Welcome to the Better Gatherings website!

The material on this website was compiled in 2009 by the Archbishop of Sydney’s Liturgical Panel.  At that time, the panel consisted of Bishop Forsyth (Chairman), the Rev. Dr David Peterson, the Rev. Dr Andrew Shead, the Rev. Dr Michael Stead, Dr Greg Clarke, Dr Jane Mathieson, the Rev. Alan Lukabyo, the Rev. Christopher Allan and the Rev. Peter Tong.

The website is now maintained by Bishop Michael Stead.

Through the gospel of the Lord Jesus, God incorporates us into his church and summons us to meet together. In the words of the Book of Common Prayer, we meet ‘to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul.’

We have a solemn responsibility to order our gatherings in accordance with the teaching of God’s word. The spiritual quality of our preaching, prayer and fellowship depends on our obedience to the Lord. We are living at a time when the pastors and leaders of our congregations need to re-think theologically and pastorally the basis of our experience of church.

We hope that you find the material on this site helpful for creating services that glorify God and edify the church.