AP

In September 2026, I had the great privilege of attending the opening session of the Presbyterian General Assembly. I enjoyed meeting old friends. I first met assembly expositor Chris Chia when I visited Singapore as a medical student in 1991. And past Moderator-General David Cook has been a major influence on my generation during his time of ministry at the Chinese Christian Church Milsons Point and through the Katoomba conference ministries.

I also enjoyed meeting new people from a world with which I only occasionally come into contact. I would like to thank the new Moderator-General, the Rev Dr Stuart Bonnington, for his warm welcome and challenging Bible teaching.

While the culture was different and there were words I’d never heard of (I have now added the word ‘sederunt’ to my vocabulary), I was struck by the degree of alignment both missionally and theologically, our two Churches enjoy. The Presbyterians of Australia and the Anglicans in Sydney are people who believe that God’s word – the Scriptures – are the ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice, and that “there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” outside of the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12).

As a result of these dual realities, our heart’s desires are the same – to see every man, woman and child in Australia (and to the ends of the earth) reached for the Lord Jesus – for the salvation of many and the glory of his name.

This common understanding leads to the ability for us to partner meaningfully in the work of the gospel wherever we find ourselves, despite our differences in governance and polity, and also leads to a great deal of affection.

I am truly thankful for the contribution that members of the Presbyterian church have made to my own growth in Christ, their partnership in local ministry (one of my MTS apprentices served in the local Presbyterian church in my parish) and their provision of Reformed, Evangelical ministry in parts of Australia that the Anglican church is not in a position to provide.

On top of all that I am truly thankful for the many fellow workers I’ve travelled with in Presbyterian ministry and for also providing a church for my own daughter to attend and to serve (she is a member of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church Willoughby).

I want to encourage you to keep holding on to the Scriptures, keep proclaiming Jesus, and keep being bold and compassionate in your witness to this world, because without Jesus, people are helpless and harassed, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). My prayers and the prayers of many other Sydney Anglicans are with you.