The Presidential Address is always the big ticket item that starts Synod. It’s reminiscent of the State of the Union address - what condition is the Diocese in? what are the big issues that face us?  what is the proposed legislative agenda?

The long stream of questions immediately before the Address made it clear that the Diocesan losses are a significant concern. Question after question asked about gearing, investment strategies, risk management. The Secretariat Staff have a long night in front of them as they prepare answers!

The Archbishop address deserves to be read in full and the text, audio and video will be on the site here soon. Let me just reflect though on just a couple of points:

1. The Archbishop spoke frankly and movingly about his response to the Diocesan losses -  disbelief, responsibility, doubt, grief, uncertainty.  I think we all saw something of the curtain being pulled back on what must have been a terribly trying year.  He gave a helpful analogy of the death of a great leader - even while you respond with grief you also need to plan for a future you are not ready for. I think the challenge this Synod faces is to do those two things: acknowledge grief and make strategic plans for the future. Are we ready for that? Clearly the effort put into strategic planning is enormous and the changes are radical - a reshaping of regionalism, the introduction of ministry areas, significant financial restructuring, changes to episcopal responsibilities. These will be important debates.
2. The Archbishop also made it clear that the stress and strain of the financial crisis was not how he hoped 2009 would be remembered. Instead there was the joy of Connect 09 and the wonder of seeing God at work. While there were Connect 09 stories given from across the diocese, the most powerful one was the one closest to Bishopscourt. In the last 8 years not one neighbour had been into the Archbishop’s residence. For Connect 09 the street was invited to a High Tea. Around 60 neighbours came and St Marks Darling Point gave out copies of Essential Jesus to each.

The conclusion of the Address points to how 2009 was the worst of times and the best of times:

For me, it has been a year of great but mixed emotions, of hard, hard work, of frustration and sadness at the loss of ministries, of admiration at the way so many people have simply got on with being servants of Jesus even when hard decisions have affected them deeply. It has also been a year in which I have seen God at work through his servants in sharing the gospel and so a year of rejoicing. I am so proud to be associated with a Diocese which has poured all this energy and time and money into evangelism and into transforming churches. I am so thankful to God for his immeasurable blessings.
Paul writes to the Philippians as one who knows the great apocalyptic truth: 'the Lord is at hand.' He knows that whatever happens there is only one thing which matters, that the Lord will appear and transform all things. He speaks of his joy, his contentment, of his pleasure in the partnership he has experienced with the church. And then in God's name he makes this promise: 'And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.'  That is our testimony in good times and in bad: our God will provide. With Paul we also say: 'I can do all things through him who strengthens me'. And so he adds, in words which we can make our own, 'To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.'