Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

The Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Philip Freier, has welcomed the decision of the Appellate Tribunal – the Anglican Church’s highest court – that effectively paves the way for women clergy to be eligible for the office of Bishop.

The Melbourne Diocese has had a long commitment to the ordination of women, establishing a commission on women’s ministry in 1973, ordaining Australia’s first women deacons in 1986, and ordaining women priests as soon as it was legally possible in December 1992.

Archbishop Freier says that is clearly a logical next step to be able to ordain women as bishops.

‘Melbourne has many able women in ordained ministry,” Dr Freier said, “and the Diocese has historically strongly supported women becoming bishops.’

 Dr Freier noted that the Primate of the Anglican Church Dr Philip Aspinall has explained it was unlikely that a woman would be made a bishop in the next six months.

‘Because there are complications in the decision for assistant bishops, our legal experts are examining the implications for how this ruling will impact on us,’ Dr Freier said.

While Dr Freier said he looks forward to a time when he will be able to work with women as colleagues in all levels of ordained ministry, he acknowledged that there will be people within the Diocese of Melbourne who will not welcome the decision.

‘We will work at developing ways to make sure that those who do not welcome it will feel that their views are understood, as we find ways of implementing this decision in our Diocese,’ Dr Freier said.

Article from: Anglican Media Melbourne