By Mark Michael The Very Rev. Kanishka Raffel, dean of Sydney’s St. Andrew’s Cathedral, was unanimously elected as the 12th Archbishop of Sydney by the diocese’s synod on May 6. Raffel, a London-born Sri Lankan and a Buddhist convert to Christianity, will be the first person of color to lead the vibrant conservative evangelical diocese, which has great power and influence in … [Read more...] about Influential Sydney Diocese Elects 1st Non-White Abp.
Diocese of Sydney
Tribunal Authorizes Same-Sex Blessings in Australia
By Mark Michael The Appellate Tribunal, the highest legal authority in the Anglican Church of Australia, has ruled that same-sex couples may have their civil marriages blessed and that a diocese may remove the possibility of disciplinary action against members of the clergy who enter into a same-sex marriage. The 5-1 ruling, issued on November 12, was framed in narrow, … [Read more...] about Tribunal Authorizes Same-Sex Blessings in Australia
Australian Diocese Agrees to Delay Same-Sex Marriages
By Mark Michael Bishop John Parkes of Australia’s Diocese of Wangaratta announced on Tuesday that he will suspend the authorization of same sex marriages, pending a ruling on the matter by the Anglican Church of Australia’s Appellate Tribunal. Legislation permitting the marriages had been approved by wide margins at Wangaratta’s Diocesan Synod two weeks ago. The Most Rev. … [Read more...] about Australian Diocese Agrees to Delay Same-Sex Marriages
Australian Bishop Vows to Test Church Ban on Same-Sex Marriage
By Mark Michael The Diocese of Wangaratta, in rural Southeastern Australia will vote on allowing same-sex marriage at its August 30-31 synod, with the full support of its bishop, the Rt. Rev. John Parkes. Parkes, who will retire from his ministry after the synod concludes, told the Australian Broadcasting Company that he believes the change has wide support in the diocese. … [Read more...] about Australian Bishop Vows to Test Church Ban on Same-Sex Marriage
Sydney Lifts Smoking Ban
It has taken many years since European settlement, but Australia is slowly learning ways to give public recognition to its indigenous people. Governments require Welcome to Country rituals as a prelude to many public gatherings and major sports events. They highlight the cultural significance of the surrounding land to the local aboriginal clan and must be performed by a … [Read more...] about Sydney Lifts Smoking Ban
Bp. Donald Robinson (1923-2018)
Bishop Donald Robinson, a major proponent of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney’s Reformed theological tradition, died Sept. 7 at age 95. “We have lost a giant in the world of New Testament scholarship,” Archbishop Glenn Davies said. Robinson was for 30 years a lecturer and vice principal at Sydney’s Moore Theological College before becoming area bishop in Parramatta. He … [Read more...] about Bp. Donald Robinson (1923-2018)
‘Distinctive Coexistence’
Archbishop Glenn Davies of Sydney has asked the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia (ACANZP) to consider a model for peaceful coexistence of divided Anglicans in its province. Speaking at the invitation of ACANZP’s three archbishops, Davies proposed a model of overlapping jurisdictions that he compared to the jurisdictions in Europe. “It is interesting … [Read more...] about ‘Distinctive Coexistence’
Calming the Storm
Postcard from Adelaide When the Australian Parliament voted to allow same-sex partners to marry, 61.6 percent of Australians took it as a Christmas gift, and affirmed the decision in a national referendum. The significant minority that opposed the move (38.6%) included many Christians and churches. During the long voting period, debate became acrimonious. There are some real … [Read more...] about Calming the Storm