Sydney Anglicans have expressed their overwhelming solidarity with conservative Africans, backing Nigeria's concerns over the Church of England's decision to allow clergy to be in same-sex partnerships.
The Diocesan Synod yesterday passed a motion, without debate, requesting the Diocesan Standing Committee look at ways of modifying the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia with regard to the way it expresses Communion with the Church of England.
Sydney Anglicans also passed with sustained applause a motion giving "encouragement to the Archbishop of Canterbury' in his recent efforts to protect Bible-believing Anglicans.
Supporting the motion, the Rev Dr Mark Thompson said the Archbishop's Panel of Reference was a significant step forward for the Communion.
"We should welcome this Panel of Reference and pray for it success," he said.
"We should see the creation of this panel as an opportunity to raise the profile of the plight of our brothers and sisters."
Dr Thompson ran through a long list of disputes " from Connecticut to Recife " where he says Bible-believing Anglicans are persecuted.
"The current crisis in the Anglican Communion has been brewing for some time," he says, "but brought to head by the consecration of a praticising homosexual."
Dr Thompson said has been an "international movement to silence all dissent', despite the great level of "distress' provoked by the consecration.
Mary report rejected but Sydney looks to dialogue
Sydney Anglicans have distanced themselves from the conclusions of a joint Anglican-Roman Catholic report called Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ but are looking to study and explore the issue further.
The Rev Dr Mark Thompson who proposed the motion, said not all the conclusions of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) are controversial, but added that "some other conclusions cannot be reconciled with Scripture'
Quoting a friend, Dr Thompson added, "The drafters of this legislation have put two and two together have not jut come up with four or even 21 but some bizarre imaginary number."
"There is no biblical warrant for asking our brothers and sisters in heaven pray for us," he said.
He also described the report's claims that the Bible endorses Mary as co-redeemer "a monumental fudge' that "undermines the role of Christ'.
Claire Smith, seconding the motion spoke very personally of how she has been encouraged by looking at the example of Mary "who believes despite her weakness'.
"The problem with the ARCIC statement is that it takes the real biblical Mary away," she said.
"Instead it gives us a Mary who is not like us."
Combined amendments from the Bishop of North Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, and the Rev Chris Albany from South Hurstville referring the issue to the Diocesan Doctrine Commission for further study and dialogue were accepted by the proposers of the motion.
In speaking to these amendments, Mr Albany pointed to the recent terrorist attacks as proof that "we live in a world that does not cope well with difference'.
"I am sure it goes much too far in accommodating RC sensibilities," he says.
"But I believe dialogue with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters is one way we can further the gospel."
A further amendment suggested by Bishop Davies that Synod "welcome' the report was rejected.
