Bookings now open for the 2026 ACL Synod Dinner

Posted on August 7, 2026
Filed under Anglican Church League Comments Off on Bookings now open for the 2026 ACL Synod Dinner

The Anglican Church League invites all members of Sydney Synod to the 2026 ACL Synod Dinner. (Pre-booking essential.)

Monday 14th September, 5:30pm (or when Synod rises)

At Bishop Barry Centre,
51 Druitt Street, Sydney.

Hear The Rev Toby Neal speak on From Plant to Parish – The Joys and the Pains.

Toby Neal is the Lead Pastor at Vine Church in Surry Hills, which began in 2011 with 16 friends and has grown into a vibrant inner-city church.

Dinner bookings are absolutely essential as space is limited.

Please book by Wednesday 9th September by pre-paying $34 via PayPal or Credit Card:

See also –

The Synod Survival Guide by Dr. Robert Tong.

Gafcon Prayer Update: GFCA Trustees

Posted on August 7, 2026
Filed under for your prayers, GAFCON, Global Anglican Communion Comments Off on Gafcon Prayer Update: GFCA Trustees

Gafcon Prayer Update from a couple of days ago –

“Please give thanks to God for the faithful ministry of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GFCA) Trustees, whose governance and oversight provide the practical foundation that supports the life and work of the Global Anglican Communion. Give thanks for Bishop John Guernsey, the Trustees Chair, and Dr Laurie Scandrett, the Honorary Treasurer, as they provide wise and faithful leadership.

Pray for the Trustees serving from Australia, Canada, Nigeria, Rwanda, the United Kingdom and the United States. Pray that God will grant them wisdom, integrity and unity as they steward the resources entrusted to this global movement and exercise careful oversight of its ministry.

Please pray especially for the Trustees as preparations continue for GAFCON V in Athens in April 2028. Ask God to give them wisdom and discernment as they oversee the many financial and governance decisions already being made, provide every resource that is needed, and establish this significant gathering for the strengthening of his Church and the advance of the gospel.”

– A reminder that Gafcon Prayer updates can be found on their website – and if you use the free PrayerMate app on your phone, you can subscribe to their prayer feed.

Photo: Gafcon.

Sinkholes and Servant Hearts

Posted on August 7, 2026
Filed under Edification Comments Off on Sinkholes and Servant Hearts

“A man at church is asked to join the set up/pack up team, but he only wants to preach. A woman leaves the music ministry because she can’t be the song leader. A pastor moves to another church where he can do what he wants to do. Small group leaders doing their own thing because they don’t like the direction of the minister. Jealousy that your colleague gets the invitations to speak. Annoyance that another church is encroaching on your patch. Bothered that others get more praise than you do. Frustrated that I don’t get the opportunities or the recognition I deserve.

Do you see glimpses of the green-eyed monster in your heart? …”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Dave McDonald has a question for each of us.

Anglican Media CEO Russell Powell to step down

Posted on August 6, 2026
Filed under People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Anglican Media CEO Russell Powell to step down

News from SydneyAnglicans.net –

“After almost 20 years in the media and communications arm of the Diocese, former broadcaster and journalist Russell Powell will be stepping down as the CEO of Anglican Media Sydney at the end of the year.

He was appointed CEO in 2010 in addition to his position as the media advisor to the Archbishop of Sydney, which began in 2007.

Over his 19 years of involvement, Mr Powell has guided the organisation through times of peace and major challenges such as the global financial crisis and COVID.

During his time as CEO, the work of Anglican Media has included establishing a social media footprint, solidifying the SydneyAnglicans brand, and refashioning Southern Cross.

He also played a role in communications at the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), from the historic first moments in Jerusalem in 2008.…”

– Read the full story – with prayer points – here.

Photo: Russell interviewing Al Stewart in Galilee during the first GAFCON gathering in 2008.

Bathurst Bishop’s Newsletter — August 2026

Posted on August 6, 2026
Filed under Bathurst Diocese, for your prayers Comments Off on Bathurst Bishop’s Newsletter — August 2026

Read the latest from the Diocese of Bathurst in The Bishop’s Newsletter for August 2026 – including –

“We give great thanks to God for the upcoming ordinations and commissioning on 22 August at 11am. …

Bishop Mark’s final service: A service of Praise, Prayer and Proclamation, 1.30pm, Sat 19 Sept at All Saints Cathedral. All welcome.

At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Mark will officially lay up his pastoral staff and his time as bishop will conclude.

