General
Editorial Autumn 2025
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- Written by: Stephen Hale
All of us have been shocked and perplexed by the horrific killings in Bondi last December. Both the event itself and the reactions and debates that followed have been complex, challenging and in some cases perplexing. This edition of Essentials has an article by Bishop Michael Stead on the implications of hate speech legislation. Michael has active engagement at multiple levels in this area and it’s an important contribution. Most people will never of have heard of Herbert Lum, but he heads up an important project to impact the way schools engage with the complexity of being multi-faith communities. David Williams has written an excellent article on apologetics and we have the stories of The Bridge Church in Sydney and TIMA Church in Melbourne, along with a number of book reviews.
Editorial Summer 2025
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- Written by: Gavin Perkins
In the midst of Anglican realignment it remains vital to remain focused on the ministry and mission we have together.
This edition of Essentials certainly touches on some of the wider issues of Anglican realignment, including a summary of the state of play from Bishop Stephen Hale, and a contribution to the broader question of what it means to be distinctively Anglican as we reproduce here the very helpful paper from the Sydney Doctrine Commission on Authentic Anglicanism. Yet alongside that we each must keep our eyes on the central task of the ministry and mission of our local churches.
That is why it has been so refreshing in Sydney that we have committed together through our recent Synod to have a focus on conversion growth. As the Archbishop of Sydney said in his Presidential Address, “I believe in conversion”. This focus has arisen in the context of reported data from recent years identifying a downward turn in attendance in the diocese, especially when considered alongside population growth. So while the most recent data has indicated a positive rebound in attendance, for this to be sustained and increased we need to long prayerfully and proactively for growth by new Christians, not merely by transfer.
The Sydney Synod has held before the churches a goal of seeking to grow by 5% each year by conversion. I think this is a helpful and activating goal. In our local context it means that we have been called to consider what we can do under God to seek to see 20 people to become Christians in our church next year. Acknowledging the divine miracle expressed in each moment of conversion does not in any way deny the role of human planning and effort used by God in such moments, and so it is good to be praying and planning for such an outcome in our church.
At the same time caring well for those that move into the area and find their way into our churches is a vital part of the work. Even the churches with the highest levels of growth by conversion still have the vast majority of their growth from transfer. People arrive in our churches perhaps looking for Christian community in a new town or suburb, or perhaps wounded from a previous church experience. We must care for the sheep and bind their wounds. At the same time we believe in conversion.
In our own parish the approach to seeking conversion has been multi-faceted. We want rich and thoughtful Sunday services to be the open front door of our church, expecting non-believers to be present in our midst. There is no doubt that in the current social and cultural malaise of the West that every week people are walking into our churches because they sense deeply that something is missing and they want to find out if there is something more.
Michael Bird’s article explores issues in our understanding of human nature and how our church life can be shaped by thoughtful Christian anthropology. It is often in this area that people find themselves asking questions and wondering if there is a better alternative. We must be alert, ready and expectant. We also intentionally seek to build links to people at times of crisis and life reflection. Courses and Christian input through Divorce Care, Griefshare, parenting seminars, and Blue Christmas services, all seek to place Christians and non-Christians in a shared environment where their shared experience of dislocation in this fallen world creates opportunities to hear afresh, or perhaps for the first time, a message of hope and life. From these courses and relationship connections people flow into Life Series or Christianity Explored, and then God-willing into our regular bible-study groups. Each year God has chosen to lead people from darkness to light, from death to life, through a process like this. This edition of Essentials reflects in two different articles on the role of trials and grief in leading people to explore and find faith in Christ.
The Sydney synod in setting this vision for growth by conversion, also chose to put a deliberate emphasis on youth and children’s ministry. This makes sense practically and strategically, and the statistics bear out the way in which so many make their commitment to Christ under the age of 18. However, this goal must be considered alongside the shifting reality of the last two decades in which the youth and children’s ministry of most local churches no longer consists of large groups from nonchurch- going families, but is instead dominated by the children of existing church members. In such a context there is a danger than a focus just on youth and children will see us simply treading water. While we must focus on youth and children this must always include reaching those from families not already in our church. This prevents a call to resourcing youth and children’s ministry from becoming merely sub-contracting out Christian parental responsibility in the raising their children in the faith. Youth and children’s ministry must believe in conversion not just discipleship of children from Christian homes.
Another danger of this emphasis is that we can lose sight of other ministries that might seem less strategic. And so it is wonderful that in this edition of Essentials we have two articles that focus on the joy of ministry to Seniors. In our church we have found this to be not just encouraging and fruitful, but each year we see elderly members of the wider community renew faith in Christ, or perhaps grasp the gospel of grace for the first time. In the midst of our Anglican realignment this all must remain at the heart of what we do, because we believe in conversion.
Gavin Perkins, Bowral
EFAC Queensland Update
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- Written by: Lynda Johnson
Anglican evangelical ministry across Qld has a rich history. Rev Jeff Roper came to Brisbane to start a CMS branch at the end of the 1950s, and with the CMS League of Youth, reaped the fruit of the Billy Graham Crusades. There has been faithful evangelical ministry for decades, holding strong in the face of increasing liberalism and at times, significant progressive activism. EFAC in Qld has long been the place for lay people to find their home. There are more lay members than clergy members, which has always been a great blessing. In recent years, the membership of EFAC has grown, and it is hoped this will stimulate even more strategic connection and creative thinking for future Gospel impact.
