Sydney parish representatives heard a blunt assessment of the progress of the Mission from Dean Phillip Jensen and other leaders at two special Synod sessions.

Yet there was certainly good reason to rejoice.

Bishop Peter Tasker, talking to a detailed Mission progress report, pointed out the extent to which the Diocese had embraced church planting, with more than 130 new congregations started during the Mission period.

On the flip side, all speakers mentioned a host of roadblocks that need to be overcome.

The report says the Diocese has seen "stable" church attendance, rather than the aim of rapid growth.

Dean Jensen encouraged parish representatives on the one hand to build their strategies "on the basis of truth'.

"We must not use phoney results or unrealistic spin. That's just lies."

However "we must not feed or be overwhelmed into failurism".

It's clear Dean Jensen wants to motivate parishes to work harder at reform.

Hence the Diocesan leadership is refining the Mission strategy to make clearer what is required " there was real emphasis on "missional church planting" to "desert areas" and "cross-cultural people groups" and Connect09 to empower the laity for evangelism.

Despite the late hour, what followed was a lively and highly enlightening question and answer time.

In one very telling exchange, the Rev Warwick de Jersey " who himself has been involved in university ministry " pointed out that the most entrepreneurial young graduates from Moore College " those most needed for the Mission " are far more attracted to independent options such as AFES.

Archbishop Peter Jensen replied: "One needs to appreciate that we are not an attractive option for everyone" Not all our churches are sufficiently missionally minded to attract a missionally minded minister."