Honour for Sydney churchman: CEN 2.05.10 p 8.

The deputy chancellor of the Diocese of Sydney, Robert Tong, has been appointed a member of the Order of Australia for services to the Anglican Church. The award was announced on Jan 26 in the Australia Day honours list.

One of the Communion’s leading canon lawyers, Mr. Tong is a past delegate to the Anglican Consultative Council, a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference, and has served on the Sydney diocesan synod since 1966. Past chairman of the Anglican Church League, he is chairman of the Anglican Church Trust, and was one of the key figures in drafting the constitution and canons of the Anglican Church in North America.

Established by the Queen in 1975, the civil and military branches of the Order of Australia weres created to accord “recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service.” Prior to the institution of the order, Australians were awarded British honours upon the recommendation of their government for meritorious service.

Mr. Tong stated he was “happy” to receive the award, but noted there were many deserving people who had served the church whose services went unrecognized, but were nonetheless essential for its life and witness.

“Like many other Anglican Christians, my starting point is to encourage gospel ministry. Our ministry may not be at the front line. It involves working with people, programmes and policy and the question I ask is – will this help build God’s kingdom? Thousands of people work tirelessly behind the scenes in our diocese and this honour is recognition of them as well,” he told Anglican Media Sydney.