In Our Churches
The release of the key results of the National Anglican Family Violence Research Report recently into Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a key moment for the Anglican church. It provides a snapshot of what is happening and what can be done to address this urgent and significant issue. ADM’s CEO, Rev. Jo Gibbs, reflects on the report’s findings.
People Worth Watching
– By Rev. Jo Gibbs
An important area in Christian ministry is growing and developing leaders. Following the example of Jesus, we want to be on the lookout for future leaders, investing time in them, teaching them, modelling a life of holiness and grace. As disciples of Jesus, we are to make disciples for Jesus – in our whole life, in every relationship in every moment.
The launch of the Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health
Starting in Semester 2, 2021 Mary Andrews College is running a new course – the Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health. The course offers specialised training in pastoral responses to mental health and wellbeing with a focus on preventative and reactive strategies. It is designed to be a professional development course for men and women who work in ministry, professional health care workers, and Christians working in schools.
COVID-19 Church Response Program Grantees Announced
Six women serving in local churches throughout Sydney have received funding to support church-based mercy ministries through ADM’s COVID-19 Church Response Program.
Celebrating our MAC Graduates of 2020 and 2021
On 27th March 2021, we celebrated a bumper crop of MAC graduates at St Andrew’s Cathedral, with two graduation ceremonies - one for the MAC Class of 2021 and one for the 2020 graduates whose graduation was postponed due to COVID-19.
Donor gifts $10,000 for Christian women authors
ADM is thrilled to announce that thanks to a generous donor, an additional $10,000 in funding will be available for Christian women with book projects at the 2021 Annual Funding Event.
Staff on the move
2020 was a year of change, a year like no other. While it was a stretching year, for many it has brought the opportunity to reflect on our lives and our work, and to consider what the future holds.
Honouring Deaconess Dorothy Black (nee Lennox) Sydney’s oldest living deaconess
Mrs Dorothy Black (nee Lennox) is Sydney’s oldest living deaconess and today celebrates 70 years of being set apart for Christian service as a deaconess with the Anglican Church.
ADM awards $25,000 for its inaugural Women in Ministry Support Scheme
Twenty women serving in churches across Sydney and beyond have received funding to support their ministries in 2021.
Space for Theological Reflection on the Ideas Shaping our Culture
Attendees at ADM’s 2021 School of Theology, Culture & Public Engagement look back on how they were shaped by the masterclasses they attended at this year’s online STCPE.
ADM Chaplain Jacinth Myles retires after 11 years of service
After 11 years of faithful ministry, Rev. Jacinth Myles is retiring from her role at ADM as Chaplain to the Deaconesses and Retired Deacons. She will be replaced by Rev. Jan Donohoo, who will take on the role of ADM Chaplain.
Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2020 – ‘Always Was, Always Will Be.’
Australians are invited to celebrate together under the theme of ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’. As the NAIDOC Week website notes, “’Always Was, Always Will Be’ recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.”
ADM appoints its fifth cohort of Fellows for 2021
The ADM Fellowships program aims to raise up Christian women to engage a sceptical and hurting world with the good news of Jesus, as they serve in our churches, communities, nation and world. It gives Christian women the time, space, finance and collegial support to complete a major project and pursue avenues to engage the public with their work.
Jo Gibbs joins the team at Anglican Deaconess Ministries
ADM is pleased to announce the appointment of Jo Gibbs as its new CEO, effective 17 November 2020.
Jo Gibbs joins ADM from St Pauls Castle Hill, where she has been the Care and Assistant Discipleship Minister. Prior to this, Jo spearheaded work in international and cross-cultural settings.
Annual Funding Event Major Grantees Announced
Each year, Anglican Deaconess Ministries (ADM) welcomes pitches from Christian women around Australia for grants for gospel-shaped initiatives and ministries at all stages. This year’s online event looked very different from previous years, but the focus was still on supporting Christian women who have “identified a need that they’re seeking to address through what they’ve created.”
MAC appoints a new Dean of Students & New Testament Lecturer
Mary Andrews College has appointed Dr Louise Gosbell as Dean of Students. The new position has been created to strengthen support for students from application to graduation.
Mental Health & Pastoral Care Institute now an Institute of MAC
Since ADM launched the Mental Health & Pastoral Care Institute (MHPCI) in 2016, the Institute’s Co-Directors, Keith & Sarah Condie, have been working within Anglican Deaconess Ministries to resource the local church throughout Australia in mental health and pastoral care. On July 1, a new season started for the Institute and its two Co-Directors.
Restoring Sanctuary
ADM awards $80,000 Restoring Sanctuary Innovation Grant to innovative model for churches to create safety for domestic abuse survivors
ADM is honoured to announce today the awarding of the Restoring Sanctuary Innovation Grant, an $80,000 grant to support the development of an effective church-based response supporting domestic abuse survivors, to Dr. Wilma Gallet and her group.
“A bond of union and sympathy”
100 Years Ago, Deaconesses battled the Influenza epidemic
They didn’t have Zoom. But the Deaconesses in Sydney were well prepared to care for those around them during the “Spanish flu” pandemic of 1919…
Then Came a Pandemic:
“The Pleasures of Pessimism” continued with Dr Natasha Moore
Dr Natasha Moore’s address for ADM’s 2019 Annual Public Lecture provided an insightful, far-reaching and even optimistic guide through what she called, “The Pleasures of Pessimism: On hope, culture and the end of the world”. Then came a pandemic. And we at ADM wondered how the new isolation affected Dr Moore’s perspective.