The synod of the Diocese of Newcastle which met this past weekend has taken a decision that will only further exacerbate the already very high tensions in the national church. As we reported last week, the synod was due to consider 2 controversial pieces of legislation. The first is an ordinance to remove the possibility […]
At it’s annual synod, meeting this last weekend, the Diocese of Perth has approved changes to Faithfulness in Service (the Anglican Church of Australia’s national code of conduct) that remove the expectation for clergy and church workers to refrain from sex outside marriage. The amended text provided to synod, showing the effect of the change, […]
The same-sex marriage blessing liturgy presented to the Wangaratta synod for their approval (and due to be presented to the upcoming Newcastle synod) is not a new piece of work but, rather, heavily dependent upon other similar liturgies first developed more than 20 years ago in the 1990s and earlier. Students of this topic will be aware of […]
The Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Peter Stuart, has written to his diocese outlining plans for the upcoming synod including a bill for a liturgy for the blessing of persons in same-sex marriages. Bishop Stuart notes the ongoing tensions in the Anglican Church of Australia over this issue and also reminds the diocese that the matter […]
update 18 September 2019: St John’s Toorak has removed both the offer of blessings for same-sex marriages and their statement of “deep regret” from their website’s “Weddings FAQ” page. Whether the parish is still offering such blessings is unclear. The quote below of the original offer of such blessings includes a link to a screen […]
Kevin and I chat about the weather, Wangaratta, and a small project of mine…
davidould.net has obtained video of the entire press conference held in Nairobi by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Kenyan Primate Jackson Ole Sapit. Welby’s performance is a clear display of what Anglican commentators have already called his “chameleon” nature. He will say one thing in one place then another in another, depending on who […]
Another day, another piece by an “expert” in the Bible who wants to undermine our confidence in the very same Scriptures. The Very Revd Professor Martyn Percy has a new piece up on ViaMedia News, “Does the Bible really … Give Us a Clear Definition of Marriage?“ One bishop here in Australia describes it as […]
The decision today by Rugby Australia’s tribunal to terminate the contract of Israel Folau should make the whole of Australia sit up, take notice, and be warned. The sacking of Folau marks the crystallisation of a movement in our society that many of us warned about in the run-up to the postal vote on marriage […]
The Diocese of Ballarat had it’s synod this past weekend and, unlike other dioceses in Australia, chose to pass a controversial motion supporting the blessing of same-sex marriages. The full text of the motion (which was passed unamended) was: That recognising the good work completed by last year’s Synod on the topic of same-sex marriage, […]
