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| W O R K I N G G R O U P S |
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| Introduction |
Financial Advisory Group |
Environment |
Equity |
Primacy |
Refugees |
Child Protection (C) |
Ecumenical Strategies (C) |
Ordained Ministry (C) |
Sexual Abuse & Protocols (C) |
Standing Committee Review (C) |
Women Bishops (C) |
Women Bishops (C) Women Bishops Working Group
Since 2004
In March 2005, the Standing Committee of General Synod noted that the resolution of General Synod provided no direction for the future of the Women In The Episcopate Working Group. Accordingly, it was resolved that:
1. the subject of Women in the Episcopate be put on the Agenda of the next meeting of Standing Committee;
2. the Doctrine Commission be asked to study the Rochester Report and report back to Standing Committee on its major themes and any relevance of that report to the Australian situation;
3. their report be circulated prior to the next meeting of Standing Committee;
4. members of Standing Committee be encouraged to continue to reflect upon and engage in informal conversations in order to identify continuing issues, pastoral, theological, missiological and legal, before the next Standing Committee meeting; and
5. agrees that this continues to be an important issue in the life of the Anglican Church of Australia.
In May 2005, the Primate sought advice from the Appellate Tribunal in response to a petition from members of General Synod in accordance with Section 63 (1) of the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia. The Tribunal was asked:
"is there anything in the Constitution which would now prevent –
1. the consecration of a woman in priests’ orders as a bishop in this church in a diocese which by ordinance has adopted the Law of the Church of England Clarification Canon 1992; or
2. the installation of a woman so consecrated as a bishop of such a diocese?"
By July 2005, the Standing Committee had resolved:
A. That the Doctrine Commission’s report on the Rochester Report be received and noted.SC2005/2/039
B. Peter Young, President of the Appellate Tribunal advised that the Appellate Tribunal met on Friday 8 July at 4.30pm in the Auditorium of St Andrew’s House for a Preliminary Hearing on the matter referred to it. The Tribunal decided not to request Standing Committee to become involved.
C. resolution of the synod of the Diocese of Gippsland, requesting the Standing Committee of General Synod to take appropriate steps to keep the matter of the Ordination of Women to the Episcopate before the General Synod, in a letter dated 31 May 2005 was NOTED.
A decision by the Tribunal is pending.
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The Road to General Synod 2004
The issue of Women in the Episcopate was considered at the 13th meeting of General Synod in October 2004.
To assist the Anglican Church of Australia consider this important matter in an informed way, the Women in the Episcopate Working Group developed a range of papers that explore the issue and set out a proposed legal framework as requested by the 2001 General Synod.
The Working Group was led by Bishop Jeffrey Driver of Gippsland. Between June 2003 and February 2004, Australian Anglicans had the opportunity to discuss and comment on several papers circulated by the Group, which may be downloaded below, namely:
- Episcopal Ministry and Women - a draft issues paper, revised in August 2003;
- A Summary paper that provides a 2 page synopsis of the issues;
- A proposed bill to clarify the law in the Church with regards to the matter of women in the episcopate; and
- An explanatory memorandum which should be read in conjunction with the proposed bill.
The matter was debated and the proposed Bill failed to achieve the numbers required to pass by the narrowest of margins. To pass a 2/3rd majority vote was required in each house of Synod. The result of the ballot was as follows:
Yes No %
House of Laity 67 39 64%
House of Clergy 63 43 60%
House of Bishops 17 6 74%
Following the debate, resolution 46/04 Women in the Episcopate was adopted:
That this General Synod:
a) Acknowledges that this Synod has reaffirmed it in principle support for the ordination of women to the episcopate;
b) Notes with thanks the generosity of spirit which has characterised the debate;
c) Acknowledges the pain of many faithful and loyal Anglicans at this outcome;
d) Commits itself to maintaining the overall unity of the National Church, including the unity of each diocese under the jurisdiction of the diocesan bishop and believes such unity is essential for the overall effectiveness of the Church's mission to bring the Gospel of Christ to all people; and
e) Affairms that those who dissent from, as well as those who assent to the ordination of women to the priesthood and the episcopate are both loyal Anglicans.
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Membership
The following members were appointed by Standing Committee to the Women Bishop's Working Group in 2001, namely:
- Bishop Jeffrey Driver - Chair (Gippsland)
- Dr Muriel Porter (Melbourne)
- Dr Ann Young (Sydney)
- Bishop Peter Tasker (Sydney)
- Bishop David Farrer (Wangaratta)
- The Revd Jane Foulcher (Grafton)
- The Revd Dr Charles Sherlock (Melbourne)
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Background
The question of women bishops came before the 1998 General Synod in a process that sought to ensure respectful attention to differing points of view. The 1998 General Synod passed the following resolution by an overwhelming majority (Resolution 51/98) that:
- "General Synod notes the reports of the Doctrine Commission and the Canon Law Commission concerning the consecration of women to the episcopate.
- Further, General Synod notes the undesirability of appointing a woman bishop until at least the next General Synod after 1998.
- The Synod, recognising the significance of this issue for the ongoing unity and mission of the Church commends the matter for further discussion with dioceses across Australia, requests the Standing Committee to prepare a draft bill and a discussion paper on the implications of such a proposal, together with practical ways of addressing those implications, including forms of Alternative Episcopal Oversight, for circulation among the dioceses by December 1999."
The matter of whether women should be consecrated as bishops was discussed again at the 12th General Synod meeting of the Anglican Church of Australia during July 2001. The Synod eventually resolved (Resolution 38/01) that:
"this General Synod noting that though the Bill for a Church Law (Further Clarification) Canon 2001 with its accompanying schedule has been approved in principle by 135 votes to 95 votes with 2 abstentions, significant concerns have been raised in debate, requests Standing Committee to:
- prepare a report on some of the issues raised in the debate and some of the possible outcomes for consideration by Dioceses, Provincial Synods, Provincial Councils and the Bishops’ Conference, seeking their responses by February 2003; and
- in the light of responses received, prepare amended legislation and accompanying material in consultation with Dioceses, Provincial Synods,Provincial Councils and the Bishops’ Conference for the next session of General Synod."
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Membership (I)
The original Working Group which addressed the issue in the lead up to the 2001 General Synod consisted of:
- Dr Muriel Porter - Chair (Melbourne)
- Dr Ann Young - Deputy Chair (Sydney)
- Archbishop Peter Carnley (Perth) until his election as Primate
- The Revd Dr John Davis (Melbourne)
- The Revd Dr Robert Doyle (Sydney)
- Bishop Roger Herft (Newcastle)
- Mr Justice Peter Young (Bathurst) and
- Mr Robert Tong (Sydney), seconded for the final meeting in August 2000 as a replacement for Dr Doyle who was overseas.
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