The 2014 Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia has overwhelmingly backed a call for state and territory leaders to protect religious freedom at home and abroad, in the face of the ‘gagging’ of Christian organisations.

The motion, moved by the Bishop of South Sydney Robert Forsyth, affirmed ‘the importance of freedom of religion and its manifestation in the related freedoms of speech, association and conscience for a healthy and mature society’.

Bishop Forsyth argued, and the Synod agreed, that freedoms are at risk of being undermined in Australian society “due to a focus on other, sometimes competing, rights.”

Bishop Forsyth defended religious exemptions from anti-discrimination law, saying they did not exist to exclude people but to enable religious communities “to exist and operate in accordance with their unique cultures and beliefs”.

Bishop Forsyth said religious organisations needed to be allowed to hire staff in keeping with their ethos and character, to give preference in some services to those for whom the service was established, and to uphold moral standards within faith communities. 

“I would like us to move from this culture where we are supplicants seeking exemptions to where our governments, state and federal, saw religious freedom as a positive good.” Bishop Forsyth said.

In seconding the motion, Dr Karin Sowada, a former Senator for New South Wales, said the motion was not just about rights in Australia.

“The recent imprisonment and death sentence meted out to Meriam Ibrahim in the Sudan for apostasy, crystallised the fears of many Christians for the state of religious freedom and conscience around the world.”

She cited research which showed 29 percent of countries had high restrictions on religion.

Dean of Bendigo The Very Reverend John Roundhill spoke of the persecution of people from other religions, saying the motion “will be appreciated by many, well beyond our usual constituency.” 

Ian Carter, CEO of Anglicare WA spoke of the ‘gagging’ of faith based organisations which deliver government-funded services, such as working among Aboriginal and Torres strait islander people. 

“Anglicare delivers services to one in 40 Australians. We have a proud history of work in virtually every community around this country. We should not be held back just because we deliver service, to also not be able to advocate for the people for which we work. This is a really fundamental issue.” Mr Carter said.

The Synod called on  the federal government to “continue its advocacy of such freedoms internationally through diplomatic channels and other appropriate instruments of global engagement.”

The Primate was asked to convey the resolution to the Prime Minister and State and Territory leaders.