Synod will continue to provide $250,000 a year to the Diocese of Bathurst until at least 2030.

The Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder – also a former Sydney rector – spoke to members on the third day of meetings to inform them how the support from Sydney has been encouraging growth in his diocese.

“By God’s grace, we have welcomed 14 new ministers into the diocese in 2½ years – graduates either of SMBC or Moore College – and we expect to make maybe another five more appointments to parishes without ministers before the end of the year,” he said. 

“These appointments are already making a difference on the ground. Parishes are growing. New Bible study groups are being formed. In one parish, a Sunday children’s ministry has started, where there had been none on a Sunday for 30 years!”

Parishes in Sydney are partnering with parishes in the Bathurst diocese through prayer, short-term mission and contributions to staff costs, and Bush Church Aid is involved in partnerships at the diocesan cathedral and in the parishes of Cobar, Cowra, West Wyalong and Mudgee.  

Bishop Calder also introduced a short video where church members and ministers in the region spoke with joy and thanks about the impact of Sydney’s support.

The Rev Andrew Thornhill from Coonabarabran said: “We’re so grateful for the gift from Sydney, and for their generosity, that enables a godly bishop”, adding: “I think people’s hearts are being captured – or recaptured – by Jesus.”

Bec Choi, an assistant in the parish of Blayney, said, “We have only just begun. Our diocese is only really waking up... and there is just so much more to be done. And we need time. Because rebuilding gospel ministry from the ground up just takes a lot of time”.

In a motion put forward by the Bishop of South Sydney, Michael Stead, and lay member Dr Karin Sowada, Sydney voted unanimously to give them that time. 

The initial six-year support package for Bathurst is in its fourth year, but it will now continue past Bishop Calder’s anticipated retirement in 2027.  

Bishop Calder told members that, “In the kindness of God, we feel we are turning a corner. Our finances may be distressed, but our people are not. Rather, we are rejoicing in your kindness and our Lord’s provision”.