This past week I had the privilege of attending the General Synod, which is a gathering of representatives of Anglican Dioceses from across Australia. As well as the chance to catch up with friends and meet new friends who minister in other places, and to hear encouraging stories of what God is doing, it was helpful to notice the issues that were prominent in discussion:
- Re-affirming, in our confused and bewildered world, that it truly is only through Jesus Christ that we can be saved.
- The Hope 25 mission, an evangelistic campaign instituted by the 2022 General Synod. It saw hundreds of churches reaching out in various ways during 2025. Given our 160thcelebrations, we did not emphasise Hope 25, though we have been doing evangelism and, by God’s grace, we are seeing fruit.
- Indigenous ministry—It was decided to appoint and fund a First Nations bishop to minister across Australia.
- Continuing prayerful efforts to restrain family violence
- Stewardship of God’s creation
- The situation of smaller Dioceses struggling with financial viability (particularly North Queensland)
- Gambling reform
- Highlighting chaplaincy work, particularly in the defence forces, where God is doing great things (we heard a memorable story of a young soldier putting his faith in Jesus).
All of these are important matters for prayer. They also indicate to me what many people in society are thinking about. So, I plan to touch on some of these topics in preaching as well.
