Sydney Anglicans are opposing a push to allow homosexual couples to adopt children.
The Department of Community Services is conducting a review of a ban that prohibits same-sex couples from adopting children as part of an inquiry into NSW adoption legislation.
A spokeswoman for the Minister for Community Services, Reba Meagher, said single people are allowed to adopt a child "regardless of their sexual orientation' but the Adoption Act 2000 defines a couple as a man and a woman.
At its meeting on May 1, the diocesan Standing Committee requested that the Social Issues Executive, in consultation with Anglicare Sydney, prepare and lodge a submission to the inquiry.
The Bishop of North Sydney Dr Glenn Davies says same sex relationships are a distortion of family values and children should not have to grow up with gender confusion.
"A family comes from a father and a mother. It's a biological and sociological reality," Bishop Davies says.
"It's structured that way by God so that children are brought up in loving homes. Same-sex couples are a distortion of God's plans for humanity."
Peter Fisher, Acting Director of Anglicare's Community Care said the charity is opposed to any changes in the law preventing same-sex couples from adopting.
"Adopting a child is not a human right," Mr Fisher says.
"Anglicare believes that in all cases the best interests of the child are paramount and that the best situation for a child is with parents of both sexes."
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that similar bans have been overturned in Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT in the past five years.
According to The Herald, Cardinal George Pell, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, said the Catholic Church would be presenting a submission on sociological grounds, saying that children had a right to a "mother and father'.
The newspaper also reports that the Prime Minister John Howard is opposed to adoption by same-sex couples.
Submissions must be received by the end of May.
Click here to download an issue paper in pdf format
Standing Committee Briefing
Lay administration of the Lord's Supper
A committee will seek written opinions by June 27 2006 on the nature of any legal barriers that would make unlawful the practice of a lay person or deacon administering the Lord's Supper in Sydney Diocese. Claire Smith, Canon Bruce Ballantine-Jones, Bishop Glenn Davies and Canon John Woodhouse are members of the committee.
Regional ordinance reviewed
At its meeting on March 27, the Standing Committee received a report concerning a review of Sydney Diocese's regional system. Robert Tong intends to move at the May 1 meeting that a committee be appointed to review the Regions Ordinance.
Public holiday leave for ministers
The Diocesan Secretary Robert Wicks will draft and bring an amending ordinance to the Annual Leave Ordinance to the Standing Committee. It will provide for the leave period to be increased by one day if a special or public holiday occurs during annual leave taken by a minister.
TV requirement withdrawn
A clause in the Anglican Media Council Ordinance stating that Anglican Media Sydney is required to produce television programs for statutory time has been deleted, because statutory time no longer exists.
St Luke's, Thornleigh sale authorised
Standing Committee authorised the sale of St Luke's, Thornleigh, which contains a heritage-listed building. The Mission Property Committee sees no strategic value in retaining the site for future ministry or redevelopment. Ministry will continue at St Mark's, Pennant Hills.
Clergy retirement benefits referred
A discussion paper concerning clergy retirement benefits was referred to the Stipends and Allowances Committee to facilitate a policy debate on stipends. The Stipends and Allowances Committee has been requested to undertake a new survey of all clergy, prepare a simple financial test in light of the results of the survey to enable clergy to assess their own situation, and identify options available to clergy for obtaining financial advice and assistance for their retirement.
Nursing service given green light
Following a request from the Archbishop of Brisbane, Standing Committee has agreed to the St Luke's Nursing Service, which operates in the Diocese of Brisbane, to operate in Sydney to provide nursing care for people with disabilities provided it uses the name "St Luke's' and does not refer to Anglicare or any other derivation of that name.
Canon referred to Appellate Tribunal
The Primate, Phillip Aspinall has referred a matter concerning the 2004 National Register and Special Tribunals Canons to the Appellate Tribunal, the court of appeal in the Anglican Church of Australia. Sydney is concerned that the canons affect the order and good governance of the Diocese. The General Synod Standing Committee has advised the Primate it disagrees with this opinion.
Welfare recommendations
The Provincial Registrar, Dr Philip Selden, requested that the Bishops-in-Council of the Province consider and make recommendations in a report about the Provincial Welfare Commission. They include authorising Anglicare Sydney as the agent to deal with all dioceses in relation to government and non-government agencies in disaster response, prison ministry to ex-inmates, drought relief and chaplaincy.
