Election time in Sydney

Sydney Anglicans are voting in a new
Archbishop later in 2013. The election is in August, but the campaigns have
started already. A 4-month build up and the campaigns are in full swing! It
seems there are really only two major contenders. 

The first is a man called Glenn Davies, who
seems a decent fella. You can see his CV here. He’s been a minister,
lecturer, published author, and Bishop. Not that I know much about Archbishops,
but he would seem the right sort age for a guy that you’d want. Plus, he went
to Westminster seminary, so you’ve got to be thinking: are Sydney diocese about
to elect a closet Presbyterian? The rumour is he’s about to
be endorsed by Australian cultural giants such as Paul Hogan, the
Australian guy off House, Harold from Neighbours and Dani Minogue.

The other contender is called Rick Smith who
has more video endorsements of people saying he’s fantastic than Barack Obama.
Rick Smith has planted more churches and led more Christianity Explored Courses
than any other person in Australia and his church sounds the busiest in
the land. Also, Rick shut down some banks in his time when he was a
manager. Sydney loves the homogeneous unit principle and Rick has certainly
embraced that. He hasn’t put his CV up on the website, which I find interesting.
I would have thought rather than lots of video endorsements, your CV
should be out in the open. (I’m a total hypocrite; I have a chronically poor
academic record and wouldn’t let my CV see the light of day for all the tea in
China. In fact, I don’t even have a CV). The reason I gently mock the ‘Why
Rick?’ campaign is that it’s too much about the personality of the guy and I
suspect the media campaign will have an influence. On the positive side Rick
has really been blessed in turning a church round and growing it from the
ground up, his staff speak well of him which speaks volumes.

I don’t have a dog in this fight and know
neither man, but it’s a fascinating look at how they do things Down Under.
Sydney Anglicans are the giants of activism in Christendom today; just
listening to them on their annual preaching tours to give us Brits a kickin’
makes one exhausted. Thank goodness the election is on the other side of the
world. I am really hoping there is a televised debate though.

Despite all the jokes and inflicting the
Briefing on the rest of the world, the Sydney diocese is an enormous power for
good in the main and we owe them a great deal. The influence of
many of their leaders has had an enormous impact on churches being planted
and built up and armies of workers being sent into the harvest field here.
The appointment of their Archbishop is an important one and both these men seem
godly, sincere, humble leaders so they are worthy of our prayers.
Literally may the best man win.