While mutual affection can be strained, our main hope at General Synod is to be united by the gospel.

Each member's depth of relationship with God – and with each other – is helping the community at St Stephen's, Penrith to grow in Christ through good teaching, mutual encouragement and lots of prayer.

Archbishop Peter Jensen and the Sydney Standing Committee have been commended for supporting the strong stance African, South American and Asian Primates have taken against the US over the appointment of Bishop Gene Robinson.

“We've had a sad and terrible event,” read the brief, stark email from Bishop Pie Ntukamazina of the Episcopal Church of Burundi to friends around the world in the wake of last month's massacre of 159 Congolese refugees sleeping in a border camp in Burundi by rebel forces. Five pastors were among the dead, according to reports.

“Our world is ruined by the sinfulness of man. [The drought is] a powerful reminder that we're not in control.” So believes the Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson. The farmer and Christian joined a chorus of prayers for drenching rain last month. “This drought is as serious as we've ever had in Australia…there is enormous social stress,” he told a crowd of hundreds at St Andrew's Cathedral.

Community leaders have paid tribute to Canon Howard Dillon after retiring last month as Executive Director of Anglicare. It is a position he has held since 1996.

Church authorities in Western Australia have temporarily lifted a ban on primary school scripture material from Sydney's Anglican Youthworks. The turnaround follows a review last month that found many teachers are unhappy with the approved syllabus, Religion in Life, and want to keep using the Youthworks Connect resource in the classroom.

Controversial new guidelines that will keep known sex offenders within church congregations were revealed by Sydney Diocese's Professional Standards Unit Director, Philip Gerber, at a meeting hosted by the NSW Provincial Media Commission last month.