Mountains church planter heads to the hills
After planting a new church at Valley Heights while assistant minister at Springwood-Winmalee Anglican Church (SWAC), the Rev Craig Schafer has been appointed rector at St Mark’s, Pennant Hills
A major highlight of his past three years in the Blue Mountains has been watching his recent church plant in Valley Heights grow from being a “baby” to a “toddler”; something he says had a lot to do with the people involved. “The key thing was getting the right people on board with the right expectations… people who were happy to go and knock on doors, try new roles, and do up-front stuff when they hadn’t done up-front stuff before,” he said.

Uni ministry takes its toll
The Rev Paul Grimmond, Unichurch UNSW rector, is moving to Matthias Media as editor of The Briefing “for my health’s sake”. “I need to have a break away from the busyness and intensity of ministry on campus,” he says. The extra demands on individual students’ time, shorter semesters, extra costs of living such as mobile phone bills and other changes to campus life which have come as a result of the Howard government’s ban on compulsory student union fees, have taken a toll on university ministry, Mr Grimmond concedes.

Tara appoints new principal
Leading Anglican girls’ school Tara at North Parramatta has announced that Susan Middlebrook will be the new principal, commencing in January 2009.
Mrs Middlebrook is currently Head of Senior College at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney, where she has been largely responsible for the college’s considerable academic and pastoral growth and development.

Chancellor Peter Grogan resigns
The Chancellor of the Diocese of Sydney, His Honour Acting Judge Peter Grogan has resigned due to health problems.
“Judge Grogan was appointed Chancellor at a difficult time, following the death of the former Chancellor,” said Archbishop Peter Jensen. “He has always provided advice which is wise, considered and godly. I know you will join with me in assuring Judge Grogan and his wife Val of our sincere appreciation and our prayers.” Robert Tong has taken on the role of Acting Chancellor.

Major changes at SDS
Michael Cambridge, General Manager of Property Services, has left the Sydney Diocesan Secretariat (SDS). 
Michael joined the Secretariat in March 2003 and jointly managed its investment operations. He also managed the cash, lending and property portfolios.
Consequently, there have been major changes to SDS’s organisational structure. The property and project management functions of the Property Services Division will be merged with Parish Services to form a new Parish and Property Services division. Mark Payne is the general manager of that division. The treasury and lending functions will be incorporated into the work of the Investment Services division. David Cannings continues to be the general manager of that division.

VALE
Ruth Sefton passed away on May 31 after a long battle with cancer. Miss Sefton was personal assistant to Archbishops Harry Goodhew and Peter Jensen between 1996 and July last year. Previously she was personal assistant to the vice-chancellor of Sydney University. For the past five years, Miss Sefton was a committed member of Christ Church, Lavender Bay.