Anglican Church of Australia - General Synod 2001 Media
Service
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Email: research@anglican.org.au
News and Information: www.anglican.org.au/generalsynod2001
Background to DIALOGUE WITH UNITING CHURCH ISSUE
at 12th General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia
The 12th General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia, to be held at the Carlton Crest Hotel, Brisbane from July 21-27, 2001, will discuss a major report from a joint working group involving Anglican and Uniting church representatives.
The working group has recommended to the General Synod, and next year's Uniting Church Assembly, that the churches enter into a "formal covenant of association and inter-communion on the mutual recognition of ordained ministries".
The report has recommended that the formal covenant, or agreement, provide for:
a) The acceptance of Anglican priests in Uniting Church placements and in ecumenical ministries where the Uniting Church has the right of appointment.
b) The acceptance of Uniting Church Ministers of the Word in Anglican appointments such as ecumenical ministries and co-operating parishes where the Anglican Church has right of appointment.
c) The acceptance of Uniting Church deacons in Anglican diaconal appointments. Such appointments shall not include the authority to preside at the Eucharist (Holy Communion).
d) The acceptance of Anglican deacons in Uniting Church placements. Anglican deacons shall not preside at the Eucharist.
The General Synod cannot enter into a covenant of association and inter-communion without consulting with other churches in the worldwide Anglican church. Such an agreement would also need approval by individual dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia.
The working group has offered the proposal in the hope that the two churches will further develop the agreement to incorporate other dimensions of the life of the churches, and eventually reach the full union for which Christ prayed (John 17).
The full report can be found at www.anglican.org.au/generalsynod2001
The text of all resolutions and the voting result will be posted on the website.