The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia met on 9–14 August, 2026 in Melbourne. What did it reveal about the state of the Anglican Church of Australia, what can we give thanks for, and what should we be praying for in the years ahead? Sandy Grant, Dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, and lay representatives Louise Cunningham and Henry Pascoe share their reflections on this year’s General Synod.
1. Looking back on General Synod, what are you most thankful to God for?
Sandy: The increase of evangelical representatives being elected indicates the growing impact of ‘Bible-confident’ gospel ministry across many dioceses. We saw this in the election of an increasing number of godly persons of orthodox Christian convictions to many roles across our denomination. I was encouraged by the courage of some such representatives who are sometimes marginalised in their home context. I am impressed by lay people who give up a week of their holidays to serve our churches in this kind of governance.
In my estimation the best moment was the resolution affirming the uniqueness of God’s Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, as the only Saviour for humankind, moved by Canon Dr Mark Thompson from Sydney, and seconded by the Reverend Natalie Rosner from Melbourne. Mark’s speech was a careful, serious and positive exposition of what the Bible says about this matter. He moved me to renewed commitment to the need to introduce people to Jesus.
It’s also good to note that even where deeply serious theological divisions remain, common grace and the general impact of historic Christian thinking in our churches—on such things as human dignity and concern for the vulnerable—enable us to come together to make strong and sometimes unanimous calls on matters such as gambling reform, addressing antisemitism, and opposing commercial surrogacy (the last one involved very careful but successful negotiations).
Personally, I was really thankful my wife was able to be there, filling a last-minute casual vacancy. Practically we were both thankful for how WhatsApp was used to enable discussion and debate of key issues and distribution of helpful advice among more than 100 evangelical friends from most dioceses. That was a good model of technology use.
Louise: This was my second General Synod, and I found this one was more collegial than my first. Movers of motions were generous in hearing the opinions of others and working towards wording that reflected the majority of synod while not changing what the motion was about.
I was encouraged by many who are seeking to make Jesus known, and to love and care for people in their communities by sharing the hope that can only be found in Jesus. Some of these are in remote areas of the country where leaders with firm gospel convictions are few and far between.
I caught up with someone who leads a church in outback Australia. He is the first evangelical rector in the parish for more than 90 years. I was super encouraged to hear about people coming to faith and growing in maturity there. And there’s been a significant change in the community’s perception of the Anglican Church as one who loves and cares for the marginalised. It was a real joy to hear about this ministry.
Henry: Coming into General Synod, I was prepared for discouragement. I am so thankful to God that this was largely not my experience. The chance to meet and work together with Christians from around the country who are seeking to proclaim the gospel, sometimes in very different situations to our own, was of great encouragement. Meeting people over lunch or even just in the coffee line, and hearing about how they seek to proclaim Christ was a real highlight.
Another great highlight for me was the passing of a motion declaring that salvation is found exclusively in Christ. It was great to be able to declare that our hope can only be found in our Saviour, Jesus. To spend time not just discussing financial and legal matters but reaffirming the central doctrine of our church was an encouraging moment.
2. What did you find most challenging or concerning at Synod?
Sandy: The most distressing moment in the actual Synod hall occurred during discussion of the motion on the uniqueness of Christ when one speaker openly indicated that they considered God’s Son, our only Saviour Jesus, to be the equivalent of various named indigenous deities, recognised by some First Nations people in the past. It was hard to understand this as anything other than idolatrous syncretism and a defiance of the motion, although judging from the voices, the member did not have the courage to vote against the motion.
I am also concerned by the rhetoric from some liberal or progressive bishops that speaks of “unhelpful certainty”. Clearly there can be a proud or rude dogmatism. There can also be zeal without knowledge. There can be an unnecessary aggression or a demand for excessive precision about secondary matters that goes beyond what is written. And sometimes we have real struggles with doubt for a variety of reasons.
However, this cannot mean all certainty is unproductive or unhelpful. Yet the rhetoric of some bishops appeared to apply this concern to central matters of the Christian faith. Surely every time we recite the Apostles’ or Nicene Creed and say “I/We believe”, positive Christian certainty in gospel doctrine is properly being expressed. In the Anglican Baptism service, those being baptised are asked to respond, “All this I firmly believe”.
This is even more important for bishops, who in their Anglican consecration vows indicate that “I am convinced” that the holy Scriptures contain all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and will instruct the people committed to their care from the Scriptures, and teach nothing (as required of necessity for eternal salvation) except what they are convinced may be proved by the Scriptures! They also promise to be “ready to drive away all false and strange doctrine which is contrary to God’s word”.
How can those who have made such promises criticise as unhelpful others who wish to uphold the certainty of central gospel teachings?
Louise: I was aware of more theological syncretism among some members. Over lunch, someone told me about a meeting they were at in which a leader brought a bag of idols that she had collected on her travels. She did this to help her remember the spiritual ‘truths’ she was exposed to while travelling and incorporate them into her understanding and expression of God.
This kind of syncretism doesn’t represent the majority of Synod members, but it seemed to me that many of the theologically liberal leaders held to this kind of thinking.
Syncretism wasn’t the only discouragement. In a conversation with someone at another meal, I found they showed little curiosity about or grace towards my different theological position on something that I’d call a non-salvation issue. When I tried turning the conversation to Jesus, they were frustrated. I felt saddened by the emphasis on a peripheral issue over Jesus.
Henry: One thing I noticed was how often members used the same words to discuss an issue, while meaning vastly different things by them. This was particularly evident in discussions about evangelism. Last year’s Hope25 evangelistic campaign was considered a success by members across the country, from all different kinds of churches. And it was encouraging to hear stories and testimonies of how God had been at work through his people and in his churches all around Australia. But while we all spoke of hope, we couldn’t agree on where this hope is found and what this hope means. Nor could we agree on what evangelism is, or what it should look like. Thus, what appeared at first to be encouraging agreement masked significant and concerning disagreements.
3. As you look ahead, what are you praying for the Anglican Church of Australia?
Sandy: I pray for the perseverance of faithful preachers and lay church leaders across the land. I pray for further gospel partnership and cooperation across the dioceses. I pray for a winsomeness and love that commends evangelical ministries in places where some Anglicans may have been previously unsure about such a convictional approach. May they and we see that the gospel of Jesus, taught with a humble Bible confidence, is a wonderful (and only) hope for our nation.
Louise: I’m praying for those who have turned from the true and living God, who has revealed himself in his word, that they would turn to him in repentance and faith. And I’m praying for perseverance for those who speak God’s word for his glory in all the different circumstances in which they live.
Henry: As someone who is keen to serve in the Anglican Church of Australia, it is my prayer that evangelism would increasingly become a central priority across the national church. There are opportunities throughout our country, and I’ll be praying that more of our churches would long to see Australians converted and receiving new life in Christ. Among all the great things that our churches could, and often should, be doing, the one thing we must never cease doing is proclaiming Jesus.