One night on a recent camping trip with a mate, I found myself lying in a clearing of soft short grass staring up at the stars. or the briefest of seconds, even though my puny brain couldn't quite grasp the enormity of it, I got a perspective of the bigness – the absolute mind-boggling vastness – of space. No matter which way you look at it, space is really, really big.

I am one of those happy people who are enjoying Southern Cross's recent attention on the Diocesan Mission. It has been encouraging to read of people across the Diocese who are engaging their neighbours with the gospel in love. But, in the process, I keep feeling unsettled by the way some of my brothers and sisters are speaking about ‘church'.

Under Anglican polity you cannot choose your own bishop. Of course we choose ours when Synod elects our archbishop, but when he is in place he is the diocesan of this diocese, Sydney, and all Anglicans in the diocese come under his jurisdiction and pastoral care. That is the pattern all over the Anglican Communion.

The people of the parish of Woodville Road have been without a rector a rector since September 2002. Eighteen months of a leadership void can wreak havoc on a parish, but this has been far from the case at the thriving church in Sydney's west.

Wayne Billington has been a victim of burnout. A few years ago while working in a high pressure role as a financial analyst in the CBD, Wayne decided to give more time to help the ministry at St Paul's, Castle Hill.

Burnout? Who, me? Never! BRUCE BALLANTINE-JONES looks at a new book that tackles the unique pressures of Christian ministry.

with Paul Perini.

Stuart P. Robinson interviews Paul Perini, rector, St Hilary's, Kew.