One of the signs of a healthy church is the need to expand facilities for meeting together around Gods word. Of course it is not an essential sign of health, as some choose to subdivide when growth outstrips facilities, but it is usually an encouraging sign.

It would seem hypocritical to be writing about this with one minute to go till my deadline for submission. But at least, you are hearing from an expert and a master at this.

Early church theologian Augustine is seen as an enemy of our sexually liberated society. ANDREW CAMERON argues moderns could learn much from him "“ including conservative Christians who refuse to place sexual morality next to idolatry and greed.

In his presidential address for 2008, Archbishop Peter Jensen has challenged Sydney Anglicans to develop an 'expert' understanding of their communities. This challenge has combined with a renewed focus on identifying and reaching the 'tribes' and 'deserts' that exist within the Diocese as Sydney Anglicans seek to grant everyone the opportunity to make a meaningful connection with Jesus.

Sydneyanglicans.net brings you a summary on the key debates to watch at Synod 2008.

In 1994 our diocesan Synod passed the following motion: "This synod recognises that planting and developing new churches is an effective way to reach our nation with the Gospel and asks the Archbishop respectfully to set up a working party to prepare for the next Synod a report on research into the practice and experience of church planting in Australia and overseas and in the light of that research present a draft diocesan strategy for evangelistic church planting. This report should particularly include examination of research into and recommendations for evangelistic church planting among non-Anglo Saxon ethnic groups within our Diocese."

Anglicare Sydney is spearheading a push by the Sydney Diocese into a new housing development in South-West Sydney that will be home to more than 30,000 people.

The Rev Dr Mark Thompson has worked with a GAFCON theological group to draft a commentary applying the Jerusalem Declaration to church life.