The bishop’s election board recently reported: ‘We have met several times, and we believe, under God’s hand, that we have identified a number of suitable candidates. We appreciate your continued prayers for wisdom and discernment’…”

And from Bishop Mark Calder –

“Dear friends,

Four years ago last month, we launched Sharing Jesus for Life. It was never intended to be just another diocesan slogan or a strategic document that sat on a shelf. It was, and remains, a reminder of why we exist as churches: to share the Lord Jesus so that people might find life in him. …”

– Please be encouraged to download the newsletter and use it in your prayers, particularly in this coming time of transition for the diocese, for the eternal welfare of men and women, boys and girls, across this huge region of New South Wales.

The joys, privileges and rewards of Christian ministry — with Matt Fuller

Posted on August 5, 2026
Filed under Encouragement Comments Off on The joys, privileges and rewards of Christian ministry — with Matt Fuller

The Age of the Spiritual

Posted on August 4, 2026
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on The Age of the Spiritual

From Phillip Jensen:

“In 1 Corinthians 12-14, we come to a passage that has dominated Christian discussion for the last 60 years. It is one that Peter and I have been thinking and preaching on for most of our public ministries. But I hope that you find this fresh take on the passage to be a helpful way of understanding Paul’s letter.”

In the discussion, Phillip recalls writing his book, The Coming of the Holy Spirit –

“In the writing of that book was a verse which held up the whole of my writing for 12 months, for there was a translation problem which one of the editors pointed out to me. That verse was 1 Corinthians 14:12, ‘So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.’

The trouble is, the Greek doesn’t say, ‘the manifestations of the spirit’. What it really says is, ‘since you are eager for spirits’, plural. The Holy Spirit is never spoken of in plural form, so it can’t be referring to the Holy Spirit—thus it should be written with a lowercase ‘s’. But then that raises the question: what spirits is it talking about?…”

– Hear Phillip and Peter Jensen discuss these key chapters – at Two Ways News.

At the bottom of that page, there are ways you can support the ministry.

Seeing God at work in Wyong

Posted on August 4, 2026
Filed under People Comments Off on Seeing God at work in Wyong

“We came to Wyong in early 2021, between the first and second COVID lockdowns. The Central Coast was never on our radar—in fact, I used to tell Susannah as we drove home from family gatherings on the Central Coast, ‘I can’t ever imagine living on the Central Coast’… and she said, ‘Neither can I’. Yet here we are! God has shown me time and again that he has a sense of humour. Coming to Wyong has been entirely his doing, and it’s been the best thing ever!

Before COVID, I was part of the ministry team at Bondi-Waverley Anglican Church…”

– The Australian Church Record speaks with Aleks Pinter at Wyong Anglican Church.

Confusion over the Religious Question on the Australian Census — Michael Stead and Mark McCrindle

Posted on August 3, 2026
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Resources Comments Off on Confusion over the Religious Question on the Australian Census — Michael Stead and Mark McCrindle

An important and timely episode from The Pastor’s Heart –

“Answering ‘Anglican’, ‘Catholic’, or ‘Baptist’ on the Census isn’t a test of church attendance.

Before filling out your form, hear researcher Mark McCrindle, and Bishop Michael Stead discuss

What the Bureau of Statistics is actually measuring.

Why writing your specific denomination helps community planning more than generic labels.

How census data impacts real-world support—like hospital, prison, and military chaplaincy. …

The Bureau of Statistics definition of religious affiliation is simple: it’s the faith group you associate with, even if that differs from your active practice or participation.”

– Watch here.

Count us in! – SydneyAnglicans.net.

The Sydney Family Album 5 — Frederic Barker

Posted on August 2, 2026
Filed under History, People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on The Sydney Family Album 5 — Frederic Barker

In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, published a series of posts, entitled “The Sydney Family Album”, for his website, Theological Theology.

We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.

Here’s the fifth in the series, on Bishop Frederic Barker.

“Barker’s long episcopate (until his death in 1882) saw massive change in the colony. Barker was certainly up to the challenge. He was a gifted administrator and was both visionary and practical.”

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series (as we add them) are in our Resources section.

Kirralie Smith- transgender vilification and sport

Posted on August 1, 2026
Filed under Culture wars, Opinion Comments Off on Kirralie Smith- transgender vilification and sport

Associate Professor Neil Foster writes –

“I have previously written about the case of Kirralie Smith. Ms Smith is part of an advocacy organisation, Binary Australia Ltd, which advocates for sex-based rights, especially for women, and sometimes posts about biological males who have been allowed to compete in women’s sport. Stephanie Blanch (and Riley Dennis) were mentioned on the website of Binary and elsewhere online in this context, and then claimed that this amounted to ‘transgender vilification’ under section 38S(1)(a) of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1975 (“ADA”). The plaintiffs in the original litigation were each described by Deputy Chief Magistrate Freund as a ‘transgender woman’, and were both born biologically male.

