In God’s economy, risk management is not synonymous with risk avoidance. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30) challenges us to actively invest what God has entrusted to us, rather than burying it in fear or misunderstanding of his character. The servant who buried his talent viewed God as harsh and unforgiving, choosing a “safe” path that ultimately proved the riskiest of all (Matthew 25:26–30).
This biblical principle drives our approach at Sydney Anglican Property (SAP) — managing risk wisely while embracing opportunities to multiply resources for the kingdom. This represents a change in mindset. Since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2008, as a Diocese, we have largely taken a risk avoidance approach in property considerations. We can no longer do this and expect to meet the ministry and evangelistic needs facing us.
John Lau is the Chief Financial Officer at Sydney Diocesan Services and SAP. He says, “Being CFO comes with the responsibility of managing financial strategies across many central organisations of the Diocese, which requires a deep understanding of the unique challenges they each face.”
Mr Lau brings a wealth of experience spanning over 30 years, with 20 years in CFO roles across various sectors in Australia, Europe and Asia — from engineering to publishing, and most recently, not-for-profit organisations.
“It is an enormous privilege for me as a finance professional to contribute to our Christian ministry. The work we do at SAP has a direct impact on advancing the mission of the Diocese, and that’s a purpose I am deeply committed to.”
Having a role across multiple central diocesan organisations enables Mr Lau to better understand the relationship between the financial operations of SAP and the broader needs of the Diocese. He says, “For example, St. Andrew’s House is one of our key commercial engines. By understanding the financial needs of the Diocese, I can help drive the commercial operations of St Andrew’s House (SAH) to deliver funding for its diocesan stakeholders. Every extra dollar that we can deliver through SAH means an extra dollar that can be deployed to support ministries.”
“A major aspect of my role is risk management. Risk management covers everything. It is not just about safeguarding assets — it is also about understanding the context in which we are operating and then translating that context into risks and opportunities.
“By doing so, we can enhance our decision-making. Understanding opportunities, which are the flipside of risk, and engaging in those opportunities that are within our risk tolerance, will help to increase our capacity for mission.”
A collaborative and multidisciplinary approach
Since the formation of SAP, we’ve been able to improve how we approach risks and opportunities.
“Previously, each diocesan entity often operated in its own silo,” Mr Lau says. “But now, having a single group for property, we can collectively and collaboratively review all the risks and opportunities from multiple perspectives. The result has been greater efficiency for decision-making and a stronger ability to plan strategically as one team.”
SAP’s success stems from being one integrated team of property professionals bringing a wealth of expertise to the table, all united in faith and the mission to see property effectively utilised and its benefits maximised.
This holistic, integrated approach allows SAP to better support the purpose and priorities of the Diocese.
Mr Lau says, “The scale and synergy of SAP allows us to bring in new talent, such as experts in heritage and property development. It also allows us to attract the best governance talent to our Board, ensuring strong oversight of our projects”.
SAP is fortunate to have an expert Board that has deep experience in every aspect of property, including legal, insurance, commercial property management and financing. The Board’s guidance, expertise and governance helps to ensure a balanced and informed approach to property matters.
With a unified team and clear strategic direction, SAP can leverage the property assets of the Diocese to further our mission, whether through urban renewal, maintaining existing properties, or supporting ministry in less-resourced communities.
Strategic planning and mission-driven investments
SAP’s stewardship is not just about near-term gains but also planning for the future. Careful cash flow management and long-term strategic planning is aligned with local parish mission priorities. These complement the regional property strategies, informed by demographic insights and growth forecasts, that allow us to leverage property opportunities such as subdivisions and property renewal projects.
SAP mitigates its financial risks by operating at a scale that is sustainable by income streams from the parish property receipts levy (PRL), land acquisition levy (LAL), donations, and bequests. These income streams are increasingly supplemented by a sustainable cycle of appropriately scaled property developments – where completed projects help fund future ones.
At the heart of SAP’s work is our Christian mission. SAP’s efforts are not just financially focused, they are about:
- Establishing new churches in new communities in the rapidly expanding areas of our Diocese.
- Taking what we already have and making it even better – for future generations of believers, for the local community and for the gospel through Urban Renewal Pilot Program (URPP) initiatives.
- Helping parishes maintain and upgrade the 1,100 individual properties spread across nearly 270 parishes in the Diocese.
While SAP is a careful steward of diocesan property, our ultimate goal is to see gospel ministry flourish. We are constantly working to drive better mission outcomes from our property assets.
Risk mitigation: Balanced and informed
SAP avoids the risks associated with over-leveraging by appropriately managing the scale of projects and keeping debt levels conservative. Mr Lau points to the Beacon Hill Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) project (completed in 2024) and the Leppington subdivision (undertaken in 2023) as successful examples of SAP’s prudent and considered approach to property projects.
On the Beacon Hill project Mr Lau says, “It was a joint effort across multiple diocesan teams with our external partners. The project converted surplus land from a parish and transformed it into three specialist disability accommodation homes.
“When SAP came into existence, the collaboration between the teams working on this project became much more seamless. We had experts in property, finance, legal and project management all working together. The collective approach meant that the project was completed on time, within budget, and is now operational with tenants moving in since September 2024.”
SAP also partners with industry experts. The Sustainable Development Group, for example, is an invaluable partner on many of the projects we deliver bringing an extensive property network and breadth of capability.
Building for the future
Every step SAP takes reflects a commitment to integrate the “part” with the “whole.” By prioritising strategic, informed investments, SAP serves both immediate needs and the long-term mission of the Diocese. SAP is investing in God’s work – building churches, empowering ministry, and stewarding resources for generations to come.
Just as the parable of the talents teaches us, at SAP we aim to be faithful stewards – managing risks, not avoiding them, so we can multiply what we’ve been entrusted with, all for the glory of God.