List of women bishops in the Anglican Church of Australia explained

In September 2007 a majority of the Appellate Tribunal of the Anglican Church of Australia decided nothing in the church's constitution prevented a diocese from consecrating women priests as bishops.[1] [2] The appointment of women as bishops is still contested in a few parts of the Anglican Church in Australia and is discussed in both the religious and mainstream press.[3] [4] [5] [6]

The Anglican Diocese of Sydney refuses to recognise women as priests or bishops and will only ordain women as deacons.[7] [8] [9] Metropolitans usually consecrate bishops. The metropolitan of the province and state of New South Wales is also the Archbishop of Sydney. The Anglican diocese of Canberra and Goulburn, the Anglican diocese of Grafton and the Anglican diocese of Newcastle are located within the province of New South Wales. Three consecutive Archbishops of Sydney/Metropolitans of New South Wales formally authorised the consecration of five women bishops within those dioceses, but would not participate and deputised other bishops to conduct the consecrations: the Bishop of Newcastle for three women in Canberra and Goulburn and one woman in Newcastle, and the Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn for the first female Bishop of Grafton.[10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

These women have been consecrated and installed as bishops in the Anglican Church of Australia. Each bishop's biographical article is linked from her name when one has been written.[15]

NameDate first consecrated bishopOffice, Diocese, Dates
Kay Goldsworthy22 May 2008Assistant Bishop, Perth (2008–2015); Bishop, Gippsland (2015–2017); Archbishop, Perth
Barbara Darling31 May 2008Bishop for Diocesan Ministries, Melbourne (2008–2009); Bishop of the Eastern Region, Melbourne (2009–2014)
Genieve Blackwell31 March 2012Regional Assistant Bishop, Wagga Wagga, Canberra and Goulburn (2012–2015); Assistant Bishop Marmingatha Episcopate, Melbourne
Alison Taylor6 April 2013Bishop, Southern Region, Brisbane (2013–2018)
Sarah Macneil1 March 2014Bishop, Grafton (2014–2018)
Kate Wilmot6 August 2015Assistant Bishop, South Area of Episcopal Oversight, Perth
Sonia Roulston10 May 2018Assistant Bishop, Inland Episcopate, Newcastle
Kate Prowd6 October 2018Assistant Bishop, Melbourne
Denise Ferguson21 July 2019Assistant Bishop, Adelaide (2019-2024)
Carol Wagner22 February 2020Assistant Bishop, Canberra and Goulburn (2020–2024)[16]
Sarah Plowman[17] 21 June 2024[18] [19] Assistant Bishop and Bishop for the Northern Region, Brisbane
Sophie Relf-Christopher[20] 15 August 2024[21] Assistant Bishop, Adelaide
Vanessa Bennett [22] 24 August 2024 [23] Assistant Bishop, Canberra and Goulburn

Further reading

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1 November 2007 . Australia's Anglicans clear way for women bishops . 22 July 2024 . Anglican Journal . en-US.
  2. Blake . Garth . August 2012 . Women Bishops in the Anglican Church of Australia . Ecclesiastical Law Journal . en . 14 . 3 . 413–417 . 10.1017/S0956618X12000397 . 1751-8539.
  3. News: 12 October 2003 . Victoria rebels on women bishops . 22 July 2024 . The Age . en.
  4. News: AAP . 18 November 2013 . Anglicans elect Reverend Dr Sarah Macneil first woman bishop in Australia . 22 July 2024 . News.com.au.
  5. Web site: Vujevic . Alisha . 10 April 2024 . One in six Diocesan, Assistant bishops a woman across Australia . 22 July 2024 . The Melbourne Anglican . en-AU.
  6. Web site: Sherlock . Peter . 21 December 2012 . Why Anglican women can be bishops in Australia but not England . 22 July 2024 . The Conversation . en-AU.
  7. News: 30 September 2007 . Division remains after way cleared for female bishops . 22 July 2024 . ABC News . en-AU.
  8. Web site: Brown . Malcolm . 30 March 2012 . Jensen begs off as deputy consecrates woman bishop . 22 July 2024 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
  9. Web site: Baird . Julia . 15 September 2023 . Kay Goldsworthy is flying to Sydney. She won't be an archbishop when she lands. Argh, men . 22 July 2024 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
  10. News: March 4, 2014 . Australia's first woman diocesan bishop consecrated . ACNS Anglican Communion News Service.
  11. Web site: Brown . Malcolm . 2012-03-30 . Jensen begs off as deputy consecrates woman bishop . 2024-08-28 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
  12. Web site: Assistant Bishop Carol Wagner’s Consecration Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn . 2024-08-28 . anglicancg.org.au.
  13. Web site: 2024-08-24 . Vanessa keeps 'home' close to heart during consecration as bishop . 2024-08-28 . Goulburn Post . en-AU.
  14. Web site: Our History Newcastle Anglican Since 1847 . 2024-08-28 . Newcastle Anglican . en-AU.
  15. The Anglican Church of Australia. 2021. “Directory.”
  16. Web site: Anglican News Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn . 5 May 2024 . anglicancg.org.au.
  17. Web site: Appointment of Assistant Bishop . 10 April 2024 . en.
  18. Web site: The Reverend Canon Sarah Plowman . 1 May 2024 . en.
  19. The Consecration of The Reverend Canon Sarah Plowman as Bishop and Synod, 21st June 2024 . en . 22 June 2024 . www.youtube.com.
  20. Web site: 11 May 2024 . Sophie Relf-Christopher named as new assistant bishop in Adelaide . 12 May 2024 . Guardian (Anglican Diocese of Adelaide) . en.
  21. Consecration as a Bishop of the Venerable Sophie Isobel Relf-Christopher - Thursday 7th August 2024 . 15 August 2024 . St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide . 15 August 2024 . YouTube.
  22. Short, Mark "Pastoral Letter: Appointment of New Assistant Bishop", The Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. Read aloud in churches Sunday 6 May 2024, sent to all churches and ministry units.
  23. Web site: Felsbou . Hannah . 17 June 2024 . Melbourne vicar becomes Canberra bishop . 19 June 2024 . The Melbourne Anglican . en-AU.

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