Anglican Church in Australia Elects New Head amid Rising Divisions

The Archbishop of Brisbane the Most Reverend Phillip Aspinall, one of the youngest Archbishops at the age of 44, has been elected to be the new head of the Anglican Church of Australia where the Church is facing divisive issues. The election being held at Cowper Room, St Andrew’s House, Sydney Square, Sydney comes after the retirement of the Most Reverend Dr Peter Carnley Archbishop of Perth in May at the end of his term.

Archbishop Aspinall, a Tasmanian was consecrated a Bishop in 1998 and was elected to become Archbishop of Brisbane just three years ago. His new role of Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia will be reviewed by the Anglican Synod at its meeting in 2007.

The Primate is usually chosen from one of the metropolitan cities, and is selected by a primatial election board consisting of every diocesan bishop (currently their number stands at 21 due to two vacancies in the Adelaide and Riverina dioceses). The board also includes twelve members of the laity elected at the General Synod in 2004 and twelve members of the clergy also elected at the 2004 General Synod.

The Primate role is not a full time position, therefore Archbishop Aspinall will remain Bishop of his diocese during his term as Primate. However the Primate will still play a vital role in the Anglican Church of Australia which includes chairing the three-yearly General Synod of the Church and its attendant boards and committees. Further he assumes a representative role for the Anglican Church of Australia in Anglican Communion affairs, speaking for and representing the Church when necessary within Australia.

The new Primate will confront a range of controversial issues facing the Anglican Church of Australia which include homosexuality and the role of women in the Church.

Archbishop Aspinall stated "I'm aware of the great trust and responsibility that has been committed to me, I am more than a little daunted at the prospects before me and I take some comfort that the Anglican Church is full of very many fine people who will help shoulder the load."





Sue Chan