Broadcast: 23/10/2006

Reporter: John Stewart

The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, has moved to position Australia as a global centre for conservative Anglican churches throughout the world.

Transcript TONY JONES: Sydney's Anglican Archbishop, Dr Peter Jensen, has moved to position Australia as a global centre for conservative Anglican churches throughout the world. In a speech tonight in Sydney, Dr Jensen called for his conservative brethren worldwide to look to Sydney for support and guidance. John Stewart reports.

JOHN STEWART: Women priests make up 15 per cent of the Anglican Church in Australia, but not in Sydney. Australia's wealthiest and most influential diocese does not allow women to become priests and is against gays and lesbians taking on positions of power within the church. Tonight, the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, moved to make Australia the centre for conservative Anglican Churches throughout the world.

PETER JENSEN: It's widely agreed we must make as clear as possible and amongst as many people as possible that we've reached the limits of toleration when it comes to the teaching of scripture. Furthermore, it is for the good of the gospel and thus, in the interests of this diocese, that we support others with the same views and receive support from others likewise. This is where true unity lies.

JOHN STEWART: The recent ordination of women, gay and lesbian priests in America and Canada has split the international Anglican communion. Many African, Asian and South African churches agree with Dr Jensen, and it's these churches which have growing congregations.

PETER JENSEN: All this flows from their observation that the Western churches can't discipline their own for deviations from the teachings of scripture and that they of the south must take responsibility for themselves and, indeed, for many in the West. Frankly, it is breath taking.

JOHN STEWART: Anglican leaders from throughout the world meet at Lambeth in England once every ten years. The next meeting is in 2008. Critics of Dr Jensen's say he's shoring up support from African and Asian churches before the Lambeth conference.

MURIEL PORTER: What you need in any political game, and a lot of these church issues are I'm sad to say political games, all comes down to numbers. So you might have the sophistication, the resources from the first world evangelicals and conservatives but they actually need the numbers when they get to the Lambeth conference.

JOHN STEWART: Dr Jensen says he's just reflecting the views held by many within the Anglican Church. But those on the left of the church say Sydney's Archbishop has a conservative global strategy.

MURIEL PORTER: He is actually talking about Sydney having a very significant role in rallying and supporting conservative evangelicals in the first world, in England, in New Zealand, in Canada and in the United States. That's something that we haven't seen quite so directly before.

JOHN STEWART: The meeting at Lambeth in 2008 is shaping up as a numbers game, which could lead to a split in the Anglican Church. John Stewart, Lateline.