You probably are right about the church, Jeff, but you have chosen the wrong occasion to trumpet it. The ordination of women by local Anglican dioceses, in defiance of the medieval stranglehold in Sydney, is a huge step in the right direction. And if this young woman has a positive approach and new ideas, in contrast to the gloom, doom and ugliness across much of the world at present, why try to put her down? The church hierarchies may be backward and repressive, and her ordination will not fix it. But it helps, and I think you have picked the wrong target this time. Disappointing.

Dear Jeff. I read your article with interest. I am believer in Christ but the short answer to your question about extinction is " yes". Your comment about the robes looking like a druid is spot on. But unfortunately you misunderstand the nature of the church( as do the people you describe ) Jesus said that " By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another " The community is entitled to judge the church as irrelevent and unauthentic if it does not exhibit true transendent relatonships as required by its founder. He didnt require all the other rot that you have targeted. The church does not need to be extinct, it could be revived if it followed a few steps. Divest itself of property and money, abolish the clergy system, put to rout the merchandising charlatans that pose as evangelists, decline taxpayers money and tax benefits , stay out of politics, abolish features that make the church a business. Put all effort into authentic Christian charity. Sorry to be long winded. It wont happen of course,.. Sad.

Couldn't of agreed more with the comments from Neville regarding the return to the roots of Christianity, and the chances of that ever happening. I wish the new Anglican Minister all the very best in her new role.

The church still has a relevance with most families for marriages, births and funerals.Though many are using and seeking alternatives.Many years a go a stalwart of Maitland trots wished for his ashes to be spread over the track between races in the back straight his family were mortified when some kids jumped the fence and took him home.

I think you are spot on Jeff - for all the reasons Neville Briggs so kindly provides. I can't see that anyone's life (apart from the the vested interests in their vestments) would be in any way be worse off, and very many might find their lives a whole lot better.

I don't attend church, and never really have. I think it's a load of make-believe nonsense for people who can't face reality. However, I see "mainstream" churches as being largely benign. They don't cause much trouble, and they offer a service for those people who need to be re-assured by their message. On the other hand, "charismatic" or "evangelical" churches really do seem to be a menace. A friend of mine ended up becoming a member of one of these organisations and he rapidly transformed from a sensible guy to a radical, racist crusader. He started attacking a Muslim friend of ours for following "Satan", and insisted we all go see a visiting "prophet" from the US. When we told him we weren't interested, he stormed off in a fit of anger. He's pretty much drifted away from his old mates and now associates himself almost entirely with his evangelical friends. His marriage is also on the rocks, as his wife doesn't agree with his new views. The hard-line evangelical churches are a real worry with their us-vs-them mentality. I'd prefer the old, anachronistic mainstream churches any day.

How anybody could see terrible tragedies such as the recent drownings and still believe in a benevolent and omnipotent creator is far beyond me. If that is God's will, he must be a vindictive creature if he exists.

It is very disappointing to read these negative comments, fuelled by you Jeff, if only some of you had been present, as I was, on this joyous and very moving occasion your opinions may be different. On the comments regarding Dean Lawrence I would have no hesitation in saying that his impact on this city may well have been the most signifigant of any citizen on the past 25 years. The many hundreds that have flocked to his various farewells are an indicator of that, just talk to the thousands who have been ministered to by him during his tenure and you may get a clearer picture of this saintly man's true compassion and grace.

Read the "God Delusion" and open your mind.

Simon Adam, I'm sure it was a joyous occasion for the "hundreds" who flocked to them - which reflects the status of this man in a region of roughly half a million people - it might be about 0.1% of the population of the region. Speaks volumes about his and his church's relevance, don't you think. I doubt my opinion would be any different if I had been there either. As for your quote "I would have no hesitation in saying that his impact on this city may well have been the most significant of any citizen on the past 25 years" please enlighten us as to what this “impact” may have entailed. I’ve seen no evidence of it. Maybe he could do something about the rail line in Newcastle as a parting “gift” to his parishioners!