Clarity Not Consensus

If you're coming to General Assembly for the first time—particularly with newly granted associated rights—this episode is for you. Ben Greig and Sylvia Siu share practical insights into what to expect, explain how Assembly works, and reflect on why serving the wider Church has shaped their faith over the years. Be sure to download the accompanying Guide to Associated Rights, available alongside this episode.

In this episode of Clarity Not Consensus, Sylvia speaks with Rev David Woolcott and Anna Garven from Macquarie Chapel Presbyterian Church. Macquarie Chapel is one of a number of Presbyterian churches in NSW that currently has women serving as elders and hopes to continue that practice. Dave and Anna share the theological convictions that have shaped their approach, and reflect on how women and men serve together in the life of the church.

In this episode of Clarity not Consensus, Vera Buvcevska, Director of the Conduct Protocol Unit (CPU) at Jericho Road, helps us understand why trust and intentional consultation matter, particularly when decisions affect vulnerable peoplel and how the Courts within the Presbyterian church can benefit from the contributions of women.

Rev Dr Kamal Weerakoon joins us to talk through the spectrum of views surrounding men and women serving together in the church. Rather than debating “who’s right”, this conversation explores the theological instincts, fears, and convictions sitting underneath the different positions. We discuss complementarianism, egalitarianism, and the way culture, experience, and hermeneutics shape how we read Scripture. Throughout the episode, Kamal encourages us toward patience, humility, and gracious listening — giving one another a fair hearing even when we don’t arrive at the same conclusions.

In part two of this conversation, Sylvia continues speaking with Reverend Bern Merchant about peacemaking, pastoral care, and theological disagreement within the PCNSW. Together they explore reconciliation, emotional honesty, caring for those who are hurting, and how Christians can continue loving one another faithfully amidst deep differences.

As Assembly approaches, conversations around men and women in the Church have become increasingly difficult and deeply personal for many within the PCNSW. In this special two-part episode, Sylvia speaks with Reverend Bern Merchant about theological disagreement, peacemaking, emotional honesty, and what it means to love one another well in the midst of conflict. Featuring readings by Mrs Jen Boer from Every Moment Holy.

Clare serves on the ministry team of her church in Perth while also lecturing in theology at university. As she trained women for ministry, she began to notice a troubling pattern: many gifted women were well-prepared theologically, yet struggled to flourish once they joined church staff teams. So she started asking deeper questions. What does it actually look like when men and women work well together in complementarian settings? Where does it break down? And why?

In this episode of "Clarity, Not Consensus," we sit down with leaders from Epping Presbyterian Church to explore a sensitive topic that often divides congregations: women in ministry. Darwin, Wendy, and Steph share their journey of navigating theological differences with grace, humility, and a commitment to unity. Through open conversations, deep listening, and a shared focus on Christ, they demonstrate how a church can address complex issues while maintaining love and respect for one another. Their story offers a powerful model of how Christian communities can embrace diversity and remain "united around Jesus."

n this episode of Clarity Not Consensus, we sit down with Craig Tucker (Senior Minister) and Jess Ngo (Staff Assistant) from Scots Church to talk about what it really looks like for men and women to partner well in church ministry. From crafting clear roles to fostering honest theological conversations, they share how their team is building a culture of respectful, collaborative leadership. Tune in to hear how a living document is helping their church navigate complementarian values with openness, clarity, and grace.

In this episode, I'm joined by Rev David Balzer and Deaconess Roslyn Deal from Ashfield Presbyterian Church. They share how pastoral concerns, and the necessity for providing for them began a discussion about the role and place of women in the Church. David talks us through how he led the Session and the Church through the theological discussions and decisions, and how they navigated disagreement. We also learn more about Ros' employment in the Church and about their working relationship.