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 a contested issue in some 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]
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.[10]
Name | Date first consecrated bishop | Office, Diocese, Dates |
---|
Kay Goldsworthy | 22 May 2008 | Assistant Bishop, Perth (2008–2015); Bishop, Gippsland (2015–2017); Archbishop, Perth (2018-) |
Barbara Darling | 31 May 2008 | Bishop for Diocesan Ministries, Melbourne (2008–2009); Bishop of the Eastern Region, Melbourne (2009–2014) |
Genieve Blackwell | 31 March 2012 | Regional Assistant Bishop, Wagga Wagga, Canberra and Goulburn (2012–2015); Assistant Bishop Marmingatha Episcopate, Melbourne (2015-); Assistant Bishop, Melbourne (2015-) |
Alison Taylor | 6 April 2013 | Bishop, Southern Region, Brisbane (2013–2018) |
Sarah Macneil | 1 March 2014 | Bishop, Grafton (2014–2018) |
Kate Wilmot | 6 August 2015 | Assistant Bishop, South Area of Episcopal Oversight, Perth (2015-); Assistant Bishop, Perth (2015-) |
Sonia Roulston | 10 May 2018 | Assistant Bishop, Inland Episcopate, Newcastle (2018-) |
Kate Prowd | 6 October 2018 | Assistant Bishop, Melbourne (2018-) |
Denise Ferguson | 21 July 2019 | Assistant Bishop, Adelaide (2019-) |
Carol Wagner | 22 February 2020 | Assistant Bishop, Canberra and Goulburn (2020–2024)[11] |
Sarah Plowman[12] | 21 June 2024[13] [14] | Assistant Bishop and Bishop for the Northern Region, Brisbane (2024-) |
Sophie Relf-Christopher[15] | 15 August 2024[16] | Assistant Bishop, Adelaide (2024-) |
Vanessa Bennett [17] (Bishop elect) | 24 August 2024 (tbc)[18] | Assistant Bishop, Canberra and Goulburn (2024-) | |
Further reading
- Fry, Alex D. J. 2024. Gender Inequality in the Ordained Ministry of the Church of England: Examining Conservative Male Clergy Responses to Women Priests and Bishops. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
- St Mark's National Theological Centre (Australia). 2014. Taking Stock: The Joy and Challenge of Ordained Women in the Anglican Church of Australia. Canberra: St. Mark's National Theological Centre.
- Smith, Christine A. 2013. Beyond the Stained Glass Ceiling: Equipping & Encouraging Female Pastors. 1st ed. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press.
- Lindsay, Elaine, and Janet Scarfe. 2012. Preachers, Prophets and Heretics: Anglican Women’s Ministry. Sydney: UNSW Press.
- Porter, Muriel. 2008. Women in Purple: Women Bishops in Australia. Mulgrave, Vic.: John Garratt Publishing.
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Staff . Anglican Journal . 2007-11-01 . Australia's Anglicans clear way for women bishops . 2024-07-22 . Anglican Journal . en-US.
- 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.
- Web site: 2003-10-12 . Victoria rebels on women bishops . 2024-07-22 . The Age . en.
- News: AAP . 18 November 2013 . Anglicans elect Reverend Dr Sarah Macneil first woman bishop in Australia . 22 July 2024 . News.com.au.
- Web site: Vujevic . Alisha . 2024-04-10 . One in six Diocesan, Assistant bishops a woman across Australia . 2024-07-22 . The Melbourne Anglican . en-AU.
- Web site: Sherlock . Peter . 2012-12-21 . Why Anglican women can be bishops in Australia but not England . 2024-07-22 . The Conversation . en-US.
- News: 2007-09-30 . Division remains after way cleared for female bishops . 2024-07-22 . ABC News . en-AU.
- Web site: Brown . Malcolm . 2012-03-30 . Jensen begs off as deputy consecrates woman bishop . 2024-07-22 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
- Web site: Baird . Julia . 2023-09-15 . Kay Goldsworthy is flying to Sydney. She won’t be an archbishop when she lands. Argh, men . 2024-07-22 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
- The Anglican Church of Australia. 2021. “Directory.”
- Web site: Anglican News Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn . 2024-05-05 . anglicancg.org.au.
- Web site: Appointment of Assistant Bishop . 2024-04-10 . en.
- Web site: The Reverend Canon Sarah Plowman . 2024-05-01 . en.
- The Consecration of The Reverend Canon Sarah Plowman as Bishop and Synod, 21st June 2024 . en . 2024-06-22 . www.youtube.com.
- Web site: Officer . Media . 2024-05-11 . Sophie Relf-Christopher named as new assistant bishop in Adelaide . 2024-05-12 . Guardian . en.
- Consecration as a Bishop of the Venerable Sophie Isobel Relf-Christopher - Thursday 7th August 2024 . 2024-08-15 . St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide . 2024-08-15 . YouTube.
- 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.
- Web site: Felsbou . Hannah . 2024-06-17 . Melbourne vicar becomes Canberra bishop . 2024-06-19 . The Melbourne Anglican . en-AU.