I was dismayed to read yesterday that group had set up a company called 'The Diocese of the Southern Cross' which would operate as a breakaway from the Anglican Church of Australia. Even more so to discover that the group had met in my city, Canberra, over the past weekend and proposed to launch via a ceremony in Canberra today to inaugurate a retired Archbishop of Sydney as its Bishop.
My Bishop who is currently on holidays in England following the Lambeth Conference, has responded with generosity to this development and has asked those who comment on it to do so with an attitude of 'respect, kindness and openness towards one another'. The Primate (Head) of the Anglican Church of Australia, the Archbishop of Adelaide, has responded to this development with an appeal for unity.
I have always approached those with whom I disagree with respect and honesty. I have not always found the same attitude in return. I hope that I have been generous and reasonable with those who have disagreed with my progressive views on the grounds of conscience. I strongly believe in freedom of religious thought and association. However, I cannot, in all good conscience allow this schismatic move by the 'Diocese of the Southern Cross' (registered as a business, I note) to occur without strong objection. I note, with great disappointment, that the leadership of our diocese and others have allowed this schism in the Church to proceed without similar disapproval. The Anglican Church of Australia has existed for many decades with the ongoing tension between conservatives and progressives. It hasn't always been easy but we have managed work together to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel and to bring into being the Kingdom of God on Earth as it is in Heaven with peace and justice. Now a group of dissidents want to throw that great journey together away for the sake of what I believe can only be interpreted as self interest and power. They proclaim that they wish to establish this new entity so that they can call on people to live by a Biblically based morality. I think that what they really want is to impose their narrow worldview on others instead of allowing all to travel together towards truth, welcoming all who wish to join in that journey with unconditional love.
I have no power in this matter but I would hope that we could start a conversation.
Blessings to all.
