In the heart of New South Wales, Australia, is the Greater Sydney Conference—a vibrant and diverse community of faith. This is the story of our journey—a journey filled with faith, growth, and a deep commitment to spreading the Adventist message.
The Adventist message first reached the shores of Sydney in 1889 through the pioneering efforts of Pastor George Tenney, President of the Australian Conference. At that time, there were only a handful of believers, but Tenney saw a great field awaiting the labourers in Christ’s harvest.
Over the years, this small group of believers grew, and they needed organised governance. In 1919, at a historic meeting in Parramatta Park, the New South Wales Conference divided into the North New South Wales Conference and the South New South Wales Conference.
In 1949, organisers divided the South New South Wales Conference again, and the Greater Sydney Conference was born. Its first Executive Committee met in January, and headquarters were located on The Boulevarde in Strathfield, Sydney, with the South New South Wales Conference located in Wagga Wagga.
Union President, Pastor Claude Judd with Greater Sydney Conference President Pastor Frank Maberly. New extensions to the Greater Sydney Conference Office Circa 1975.
At the second GSC Executive Committee meeting, Pastor A. White sold his 1940 model Ford V8 for 600 pounds to the Conference, so they could use it as the Conference city mission car. Adventist Primary Division school fees were 30 pounds a term for one child, and they purchased an organ from the Waitara church for 25 pounds.
The first Greater Sydney Conference Constituency Meeting was held on March 19, 1950, at Stanmore Church. Pastor L. A. Butler served as the first Conference President and led the meeting. Reports highlighted the faithfulness of God as 169 souls were won in 1949, with a significant portion of baptisms attributed to radio interests. That year, the Conference had three primary schools, two high schools, 220 students, and twelve full-time teachers.
At that meeting, the Greater Sydney Conference welcomed the Lord Howe Island Church into the sisterhood of churches, expanding the Conference’s reach and influence.
Today, the Greater Sydney Conference is a thriving community of 68 churches, 14 companies, and 20 church plants. With 79 field ministers and a membership of over 10,000 that continues to grow, the Conference includes six schools, three nursing homes, retirement centres, a campground, two book centres, and two counselling centres.
As we reflect on the remarkable journey of the Greater Sydney Conference over the last three-quarters of a century, we see the enduring spirit of faith, commitment to mission, and unshakable belief in spreading the Adventist message.
This is the story of a Conference that has grown and thrived—a testament to the power of God, of faith and a community in action.
Part 2: A Chronicle of the Greater Sydney Conference Growth and Outreach
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Greater Sydney Conference and its local churches and dedicated members, embarked on a transformative journey to spread the gospel and contribute to the community in innovative ways. This pivotal period witnessed the expansion of the Conference’s reach, the establishment of new initiatives, and the fostering of a sense of unity among its diverse membership.
The 6th session of the Greater Sydney Conference in 1959 marked a significant moment when the Norfolk Island Church joined the sisterhood of churches. With 36 churches in Greater Sydney and 151 baptisms, the Conference demonstrated the far-reaching impact of the gospel in Sydney and its territories.
A notable initiative was the development of the Adventist Eventide Homes at the Blacktown Campground. Plans were put in motion to create living quarters for singles and married couples, and a large hostel-type building for aged members, reflecting the Conference’s commitment to caring for its elderly population.
Colporteurs, or literature evangelists, played a pivotal role in spreading the gospel during this era. The Payment-by-Mail plan, a novel concept, meant that more people could purchase books, making literature more accessible to the wider community.
In 1959, the church introduced a missionary edition of Patriarchs and Prophets and encouraged members to share it widely as a holiday gift. In 1960, the church shifted focus to Love Unlimited by Ellen G. White and distributed it widely.
Before the advent of Pathfinders and Adventurer clubs, the Missionary Volunteers (MVs) and Junior Missionary Volunteers (JMVs) played a crucial role. Investiture ceremonies in 1965 highlighted the dedication of Master Guides and JMVs and showcased the commitment of married individuals holding church office.
Youth fellowships, early teenage clubs, Pathfinder clubs, and the Crossland Youth and Recreation Campground were essential in guiding youth toward a decision for Christ. In particular, the Pathfinder Club was acknowledged for meeting the needs of young adolescents, combining physical activity, adventure, and spiritual idealism.
