29 December 2023
Thank you for joining us for another year at The Melbourne Anglican. As always, it’s been a big year.
Here’s a selection of our top-rating Melbourne stories for 2023.
Hospital ministry future clouded as funding cuts loom
Melbourne hospital chaplains faced an uncertain future this year, after the diocese announced it would cease funding chaplains by the end of 2023.
The decision looked like it would spell the end of a ministry dating since the 1800s.
But chaplains welcomed the 2023 synod’s move to request Archbishop in Council form a working group to consider alternative models of providing Anglican healthcare chaplaincy.
‘Review case for five-day week for clergy’: Synod motion
Under the current stipend determination, full time clergy work 48 hours a day, across a six-day week.
On social media, our commenters were mostly in accord: “A six-day work week is unhealthy; physically, mentally and spiritually”, “If we can’t treat our clergy in a Godly and good way, what does our faith even mean?” and “With the increased workload most of us are facing, many of us with young families … this seems a no-brainer to me.”
Given the sample on social media, we weren’t surprised when synod voted to have the Clergy Remunerations and Working Conditions Committee review the case for a five-day week for clergy.
It’s a move that other dioceses in Australia say has benefited their clergy.
These four principles help us understand Anglican identity
What makes us Anglican? It seems many people were asking this year, as the Reverend Luke Hopkins’ piece was the most read in our website’s opinion section. Hopkins argues that a 19th century formulation of the “Anglican Principle” can direct Anglicans to what unites them in Christ: Creeds, Scriptures, Sacraments, Ministry.
The church, like society, has become more unsafe for our people
Imagine what it will mean for First Peoples to gather in groups, to worship, to be at synod, or just walk down the street when they know most of their fellow Australians have rejected their generous invitation in the Voice? The Reverend Canon Uncle Glenn Loughrey asked this question as he reflected on the bitter public conversation that ultimately saw the Australian people vote against enshrining a Voice to Parliament for First Nations people into the conversation.
He concludes that much work will be needed to make sure Australia and the church are safe places for First Nations people.
Migrant family of new believers choose baptism
How encouraging! Six new believers were baptised at St Andrew’s Brighton after coming to faith through the church’s Mandarin service. We love hearing and sharing stories like this! You can let us know about things like this at tma@melbourneanglican.org.au.
Spate of scam texts from ‘vicars’ at Melbourne churches
The Melbourne Anglican’s most read story online this year! In the weeks after publishing, we heard from quite a few other churches affected by a similar issue. Stay safe out there, and remember, information about scams is available at scamwatch.gov.au and cyber.gov.au. Scamwatch warns that if there is an urgent request for action, or if messages ask the recipient to click on a link asking for their username, password or personal information, messages may be a scam.
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