List of women bishops in the Anglican Church of Australia
In September 2007 a majority of the Appellate Tribunal of the Anglican Church of Australia decided nothing in the church's constitution prevented a diocese from consecrating women priests as bishops.[1][2] The appointment of women as bishops is still a contested issue in some parts of the Anglican Church in Australia and is discussed in both the religious and mainstream press.[3][4][5][6] The Anglican Diocese of Sydney refuses to recognise women as priests or bishops and will only ordain women as deacons.[7][8][9]
These women have been consecrated and installed as bishops in the Anglican Church of Australia. Each bishop's biographical article is linked from her name when one has been written.[10]
Name | Date first consecrated bishop | Office, Diocese, Dates |
---|---|---|
Kay Goldsworthy | 22 May 2008 | Assistant Bishop, Perth (2008–2015); Bishop, Gippsland (2015–2017); Archbishop, Perth (2018-) |
Barbara Darling | 31 May 2008 | Bishop for Diocesan Ministries, Melbourne (2008–2009); Bishop of the Eastern Region, Melbourne (2009–2014) |
Genieve Blackwell | 31 March 2012 | Regional Assistant Bishop, Wagga Wagga, Canberra and Goulburn (2012–2015); Assistant Bishop Marmingatha Episcopate, Melbourne (2015-); Assistant Bishop, Melbourne (2015-) |
Alison Taylor | 6 April 2013 | Bishop, Southern Region, Brisbane (2013–2018) |
Sarah Macneil | 1 March 2014 | Bishop, Grafton (2014–2018) |
Kate Wilmot | 6 August 2015 | Assistant Bishop, South Area of Episcopal Oversight, Perth (2015-); Assistant Bishop, Perth (2015-) |
Sonia Roulston | 10 May 2018 | Assistant Bishop, Inland Episcopate, Newcastle (2018-) |
Kate Prowd | 6 October 2018 | Assistant Bishop, Melbourne (2018-) |
Denise Ferguson | 21 July 2019 | Assistant Bishop, Adelaide (2019-) |
Carol Wagner | 22 February 2020 | Assistant Bishop, Canberra and Goulburn (2020–2024)[11] |
Sarah Plowman[12] | 21 June 2024[13][14] | Assistant Bishop and Bishop for the Northern Region, Brisbane (2024-) |
Sophie Relf-Christopher[15] | 15 August 2024[15][16] | Assistant Bishop, Adelaide (2024-) |
Vanessa Bennett [17](Bishop elect) | 24 August 2024 (tbc)[17][18] | Assistant Bishop, Canberra and Goulburn (2024-)[17] |
References
- ^ Staff, Anglican Journal (2007-11-01). "Australia's Anglicans clear way for women bishops". Anglican Journal. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ Blake, Garth (August 2012). "Women Bishops in the Anglican Church of Australia". Ecclesiastical Law Journal. 14 (3): 413–417. doi:10.1017/S0956618X12000397. ISSN 1751-8539.
- ^ "Victoria rebels on women bishops". The Age. 2003-10-12. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ AAP (18 November 2013). "Anglicans elect Reverend Dr Sarah Macneil first woman bishop in Australia". News.com.au. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Vujevic, Alisha (2024-04-10). "One in six Diocesan, Assistant bishops a woman across Australia". The Melbourne Anglican. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ Sherlock, Peter (2012-12-21). "Why Anglican women can be bishops in Australia but not England". The Conversation. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ "Division remains after way cleared for female bishops". ABC News. 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ Brown, Malcolm (2012-03-30). "Jensen begs off as deputy consecrates woman bishop". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ Baird, Julia (2023-09-15). "Kay Goldsworthy is flying to Sydney. She won't be an archbishop when she lands. Argh, men". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ The Anglican Church of Australia. 2021. “Directory.”
- ^ "Anglican News | Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn". anglicancg.org.au. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ "Appointment of Assistant Bishop". Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ "The Reverend Canon Sarah Plowman". Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- ^ The Consecration of The Reverend Canon Sarah Plowman as Bishop and Synod, 21st June 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-22 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ a b Officer, Media (2024-05-11). "Sophie Relf-Christopher named as new assistant bishop in Adelaide". Guardian. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
- ^ St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide (2024-08-15). Consecration as a Bishop of the Venerable Sophie Isobel Relf-Christopher - Thursday 7th August 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-15 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c Short, Mark "Pastoral Letter: Appointment of New Assistant Bishop", The Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. Read aloud in churches Sunday 6 May 2024, sent to all churches and ministry units.
- ^ Felsbou, Hannah (2024-06-17). "Melbourne vicar becomes Canberra bishop". The Melbourne Anglican. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
Further reading
- Fry, Alex D. J. 2024. Gender Inequality in the Ordained Ministry of the Church of England: Examining Conservative Male Clergy Responses to Women Priests and Bishops. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
- St Mark's National Theological Centre (Australia). 2014. Taking Stock: The Joy and Challenge of Ordained Women in the Anglican Church of Australia. Canberra: St. Mark's National Theological Centre.
- Smith, Christine A. 2013. Beyond the Stained Glass Ceiling: Equipping & Encouraging Female Pastors. 1st ed. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press.
- Lindsay, Elaine, and Janet Scarfe. 2012. Preachers, Prophets and Heretics: Anglican Women’s Ministry. Sydney: UNSW Press.
- Porter, Muriel. 2008. Women in Purple: Women Bishops in Australia. Mulgrave, Vic.: John Garratt Publishing.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
Wikiquote has quotations related to Ordination of women.