‘The development of, and opposition to, Healing Ministries in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, with special reference to the Healing Ministry at St Andrew’s Cathedral 1960-2010’ PAUL FRANCIS EGAN M Com (UNSW), M A (SU) A thesis presented to Macquarie University in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy FACULTY OF ARTS 2012 Table of Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 4 Candidate’s Statement. ........................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements. ................................................................................................ 6 Abbreviations. ........................................................................................................... 7 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 9 Chapter One ........................................................................................................... 19 Oxford to Sydney; The background and advent of healing ministries in the Diocese of Sydney Chapter Two ............................................................................................................ 57 ‘The Most Encouraging Aspect of Cathedral Life’: The foundation of the Healing MInistry at St Andrew’s Cathedral Chapter Three ......................................................................................................... 93 A Mature and Efficacious Ministry; The continued growth of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew’s Cathedral Chapter Four .......................................................................................................... 117 Your Healing is Within You: The wider reach of the Healing Ministry Chapter Five .......................................................................................................... 153 A ‘Miracle’ Achievement: The acquisition of the Healing Ministry Centre Chapter Six ............................................................................................................ 177 A Period of Consolidation; The second leader of the Healing Ministry Chapter Seven ...................................................................................................... 213 The Final Decade – The End of an Era Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 245 Appendix ‘A’ ......................................................................................................... 257 Appendix ‘B’ .......................................................................................................... 263 Bibliography .......................................................................................................... 267 Final Ethics Approval ............................................................................................ 303 3 ABSTRACT The objectives of this thesis are summed up in its multi-layered main question, ‘What has been the fate of healing ministries in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, and regarding the Healing Ministry at St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney 1960-2010, what happened, why did it happen, how did the Diocese react, and why’? To answer this question, special attention has been given to oral history through interviews and email enquiries as well as the use of archival records, correspondence and minutes of healing ministry related entities. Two hypotheses are analysed throughout, these are 1) ‘That the charisma, initiative and leadership skills of Canon Jim Glennon were the driving forces behind the foundation and growth of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew’s Cathedral’, and 2) ‘That the uncompromising theological position of the Diocese of Sydney has led to the non-support of healing ministries, especially the dismissal of the Charismatic/renewal element of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew’s Cathedral’. These two hypotheses are analysed here in terms of classic Revitalization Theory: Glennon was a ‘prophet’ who challenged the prevailing diocesan mindset; the new paradigm he created was eroded and eventually eliminated by ‘prophets’ of an even more anti-charismatic mindset than the one he initially challenged. It is here argued, consistent with diocesan opposition to Charismatic beliefs and practices, that there has been a diminution of the Charismatic ethos in the Healing Ministry at St Andrew’s Cathedral as successive leaders have been appointed. Glennon (Founder and leader 1960-1988), exercised a challenging, low-key Charismatic ministry, well calculated to give it an international reputation. His successor, Canon Jim Holbeck (leader 1988- 2006), heeding directives from the Diocese, was more restrained in the practice of distinctively Charismatic elements in his ministry, and Canon Christopher Allan (leader from 2008), has excised all Charismatic expression from the Healing Ministry. 4 Candidate’s Statement. I certify that this thesis entitled ‘The development of, and opposition to, Healing Ministries in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney with special reference to the Healing Ministry at St Andrew’s Cathedral 1960-2010’ and submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is the result of my own research, except where otherwise acknowledged, and that this thesis (or any part of the same) has not been submitted for a higher degree at any other institution. Ethics Committee approval has been granted for this research project, Reference number HE26OCT2007-D05501. No of words 81,270 Signed_______________________________ Date 25 May 2012 5 Acknowledgements. Many people have helped in the creation of this thesis; too many to mention here, although all have been thanked personally. I must, however, single out two; my Supervisor, Associate Professor Stuart Piggin, who has tolerated my grumblings and always been a source of encouragement and assistance, and my wife Joan, whose patience has reached new heights in recent months. 6 Abbreviations. CSAC Centre for the Study of Australian Christianity C of E Church of England CMS Church Missionary Society CCSL Christ Church Saint Laurence MCL Moore College Library MTC Moore Theological College OSL Order of St Luke REPA Reformed Evangelical Protestant Association RC Roman Catholic SJPM St James’ Parish Messenger THN The Healing News 7 8 Introduction I.1 Context and overview. This thesis identifies a number of healing ministries which have existed in the Diocese of Sydney and examines in detail that of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew’s Cathedral 1960 to 2010. The advent of a healing ministry in the cathedral church, with a Charismatic element,1 was contrary to the diocesan culture, yet it functioned, as such, for over forty years. Its successful emergence and longevity require an explanation. The opposition it provoked requires less explanation, but deserves to be traced as yet another manifestation of the prevailing diocesan ethos. From its earliest days, until the present, the Anglican Diocese of Sydney has had evangelical leanings. From the influence of the eighteenth-century English revival on the colonial Chaplains, the long episcopate of Frederic Barker (1808-1882, Bishop of Sydney 1854-1882), and activities during successive decades, these leanings have been strengthened and are reckoned to be ‘set in concrete’.2 Aspects of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney are worthy subjects for historical research. Not only does the Diocese have the distinction of being the oldest, largest (in the number of adherents) and wealthiest Anglican Diocese in Australia,3 it is the only one with consistent numerical growth, in a time when overall church attendance is falling. The theological training college for most of its clergy, Moore Theological College (MTC), has record enrolments, when other Anglican colleges in Australia are 1 A Background to the Charismatic Movement is given in Appendix ‘A’. 2 Stuart Piggin, ‘The Properties of Concrete: Sydney Anglicanism and its recent critics’,Meanjin, Vol. 65, Number 4, 2006, 184-211. 3 ‘A decline of just 2% in Anglican attendance [between 1991 and 2001] masks different experiences in each diocese. Significant falls in attendance in most rural dioceses have been counterbalanced by a significant increase in attendance in the Sydney diocese. Other metropolitan dioceses tended to be static in attendance’. John Bellamy & Keith Castle, 2001 Church Attendance Estimates, (NCSL Occasional Paper 3, February 2004), 7. (Confidentiality constraints prevent more recent statistics being available). 9 closing or have falling enrolments. A record number of MTC graduates were ordained deacons in 20104 and plans for a significant expansion of the MTC campus are in hand.5 Sydney Diocese is an interesting case study precisely because it is exceptional, and has been the subject of a number of academic and critical analyses. Sydney Anglicans by Cable & Judd is probably the most comprehensive overall study of the Diocese, covering the conservative nature of the Diocese, and a considerable number of studies have been made, dealing with particular time spans, people or incidents.6 No comprehensive historical study of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew’s Cathedral has been written, and this thesis is an attempt to address that 4 John Woodhouse, ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’, Moore Matters, Autumn, 2010. 5 LAUNCH OF THE ENDOWMENT FUND. The Vision for the College over the next 10 to 15 years is to- Equip 2,000 men and women