Anglicans, Synod and you!

For five days over the last two weeks the Sydney Anglican Church held its synod. What’s a synod I hear you ask? Well, think of it as a parliamentary meeting for the church. Every church in the diocese is represented by their Senior Minister and two members of the church - our two members are Anna Richardson and Sarah Abraham who are elected at the AGM. There are also a collection of extra people who are elected or appointed to the synod, so in addition to our regular group we had some others including Robert Tong, Pete Mayrick and Nicky Fortescue. So yes, it is a meeting of about 800 people. 

At a synod we elect people to organisations, pass legislation that governs the way we work together, pass policies that orient the way we do our activities, pass motions that express requests or opinions and we hear updates on a variety of churches, ministries and activities. It can be both dry and riveting but it is always important. 

I wanted to let you know about two important things that flowed out of Synod 2025. 

First, Synod approved a motion encouraging parishes in the Diocese to focus on increasing church attendance by 5 per cent each year until 2030. This grew from a report prepared in response to attendance decline in churches between 2013 and 2023, and a motion at last year’s Synod expressing repentance for where “we have fallen short in not giving sufficient priority, attention, reflection and resources to seeing the lost throughout the Diocese of Sydney saved by Jesus”. 

The commitment of the synod is that we collectively work together for the next five years to focus on seeing a five per cent growth in each of our churches, each year, by seeing people saved. It was a super encouraging time to have this commitment made and I warmly endorse it as we continue to share life with those around us. The gospel is the power of God to save! 

Second, one of the delightful things about synod is motions of thanks. This year, our own Robert Tong (Late Mornings) was thanked for this long and faithful service to the Anglican Church in Sydney. I can’t do better than to share the motion with you.

Synod, noting that this is likely to be the last session of Sydney Synod he will attend as a member, gives great thanks to God and records its deep appreciation for the outstanding service of Dr Robert Tong AM to the Diocese of Sydney, the Anglican Church of Australia, and the wider Anglican Communion.

Synod acknowledges Robert’s deep personal commitment to Christ, his tireless commitment to the ministry and mission of Christ’s Church, his dedication to fostering unity and understanding, and his leadership in church governance. Robert has always brought a gospel priority to the issues before him and has encouraged us all to keep Christ front and centre. His knowledge and love of God’s word have enabled him to give sage advice and make wise judgments when the way forward has not always been as clear to those around him.

Synod particularly gives thanks for Robert’s strategic mind, theological wisdom, an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of church law, and the personal example of faith and integrity he has provided throughout his years of service. As a layperson he has devotedly and purposefully served in the Parishes of Bellevue Hill, Centennial Park and St Ives. For nearly five six decades Robert has served this Synod and variously its Standing Committee, Moore Theological College, the Anglican Church Property Trust, and the Provincial and General Synods, including their Standing Committees. He has also served as the Sydney Synod’s Chair of Committees and this Diocese’s Deputy Chancellor, as well as at different times been the Chancellor of the Dioceses of Newcastle and The Murray. Robert’s ‘The Synod Survival Guide’ is in its sixth edition and has been the handbook most members of the Synod have used to understand the processes and how to participate in what we do.

In all this Robert has been supported by his loving wife, Winsome, and their children Andrew, Peter, James, Michael, Stephen and Sylvia and their families. Together Robert and Winsome remain committed members of the Parish of St Ives. Synod offers its prayers and best wishes to Robert in his retirement, trusting that his example of lay ministry and his influence will continue to inspire others in the years to come.

What a great example of serving Jesus with your skills and gifts. Praise the Lord. 

There is much more that happened at Synod and if you want to know more you can search up the synod this year page on the Sydney Anglican website.