Does my Paladin have to attack with his Holy Avenger to gain the benefit of SR?
This +2 cold iron longsword becomes a +5 holy cold iron longsword in the hands of a paladin.
This sacred weapon provides spell resistance of 5 + the paladin's level to the wielder and anyone adjacent to her. It also enables the paladin to use greater dispel magic (once per round as a standard action) at the class level of the paladin. Only the area dispel is possible, not the targeted dispel or counterspell versions of greater dispel magic.
Unless otherwise specified, you have to use a magic item in the manner it is designed (use a weapon to make attacks, wear a shield on your arm so you can defend with it, and so on) to gain its benefits.
This new ruling from the FAQ would seem to imply that my Pally would have to make an attack for the powers of his Avenger to function.
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This sacred weapon provides spell resistance of 5 + the paladin's level to the wielder and anyone adjacent to her.
It say "the wielder", so I would require the weapon to be wield (be in the hand of the paladin, not sheathed at his belt) but nothing more.
You could cast a spell, sue lay of hands or a skill and still benefit for the SR.
I'd understand it in another way: You have to be the "wielder" not necessarily attacking all the time, but hold it in your hand and threaten the space around you.
Edit: So many Ninjas around this place and all without "Ultimate Combat" being published...
That's what I thought.
The FAQ seemed to change the definition of "wield" as it applies to Defending Weapons. I was unsure if this change applied to all magic weapons.
Also, it'd be hard to use greater dispel magic as a standard action if you had to be attacking with the weapon to benefit from it.