Sydney Anglican Diocese Under Fire: Financial Failures, Abuse Cover-Ups, and the Fight to Save St Paul’s Bankstown
Sydney Anglicans Under Fire: Financial Failures, Abuse Cover-Ups, and the Fight to Save St Paul's Bankstown
📝 Editor's Note - 20 June 2025
Since publication, the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia has confirmed they have passed on our complaint regarding the Diocese of Sydney to the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) about the conduct of clergy at St Pauls Bankstown. General Secretary Anne Hywood stated that "The General Synod cannot intervene further in a safe ministry issue in a diocese" and will not engage with the substance of the complaint. The PSU remains the designated contact for progressing this matter. This development underscores the institutional challenges facing accountability within the Anglican Church structure.
The battle to save St Paul's Anglican Church in Bankstown is not just about heritage and community spirit. Beneath the surface lies a deeper, troubling question: How did Sydney's Anglican Diocese, once the wealthiest and most powerful in Australia, come to be in such financial turmoil — and who is being held accountable?
Back in 2008, Sydney's Anglican Diocese suffered catastrophic losses exceeding $160 million on the sharemarket, a blow that sent shockwaves through the church's finances. Archbishop Peter Jensen, then at the helm, acknowledged the "very significant losses" after the diocese borrowed heavily to invest — a gamble that failed spectacularly when the global financial crisis hit.
Despite the scale of the losses, Jensen faced little public scrutiny or accountability. Parishes were largely shielded, but central services and institutions bore the brunt of the cuts. The fallout slashed funding for theological colleges, media arms, and youth programs, leaving a lasting impact on the church's mission and outreach.
Fast forward to today, and the echoes of that financial reckoning reverberate in Bankstown. Has the church let the wolf into the roost? The Diocese's push to demolish St Paul's and replace it with high-rise developments — while partnering with controversial developers who have historically been investigated by ICAC and are involved with other church projects in the area — this raises uncomfortable questions. Where there's smoke, there's fire. Is this a desperate attempt to recoup past losses? Is history repeating itself, with the church prioritising financial expediency over faith, heritage, and community?
The parallels are stark. Then, the Diocese's risky financial strategies led to ruinous losses with little accountability. Now, the Diocese appears willing to sacrifice a sacred community landmark, dismissing heritage concerns and community pleas, in favour of lucrative property deals. The involvement of developers with questionable reputations only deepens the suspicion.
Where is the accountability for what is happening in Bankstown? Have lessons been learned from the past, or is the Diocese repeating the same mistakes under a new guise? The community deserves answers — and a church that serves its people, not just its balance sheet.
While Anglicare Sydney slashes staff and cuts services citing financial hardship, millions of taxpayer dollars have been diverted to pay out abuse claims. Transparency is sorely lacking, with annual reports burying these liabilities in legal jargon and failing to explain sudden jumps in costs. Senior church officials, including former Archbishop Glenn Davies, reportedly oversaw this scheme, yet neither Anglicare Sydney's management nor the Diocese have answered questions.
It's been almost two weeks since a formal complaint was lodged with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) demanding an investigation into this alleged misuse of public funds. So far, no response has come from the ACNC or the Diocese of Sydney. What are they hiding? This will all come out in court.
Today marks another important day in the ongoing chapter of the Save St Paul's campaign. The action group has filed paperwork with the NSW Government to incorporate itself. This is the first crucial step toward briefing legal counsel. Expect more updates next week, as some of the best legal minds in the country have expressed interest in helping with this case. Justice, after all, is not just a lofty ideal but a necessary foundation for healing and accountability—and the community is determined to see it served.
"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." — Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)
Perhaps it's time the church heeds a simple but profound lesson: to stay away from the sharemarket and property speculation, and instead focus on its true calling—serving God and the people of its flock.
The fight to save St Paul's is more than a heritage battle. It is a call for transparency, responsibility, and a recommitment to the values the church claims to uphold. The bulldozers may be looming, but the community's resolve is stronger than ever.
Meanwhile in Bankstown: Cr Barbara Coorey, the White Knight
Canterbury-Bankstown independent councillor Barbara Coorey has emerged as a vocal critic of the council's dodgy policies, calling out what she describes as "weaponisation" of the code of conduct system against her. Despite facing six complaints and five censures, Cr Coorey stands firm, accusing political rivals of using the system to silence her, you can read today's story in the Daily Telegraph here.
Revelations show ratepayers have spent up to $140,000 investigating complaints against her, with Cr Coorey calling it a waste of money and urging the council to "hang their heads in shame."
Her outspoken stance includes condemning council planning reforms as "a form of ethnic cleansing unseen in the history of the modern world," and describing the council as "kooky" and "dysfunctional."
While some councillors, like Labor's Khal Asfour, have criticised her behaviour and called for apologies, Cr Coorey remains a symbol of resistance against what many see as a broken and politicised local government system.
Her fight highlights the broader struggle in Bankstown — between community advocates and entrenched political interests — as the battle to save St Paul's continues. May Barbara be strengthened with courage and wisdom, a beacon of truth and justice in the face of adversity.
This story is part of an ongoing investigation into the financial and spiritual challenges facing Sydney's Anglican Diocese and the fight to preserve St Paul's Anglican Church in Bankstown.
📚 St Paul's Bankstown Investigation Series
A comprehensive investigation into corruption, spiritual abuse, and the fight to save a sacred space
📢 Stay Updated: This is an ongoing investigation. New developments and evidence continue to emerge as the community fights to save St Paul's Anglican Church.
Total Reading Time: ~64 minutes | Series Status: Ongoing
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