Anglican Synod condemns detention of children seeking asylum

The Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney has unanimously expressed its opposition to the detention of child asylum seekers.

A motion requesting that the Archbishop contact the Prime Minister to express this view was passed formally without debate.

In part the motion said, “Synod, in annual assembly, is of the view that some of present practice for the detention of these children cannot be reconciled with Christian values as set forth in the Bible, to the extent of being repugnant to the love of God for all children, and the obligations of those charged with their care, as taught by Jesus Christ.” (Full text of motion follows)

The Synod resumes today at 3pm in the Wesley Centre, 220 Pitt Street. The Synod will also be held in the Wesley Centre, on October 16, 21 and 22.

Plan to start thousands of new congregations

In the Presidential Address yesterday, Archbishop Peter Jensen set out the rationale behind a comprehensive strategy to see at least 10 per cent of Sydney’s population in ‘Bible-based churches’ in 10 years. Last night the Synod agreed to this goal as well as the plan to start thousands of new congregations as the key strategy to aim for this goal.

Over the next week Synod will debate the details of this strategy. Sydney Diocese has net assets of $500 million, not including parish land and buildings. This Synod represents the first time the Anglican Church in Sydney has made a concerted effort to use its financial resources to grow church membership. Termed ‘strategy-driven spending’, this issue will be the focus of debate this evening from 7pm.

Other issues on the Synod agenda include:
- terrorism and the war on Iraq;
- embryonic stem-cell legislation;

These issues are raised as private members motions that will be debated from 3.15pm to 4pm on Wednesday, October 16, Monday, October 21 and Tuesday, October 22.

CONTACT:
Margaret Rodgers 9265 1507 (w) 0411 692 499 (m)
Jeremy Halcrow 9265 1518 (w) 0412 793 441 (m)
Geoff Robson 9265 1508 (w) 0403 195 841 (m)

The full text of the motions reads:

Detention of children seeking asylum
Synod respectively requests that the Archbishop convey to the Prime Minister, the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and whoever else the Archbishop deems appropriate, a clear indication of the Synod’s view on current practice involving the compulsory detention of children seeking asylum in Australia. Notwithstanding the complexity of the issues relating to asylum-seekers generally, and recognizing that a range of aspects of current practice may be cause for concern, the Synod is acutely conscious on the needs of asylum-seeker children as a singular matter meriting urgent change. Synod, in annual assembly, is of the view that some of present practice for the detention of these children cannot be reconciled with Christian values as set forth in the Bible, to the extent of being repugnant to the love of God for all children, and the obligations of those charged with their care, as taught by Jesus Christ.
(Professor Bernard Stewart)