The Synod to select the 12th Archbishop of Sydney is about to begin. It will choose between the two nominees for the position - the Bishop of North Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, and the rector of Naremburn/Cammeray, Canon Rick Smith.

The synod, consisting of one clergy and two lay representatives from each parish, will begin with a service on Monday 5 August at 2.30pm in St Andrew’s Cathedral. The service will be addressed by the Rt. Reverend Rennis Ponniah, Bishop of Singapore, before convening at 4.30 pm in the Wesley Theatre, Pitt Street.

The first session will be given over to the Presidential Address by the Administrator of the Diocese, Bishop Robert Forsyth. The address will be open to the public.

The Synod will then go into closed session at 7.30 pm on Monday night, considering which of the nominees to move to the first of the elimination stages of the ballot, the ‘select list’. Voting will be by houses, the House of Clergy (ordained ministers) and the House of Laity (lay people). Synod does not have to choose between the names at the first stage, although it is possible a choice of just one could be made for the ‘select list’.

On Tuesday, August 6th, there will be another session starting at 6.30 pm with a Bible study by Bishop Ponniah, after which the Synod will consider which names on the ‘select list’ it will move to the ‘final list’. Again, it could move both names or only one. If there is only one name, the Synod would vote on a motion that the person be invited to become Archbishop of Sydney. If that motion were passed then the Synod would end on Tuesday night. Alternatively, if there are two names on the ‘final list’, the synod will reconvene at 6.30 pm on Wednesday to debate the matter further and there would be a final vote on Thursday, August 8th.

Bishop Davies and Canon Smith gave joint media interviews in the days leading up to the Synod, fielding a range of questions and stressing unity in the Gospel and trust in God’s sovereignty.

They also rejected suggestions that the election was a ‘fork in the road’ for Sydney Anglicanism.

“The same principles of glorifying Christ and trusting in him and bringing the Gospel to a needy world is part of the Jensen-Goodhew-Robinson-Loane tradition and at that level you’ll see no real difference (with the election of a new Archbishop)” said Bishop Davies. “So, views on the ordination of women, gay marriage - they are not going to change.” The Bishop of North Sydney said he had avoided looking ahead and putting himself in the shoes of the Archbishop. “I’m expecting, and I’m sure it’s true for Rick, that God will supply the strength and wisdom as he leads us to address ‘moments of the hour’” the bishop said.

For his part, Canon Smith says 270 churches and range of schools and organisations made up ‘an amazing diocese’. “All of that work will continue because of the great leadership in those particular places and we mustn’t think that the diocese will be shaped solely by the appointment of a new archbishop” Canon Smith said “because all of those organisations have a character and a ministry and they are thriving - they are growing in and of themselves.”  Canon Smith told reporters “The diocese has always been characterised by a very glad trust in the word of God, in the scriptures. The diocese believes the ways of God revive the soul, bring joy to the heart - great things - and I think both Glenn and I would say if we become Archbishop we would love to see those things continue to characterise the diocese.”

The new Archbishop will take office at a special service at the Cathedral on the evening of Friday 23 August 2013.