In a move clearly designed to avoid an open conflict over the question of blessing same-sex relationships, the Standing Committee of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia have decided to postpone the 2020 General Synod and replace it with a “Special Session” that will deal solely with necessary legislation arising from the […]
The Anglican Bishop of Newcastle, Peter Stuart, has today issued a Pastoral Letter that seeks to chart a course forward for the diocese on the vexed question of marriage. In his letter, issued to leaders across the diocese, he draws attention to the current tensions in the Anglican Church of Australia over the debate, noting […]
The Diocese of North Queensland have confirmed Sunday’s election of the Dean of Darwin Cathedral, Rev Dr Keith Joseph, as their new bishop. Dr Joseph is an outspoken supporter of same-sex marriage, the key matter of contention facing the Anglican Church of Australia today. He argued publicly for the legislation which was passed last year and […]
The Appellate Tribunal of the Anglican Church of Australia has today issued an opinion on a series of questions put to it by the Diocese of Newcastle about the Diocese of Sydney‘s Affiliated Churches Ordinance [pdf]. The Ordinance allows for non-Anglican churches to affiliate with the Diocese of Sydney and so obtain a number of administrative and […]
The Bishop of Ballarat, Garry Wetherill, has set out his response to the recent action of his synod in asking him to authorise a rite of blessing for same-sex couples who have entered into a marriage. Writing in the diocese’s regular “dNews”, he says the following: A controversial motion, recognising the reality of same gender […]
Kevin and I discuss the latest round of synods in Australia and the uniform failure of liberalisers to get their same-sex blessing motions accepted.
This past weekend saw synods in the metropolitan dioceses of Melbourne and Adelaide here in Australia. We’ve previously reported on the proposed motions there (Melbourne, Adelaide) to provide for blessings of same-sex marriages contracted by civil celebrants. As is becoming clear, these motions are part of a coordinated campaign across the whole country. In both […]
The Diocese of Brisbane’s 2018 Synod will be held 5-7 October and their business paper [pdf] has been published. Of particular interest is motion 15. 15. Civil Marriage & Blessings The Very Rev’d Peter Catt to move; tba seconding: “That this Synod: notes that it has previously supported and encouraged the Social Responsibilities Committee in the […]
Australia’s Anglican Future Conference has opened in Melbourne with a theme of “Grace and Truth in Uncertain Times”. SydneyAnglicans.net has a great summary The opening of the Anglican Future Conference in Melbourne has begun with a stirring call for Christian leaders to defy secular stereotypes of the church as a dying force. That opening call came […]
The Diocese of Wangaratta, at it’s recent synod, passed the following motion, That this Synod: a) acknowledges the widespread national and local support for the recent changes to Australian marriage laws, to include same-sex couples b) commends the pastoral value of the Bishop authorising a Form of Blessing for optional use in the Diocese of […]
