Sydney Anglicans from days of old might be astounded by the technology, but would no doubt joyfully join in the festivities as the Diocese celebrates 150 years of five key ministries this Monday night.
The opening of Synod will be lights, camera and action as the work of Moore Theological College, Anglicare Sydney and other organisations in the Diocese will be recognised in a multimedia extravaganza.
Synod's opening night will celebrate 150 years of Australia's first University residential college, St Paul's at Sydney University; Australia's first Anglican girls' school, St Catherine's in Waverley; and St George's on Forest Road, the first church in Hurstville.
Debra Chen, production coordinator, is weary but excited.
"It really will be good to celebrate God's work " and it's been happening in so many different ways over the last 150 years," Ms Chen says.
Camera operators have been all over Sydney filming ministry work, even spending a week in-house at Anglicare.
"2006 has been a great year to celebrate the work of Moore Theological College," says John Woodhouse, the current Principal.
"We've had our largest ever enrolment, and have sent 39 ordinands out to work in the Diocese "” the most we've seen in a single year," he says.
Since the College's foundation in 1856, it has seen over 3,000 students graduate.
Most trained as candidates for ministry in Sydney, but many have served in different capacities worldwide in a range of denominations.
The idea of a 150-year-long history is particularly etched in the minds of some students: many are still housed in 1860s terraces constructed for workers building nearby Sydney University.
"It will be good to praise God for the generations of faithful gospel workers that he has raised up for our Diocese and the church worldwide through the work of the College," says Dr Woodhouse.
The celebration will feature much of Anglicare's essential day-to-day work as the Diocese's urban mission and welfare arm.
"We're celebrating 150 years since our foundation as the Church Society this year," says CEO Peter Kell.
"But we've also invested a great deal of time and energy developing a strategic plan, laying the foundation for our work for the next decade. It is this focus on the future that has truly defined 2006 for Sydney Anglicare."
Archbishop Peter Jensen says that it will be fitting to celebrate at the upcoming Synod.
"As we thank God for these past years, we also look forward with expectation to the future," Dr Jensen says.
Story by Andrew Robinson
