PCNSW Women

18/07/2026

Wednesday's eldership debate at the NSW General Assembly was significant for many across our Church. We've prepared a summary of the discussion, seeking to fairly represent the key biblical and pastoral arguments from both sides, and to reflect the spirit in which the debate was conducted.

https://www.pcnswwomen.org.au/blog/a-summary-of-the-debate-on-eldership

08/07/2026

Coming to Assembly? An Unofficial Guide
Following changes adopted by the 2025 General Assembly through an overture from the Women's Engagement Working Group and the Business Committee, key personnel serving the Church have been granted rights equivalent to those of an Associated Member.

If this year's Assembly will be your first (or your first with these newly granted rights), this episode is for you. (But we also hope those who have attended Assembly for many years will enjoy reflecting on why we gather and why serving the wider Church matters.)

Sylvia Siu is joined by Benjamin Greig, former Assembly Moderator and member of the Business Committee, to discuss what to expect, how Assembly works, and why participating in the wider life of the Church is about so much more than church government.

We've also created a practical guide to Associated Rights , available in the shownotes or at the link in comments.
Listen at the website:
https://claritynotconsensus.pcnswwomen.org.au/podcast/coming-to-assembly-an-unofficial-guide

Stream at Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/coming-to-assembly-an-unofficial-guide/id1765440668?i=1000775888339

Stream at Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VCBVaHtohsP2aCEEwiQbb?si=fs_Dc176T9OV7ZRxpj-D5w

30/06/2026

As the Presbyterian Church of NSW prepares to discuss the proposed amendment to the qualifications of eldership, the Women's Engagement Working Group is continuing their conversations with people from across the denomination.

In this episode of Clarity Not Consensus, Sylvia speaks with Rev Dave Woolcott and Anna Garven from Macquarie Chapel Presbyterian Church. Macquarie Chapel is one of a number of 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 those convictions are expressed in the life of their church.

Listen now at the website
https://claritynotconsensus.pcnswwomen.org.au/podcast/a-church-that-honours-everyone

Listen on Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-church-that-honours-everyone/id1765440668?i=1000774803647

Listen on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3cpyhayIKWlqdF9zJEwvzi?si=c84aa4ec8b304d57

30/06/2026

Have you registered yet for the Ministry Wives and Workers Lunch?

We're looking forward to hearing from Stephanie Wong about a Biblical approach to navigating our emotions. There'll be time for learning, for conversation and for personal reflection if that's what you need.

Married to a student minister or preparing for ministry yourself? Retired but still want to connect with other women?
We'd love you to come.

As always, childcare is provided.
Register at the link below.

This is a space for PCNSW Ministry Wives and Employed Women in Ministry, Retired Ministry Wives and Women Workers, Deaconess Candidates and...

19/06/2026

Our best decisions are made when we listen well.
In this episode of Clarity Not Consensus for the Women's Engagement Working group, we speak with Vera Buvcevsca, Director of the Conduct Protocol Unit at Jericho Road. Drawing on her decades of experience working with vulnerable people, Vera reflects on how good governance requires us to listen intentionally as we reflect Christ’s care for his Church.

Stream from our website

https://claritynotconsensus.pcnswwomen.org.au/podcast/breaking-the-silence-hearing-their-voices

Listen on Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/clarity-not-consensus/id1765440668?i=1000773363939

Listen on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3GhsAYzhRtV5eFscj0BwQJ?si=XU3lmsKbTb2ccQiaA22doQ

More episodes
https://claritynotconsensus.pcnswwomen.org.au/podcast

09/06/2026

As Assembly approaches, many within the PCNSW are finding conversations around men and women in the Church difficult, emotional, and deeply personal.

In this episode of Clarity Not Consensus (a podcast for the Women's Engagement Working Group), Deaconess Sylvia Siu speaks with Reverend Dr Kamal Weerakoon about the theological spectrum of thought on men and women serving together in the Church. Kamal encourages us to give each other a “fair hearing” as we try to understand the good instincts and the fears that sit underneath the different positions.

You can listen to this podcast on our website:
https://claritynotconsensus.pcnswwomen.org.au/podcast/can-we-give-each-other-a-fair-hearing

Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/can-we-give-each-other-a-fair-hearing/id1765440668?i=1000771819693

or Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/37D1xqMOzYFDrx1ZN3zZlD?si=PuIg2nBwQXicMS5bP6qMHg

For more CNC episodes:
https://claritynotconsensus.pcnswwomen.org.au/podcast

27/05/2026

As Assembly approaches, many within the PCNSW are finding conversations around men and women in the Church difficult, emotional, and deeply personal.

In this special two-part episode of Clarity Not Consensus (a podcast for the Women's Engagement Working Group), Deaconess Sylvia Siu speaks with Reverend Bern Merchant (Ministry & Mission PCNSW) about peacemaking, conflict, emotional honesty, and what it means to continue loving one another faithfully amidst theological disagreement.

You can listen to this podcast on our website:
https://claritynotconsensus.pcnswwomen.org.au/podcast/even-in-conflict-god-is-at-work-pt-1/

Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/clarity-not-consensus/id1765440668?i=1000769447589

or Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1i2fMaLWbZGd4hxbLQDog0?si=ZIzOZJAMRyGRmdNmsc-r5Q

26/05/2026

Registration is now open!
We would love you to join us at the Ministry Wives and Women Ministry Workers Lunch in July this year (child minding available!).

This year we'll be joined by Steph Wong, sharing about the "Window To The Soul: A Biblical Approach to Navigating Emotions."

Register at the link below.

This is a space for PCNSW Ministry Wives and Employed Women in Ministry, Retired Ministry Wives and Women Workers, Deaconess Candidates and...

10/05/2026

Our gracious Heavenly Father has blessed us with mothers, reflecting His own compassionate, merciful, patient and steadfast love (Isaiah 66:13; 49:15–16).

But, God’s gift of mothers extends beyond His generous provision of biological mothers. He has also gifted His Church with spiritual mothers.

Deborah, a prophetess and judge, guided, inspired and led God’s people to victory over their enemies. In God’s strength, she arose as “a mother in Israel” at a time when God’s people lacked strong leadership. She is joined in the Old Testament by a long list of women—including Shiphrah and Puah, Miriam, Naomi and Ruth, the woman of Thebez, Jael, Abigail, the Shunammite woman, Huldah and Jehosheba—who model the mother-heart of God. Through hospitality, comfort, courage, shrewdness, remarkable strength, guidance, wisdom and spiritual insight, they cared for God’s people and helped preserve His purposes.

In the New Testament, this pattern continues...

Read more on the blog

https://www.pcnswwomen.org.au/blog/spiritual-mothers

10/04/2026

Ever wanted to learn how to write a Bible talk? Wherever you are in NSW&ACT you can join this quality on-line training.

We still have a few spots available for our Teaching and Training Women nights! You can sign up now at https://forms.gle/3vMYWCcRCCS2jvxB9