The Greater Sydney Conference moved into the future, embracing the latest technologies of radio and television evangelism, linking interested individuals to the Bible Correspondence Course. New courses “The Light of the World” and “Bright Horizons” helped expand the educational outreach.
In 1964, Dorcas Welfare ladies initiated the construction of a home for elderly women. The Elizabeth Lodge opened in 1965, and it stood as a testament to the collaboration of 11 central Sydney churches. It reflected the Conference’s commitment to caring for the elderly within the framework of the Health Welfare and Benevolent society.
As Sydney became increasingly multicultural in the 1960s, so did the Greater Sydney Conference. A camp meeting at Blacktown highlighted the Conference’s warmth and brotherhood, and Fijian students attending Avondale College marvelled at the friendly members, which fostered a sense of peace and unity in the face of global racial tensions.
The era of 1959 to 1965 marked a transformative era for the Greater Sydney Conference, and it reflected the Conference’s commitment to outreach, community service, and fostering unity among its diverse membership. Initiatives and projects laid the foundation for continued growth and impact in the years to come.
Part 3: 1994 and Beyond
On 22 January 1994, all Conference churches collected a bushfire appeal offering in response to the devastating bushfires in NSW and Victoria.
That same year, the Federal Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock, and his wife, Barbara, attended the mini-Olympics social event in the recreational hall of Kellyville Church. Mr Ruddock made the opening speech and Mrs Ruddock gave away the medals.
The church continued to embrace the new technology of the day. They computer animated and mass-produced VHS video cassettes of Bible prophecy, including Daniel, Chapter 2.
It also continued outreach to multicultural communities within Sydney and beyond, with a 48-page manual for pastors and church members titled “The Three Angels and the Crescent” and another titled “Your Muslim Neighbour and You.” It also published Seventh-day Adventists Believe in Arabic.
Adventist families now had more homes in which both parents were working, which created new challenges. Members juggled work, church and family commitments. At the same time, the Conference recognised strong, healthy, happy families as being the crucial foundational building blocks for spirit-filled churches.
Caringbah Church received a donation from Mr and Mrs Mandy that enabled them to purchase land. The group worshipped in an old cottage on the property, and later built a large hall with volunteer labour. In 1994, Oatley and Caringbah churches pooled their funds, to remodel the Caringbah hall into a church. There were also plans to reach out to the community in the Sutherland Shire and design programs that reflected the love of God.
Graham Weir, member of Waitara Church, who was hearing impaired since the age of eight, wrote an article featured in the Record in 1994. It shone a light on hearing impairment and its effect on church goers. Christian Services for the Hearing Impaired developed and improved technology like T-switches and audio loop kits to improve accessibility of the gospel.
In 1994, the Executive Committee recognised the importance of the youth department being able to communicate while out on youth excursions. It spent $699 to buy a Motorola mobile telephone.
In the year 2000, the Conference formed a Sydney Olympics Committee to plan programmes surrounding the events to increase the church’s reach.
During this era, the satellite kit for 3ABN was available. This allowed many to receive the Hope Channel and 3ABN.
Multicultural churches continued to grow among the 61 churches and 9 companies in the Conference, including Tongan, Spanish, Croatian and Russian. The year 2009 closed with a total membership of 8,967 members.
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and 2021 meant the shutdown of all churches, an unprecedented event in Greater Sydney. Online church and Zoom board meetings were a novel concept and allowed church members to stay connected despite not being allowed to gather in person.
In 2022, GSC celebrated the launch of Faith FM, another form of media and means to reach thousands with the gospel.
In August 2023, the Greater Sydney Conference celebrated 10,000 members. This was a huge milestone for a Conference of such humble beginnings. With 68 churches, 14 companies and 20 groups, God has blessed with the health, vigour and much growth. The Greater Sydney Conference is also home to 6 schools and 7 campuses, 3 aged care facilities, 2 ABC bookstores, Crosslands Convention Centre, two ADRA centres, Adventist Counselling Services and more.
Evangelism looks different today, with the use of social media including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Even the Conference President has an Instagram page where he can connect with church members and delegates quickly and easily.
We pray God will continue to lead our Conference members as we step into this new era for our organisation, and that we’ll continue to do His work in bringing His word to the Greater Sydney area.
By Angelica Frandsen
