Anglican Communion News Service

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.

Sydney Diocese is one of five Australian Dioceses which do not yet ordain women priests. A Sydney priest had proposed stopping all discussion about women's ministry until after the retirement of the current Archbishop of Sydney but Archbishop Goodhew offered an alternative plan which was accepted. He proposed a conference, in which group discussion would be possible, and he said would have a better chance of finding a common mind than a formal synod debate.