Resolutions Passed
(Resolutions 1/94 to 18/94 were passed at the first session of the Synod, which finished on 8 March 1994.)
19/94 Stipends and Allowances Committee
Synod hereby re-appoints the Stipends and Allowances Committee, with power to co-opt, and directs that it report its findings and recommendations to the Standing Committee for action.
(The Rev Terry Dein - 10.10.94)
20/94 Constitution Amendment (Section 51) Canon 1992
Synod withholds assent from the Constitution Amendment (Section 51) Canon 1992 and requests the General Synod to consider amending the Canon so that the proposed power to be conferred on the Appellate Tribunal is limited to a power to review ordinances made by the synod of a diocese under the proposed Section 51 only.
(Dean Boak Jobbins - 10.10.94)
21/94 Bill to Alter the Constitution - Mode of Appointment of the Appellate Tribunal
Synod again withholds assent from the Bill to Alter the Constitution with Respect of the Mode of Appointment of the Appellate Tribunal (Bill 2, 1981) as -
(a) the paragraph of section 57 proposed to be amended by the Bill, however unsatisfactory its language, embodies the principle that members of the Appellate Tribunal are chosen by the General Synod, a principle which will be lost from the Constitution if the paragraph is omitted; and
(b) the role of the Appellate Tribunal is under discussion through the Constitution Review procedure which the General Synod has put in place.
(Dean Boak Jobbins - 10.10.94)
22/94 New Age Movement
This Synod respectfully requests directors and principals of pre-schools, schools and colleges under the control of Synod to be especially alert and diligent to discourage the encroachment of the New Age Movement into the curricula and libraries under their control. This especially relates to occult stories, images and practices in curricula material.
(The Rev Gary Mulquiney - 10.10.94)
23/94 Regionalism: Exposure Draft
This Synod notes the exposure draft on regionalism, circulated to members on 8 August 1994, encourages Regional Bishops to establish opportunities for Synod representatives within their region to consider the issues raised, invites interested parties to send comments on the draft bills to the Standing Committee (through the Diocesan Secretary) by 31 March 1995, asks Standing Committee to report on the comments and submissions received and directs Standing Committee to bring to the next session of this Synod in 1995 a bill for consideration at that session.
(Mr Robert Tong - 10.10.94)
24/94 Deaconess Mary Andrews: Woman of the Year
That the congratulations of the President to Deaconess Andrews on the receipt of the award of Woman of the Year awarded by the International Biographical Centre Cambridge and the acclamation of the Synod be recorded in the minutes.
(The Rev Narelle Jarrett - 10.10.94)
25/94 NSW Council of Churches
This Synod receives the annual report of the NSW Council of Churches and -
(a) commends the Council for its united witness for the gospel and for its vigilant attention to government legislation; and
(b) urges parishes and individuals of the Diocese to support the Council with their prayers.
(The Rev Barry George - 11.10.94)
26/94 Ecumenical Councils
This Synod acknowledges the diverse nature of interdenominational Christian organisations within the Diocese, such as the NSW Council of Churches and the NSW Ecumenical Council.
Synod appoints a committee, consisting of Ms M. Tibbey, Deaconess M.M. Andrews, the Rev J.E. McDonald, 2 appointees of the Archbishop and 2 appointees of the Standing Committee, to report to the next session of this Synod along the following terms of reference -
(a) the nature, membership and role of NSW Council of Churches and NSW Ecumenical Council in the diocese;
(b) the effectiveness of these groups in presenting a Christian world view, focussing on Jesus Christ and the primacy of Scripture;
(c) the role of such groups in promoting the social responsibilities of Christians;
(d) the effectiveness of their relations with Government;
(e) the relative value of membership of such organisations for the Sydney diocese.
(f) other strategic Ecumenical involvement.
(The Rev John McDonald - 11.10.94)
27/94 Powers of PARC
Synod requests Standing Committee to bring before the next session of Synod an ordinance granting PARC at least those powers currently conferred on WARC by the Wollongong Anglican Regional Council Ordinance.
(Dr Rod James - 12.10.94)
28/94 "Funding for Growth - 2001"
This Synod, noting the point the President made in his address "Funding for Growth - 2001", asks Standing Committee to -
(a) investigate what changes to ordinances, if any, are necessary to require an Architectural Panel to consider the availability of suitable alternative buildings within a reasonable distance of a proposed building site prior to giving approval for new construction or extension of existing church buildings;
(b) develop a coherent policy regarding the extension of parish facilities in areas which could reasonably be considered as "developed" from a diocesan point of view;
(c) determine how much funding could reasonably be released to Vision 2001 as a result of a modest rationalisation of resources in areas of the Diocese where, as a result of historical factors we now find an oversupply of under-utilised church trust property;
(d) report these findings to the next ordinary session of this Synod.
