Australian Church Record -

The View from the Pew – Janet Austin

September 13, 2023 by ACR Editorial

Ms Janet Austin served on synod for many years as a lay representative for Lane Cove. Why do you serve on the synod? I was invited to consider being a Synod Rep by one of the sitting members who was resigning her position. She believed it was an important…

Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed

September 11, 2023 by ACR Editorial

Download Paul’s warning in Romans 12 verse 2 is clear – Do not be conformed to this world. If we’re honest however, it is hard not to be! Our age is so domineering. Our current world has many tools at its disposal to cause us to conform – social media,…

Pride will destroy you, your ministry, and people around you

September 7, 2023 by Murray Campbell

You may be familiar with this famous saying, ‘Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall’. It comes from the Bible, Proverbs 16:18. We have mixed feelings about pride in Australia. On the one hand, we like to run over any tall…

Children of believers belong to God’s family

September 5, 2023 by Jocelyn Loane

May our children never know a day apart from the saving grace of Jesus. I work as a chaplain at a theological college, and I have the joy of hearing dozens of testimonies. One of the things I’ve found really encouraging is hearing the stories of how…

A View from the Pew: Helping the Church make decisions

August 31, 2023 by ACR Editorial

Mrs Anna Davidson of St Barnabas’, Fairfield with Bossley Park is new to the synod this year. Why do you serve on the synod? This will be my first synod (2023). I was asked to serve and thought I would give it a go! Others encouraged me and said we need…

A View from the Pew: Lessons from Lay Members of Sydney Synod

August 29, 2023 by ACR Editorial

With Sydney synod fast approaching, it is worthwhile remembering that two-thirds of the synod are lay members. Quite apart from the numerical majority, lay folk play an important role in the business of the synod, and in its ministry outcomes.…

The Alphabet Bible

August 15, 2023 by Jeanette Chin

When I was at uni, we read an article about memory. It argued that pen and paper, computers and smart phones have erased our reliance on memory. There are good things about this, of course. Our digital calendar reminds us of wedding anniversaries.…