Synod Summary 2022
It's been a busy fortnight, not only with the memorial services for the Queen, but also the Synod ( = Parliament) of the Anglican churches of Sydney and surrounds.
Our former Dean, Archbishop Kanishka Raffel, did an excellent job managing Synod processes in his first time in the Chair. He also delivered a wide ranging "Presidential Address" (or watch video, one hour).
His address covered many matters but a highlight was alerting us to the enormous needs in far western Sydney for obtaining land, constructing new buildings and finding church planters, so there will be churches at which the new residents can hear and grow in the gospel. Here's one brief quiote:
The Bradfield Local Government Area where the new airport will be located will have a population of three hundred thousand in 2036 – 14 years – and as of today, the closest churches are 20kms away at Hoxton Park, or Leppington, or Oran Park or Glenmore Park. That would be like having one church between Parramatta and Chatswood, or Miranda and Marrickville, or Hurstville and Cabramatta.
As Principal of Moore College, Cathedral member Dr Mark Thompson also made important contributions, calling for fidelity to Scripture in the context of national church debates.
Among other matters, I was involved in resolutions as diverse as
calling for parishes to work at local indigenous recognition;
commending further work on our churches' efforts to prevent and respond to domestic violence in light of national research;
encouraging ministers to connect with their federal and state MPs, so they can engage on concerns such as religious freedom and other social issues as well as matters of public Christianity;
welcoming new Accessibility Guidelines, and encouraging Parish Councils to use them to their churches more welcoming and accessible for all of the community.
Some will know I have been particularly passionate and outspoken on the call for meaningful harm minimisation reform on the poker machines. Please read the Open Letter calling the Premier and Opposition Leader to bipartisan efforts, which I have penned with Rev Stu Cameron from Wesley Mission in Pitt Street, or to listen to my interviews with the ABC on RN's Religion and Ethics Report (10 mins).
The Bible says,
“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God” (Proverbs 14:31).
So would you consider writing to the Premier and Opposition Leader in support of the Open Letter? It is intended as an act of commiunity kindness.
However the Synod motion I was most concerned about simply noted the broken state of our national church and, humbly acknowledging and repenting of our own sins, resolved to invest wisely, in faithful obedience to Jesus’ Great Commission, all across the country, in the raising up of Christian leaders who can proclaim the gospel clearly and are prepared to go out in mission, and establishing and supporting churches that faithfully proclaim the gospel and defend the truth of God’s word.
Without men and women, boys and girls hearing of the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ, rescuing us from sin and justment, through his death on the cross and bodily resurrection, all our calls for justice and freedom, all our efforts in compassionate relief, and all our encouragements and comforts in the face of death and other sufferings have no lasting foundation, no lasting meaning, no lasting hope.
This should drive us to our knees in prayer.
The same conviction should give is courage to open our mouths to speak up for the cause of Christ.
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney