Ministry - Australian Church Record

Going beyond bums and dollars

September 22, 2025September 22, 2025 by Raj Gupta

Picture this: Every September, the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney receives detailed annual reports from Anglicare (aged care outcomes, community impact metrics, financial sustainability indicators), Moore College (graduate placement…

Ministry Youth & Kids

A global response to a big idea: Translating the Epistles with words children can actually understand

August 29, 2025September 6, 2025 by Kirsten McKinlay

Along with his wife Erica and four children, Matt Dodd serves with the saints at Lakemba Anglican Church in Sydney, where he is Senior Pastor. Recently the ACR spoke to him about a long-term project to translate the Epistles into language that…

Ministry

Do “sheep bite”? Rethinking a popular pastoral phrase

August 19, 2025August 19, 2025 by Callan Pritchard

I have often heard church leaders use a phrase like, “sheep bite and kick,” to describe challenges and conflict in church life. In this metaphor “biting” signals hostility and stubbornness. Though it sounds biblical, this phrase troubles…

Christian Living Ministry Youth & Kids

From campus to classroom: An interview with Jeanette Chin

July 26, 2025July 26, 2025 by Jocelyn Loane

Jeanette is married to Richard who serves as the National Director of AFES. Alongside Richard, Jeanette has ministered with AFES at Wollongong University and the Australian National University. Now living in Sydney, they attend St Matt’s…

Ministry

Why mission needs strategy: A conversation with Scott Sanders

July 14, 2025July 14, 2025 by Kirsten McKinlay

Hi Scott, thanks so much for speaking with us. Can you tell us a bit about yourself for those who don’t know you? Well, I’ve been married to Natalie for 20 years and we’ve got four girls. I grew up in a Christian family and became a Christian…

ACR Journal Ministry

Does it matter how much a pastor preaches?

June 12, 2025June 12, 2025 by Charles Cleworth

The latest edition of the ACR includes the results of a survey we conducted in order to investigate how frequently senior ministers are preaching in relation to the number of full-time staff and adult church attendance. On the whole, there is…

ACR Journal Ministry

Survey results: How often do Rectors preach in the Sydney Diocese?

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025 by Mike Leite

In January 2025 the ACR emailed out a survey to all Sydney Anglican Rectors – numbering just over 250. The survey was short and uncomplicated to ensure a good number of respondents. Below are the results for the survey and the questions that were…