In the earlier proceedings (judgments linked in my previous post) Smith was found to have committed vilification, ordered to pay a total of $95,000 in damages to the two plaintiffs, and found liable for costs. An appeal was lodged, and the NSW Supreme Court (Rigg J) has now handed down a judgment granting leave to appeal in some respects, but mostly dismissing the appeal grounds: see Smith v Blanch; Smith v Dennis [2026] NSWSC 879 (24 July 2026) (Blanch and Dennis Supreme Court Appeal, ‘BDSCA’). Smith remains liable to pay $95,000, is forbidden ‘from publishing on social media or otherwise anything relating to the defendant[s] to the same or similar effect as held to be unlawful vilification in [the previous] Local Court proceedings’ – see BDSCA [261], [262]. She also has to pin a notice about the proceedings ‘on all social media pages and websites over which [she has] control, including Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) and the website of Binary Australia’, for 3 months. (See Annexure A to BDSCA for the content.)

In this post I will aim to explain the basis for the court’s decision. As will be seen, I think there may be grounds for a further appeal. …”

– Read it at Law and Religion Australia.

Artefact in Focus: The Taylor Prism

Posted on August 1, 2026
Filed under History Comments Off on Artefact in Focus: The Taylor Prism

From Tyndale House in Cambridge – this page and short video by George Heath-Whyte, Junior Research Fellow at Christ Church College, Oxford.

“The ‘Taylor Prism’ has stood on display in the British Museum for 170 years. Named after Colonel R. Taylor, the British diplomat who purchased it in the 1830s, it is a masterful example of ancient Assyrian cuneiform and craftsmanship, with its six tightly-inscribed columns standing almost 40 cm tall.

Remarkable to look at, it is even more remarkable to read. …”

– Watch the video and read the accompanying story.

Dr Robert Tong thanked for 45 years of service on the Board of Moore College

Posted on July 31, 2026
Filed under Moore College, People Comments Off on Dr Robert Tong thanked for 45 years of service on the Board of Moore College

From Moore Theological College:

“Dr Robert Tong was acknowledged for 45 years of faithful service on the College Board this month.

Robert has served under 6 Archbishops and 4 Principals and has always been motivated by his devotion to Christ and his gospel. We are greatly indebted to this gifted and faithful governor.”

Photo: Robert Tong with three College Principals – Mark Thompson, John Woodhouse and Peter Jensen.

– More photos here.

On a related note, The Anglican Church League is also grateful to the Lord for Robert’s long and faithful service as the Chairman of the ACL. He retired from that position at our Annual General Meeting last month. The ACL is immensely grateful for Robert’s wisdom and generosity over many years.

Kara Hartley appointed Faculty Member of Moore College

Posted on July 31, 2026
Filed under Moore College, People Comments Off on Kara Hartley appointed Faculty Member of Moore College

From Moore Theological College –

“The Moore College Governing Board has accepted the Principal’s nomination of Archdeacon Kara Hartley to join the College Faculty in January 2027 in a part-time capacity.

Kara is a graduate of the College (BD 2007, MA(Theol) 2019), has continued her involvement with it in many ways, and has extensive ministry experience, both lay and ordained, in the Diocese of Sydney. …”

– Read the full story from the College website.

Photo: Kara Hartley with Moore College Principal Mark Thompson.

In Defense of the Abuja Affirmation

Posted on July 30, 2026
Filed under GAFCON, Global Anglican Communion Comments Off on In Defense of the Abuja Affirmation

Writing in Covenant, the online journal of the American publication The Living Church, Bishop Glenn Davies responds to an article by the Rev. Dr. Matthew Olver about the Abuja Affirmation –

“I am grateful for the irenic article that the Rev. Dr. Matthew Olver published on Covenant on April 13, 2026, where he engages theologically with the Abuja Affirmation.

As a participant in the G26 Assembly in Abuja in March, I have a good idea of what was achieved in that extraordinary gathering, which was a celebration of the Global Anglican Communion launched by the Gafcon primates on October 16, 2025.

The heart of the issue that Gafcon has been addressing since its 2008 inaugural assembly in Jerusalem is the authority of Scripture in its plain, canonical sense. …”

– Glenn’s response is an important setting out of why Gafcon / The Global Anglican Communion is needed.

It is worthy of careful study.

________________

Related: (each will open in a new window)

The Kuala Lumpur Statement, 1997.

Lambeth 1998 Resolution 1.10.

GAFCON Final Statement and the Jerusalem Declaration – 29 June 2008.

The Jerusalem Declaration – as a PDF file – formatted to two A4 pages.

The Abuja Affirmation – 2026.

The Thirty Nine Articles.