Following the gradual change within Melbourne Diocese over the last 30 years, my prayer is that there might be similar transformational change across Queensland, and particularly in Brisbane Diocese.
The two dioceses in the country which are at the forefront of the liberal/progressive growth are Perth and Brisbane. While some smaller Dioceses are also liberal/progressive, they don’t have as much influence because of their size. Perth and Brisbane have significant influence.
Queensland has three Dioceses – Brisbane, Rockhampton and North Qld. It is great that for more than a decade, the Bishops of Rockhampton have been evangelical. The Diocese of Nth Qld, while geographically large, has a proportionately small number of parishes. In both Nth Qld and Rockhampton Dioceses, BCA is providing wonderful ministry in many rural and regional areas, and there are great growing evangelical churches in the cities of Cairns and Townsville, including one associated with the Diocese of the Southern Cross.
Here is a more detailed snapshot of the Brisbane Diocese, noting that these figures are as accurate as possible with the information available.
Currently there are 158 active clergy across the Diocese of Brisbane. 23.4% of those would align with the evangelical end of the spectrum. While Diocesan statistics would give a larger number, I estimate the number of parishes in the Diocese to be 117, as many (particularly in the western region) are unviable. 22.2% of those 117 are led by evangelicals.
Both clergy and parish figures are close to 25%, which is encouraging. While one would expect that these figures might equate, evangelical parishes are more likely to have more than one stipended clergyperson, which is the case in at least 3 parishes.
The Diocese is divided into southern, northern and western regions. The Southern Region has the strongest representation with close to 30% of parishes clearly evangelical or led by evangelicals. The Southern Region is also where two churches associated with the Diocese of the Southern Cross began, and both they, and those who chose to remain, are now doing well. The Northern Region used to be stronger than it is now, but due to purposeful attrition of evangelicals over the last 25 years, previously strong evangelical parishes are no longer that. There are currently 5 parishes led by evangelicals which equates to 10% (down from previously 11 parishes which would have been 23%). Due to the smaller number of viable parishes in the Western Region, just over 30% are led by evangelicals.
It is also significant that there are vacancies in parishes that are seeking a clear evangelical leader (currently approx. 8), and with some retirements in the next couple of years, these figures will change.
These figures should encourage us. Please pray that EFAC across Queensland will continue to shine a light for Godly gospel ministry, that brings many to Christ.
Rev. Lynda Johnson is the Chair of EFAC Qld.
EFAC Victoria Update
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- Written by: TIm Collison
Last year EFAC VIC held its first annual meeting since 2019. It elected a new chair, Tim Collison; a new treasurer, Pedram Shirmast; and a new secretary Xiaoxi Lou. EFAC VIC also held a spiritual retreat led by Peter Adam last year. This year it held a briefing meeting about the importance of the election in the Melbourne Diocese, and has facilitated a number of churches getting grants to send their teenagers to Leader's in Training Conference. We are pleased with the election of Bishop Ric Thorpe as the Archbishop of Melbourne.
Tim Collison is Assistant Minister at St. Mark's Anglican Church Chair of EFAC Victoria and Secretary of EFAC Aust.
Editorial Winter/Spring 2025
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- Written by: Stephen Hale
The past few months have been especially important for the future of the Anglican Church in Australia. On Saturday 19th July Bishop Dr Mark Short was elected as the Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia. Mark has been Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn since 2019. Prior to that he was the National Director of BCA. Mark is an EFAC Australia Vice President. The last evangelical Primate was Sir Marcus Loane (Sydney). Prior to 1982 the most senior Metropolitan became the Primate. After that they have been elected. Do pray for Mark and Monica as he assumes this weighty extra responsibility in November and as he leads the Anglican Church in Australia and represents the Anglican Church of Australia internationally. Pray also for the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn as they seek to support Mark as he takes up this new role.
The other exciting news in the past few months has been the election of Bishop Ric Thorpe as the Archbishop of Melbourne. Bishop Ric is the Bishop of Islington in the Diocese of London and has a national role in church planting and revitalisation in the Church of England. Bishop Ric is a regular visitor to Australia and will be a real gift to the Australian church when he starts in late November. Peter Adam has written a great reflection piece on this significance of his election.
This edition of Essentials is a bumper edition in every sense of the word. I had an above average number of responses to invitations to contribute to the Winter edition, so we decided to put out an expanded Winter/Spring edition! You’ll also notice that we have included two copies in each sleeve.
The focus of this edition is Church Planting. Inside is a very stimulating interview with Andrew Katay one of the key Anglican leaders in this area. We probably all know about Trinity Adelaide and City on a Hill but most of us don’t know about the remarkable way both have evolved and expanded in the past decade or so. We have some lovely stories from two church planters from Melbourne as well as a range of other great articles.
BISHOP STEPHEN HALE
EDITOR
Editorial Autumn 2025
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- Written by: Stephen Hale
Sing to the Lord a new song
The Autumn edition of Essentials was edited by Ben Underwood from Perth. Readers will be familiar with Ben as he edited Essentials for a number of years. Ben agreed to pull together a number of articles from his fellow West Australians. I trust you enjoy these articles as well as Ben’s own original hymn lyrics!
Also included is the EFAC Global response to the IASUFO proposals on the realignment of the Anglican Communion. As one of the contributors it needs to be said that landing a response wasn’t easy. Ultimately we believe that it represents a potentially positive way forward. It has significant inadequacies which we have noted. I commend it to you.
BISHOP STEPHEN HALE
EDITOR