1/97 Provisional Parish of Birrong
Synod notes that the Provisional Parish of Birrong has had difficulties financially during 1996-1997 as a result of the subdivision of the former parish of Regents Park with Birrong, and further notes a request from the Birrong Parish Council to consider sympathetically the case of small parishes when it sets the limits for parish ministry and property recovery costs for 1998.
(The Rev Ross Weaver - 13.10.97)

2/97 The Late Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Synod gives thanks to God for the life and Godly example of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
(Professor Bernard Stewart - 13.10.97)

3/97 Provisional Canons
Synod reports to the General Synod that it would prefer to consider the following Provisional Canons-

P4 Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper
P5 Baptism 
P6 Services in the Church
P7 Confirmation

in the form recommended in the report to this Synod on General Synod Provisional Canons but with the following amendments -

(a) the deletion of the matter "." at the section 6 of Canon P5 Baptism in the form recommended in the report and the insertion of the following instead -

", nor shall a minister baptise a child in a School Chapel or any other 'extra-parochial location' without first consulting with the minister of the parish where the parents reside or the minister of the church which they normally attend."; and

(b) the deletion of the matter "at least once each Sunday" in section 7 of Canon P6 Services in the Church in the form recommended in the report and the insertion of the following instead -

"at every service each Sunday.".

(Canon Dr Peter Jensen - 13.10.97)

4/97 Mr Darren Beadman
Synod thanks God for leading jockey Darren Beadman and for his unashamed public witness to the Lord Jesus Christ; and assures Darren and his family of our prayerful support as he enters theological college and trains to be a minister and preacher of the gospel of Christ.
(The Rev Paul Bayliss - 14.10.97)

5/97 Personal Assessment Process
Synod is supportive of the personal assessment process to guide assistant ministers to the best location of their talents as referred to in the article U.S. Assessments Needed for Sydney Clergy in the Southern Cross Newspaper of December 1996 - January 1997.
(Mr Wal Forrester - 14.10.97)

6/97 Dispossession of Indigenous People
Recognising the dispossession of indigenous people which has occurred in Australia, Synod urges the Government and all other interested parties to support the principles of native title as determined in the Mabo and Wik decisions and to ensure that any legislative framework preserves and does not erode these principles.
(Mr Paul Pryor - 14.10.97)

7/97 Bioethical Issues
That -

(a) Synod appoints a committee to study and report on bioethical issues arising from developments in eugenics, genetic engineering, the human genome project, reproductive technologies etc, with particular attention to the theological principles involved; and

(b) the committee consist of Dr Megan Best, Dr Robert Claxton, the Rev Michael Hill, Canon Dr Peter Jensen (Chairman), Mr Steven Nicholson and the mover with the power to co-opt.

(Mrs Patricia Judge - 14.10.97)

8/97 Youth and Education Ministry
Synod looks with prayerful anticipation to what God will achieve through new and extended opportunities for ministry with children, youth and their families in the creation of Anglican Youth and Education as a new Division in the Diocese.

Aspirations for a dynamic connection of parish, school and camping; new intentional evangelistic, nurturing and formation programs; training and equipping lay leaders; are commended to the prayers and earnest support of the people and parishes of the Diocese, together with the established and continuing ministries of the former Youth Department and Education Commission.
(The Rev Stephen Gibson - 14.10.97)

9/97 Stipends and Allowances Committee
Synod hereby reappoints 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.
(Mr Rodney Dredge - 14.10.97)

10/97 Guidelines for Vacant Parishes
Synod requests Archdeacons with territorial responsibility to provide guidelines for parish councils and churchwardens in vacant parishes on the responsibilities, duties and stipend payable to an acting rector who is appointed for a short term and requests the mover and seconder to provide written submissions as to what they consider might be included in the guidelines.
(Ms Judy Cale - 14.10.97)

11/97 Aboriginal Ministry
Synod notes with pleasure that since the last session in 1996 the Archbishop has established a Task Force for Aboriginal Ministry and that on 22 September the Standing Committee passed the Sydney Anglican Indigenous Peoples' Ministry Ordinance 1997 including a trust fund of $1.2 million.
(Archdeacon Alan Donohoo - 15.10.97)

12/97 Scripture Distribution in the Year 2000
Synod respectfully suggests that the Archbishop form a working-group to consider a Scripture Distribution in the year 2000, similar to that conducted in the 1988 Bicentenary Year, the working-group to consist of Mr Tom Treseder, Archdeacon Nicolios and the Rev David Tyndall, with power to co-opt.
(Bishop Brian King - 15.10.97)

13/97 Retirement of Mr Warren Gotley
Synod gives thanks to God for the work and ministry of Warren Gotley during over 30 years of service to the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. We particularly acknowledge with sincere appreciation his 24 years of service as Lay Secretary of this Synod and Secretary of its Standing Committee, his work as Diocesan Secretary, General Manager - Secretarial and the support and help and service he has given to a myriad of committees, boards, parishes and individuals. We have noted over the years, with great admiration, Warren's great gift of administration, attention to detail and unprecedented knowledge of the workings of the Diocese, which will be sorely missed by all of us. While expressing its appreciation, Synod will miss having his continued contribution to its deliberations and workings. It nevertheless wishes Warren and Jenny a happy and enriched retirement and wishes them God's blessing in the years ahead.
(Mr Warwick Olson - 15.10.97)