(Mr Terry Leister - 12.10.94)
29/94 35th Anniversary Anglican Retirement Villages Diocese of Sydney
Synod congratulates the board and staff of the Anglican Retirement Villages Diocese of Sydney on the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Villages which now care for approximately 3,500 residents and others, and hopes that many members of Synod will be able to attend the foundation day service at St James' Chapel, Castle Hill on 23 October at 10am.
(Deaconess Mary Andrews - 12.10.94)
30/94 Role of Parents
This Synod, noting the President's remarks about the role of parents in the Christian nurture of their children and the need for them to be supported, commends the Christian parent controlled schools in this Diocese that have been established to assist parents to bring their children up in "the training and instruction of the Lord".
(The Rev John Baxter - 12.10.94)
31/94 Care of School-aged and Post School-aged Intellectually Disabled Children
Synod requests the Standing Committee to appoint a committee, including representatives from the Home Mission Society and Social Issues Committee, to bring a report and possible recommendations to the next meeting of Synod, concerning the care of school-aged and post school-aged intellectually disabled people in the community.
(Mr Peter Wilkins - 19.10.94)
32/94 St Luke's Liverpool
This Synod gives thanks to God for His continued blessing on St Luke's Liverpool who are now praising God and celebrating 175 years of continuous worship on the original site.
(Mr Peter Singleton - 19.10.94)
33/94 Low-fee Schools
This Synod encourages the Archbishop and the Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation to develop further the possibility of setting up some new Anglican schools, staffed by teachers who are Christians, in the population growth areas of Sydney, that will be organisationally separate from, financially independent of and interrelated with the outreach programme of the local Anglican Churches. Synod urges the Corporation to institute close advisory links with those Anglicans in each area who are already involved in the management of low-fee paying Christian schools. It asks the Standing Committee to support these endeavours and requests a report on progress at the next session of Synod.
(The Rev Ian Mears - 19.10.94)
34/94 Children's Ministries
This Synod affirms that distinctive ministries are needed to children and youth. Synod also notes with appreciation the initiatives of the Archbishop's Working Party on Children's Ministries to envision both diocesan organisations and parishes for ministries amongst young people, and especially children. Synod notes the endeavours of the Working Party to promote greater collaboration and co-operation amongst diocesan children's and youth organisations; to increase awareness of the priority of the work amongst young people; to encourage greater effectiveness and coverage in leadership training to support evangelism and nurture. Synod further notes the Working Party's initiatives in sharing resources to give greater support to parishes in their work amongst children in the 1990s through such activities as Scripture in schools, out of school and vacation activities, camping, Sunday Schools, as well as the ministries of such bodies as GFS - an Anglican ministry, the Anglican Boy's Society and the Anglican Youth Department.
(Mr Tony McCarthy - 20.10.94)
35/94 Chaplains
This Synod notes with appreciation the ministries of diocesan appointed chaplains as contributions to evangelism and the care of people in many challenging situations. In particular, this Synod notes with appreciation the ministry of chaplaincy services at the Children's Hospital and records appreciation for the financial support from Home Mission Society and Mother's Union. Synod also records thanks to Mrs Norma Dumbrell for her work as part-time chaplain at the Children's Hospital. Synod records the hope that full-time appointments will be made as a matter of urgency for children's hospitals or specialised children's medical units.
(Mr Tony McCarthy - 20.10.94)
36/94 ITIM
This Synod recognises the importance of Mission in the Workplace, and in particular the role of ITIM in seeking to minister to the specialised needs of people at work. This Synod urges parishes to offer regular prayer for Christian people at work, and for the continuing supply of suitably equipped people for Industrial Mission.
(The Rev Neil Brain - 20.10.94)
37/94 Legal Responsibility and Liability re Cemeteries and Columbariums
In view of the apparently increasing number of columbaria being erected upon Church Trust Property, this Synod requests the Standing Committee to appoint a committee, including the mover, to investigate the legal responsibility and liability of parishes and the Diocese to relatives of a deceased person whose ashes are interred on Church Trust Property, either in a columbarium or elsewhere, and report to the next session of the Synod.
(Mr Barry Sommer - 20.10.94)
38/94 Surplice Fees
Synod defers consideration of motion 5(14) on the business paper for 19 October 94 until the Third Ordinary Session of this Synod and agrees to the amendment of the motion by -
(a) inserting the number "1994" before the word "report" in the third line;
(b) deleting the items (c),(d),(e),(f),(g),(h) and (i) with a view to inserting words giving the substance of the recommendations in the report referred to by those items.
(The Rev Stephen Gabbott - 20.10.94)
39/94 Australian Prayer Book
Synod notes the progress of the General Synod Liturgical Commission in promoting a revised Australian Prayer Book at General Synod in 1995 and -
(a) commends the work of the Sydney Diocesan Liturgical Committee in its endeavour to maintain the theological principles of the 39 Articles and The Book of Common Prayer in the Experimental Services it has produced;
(b) urges that members of the General Synod ensure that the theology of any new Prayer Book is consistent with the theological principles of the 39 Articles and The Book of Common Prayer, and in particular, ensure that -
(i) all orders of Holy Communion (including any alternative form) contain clear, specific, unambiguous, and explicit references to the biblical doctrine of substitutionary atonement, as expressed in the 39 Articles (eg Articles 2 and 31) or the prayer of consecration of The Book of Common Prayer ("one full, perfect, sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world"), and
(ii) no words or liturgical actions should alter or reinterpret the remembrance of our Lord's once and for all death on the cross (eg by the introduction of the statement "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord ..." during the Thanksgiving, or by allowing words of distribution such as "The body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven. Amen. The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation, Amen");
(c) requests that members of General Synod ensure that any new Australian Prayer book has sufficient flexibility in its form for it to be a service book that will be of use for the younger generation of Australians at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries; and
(d) submits that members of General Synod ensure that any new prayer book be made available for purchase in both printed and electronic disc (computer readable) forms.
(The Rev John Mason - 20.10.94)
40/94 The Rev Dr John Bunyan
This house has derived both enjoyment and profit from Dr John Bunyan's participation in its affairs over the years. Synod notes with sadness his advice that ill health may end his membership, and wishes him God's blessing in the future.
(The Rev Gary Nicholson - 20.10.94)
41/94 Select Committee re Clerical Enquiries
Synod hereby appoints a Select Committee under Standing Order 15 -
(a) to review the administration of the Tribunal Ordinance and the Incapacity and Inefficiency Ordinance;
(b) to take over the functions of the Committee appointed by the Standing Committee to review Parish Disputes procedures;
(c) to prepare draft ordinances to put into effect any recommendations arising out of its enquiries;
and to report to the 1996 session of Synod.
The Committee to consist of 13 persons, 6 clergy and 7 lay persons. A quorum of this committee shall consist of 50% of the members, plus one.
After a ballot, held on 1 November, the President declared the following persons elected as the members of this select committee -
The Rev B.A. Ballantine-Jones Professor C.R. Bellenger Canon I.W. Cox Mrs W.D. Colquhoun The Rev D.L. Crain Mr R.S. Dredge Archdeacon G.R. Huard Mr P.C.G. Gerber The Rev P.J. Tasker Dr F.S. Piggin Bishop R.G. Smith Ms K.N. Sowada Dr A. Young
(The Rev Phillip Jensen - 20.10.94)
42/94 Chaplain to the Racing Industry
Synod notes the recommendations of the committee covering New Initiatives in Ministry and the racing industry in particular, and appoints a committee, comprised of Mr John Gormley (Chairman), the Rev Paul Bayliss and Mr Wayne Olling, to further consider the recommendations in the report.
(The Rev Paul Bayliss - 1.11.94)
43/94 Section 26 of the 1917 Act
Synod requests the Standing Committee, in promoting to the State Parliament the amendment to section 26 of the Anglican Church of Australia Property Trust Act 1917 pursuant to Synod resolution 29/92, to include in the amendment sought a provision that an ordinance dealing with property held for the sole benefit of a parish may not be assented to, in any case where the consent of a majority of the members of the Parish Council has not been received, unless that ordinance is approved by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of Synod present and voting.
(Mr Mark Swan - 1.11.94)
44/94 Ministry to Our Youth
This Synod notes with concern the results of the Diocesan Survey of Youth Ministry carried out by the Anglican Youth Department. We reaffirm our commitment to reaching young people with the gospel and discipling them within our churches.
Synod notes that 24% of parishes have no youth ministry groups, and that fewer than 7,400 young people from youth groups attend church on an average Sunday.
Synod is pleased that the survey results indicate clear signs of hope for youth ministry. It notes that the majority of young people who attend youth groups also attend church (80%) and that all disciple groups, conducted by the AYD, had a high level of Christian commitment.
Synod hereby undertakes to redress this situation through ongoing prayerful and financial support for the AYD as it assists parishes establish and develop strategies for ministry to the youth of our Diocese.
(The Rev Daniel Willis - 1.11.94)
45/94 150th Anniversary of SAMS
Synod gives thanks and praise to God for the celebration of the South American Missionary Society of 150 years of gospel mission and church planting by those who have spread the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in the lands of South America; takes note of the publication of the book Trail Blazers by Merle Goldsmith in this celebration year recording the remarkable struggles, faith and sacrificial service of the founding missionaries, and prays to the Lord for fresh labourers from our national Church for the harvest in this field of the world and His continuing blessing and strengthening of the indigenous Churches of South America, their leaders and members, to reach the whole continent for His Kingdom.
