Anglican Communion News Service

The annual Synod of the Diocese of Sydney will commenced on Monday, October 9. It will meet over 5 days - October 9, 10, 11, 16 and 17. This is the final Synod for Archbishop Harry Goodhew, who will retire on March 19, 2001.

Archbishop Goodhew delivered his final Presidential Address to the Synod on 9 October at 3.00pm.

The Synod meets in the Wesley Theatre, 222 Pitt Street, Sydney. The normal hours of meeting will be from 3.15pm until 9.30pm each day.

It is believed that Synod will receive petitions from about 40 parishes concerning the upholding of church doctrine immediately after the Presidential Address on Monday. Prior to the Synod meeting today in the Wesley Theatre, the Synod Service will be held at 1.15pm in St Andrew's Cathedral. George Street. The special preacher will be the Rt Rev Reg Piper, Bishop of Wollongong.

Other matters of interest

• It is claimed the survival of the Diocese will be at stake when debate turns to the Recognised Churches Ordinance on Tuesday, October 10 at 7.00pm. This bill aims to establish new congregations as official Anglican parishes.

• Synod will debate its response to proposed changes to the NSW Anti-discrimination Act on Wednesday, October 11 at 7.00pm.

• Mr Phillip Ruddock, Commonwealth Minister for Immigration, will address Synod members at the launch of Living in Harmony - a joint project between the Anglican Church and the Federal Government which aims to overcome community racism. The launch will be on Monday, October 16 at 2.00 pm.

• Motions in regards to women bishops and the ordination of women priests are on the business paper but are unlikely to be dealt with in the first week of Synod, if at all.