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MEDIA RELEASE

2nd July, 2002

Australian Bishops' Statement on the Decision by the Bishop and Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster to approve the blessing of same-sex unions

Dr Peter Jensen, the Archbishop of Sydney has been joined by a number of bishops of the Anglican Church of Australia in calling for the Bishop of New Westminster, Anglican Church of Canada "not to act" upon a recent decision of the Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster to approve the blessing of same-sex unions.

The statement from the Australian bishops says that the decision is in contradiction to the tradition of the Church, the overwhelming consensus of the 1998 Lambeth Conference, and the 1997 Statement from the Canadian House of Bishops.

"This is a significant and historic break in the teaching of the Anglican Church on marriage and human sexuality," the Australian bishops write. "The innovation threatens the fabric of the world-wide Anglican communion and puts in question the nature of our on-going communion with this Diocese."

They state that if the Bishop of New Westminster acts upon the decision, it "effectively creates a state of impaired communion" and they call on "the Canadian House of Bishops to provide alternative episcopal oversight to those members of the Anglican Communion in New Westminster, who through their faithful adherence to the teaching of our Church, are now in a state of impaired communion with the Bishop and the Diocese.

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Sydney meeting on 24th June encouraged Archbishop Jensen to send his statement to other Australian bishops and when completed to forward it to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of Canada, the Bishop of New Westminster and the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion.

The full text of the Australian Bishops' Statement, with the list of signatories follows:

CONTACT: Margaret Rodgers 61 (0)2 9265 1507 (W) 61 (0)2 9560 9801 (H) (email)

STATEMENT CONCERNING A RECENT DECISION OF THE SYNOD OF THE DIOCESE OF NEW WESTMINSTER, CANADA FROM BISHOPS OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

We understand that the Bishop and Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster have approved the blessing of same sex unions.

This is a significant and historic break in the teaching of the Anglican Church on marriage and human sexuality.

It stands in contradiction to the tradition of the Church, the overwhelming consensus of the 1998 Lambeth Conference, and the 1997 Statement from the Canadian House of Bishops.

The innovation threatens the fabric of the world-wide communion and puts in question the nature of our on-going communion with this Diocese.

We call upon the Bishop to not act upon the decision. If he does, it effectively creates a state of impaired communion.

In the event of such an unprecedented move, we call on the Canadian House of Bishops to provide alternative episcopal oversight to those members of the Anglican Communion in New Westminster who, through their faithful adherence to the teaching of our Church, are now in a state of impaired communion with the Bishop and the Diocese.

List of Signatories The Most Rev Peter Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney The Rt. Rev Peter Brain, Bishop of Armidale The Rt Rev Bruce Clark, Bishop of Riverina The Rt Rev Glenn Davies, Bishop of North Sydney, Diocese of Sydney The Rt Rev Ross Davies, Bishop of The Murray The Rt Rev Robert Forsyth, Bishop of South Sydney, Diocese of Sydney The Rt Rev Tom Frame, Bishop to the Defence Forces The Rt Rev Godfrey Fryar, Regional Bishop, Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn The Rt Rev Stephen Hale, Bishop of Eastern Region, Diocese of Melbourne The Rt Rev John Harrower OAM, Bishop of Tasmania The Rt Rev Roger Herft, Bishop of Newcastle The Rt Rev Richard Hurford OAM, Bishop of Bathurst The Rt Rev Brian King, Bishop of Western Sydney, Diocese of Sydney The Rt Rev Tony Nichols, Bishop of North West Australia The Rt Rev Reg Piper, Bishop of Wollongong, Diocese of Sydney The Rt Rev David Silk, Bishop of Ballarat The Rt Rev Paul White, Bishop of Western Region, Diocese of Melbourne