(The Rev Ross Buckman - 1.11.94)
46/94 Presentation and Exchange Ordinance 1988
Synod requests the Standing Committee to review the Presentation and Exchange Ordinance so as to reflect a wider consultation process in the selection and appointment of clergy to parishes in this Diocese.
(The Rev Don West - 20.10.94)
47/94 Procedural Resolutions
(1) Synod notes that the following organisations have not met the reporting requirements to the extent shown and requests them to comply with the requirements as soon as possible.
Audited Accounts and Liquidity Statement for 1993
Marrickville Area Deanery Committee
Annual Report for 1993
The Council of Abbotsleigh
(Mr Warren Gotley - 10.10.94)
(2) That the second reading of the bill for the Clergy Discipline Ordinance 1994 be made an Order of the day for the first day of the 1995 session of Synod.
(Mr Justice Peter Young - 10.10.94)
(3) This Synod defers the second reading of the Provincial Synod - Constitution Ordinance 1994 Adopting Ordinance 1994 to the next session of this Synod, to be an order of the day for the first day of sitting, and requests the Standing Committee to bring in at the same time an ordinance to fill in the details included in the present Constitution but not included in the 1994 draft.
(Mr Justice Peter Young - 10.10.94)
(4) This Synod records its appreciation of the Bible readings given by the Rev Trevor Edwards during this session.
(The President - 20.10.94)
(5) This Synod thanks those who participated in the Missionary Hour presentation.
(Bishop Peter Watson - 20.10.94)
(6) In the light of resolution 43/94, this Synod defers to the next session of this Synod the committee stage of the bill for the Delegation of Powers and Procedure Ordinance 1973 Amendment Ordinance 1994.
(Mr Robert Tong - 1.11.94)
(7) This Synod records its thanks to the President, the Secretaries of the Synod and the secretarial team.
(Bishop Peter Watson - 1.11.94)
(8) This Synod adjourns to a date to be fixed by the President for 1995.
(Bishop Peter Watson - 1.11.94)
1/95 Archbishop R.H. Goodhew
This Synod affirms its confidence in our Archbishop and assures him of our prayers.
(Mr Richard Lambert - 2.3.95)
2/95 Preaching and Administration of Holy Communion by Lay Persons and Deacons Ordinance 1995
That the 3rd reading of the Preaching and Administration of Holy Communion by Lay Persons and Deacons Ordinance 1995 be made an order of the day for as soon as possible in the 3rd ordinary session of the Synod.
(The Rev Dr John Woodhouse - 2.3.95)
3/95 Preaching and Administration of Holy Communion by Lay Persons and Deacons Ordinance 1995
Synod requests the Primate, under section 63(1) of the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia, to refer to the Appellate Tribunal for its opinion the following question -
Would the Preaching and Administration of Holy Communion by Lay Persons and Deacons Ordinance 1995, if passed by the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney and assented to by the Archbishop of Sydney in the form now before the Synod, be consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia?
(Professor Michael Horsburgh - 3.3.95)
4/95 Ministry Ordinance 1994
That the second reading of the Ministry Ordinance 1994 be deferred to the next session of the Synod.
(Dr Barry Newman - 3.3.95)
5/95 Referral of Other Bills
Synod hereby refers to the next session the second readings of the following bills for ordinances -
Church Ministry (Baptism) Ordinance 1994
Church Ministry (Confirmation) Ordinance 1994
Church Ministry (Holy Communion or Lord's Supper) Ordinance 1994
Church Ministry (Robes) Ordinance 1994
Church Ministry (Services) Ordinance 1994
Parishes Ordinance 1979 Amendment Ordinance 1994
Accounts, Audits and Annual Reports Ordinance 1994
Church Ministry (Lessons) Ordinance 1994
(Mr Warren Gotley - 2.3.95)
6/95 Minutes of 2 March 1995
Synod authorises the President to sign the minutes of 2 March 1995 upon the production to the Standing Committee of the certificate of any 2 members of the Minute Reading Committee.
(Mr Warren Gotley - 2.3.95)
7/95 Resolution of Thanks
Synod records its appreciation of -
(a) the President for his chairmanship;
(b) the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Committees for their work in the Committee stages of bills for ordinances;
(c) the members who helped during the session by giving advice and serving on committees; and
(d) the services given by the Secretaries, the Returning Officer and Deputy Returning Officer, the Church Information Officers, the Rev Trevor Edwards through his Bible readings, the Pianists and all those who have helped with the arrangements for sittings.
(Bishop Peter Watson - 2.3.95)
8/95 Adjournment
Synod hereby adjourns without appointing another day of meeting.
(Mr Terry Leister - 2.3.95)