The 2008 Synod of the Sydney Anglican Diocese has ended after passing a strong resolution against abortion on the final afternoon.
Members of Synod almost unanimously supported a motion by Wollongong-based specialist Dr Michelle Gajus Read to take a firm stance against the practice of abortion in light of the renewed debate around Australia regarding the practice.
The rector of St Michael's, Wollongong, Canon Sandy Grant (pictured), spoke to the motion in the absence of Dr Gajus Read, and Mrs Claire Smith (pictured) seconded the motion.
In the speech Dr Gajus referred to law passed recently in Victoria which allowed for abortion on demand any time up to 24 weeks gestation and up to full term with the consent of two medical professionals.
"Even more distressing for me, as a medical practitioner who’s worked in hospitals in Melbourne as well as Sydney and Wollongong, the legislation also requires that medical practitioners with conscientious objections to abortion to refer a woman seeking one to another practitioner who doesn’t have that objection," she wrote.
"We live in a fallen world. Things are not perfect. I realise that there are things such as illnesses, rape and incest. However, I note the bill passed by the Victorian government allows for abortion for up to 24 weeks gestation for any reason at all."
She referred to reports that a large number of abortions were performed for "lifestyle' reasons.
“I think this is terrible. Why? Because these human beings are not being allowed to live at all because their parents think that they will interfere with their lifestyle. We want to recognise that God is a loving God and that this sin is not an unforgivable sin," she wrote.
"We want to show compassion for those who have been traumatised by the choices they have made in the past. Nevertheless we want to discourage and reduce the number of abortions performed in Australia,” she wrote.
Canon Grant shared a moving story of a girl with Down syndrome in his parish who is often brought to church by her Christian parents and of the love of God she experiences knowing that Christians value her life.
"She might not be able to read the Bible she brings with her to church on Sundays, but she doesn't need to be able to read it to know the statement "Jesus loves me this I know for the bible tells me so'. She can see it in action," Canon Grant said.
Canon Grant also made reference to the Bible's terminology in describing foetuses and babies and revealed that unborn and born children are referred to with the same word in the Greek.
"The exact same word "brephos' used to talk about Elizabeth's unborn child in Luke 1:41 and 1:44 is used to describe Jesus as a little baby in Luke 2:12 and 2:16," he said.
"So don't let anyone fool you that the foetus is only a lump of chemicals. Instead the Bible teaches us the value of children."
Mrs Smith was instrumental in adding clauses to the motion making sure that Synod recognised the needs of those who have knowingly participated in abortions, particularly women who have had abortions, and ensuring they hear the news of forgiveness through Christ's death and resurrection.
"As Christians we know nothing good comes from disobeying God's will and we know abortion denies the interests of the unborn child and is not in women's best interests," she said.
"There are women in and outside of our churches hungry to hear the gospel of forgiveness and the healing it brings. In God's amazing grace, it is precisely the experience of abortion that can drive women to faith in Christ. We're responsible for getting the gospel to them."
Ms Bronislava Lee from the parish of Paddington sought to move an amendment to the motion, asking that Synod also "[affirm] the need that legislation enable women to make their own choices relating to their own bodies and pregnancies".
The amendment also sought to remove paragraphs (e), (f) and (g), which were originally amendments from Claire Smith which Dr Gajus Read agreed to incorporate into her motion.
However, Mrs Lesley Ramsay and Canon Grant both spoke against the amendment, suggesting it went against practices the motion sought to affirm, and it was lost.
The rector of St Andrew's, Wahroonga, the Rev Philip Griffin was deeply moved by the abortion debate, as the father of a son with Wolff-Hirschhorn syndrome, and was ecstatic at Synod's firm stance on abortion.
"My son has a chromosome deletion disorder like Down syndrome. He cannot walk, talk, eat or drink in a normal manner and he also suffers from epileptic seizures," he says.
"One of the reasons why this motion is so important it is says to parents like my wife and I that our child matters."
Mr Griffin says having a disabled child has given him a sad insight into the world of the medical profession.
"Through having had a disabled child, we are aware that many parents when told they will have child with a disability in the pre-natal stage are encouraged to have abortions," he reveals.
"I am greatly encouraged by the passing of the motion. This is a very important statement."
Human rights affirmed
Justice Peter Young spoke to the motion titled Human rights framework for Australia.
Justice Young welcomed the proposed Federal Government consultation process on the protection of human rights in Australia and thanked the Social Issues Executive for the work they have undertaken in the area of human rights to date and requested they maintain a watching brief on developments in this area.
"The subject of whether human rights should be entrenched in special legislation sometimes referred to as a Bill of Rights or a Human Rights Charter crops up periodically," he said.
"The motion does not set out any definitive direction in which we should be moving. It merely asks various organs of the church to keep working on the matter."
Social Issues Executive chairman Dr Andrew Cameron (pictured) also spoke about the importance of this issue and advertised the upcoming "Freedom of Religion and Belief Project' information hour he is presenting on Thursday, October 30 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at St Andrew's Cathedral’s Chapter House.
In other Synod news, the Clergy Removals Fund Ordinance 2003 Amendment Ordinance was postponed for further discussion until the next session of Synod in 2009.
The Cost Recoveries Framework Ordinance 2008 was passed with an amendment making provision for parishes that receive small donations.
