Sydney Anglicans offer helping hand to drought affected areas of NSW

The Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney will join together with churches around NSW to bring relief to people suffering as a result of the ongoing drought throughout the state.

Yesterday, the Synod strongly supported a motion calling on parishes in Sydney to support a fund that would enable ministry to continue throughout NSW.

The motion follows a meeting of the Standing Committee of the NSW Provincial Synod last week, where the Provincial Synod called on Archbishop Peter Jensen to establish a fund that would enable ministry to continue in the state’s rural areas.

The Provincial Synod is chaired by Dr Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of the Province of NSW. It includes representatives from the Dioceses of Armidale, Bathurst, Canberra & Goulburn, Grafton, Newcastle, Riverina and Sydney.

As the physical effects of drought continue to exert a hold over rural NSW, the emotional and spiritual role of Christian ministers is becoming more important. However, the drain on resources in rural areas is beginning to hinder churches and other ministries. Some rural areas cannot afford to fund a minister, while even those that can afford a minister have been affected in such simple ways as a lack of petrol money enabling ministers to visit parishioners in far-flung areas.

While the exact form of the funding is yet to be determined, support from Sydney Anglicans is expected to help alleviate these problems.

Anglican churches across Sydney will also join with churches throughout NSW in a Day of Prayer, expected to be called by Archbishop Jensen for Sunday, November 3. The Synod has also invited all Christians to join in prayer for those who are suffering and asking God “to graciously send rain to drought-affected areas.”

CONTACT:
Geoff Robson (w) 02 9265 1508 (m) 0403 195 841
Margaret Rodgers (w) 02 9265 1508 (m) 0411 692 499

Full text of the motion on drought relief:

Synod, noting the current devastation being caused by drought throughout much of NSW and the rest of Australia, particularly the level of human suffering being caused by the drought –

(a) calls on the parishes and congregations of the Diocese to participate in a day of prayer for people suffering from the effects of drought in rural areas, on a date to be fixed by the Archbishop as Metropolitan of NSW, in consultation with the bishops of other dioceses in NSW, and

(b) encourages parishes to support any appeal commenced by the Archbishop, as Metropolitan, aimed at allowing ministry to be maintained in regions of NSW severely affected by drought, and

(c) calls upon all Christians to join in prayer for those who are suffering, and asking God to graciously send rain to drought-affected areas, and

(d) assures churches throughout rural Australia of our concern, support and ongoing prayers as they seek to meet both the spiritual and physical needs of their communities at this time, and encourages them to continue in their mission to share the gospel of Jesus Christ at every opportunity.