Update from General Synod
Minister’s Letter – 13 August 2026
Friends in Christ, as you know, I am at General Synod of the Anglican Church, and return home tomrrow evening, along with Gilbert, Karyn, and Mark from our congregations, and Bishop Michael and Archbishop Kanishka, and many other Sydney representatives.
Sydney delegates have played a contructive role. Because the days are long and intense, I am simply going to share the text of several resolutions, beginning with one moved, with heart-warming and scripture-soaked delight, by Canon Dr Mark Thompson, from our 10:30am congregation, and passed as the last item of business today, on salvation exclusively through Jesus!
General Synod affirms the biblical and apostolic conviction that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour of all who will come to him. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to humankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Article 18 also states that it is a mistake to say people shall be saved by diligent observance of the law or religion they profess, “For Holy Scripture doth set out to us only the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby men (sic) must be saved”.
Therefore, in this era of confusion and doubt in which we live, we encourage every member of the Anglican Church of Australia to bear faithful witness to Jesus Christ in word and deed, sharing with humility and love the good news of salvation in him alone, and inviting all people to come to him in faith and so discover real hope and new life.
I also had an important resolution on antisemitism and social cohesion passed today.
General Synod, affirming that the Jewish people have been entrusted with the ancient wisdom and oracles of our God:
mourns the tragic events at Bondi in December 2025 and the distressing rise of antisemitism in our nation;
prays for the Bondi community and the Jewish people of our nation;
welcomes the establishment of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion and prays for the work of its Commissioner, the Honourable Virginia Bell AC SC, and commission staff; and
pledges that our churches, schools, and agencies will play our part in combating antisemitism and all forms of racism, and in promoting social cohesion among our diverse nation.
Lastly, those who know me realise I was delighted the Synod unanimously affirmed as follows on federal gambling reform:
General Synod:
1. out of love for our neighbours, again calls on the Parliament of Australia to enact comprehensive online gambling harm minimisation reforms which implement fully the recommendations of the report of the parliamentary inquiry chaired by the late member for Dunkley, Peta Murphy, entitled “You Win Some, You Lose More”; specifically:
a) the banning of gambling inducements,
b) the full phase in of a comprehensive gambling advertising ban,
c) the closure of streaming and live sport advertising loopholes,
d) introduction of harm prevention measures like deposit limits and affordability checks, and
e) the creation of an independent national gambling regulator.
2. requests the Primate to write to the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition informing them of this resolution and encourages individual members of Synod to inform their own federal MP of General Synod’s view, with whatever personal advocacy they wish to add for the welfare and public health of our nation’s young people and other vulnerable persons.
I look forward to seeing many of you soon at church.
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney