Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn Stuart Robinson has
emphatically rejected his diocese is becoming a clone of the hardline,
evangelical Diocese of Sydney.
Critics say that under Bishop
Robinson's leadership, the diocese is becoming less inclusive, with the
role of female clergy diminished.
These concerns have been
heightened by recent appointments of clergy from the Diocese of Sydney
all trained at its theologically conservative Moore Theological College.
The Diocese of Sydney opposes female ordination and will not permit female clergy to minister.
Bishop
Robinson was trained at Moore College and was rector of St Paul's
Chatswood when elected in November 2008 to succeed George Browning as
Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn.
Soon after his election, Bishop
Robinson said he would like his diocese to celebrate a range of Anglican
traditions evangelical, Anglo-Catholic and charismatic.
Yesterday he said, ''There will come a time when we will appoint a female bishop when circumstances and finances allow.''
On
concerns by some in his diocese, particularly that he was appointing
clergy who opposed female ordination, he said, ''I am an enthusiastic
supporter of the leadership provided by female priests and deacons in
our parishes. In fact it is my intention to appoint more women to senior
positions in this diocese when vacancies come available. This includes
the episcopal leadership team.
''On my election I said I would
require verbal assurances from any new clergy appointment to this
diocese that they will support the ordained ministry of women. All
clergy I have appointed have given me this assurance and I remain
committed to this policy.''
St Mark's Theological College in Canberra principal Tom Frame said the concerns were baseless.
''To my mind he has gone out of his way to uphold and honour the traditions of the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.''
Some
clergy recently appointed from Sydney did not agree with its theology
and had not felt welcome there. One of the appointments was a woman from
Sydney who would not have been ordained there.
''Any notion the
cause of women has been set back is misinformed,'' Bishop Frame said.
''He [Bishop Robinson] is looking for energetic, creative, even
entrepreneurial people. The Anglican Church does not tend to draw those
sort of people.''
The rector of St Mary in the Valley Tuggeranong, Gillian Varcoe, is also the bishop's liaison officer.
She
said that under the diocese's code of practice, anyone who undermined
female ordination could have disciplinary action taken against them.
She interviews all new clergy appointees and said none had indicated opposition to female clergy.
Canon Varcoe said it seemed some people from the church's Anglo-Catholic tradition had concerns.
She had encouraged them to raise them with Bishop Robinson but they had declined.