Friendly rivalry name of game in archbishop race Similar: Candidates for the job of Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies, left, and Rick Smith. Photo: Jacky Ghossein If you scanned Anglican websites you'd be forgiven for thinking Bishop Glenn Davies and Canon Rick Smith were combatants in a title fight to become the 12th Anglican Archbishop of Sydney. "It's difficult for us," says Reverend Smith, "because we don't want to be swept into the process as if it's with the TAB or on [tom]waterhouse.com." On Monday, about 800 lay and clerical members of the Sydney Anglican synod will begin a series of ballots to elect an Archbishop to succeed Peter Jensen. While there were nine nominees in the 1993 election and five in 2001, this time the synod has selected a field of only two - both conservative evangelicals - and this has heightened the tension. This week, Dr Davies' supporters cried foul over "misleading" data circulated by Mr Smith's backers in a promotional brochure which showed he had the support of 154 synod representatives. They accused the brochure's authors of "double counting," saying the true figure was 78 people. Mr Smith's backers include the brother of the outgoing Archbishop , Phillip Jensen. Behind Dr Davies is Michael Jensen, son of Peter Jensen. Despite slick websites, active Facebook pages and vocal supporters, both men insist there is no contest in this election. "I haven't even seen my brochure because it's awkward, it's self-promoting," said Mr Smith. Friends for 20 years, they chose to be interviewed together. Neither "aspires" to be the next Archbishop, they say, in the belief the diocese will be in "safe hands" whoever is elected. "We're making sure the evil one doesn't undermine our relationship because Satan wants to upset the applecart," said Mr Davies. "The sadness is that because it's just Glenn and I who have been nominated, people try to look for the difference that will polarise us," said Mr Smith. Mr Smith, rector at Naremburn-Cammeray Anglican Church, said his website videos were designed to cut through the noise. The Lord brings down the proud and lifts up the lowly. But I know people behind the scenes are doing things that make it look very political. Mr Davies, bishop of northern Sydney, insists there is no difference in their theology and neither would challenge the status quo on gay congregation members, ordination of women and euthanasia. So what is the choice based on? "The difference between us is that one's too young and one's too old, the best age would be in their 50s," said Mr Davies, who at 62, would have maximum seven years in the top job. Mr Smith, at 49, potentially has two decades. With age comes experience. Mr Davies has been a bishop for 12 years, experience Mr Smith, with the bulk of his time in parish ministry, doesn't have. The new Archbishop will oversee a multi-million dollar central budget, a network of 280 churches stretching from Wollongong to the Central Coast, Anglican schools and welfare agencies. We're passive. People nominate you so you have to entrust yourself to the synod, praying they will make the right choice. It's God's will," said Mr Smith. Two-thirds of the synod is comprised of lay people and a third of clergy, with each house voting separately. "Glenn and I have firmly agreed on the asylum seeker issue, recognising people, regardless of race, are created in the image of God and therefore entitled to be treated with dignity," said Mr Smith. We as a society need to soften our hearts and change our minds and we might suddenly find that politicians seeking votes might have different viewpoints. As God's people we need to continue to pursue love and good deeds. And on active homosexual people in congregations: "Same sex attraction is not a sin but the Bible describes the behaviour as contrary to God's purposes," said Mr Davies.