 
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“A few months ago, a Carnarvon man walked into church for the first time and said, ‘My family has been praying for me, and I thought I’d come to church today.’…”

– Here’s a short, but wonderfully encouraging, story from the Diocese of North West Australia.

We Need More Churches

Posted on September 17, 2026 
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Murray Campbell in Melbourne writes,

“An all-too familiar sight caught my attention this morning as I scanned the papers: yet another church building had been sold. Restaurant Aptos in Stirling, South Australia, with a $495 17-course degustation menu, recently opened in the historic building. It is being touted as one of the most audacious fine dining ventures in recent times. For every story that makes the news, many more churches are closing their doors and lay dormant for years before an entrepreneur snatches up their property. Just in the small part of Melbourne where I live, several churches have shut in the last decade. Reasons for closure vary: a dying congregation in an ageing community, a dead church void of the gospel, or the harsh reality of economics.

We need more churches. More evangelical churches, to be precise: churches built on the apostolic testimony, preaching Christ crucified, and living out the faith in love and godliness. …”

– From his Substack, republished at The Gospel Coalition Australia.

Thanks from Bathurst

Posted on September 16, 2026 
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From the Diocese of Bathurst –

“This afternoon Bishop Mark addressed Sydney Synod to say ‘thank you’.

Reflecting on what Christ has accomplished across the Diocese over the past seven years — new gospel workers, growing attendance and Bible study groups, and a significant increase in children’s and youth ministry — he warmly thanked Archbishop Kanishka and members of Synod for their extraordinary partnership:

‘Without your vision and generosity, none of this would have been possible. Thank you for believing that gospel ministry in regional and rural New South Wales, matters. To God be the glory!’ ”

– Text and photo from the Bathurst diocese Facebook page.

Keep your word, Premier

Posted on September 16, 2026 
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“Representatives from Anglican churches across Sydney and the Illawarra have urged the NSW Government to amend guidance issued under the State’s conversion practices legislation, saying it breaches election promises.

The Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 prohibits practices intended to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Bishop Michael Stead, who led negotiations with the Government two years ago, warned that advice published by the Attorney-General’s Department effectively erased protections for voluntary prayer and pastoral care. …”

– Russell Powell reports at SydneyAnglicans.net.

New video from The Alliance as 2026 General Synod Elections approach

Posted on September 16, 2026 
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With elections for the makeup of General Synod in the Church if England coming up shortly, The Alliance has produced a 2’30” video to invite link-minded men and women to join them.

“At this critical moment for the Church, with elections for General Synod, we want to be clear about who we are – a diverse network of networks brought together across traditions in order to secure a sustainable platform at the heart of the Church of England for those committed to the received teachings of the universal church of Jesus Christ. We invite you to join with us.”

– See more at their website.

Responding to false teachers in the Church of England

Posted on September 16, 2026 
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In a sermon at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London on 10th September 2026, William Taylor addresses the question of responding to false teachers in the Church of England.

Preaching from Titus 3:1-15, “God’s strategy: the church in a broken world”, he says,

“There can be no closer spiritual tie with a false teacher than allowing them to

• select your future leaders,
• train your new church workers,
• ordain your new deacons and presbyters,
• and install your new incumbents.

Remember, Paul has said what our strategy is. …”

St. Helen’s has published a seven minute excerpt – though the full sermon can also be seen here.

Building conflict capable ministry teams – with Tim Dyer

Posted on September 16, 2026 
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From The Pastor’s Heart this week –

“Why do some church teams emerge from disagreement stronger, while others fracture, divide or quietly drift apart?

We expect opposition to the gospel and theological disagreement. What we’re often far less prepared for is tension within our own ministry teams. When ordinary disagreements become personal, motives are questioned and relationships begin to rupture.

Tim Dyer has spent years helping churches and ministry leaders navigate conflict. He says church teams can be simultaneously conflict-prone/averse and process-poor, which can lead to a “high fire danger rating”.

So how do we build ministry teams that are genuinely conflict-capable? And how do we stop a disagreement becoming a relational rupture?”

– Watch or listen here.

We want to commend Christ without compromise

Posted on September 15, 2026 
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“When the Apostle Paul asserted his rights as a Roman citizen, he wasn’t standing on pride – he was clearing a path for the gospel. That same strategy drove discussions at Sydney Synod this week as members confronted rising threats to freedom of conscience. …”

– Russell Powell reports from Sydney Synod.

Recording of the 2026 ACL Synod Dinner

Posted on September 15, 2026 
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Toby Neal spoke at the Anglican Church League’s Synod Dinner on Monday 14th September 2026.

He spoke on the topic From Plant to Parish – The Joys and the Pains.

The Victory

Posted on September 15, 2026 
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Phillip Jensen writes:

“Last week, we started our series in the Resurrection Chapter, 1 Corinthians 15. Naturally, we started at the beginning, but today, we are jumping to the end. For the Resurrection is the end to which the world is heading, and we don’t want to wait until after the doubter’s arguments before hearing the great proclamation of the victory of the risen Lord Jesus.

Don’t forget to mention this podcast to your friends—it is provided free of charge by the generosity of others.”

– Hear Philip and Peter discuss!

“A glimpse of what God is doing among us”

Posted on September 14, 2026 
Filed under Encouragement, Sydney Diocese, Thanksgiving Comments Off on “A glimpse of what God is doing among us”

Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net reports on Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s 2026 Presidential Address to Synod on Monday 15th September –

“A Mandarin-speaking woman who first encountered church through AI translation and two young men who decided to read the Bible together before seeking baptism were among the stories highlighted by Archbishop Kanishka Raffel in his Presidential Address to Synod.

Weaving together statistics and personal testimonies, the Archbishop pointed Synod members to evidence of God’s work across the diocese.

Referring to Synod’s goal of 5 per cent growth through conversion, Archbishop Raffel said churches were increasingly reaching people from overseas backgrounds, who make up 31 per cent of the population. …”

– Read his report.

You can also read the full text of the Archbishop’s address or  see the full video.

Thanks, as always, to SydneyAnglicans.net.

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