Archbishop of Perth Continues With Ordinations In the Face of Large Objection

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The Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, chose on Wednesday evening to continue with and preside over the ordination to the priesthood of a man living with his civil union partner despite receiving a formal objection from a large number of members of the diocese, both clergy and lay.

The letter of objection, forwarded to davidould.net, is signed by 25 clergy, 12 wardens, 18 parish councillors and 64 other church members. It asks the Archbishop to not proceed with ordaining the candidate:

With regard to The Reverend Andrew Milne, we note that he is presently in a civil union with another man, with whom he currently lives. While assurances have been given that this relationship is not sexual, we nonetheless regard this as unacceptable on the following grounds:

  1.  Marriage is fundamentally the lifelong commitment of two persons to one another, to the exclusion of all others, in which a new family is created. It is the doctrine of the Anglican Church of Australia that marriages are contracted between one man and one woman. A same sex civil union establishes a marriage-like relationship contrary to this definition and to the teaching of Scripture.
  2. Faithfulness in service, states the following: “You should avoid situations where you are vulnerable to temptation or where your conduct may be construed as a breach of the standards of sexual conduct in this Code.” The candidate’s current living arrangement is a clear breach of this provision.

The letter accompanying the objection also mentions another candidate for ordination who had only been married shortly before being made a deacon, despite having lived for many years previously with a women with whom he had fathered children and having been accepted for ordination while living in that manner. We previously reported on that ordination of deacons. During that original ordination of deacons an objection was voiced at the appropriate point in the service. The livestream of the service was cut at that moment and returned when the Archbishop made her response.

This time, the objection (which had been provided in advance to the Archbishop) was included in the livestream along with a written response by the Archbishop.

Archbishop Goldsworthy had also written to the objectors, represented by EFAC WA Chair Marc Dale. davidould.net has been sent copies of both the EFAC letter of objection and Archbishop Goldsworthy’s response:

The clergy objecting represent more than 15% of clergy in the diocese (based on 2022 General Synod delegate numbers). The laity represent a variety of the largest parishes and the overwhelming majority of financial contributions for the diocese from the parishes.

At the recent diocesan synod Archbishop Goldsworthy had stated that there was no definition of the terms “chaste” and “disgraceful conduct of a sexual nature”. She went on to assert that “It is for the Professional Standards Board to assess on the facts of each case what is “chaste” or not and what is “disgraceful conduct” or not.”

I understand that, relying upon the Archbishop’s answer above, a complaint has been made to the Professional Standards Board. Nevertheless the ordination has continued. It appears that the Archbishop has chosen to continue despite her own acknowledgement that the Professional Standards Board process would be able to provide a definitive response to the complaint.

I am also unable to identify any other occasion in the history of the Anglican Church of Australia where such a large number of objections to an ordination have been made, let alone the ordination continuing.

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  1. Andrew K

    Judge.
    Jury.
    (Not) executioner?

    But, at the same time, passing the buck so that it would appear that she’s none of those?

    What options does anyone or any body, within Perth Diocese or outside the diocese, have to take any further, higher action?

  2. Joe Rankin

    The Rev M. Dale wrote: “Under God, we recognise you have the right and authority to ordain as you see fit.” This statement I disagree with. I feel it should read, ‘Under the rules of the Synod, established by human beings you have the right and authority to ordain as you see fit.” As Jesus said, if you love me keep my commandments. It is his commandments, the teachings of God in both the OT and the NT that put boundaries on what we do. When we twist, distort or ignore these commandments we are in reality choosing to worship ourselves. Bishops have chosen to commit their life to upholding God’s Holy Word and therefore cannot ordain those they see fit. They have strict boundaries established by God. I feel that they can only ordain those who intend to live a Godly, righteous and sober life committed to upholding God’s Holy Word in their lives and action. Unfortunately, I have seen too many who choose to worship the god of this world.

  3. David Palmer

    I would say Mr Dale’s letter majors on politeness, whereas, remembering some of Paul’s statements in the Corinthian letters, a little more forthrightness is called for, actually quite a bit more.

    I also question why you would attend an ordination service in which homosexuals are being ordained?

  4. Robert Bruce

    The apostate archbishop of Perth is simply following the example set by her apostate predecessor and deliberately behaving in ways that challenge and upset Bible-based Christians.

    Well may she lead the charge locally against the teachings of Jesus Christ. She can enjoy the adulation of the woke, liberal revisionists for the little while it will last. All she will achieve in the longer run is the hastening of the movement against anti-Christian behaviour and the downfall of the Apostate Church of Australia.

    Then she can spend eternity discussing her “success” against Christian values with Satan and her defrocked predecessor, the abominable Roger, as they bathe forever in the lake of fire, in between weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

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