Sydney Synod to continue discussing plans to increase church membership

The Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney will continue discussing a wide-ranging and innovative Mission to start thousands of new churches and radically increase church membership.

The 2003 meeting of Synod will commence today, Monday, October 13 at 2.30pm. Archbishop Peter Jensen will deliver his Presidential Address to the Synod from 3.15pm.

Synod will meet at the Wesley Centre, 220 Pitt St, Sydney from October 13-15, and again on October 20-21, commencing daily at 2.30pm.

In his Address, Archbishop Jensen will speak on a wide range of issues, including:

• The biblical concept of ‘church’ and how this impacts on the Diocesan strategy to multiply fellowships in order to reach the initial goal of seeing ten per cent of people in Bible-based churches within the next nine years;
• The individualism of our generation and how biblical Christianity offers the best alternative to the ‘Love Deficit’ being experienced by so many people in our culture.
• The current controversy in the Anglican Communion over the appointment of a practicing homosexual as a bishop in the Episcopal Church in the USA, and related matters such as the blessing of same-sex unions in the Canadian Diocese of New Westminster;
• The current debate over the issue of women bishops in the Anglican Church in Australia;
• The nature of the Anglican Communion in the face of current challenges and the possibility of a formal, structural realignment in the Communion;
• The Uniting Church in Australia’s recent decision to allow its presbyteries to accept and ordain practicing homosexual clergy;

Much of the discussion at this Synod will focus on various aspects of the diocesan Mission – adopted by the Synod last year – which aims to see ten per cent of the people in Sydney Diocese in Bible-based churches within ten years. A special multimedia Mission presentation will be the main focus of the first Monday evening session of Synod.

Other issues on the agenda include:

• The formation of a church planting taskforce to help coordinate the Diocese’s plans to start thousands of new congregations across Sydney;
• Discussion of church property matters;
• Opportunities for Sydney Diocese to provide assistance to other dioceses;
• A call for Synod to reaffirm its commitment to the authority of Scripture.

Reserved media seating will be available in the Wesley Centre during each day of Synod. Media will be permitted to film, photograph and record the Presidential Address after contact with the diocesan Media Officer, Margaret Rodgers, or Anglican Media Sydney staff.

The text of the Presidential Address will be online at www.anglicanmedia.com.au from 3pm today. Embargoed copies are available for media before that time from the Anglican Media office or at the Synod.

CONTACT:
Margaret Rodgers
(m) 0411 692 499 (w) 9265 1507

Geoff Robson
(m) 0403 195 841 (w) 9265 1508