- Overview
- What does the Anglican Church believe?
- How do Australian Anglicans worship?
- How is the Anglican Church organised?
- How big is the Anglican Church?
- What are ordained Ministers?
- How does the Anglican Church relate to other denominations?
- Does the Anglican Church contribute to the community?
- Are women able to be priests in the Anglican Church of Australia?
- What is the Anglican Church view on reconciliation?
- How does the Anglican Church view Aboriginal spirituality?
- Relations with Other Churches
- What are the differences between the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church?
- What special clothes do Anglican Ministers wear?
- What does the Coat of Arms represent?
- When did the Church of England become the Anglican Church of Australia?
- What does the Anglican Church believe about disasters like the Boxing Day Tsunami?
All members participate in ministry within the Anglican Church of Australia. However, some people are called to special ministries or employment within the Anglican Church and are ordained to a particular role. The actual work ordained clergy do is fixed by a licence from the diocesan bishop.
Once a person is ordained to a particular order (bishops, priests and deacons) they remain a bishop, priest or deacon even if they retire from employment or work in a different role or move to a different diocese.
1. Deacons
The deacon is ordained to a ministry of service to others. Some deacons remain as permanent deacons, while others remain deacons for a period of time (usually a year) and are then ordained as priests. They are not permitted to be solely responsible for the service of Holy Communion but take other parts of worship. Women can be ordained as deacons in most dioceses within Australia.
2. Priests
The priest is ordained following a period as a deacon and is authorised to baptise, be solely responsible for Holy Communion, to pronounce the Absolution (statement of God’s forgiveness after confession), and give the blessing. Priests may be placed in charge of parishes or undertake other forms of ministry such as chaplaincy. Women can be ordained as priests in most dioceses within Australia - with the exception of Ballarat, North West Australia, Sydney, The Murray and Wangaratta.
3. Bishops
The diocesan Bishop has oversight over all the Anglican Churches in a particular diocese. In the large metropolitan dioceses of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney they are called the Archbishop. Dioceses may also have assistant Bishops.
Bishops care for the clergy and the lay people within their diocese. They ordain priests and deacons, assist in the ordination of other bishops and perform confirmations. Bishops represent the linking of the local church both with the early church and the apostles appointed by Jesus, and with all other Anglican bishops around the world.
Local Clergy
As well as those who are ordained as Bishop, Priest or Deacon there are a growing number of "local clergy". These are appointed by the Diocesan Bishop to minister in parishes on a limited basis. Unlike priests and deacons, their title is not usually transferable from diocese to diocese. Such clergy are usually found in regional Australia where local communities are unable to support an ordained minister.
Once a person is ordained to a particular order (bishops, priests and deacons) they remain a bishop, priest or deacon even if they retire from employment or work in a different role or move to a different diocese.
1. Deacons
The deacon is ordained to a ministry of service to others. Some deacons remain as permanent deacons, while others remain deacons for a period of time (usually a year) and are then ordained as priests. They are not permitted to be solely responsible for the service of Holy Communion but take other parts of worship. Women can be ordained as deacons in most dioceses within Australia.
2. Priests
The priest is ordained following a period as a deacon and is authorised to baptise, be solely responsible for Holy Communion, to pronounce the Absolution (statement of God’s forgiveness after confession), and give the blessing. Priests may be placed in charge of parishes or undertake other forms of ministry such as chaplaincy. Women can be ordained as priests in most dioceses within Australia - with the exception of Ballarat, North West Australia, Sydney, The Murray and Wangaratta.
3. Bishops
The diocesan Bishop has oversight over all the Anglican Churches in a particular diocese. In the large metropolitan dioceses of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney they are called the Archbishop. Dioceses may also have assistant Bishops.
Bishops care for the clergy and the lay people within their diocese. They ordain priests and deacons, assist in the ordination of other bishops and perform confirmations. Bishops represent the linking of the local church both with the early church and the apostles appointed by Jesus, and with all other Anglican bishops around the world.
Local Clergy
As well as those who are ordained as Bishop, Priest or Deacon there are a growing number of "local clergy". These are appointed by the Diocesan Bishop to minister in parishes on a limited basis. Unlike priests and deacons, their title is not usually transferable from diocese to diocese. Such clergy are usually found in regional Australia where local communities are unable to support an ordained minister.