The Synod of the Diocese of Bathurst met last weekend, amid the most formidable economic challenge in its history.

The Commonwealth bank has launched legal action to recover 24 million dollars it says it is owed by the diocese. Earlier this year, a fund to defend the legal action was established with a target of 1.5 million dollars.

A court has authorised the Diocese to raise money from trusts to help in the defence.

Bishop Ian Palmer told the 90 Synod delegates the amount needed to continue funding the operation of the diocese has increased sharply, and the doubling of parish assessments is one measure being considered.

A process of consultation with parishes has now begun.

Bishop Palmer said the financial difficulties were having a wide impact on the operations of the diocese.  Macquarie Anglican School at Dubbo and Orange Anglican Grammar School have already been sold to the Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation to repay debt.

Bishop Palmer also used his Synod address to challenge every parish, church and the diocese itself: "How does your church, your parish, our diocese, serve our communities, towns, rural areas and cities?" he asked.

The bishop foreshadowed further assets sales but also expressed confidence that the diocese would survive the present challenge.

“It will come through different. I believe passionately that it will come through as a servant church. It will serve these communities of the Central West better than it has done before.”

Speaking at the Synod opening service, Archbishop Glenn Davies quoted the Apostle Paul’s words to Timothy, urging Anglicans in the central west of New South Wales to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”.

Dr Davies said that at this time in its history, the church needed reliable people with ‘brains as well as backbone’.

“If you have brains but no backbone you will just waffle on, whereas those with backbone but no brains will stand firm but won’t know what they are standing firm on,” the Archbishop said.

“God has given you such richness in Christ to share with those in your communities, that the name of Christ might be honoured in all the towns and communities across the Diocese of Bathurst, and that you might be known as a people of God who stand and withstand.’

Pictured: Archbishop Davies speaks at the Synod opening service at Bathurst (Photo: Lew Hitchick)