14/97 Committee to Review Clergy Tenure
Synod hereby appoints a committee comprising 5 laypersons to be elected by the lay members of the Synod, 5 clergy to be elected by the clerical members of the Synod and 5 persons to be appointed by the Archbishop, with a quorum of 6 persons of whom 3 must be clergy -

(a) to review all aspects of clergy tenure in this Diocese;

(b) to examine alternative tenure and employment practices for clergy; and

(c) to report to the 1999 session of Synod with recommendations and draft ordinances to put into effect such recommendations.

See Elections for details of the 10 elected persons.
(Dr Ann Young - 15.10.97)

15/97 St Andrew's Cathedral School
This Synod notes the announcement of 15 October 1997 by the St Andrew's Cathedral School of the provision of co-educational education for years 10-12 from 1999 and assures the Headmaster of the School and its Council of its prayers in this new venture in the fellowship of Anglican Schools.
(Archdeacon Lindsay Stoddart - 23.10.97)

16/97 Conference re Women's Ministry
Synod notes that in 1996 a substantial majority of Synod affirmed the Diocesan policy of not ordaining women as priests and after a second detailed debate on this issue rejected the bill for the General Synod - Law of the Church of England Clarification Canon 1992 Adopting Ordinance 1996. Synod warmly supports the Archbishop's proposal for a conference on the future of women's ministry in the Diocese and respectfully encourages the Archbishop-in-Council to plan a conference that will encourage and strengthen the ministries of women in our churches.
(The Rev Phillip Jensen - 23.10.97)

17/97 Report re "Eucharistic Presidency"
Synod requests that the Diocesan Doctrine Commission comment on the Report of the House of Bishops of the Church of England titled "Eucharistic Presidency" (1997), and make its comments available to the next session of Synod.
(The Rev Dr John Woodhouse - 24.10.97)

18/97 New Millennium Evangelism Initiatives
Synod, noting the strategic opportunities for evangelism as we approach the new millennium, encourages the Archbishop to consider a range of major evangelistic initiatives throughout the Diocese in 1999, 2000 and 2001 and encourages Standing Committee to consider funding for these initiatives in the 1998 Appropriations Ordinance.
(The Rev David Mansfield - 24.10.97)

19/97 Review of Assistant Ministers Ordinance 1990
Synod requests that Standing Committee review the Assistant Ministers Ordinance 1990 and report back to the Synod in 1998, the review to give attention to -

(a) security of appointment;

(b) job description;

(c) possible amendment.

(The Rev Ron Johnson - 24.10.97)

20/97 Liturgical Revision: Use of the word "Priest"
Synod considers -

(a) that the good reason for our reformers retaining the word "priest" in the Book of Common Prayer is its derivation from the Greek "presbuteros", (which means a senior person, and "elder', or a mature leader); and

(b) that much of this meaning has been lost, because modern English has come to use "priest" to mean a person who mediates between man and God,

and therefore encourages all involved in liturgical revision, in place of the word "priest", to use words like "elder", "president", "presbyter" or "minister".
(The Rev Chris Clerke - 24.10.97)

21/97 Resolutions of Thanks
(1) Synod thanks all those involved in the handling of the Synod Appropriations Ordinance 1997.
(The Rev Stephen Gabbott - 15.10.97)

(2) Synod thanks the participants in and organisers of the 1997 Missionary Hour and commends them in prayer.
(The President - 24.10.97)

(3) Synod records its appreciation of the leadership of the Rev Dr Peter O'Brien through the Bible readings and prayers during this session.
(The President - 24.10.97)

(4) 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;

(d) the services given by the Secretaries, the Returning Officer and Deputy Returning Officer, the Church Information Officers, the Pianists and all those who have helped with the arrangements for sittings; and

(e) the members of the Select Committee, who have laboured faithfully on a tense subject.

(The Rev Dane Courtney - 24.10.97)

22/97 Procedural Resolutions
(1) Synod requests that The Council of The King's School forward its annual report and liquidity report for 1996 to the Standing Committee as soon as possible.
(Mr Warren Gotley - 13.10.97)

(2) Synod requests that a copy of resolution 6/97 be sent to all members of the Commonwealth Government.
(Mr Paul Pryor - 15.10.97)

(3) Synod refers to the next session of this Synod the bills for ordinances remaining on the business paper.
(Bishop Peter Watson - 24.10.97)

(4) Synod authorises the President to sign the minutes of 24 October upon the production to the Standing Committee of the certificate of any 2 members of the Minute Reading Committee.
(Mr Warren Gotley - 24.10.97)

(5) Synod hereby adjourns without appointing another day of meeting.
(The Rev Chris Moroney - 24.10.97)