Women Bishops in Australia?
If so, how?

A summary of the
Interim Report of the General Synod Working Group on Women Bishops
(August 1999)

Introduction

After the controversy which surrounded the ordination of women as deacons and priests, the 1998 General Synod called for a thorough discussion about the consecration of women bishops and forms of alternative episcopal oversight for those who oppose their consecration before any formal proposals were brought to synods.

The General Synod Standing Committee now offers the national church the first draft proposals. The Standing Committee's working group has prepared a wide range of Options, to enable the fullest possible exploration of the issues involved.

This is the first stage of national discussion. After the feedback from this stage is analysed, a final report will go to the April meeting of Standing Committee. Formal proposals will then go to Diocesan synods during 2000 for their response in advance of the 2001 General Synod.

All Australian Anglicans are invited to participate in this important first stage discussion at many levels - from individuals to parishes to interest groups, to diocesan standing committees/bishops-in-council, and synods (though we ask for informal responses only from synods at this stage).

Please read the Options carefully and let us know what you think. Questions you may like to respond to are included at the end of this summary. Succinct responses in the manner indicated will help our task enormously.

Please send email responses to: womenbishops@fc.accnet.net.au
or post responses to:

Dr Muriel Porter,
c/- General Synod Office
PO Box Q190
QVB Post Office
NSW 1230

by 15 November 1999

We thank you for your interest, in anticipation of an inclusive, constructive and prayerful national conversation. May our sense of unity and mission deepen and grow as a result of this process.

A copy of the full report explaining the Options in detail (the published report can be copied freely) is available on-line (size: 374K) and is viewable using Adobe Acrobat (see below for a browser).

Download Acrobat Free

Alternatively for the cost of copying and postage it is available from:

General Synod Office
PO Box Q190
QVB Post Office NSW 1230
Ph: 02 9265 1503; Fax: 02 9264 6552
Email : research@anglican.org.au

  [an error occurred while processing this directive]

Page last modified on Friday August 20, 1999

 

Have your say on the options for women bishops in Australia

This page is hosted at St Peter's Eastern Hill by permission of the co-chair of the General Synod Working Group on Women Bishops and the General Synod Office, Sydney

Authorised by the Vicar (vicar@stpeters.org.au)
Maintained by the Editor (editor@stpeters.org.au)
© 1999 General Synod of The Anglican Church of Australia