Anglican Church of Australia General Synod
Media Release
For immediate release 21 September 2010
Anglican Church opposes calls to marry non-Christian couples
The Anglican Church of Australia today voted to keep the requirement that at least one half of an engaged couple should be baptised for them to be married in an Anglican church. The Church reaffirmed its commitment to that position during the gathering in Melbourne of its supreme decision making body, the General Synod.
The decision came after an impassioned plea from North Sydney Bishop Glenn Davies for the baptism requirement to be dropped so the Church could re-connect with non-Christians while marrying them.
Bishop Davies said 65% of marriages in Australia were now performed by civil celebrants, adding: “We need to say to people: flee the civil celebrants, come back to Church where God is honoured and where God can bless your marriage.”
Newcastle Bishop Dr Brian Farran was one of many to speak against the proposed change, criticising it as “misguided liberalism” and “an accommodation to secular culture.”
“I think behind what’s happening there is a dismissing and demeaning of the sacramental element of human life and human experience,” he said.
“Serious engagement with couples leads to the emergence of faith. We are not to act like religious discount stores with a veneer of Christianity coating.”
Bishop Godfrey Fryar, from Rockhampton Diocese, also backed the status quo saying it still allowed ministers to approach marriage as an opportunity to encourage couples to become active Christians.
“I don’t think the requirement of at least one person being baptised is a closed door,” he said. “I think it’s actually an opportunity to talk about the Christian faith that could lead to baptism.”
Bishop Barbara Darling of Melbourne however supported the proposed change and highlighted her experience of frustrated couples frantically searching for evidence of a baptism.
“I think pastorally we have a responsibility to help those who want to ask about a Christian marriage.
“We may be approached by people of agnostic, atheist background or many who have no clear faith. In order to respond to these people we must be open and welcome and maintain firmly our belief of love of one person for another.”
The proposed reform was supported by the lay members of General Synod, 77 of whom voted in favour of it (71 were needed), but was rejected by the clergy with only 66 voting in favour (74 were needed). Because the clergy opposed the change, the Bishops were not required to vote.
Media contact: Leigh Arnold, General Synod Media Coordinator*
Mobile: 0428 022 270 Email: media@anglican.org.au
* Leigh Arnold is the Communications Manager with AngliCORD, an overseas relief and development agency of the Anglican Church of Australia. The Media Officers at General Synod 2010 are Michelle Low, Marketing and Communications Manager, and Lisa Cowell, Media and Public Relations Coordinator, with Benetas, an Anglican aged care provider in Melbourne and Victoria.