Muriel Porter, the Melbourne Anglican)A number of parishes in the former Diocese of Carpentaria have seceded from the Anglican Church following a long-running dispute over the appointment of a Torres Strait Islander Bishop.
23 February 1998
Lay and diaconal presidency is in agreement with the Australian Anglican Church's Constitution, says the Appellate Tribunal, the Church's highest court. But, it goes on, a canon of General Synod is required to authorise the change: a diocesan ordinance is not enough. The tribunal's finding, announced on 11 January after two years' deliberations, took many in the Anglican Church of Australia by surprise.
23 January 1998
The national Anglican paper in Australia, Church Scene, ceased publication at Christmas after 25 years of publication. The weekly paper provided news and comment on the very diverse Anglican dioceses in Australia and preserved its editorial independence. It had to close because of financial difficulties.
18 January 1998
The Anglican Church in three dioceses has been on the alert after bushfires across New South Wales last week. Archbishop Harry Goodhew, Metropolitan of NSW, has reactivated his bushfire relief disaster fund.
22 December 1997
Church leaders in Australia, criticising the Federal Government's plans to limit Aboriginal land-rights in rural areas, have sparked a national debate about the role of Churches in politics.
05 December 1997
Sydney Diocesan Synod has rejected a move to suspend any debate on women priests until at least the year 2002. Synod members will meet as a conference to discuss the role of women, probably in March next year.
07 November 1997
Melbourne Diocese has become the second Australian diocese to call for legislation to permit women bishops.
31 October 1997
The Standing Committee for the Diocese of Sydney has reserved $1.2 million for an Aboriginal Ministry Trust Fund. Speaking about the initiative, the Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Revd Harry Goodhew said: "This is a good move as it is intended to encourage the development of Aboriginal Ministry in the Diocese of Sydney. It is intended to be spent on the training and developing of Aboriginal ministers who will lead and minister to their own people."
31 October 1997
A team of voluntary youth leaders from the Diocese of Melbourne is visiting South Africa in a cross-cultural leadership development programme as part of the mutual 150th anniversary celebrations of the Diocese of Melbourne and Cape Town.
21 October 1997
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Roger Herft, will launch a Year of Listening on 1 November to discuss the diocese's attitude to the range of human relationships which now exist in modern society.
26 September 1997