No to Domestic Violence
Cathedral Newsletter – 27 November 2025
Friends in Christ, Archbishop Kanishka has asked us to observe ‘DV Sunday’ on a Sunday late in November. Synod supported his initiative. As the inaugural chair of the Sydney Anglican Domestic Violence (DV) Task Force, and the lead author of the policy we developed, I am glad to join in this. So this coming Sunday, we will include in our prayers one that the Archbishop has composed.
The aim of DV Sunday is to continue to raise awareness about the presence of domestic abuse, not only in the community but the church as well.
Scripture makes it clear that domestic abuse has no place in the life of the church. But what exactly does it involve?
Here is the definition our policy uses:
Domestic abuse involves a pattern of behaviour that seeks to coerce, control, intimidate, hurt or frighten a person in an intimate or family relationship. Domestic abuse may include, but is not limited to emotional, verbal, financial, psychological, spiritual, cultural, physical and sexual abuse. It can also include social isolation, stalking, image-based or technology facilitated abuse, and threats to harm other people including children, property or pets.
All forms of domestic abuse cause damage to the victim and are wrong.
I have written a number of times elsewhere that there is no place for violence - physical or verbal - in marriage and family. God’s word instead calls for husbands and wives to love one another. The Archbishop has been kind enough to commend one of those articles to your consideration.
And here is a summary of key elements of our policy statement:
The Anglican Diocese of Sydney is committed to promoting and supporting safer environments that:
Recognise equal dignity between all people, including husbands and wives.
Promote a culture of healthy relationships of mutual responsibility and respect in marriages, families and congregations.
Ensure that all people feel welcomed, respected and safe from abuse.
Strive to follow good practice in protecting those experiencing domestic abuse.
Refuse to condone any form of abuse.
Enable concerns to be raised and responded to appropriately and consistently.
And here is the key number and website for help in regard to domestic abuse:
1800 Respect: Ph: 1800 737 732 / 1800respect.org.au
(The Anglicare Domestic Violence Adviser is on 0438 826 556 - this is an advice line for Sydney Anglican clergy and lay ministers for domestic abuse in a church-related setting).
You can read the full diocesan policy and good practice guidelines, with further resources here (pdf). In particular, I draw your your attention to the brief booklet: “The Use and Misuse of Scripture with Regard to Domestic Abuse” (pdf); also available in Chinese (中文) - English parallel (pdf), and in Korean, and in Arabic.
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Mr Ross Cobb, Director of Music
On Tuesday 25 Nov., just gone, it was 20 years to the day since Ross Cobb arrived from England, to become the Organist and Director of Music here at our Cathedral, together with his wife, Georgie. The Lord has since added three wonderful sons to their shared life in Australia.
On a very rough calculation, that means Ross has directed something like 2,800 performances of the St Andrew's Cathedral Choir, on Sundays, mid-week Choral Evensongs, Christmas carols and Easter services. And he has played or directed at countless additional Sunday and mid-week services, weddings, funerals, ordinations, consecrations, inductions, state services and more. He has also led the choir, with orchestra, in a diverse range of concerts, most notably the annual Good Friday evening performance of Handel's Messiah, something of a Sydney institution.
We give thanks to God for those raised up to lead us in singing His praises!
1 Chronicles 15:22
Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skilful at it.
Psalm 33:1-3
Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing to him a new song;
play skilfully, and shout for joy.
Colossians 3:16
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney