Melbourne Priestess to Become Queensland’s First Bishopess
December 3, 2012 3 Comments
Speaking of Australia, I see that Queensland is set to get a Bishopess:
The Anglican Archbishops of Melbourne and Brisbane, Dr Philip Freier and Dr Phillip Aspinall, have today announced that a Melbourne priest has been selected to lead the Southern Region of the Diocese of Brisbane as Queensland’s first woman bishop.
The Venerable Alison Taylor, Melbourne’s Archdeacon for International Partnerships and Vicar of St John’s Anglican Church Camberwell, has been appointed to fill the role when current Bishop, the Right Reverend Geoff Smith, takes on the role of General Manager of the Brisbane Diocese early next year.
Archbishop Freier said: “Alison Taylor’s ministry in the Diocese of Melbourne has encompassed a breadth of experience as vicar and archdeacon. I am delighted that her leadership, developed within the Diocese of Melbourne, now takes her on to this senior role in Brisbane.”
Archdeacon Taylor says that while looking forward to the new appointment, she is sorry to leave St John’s Camberwell. “I will be sad to leave the people of St John’s, but I’m confident they will soon find a new vicar to lead them into their 150th anniversary year in 2013,” Archdeacon Taylor said.
Her senior appointments following ordination included chairing Anglican Overseas Aid (formerly Anglicord). In 2009, Archdeacon Taylor was personally invited by the Archbishop of Canterbury to be a member of the Steering Group for the newly
created international Anglican Alliance for Development Relief and Advocacy.Archdeacon Taylor has also served as Archdeacon of Kew in the Eastern Region of Melbourne.
Archdeacon Taylor will be consecrated Bishop in St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane at 10am on Saturday 6th April 2013.
About Fr Stephen Smuts
Bishopess = invalid orders
Unfortunately, it’s going to continue. The floodgates have been opened and there isn’t the courage within the current leadership less the faithful to undo what’s been occurring over the last century. If anything should be learned from this is that a “religious democratic” form of governance within any religious institution is a recipe for misinterpretation including heresy; and although, hierarchical governance, as other religious institutions currently have (i.e., mainly the Roman Catholic Church), may have some shortcomings, it is the only model that can truly preserve the Deposit of Faith and render unto Christ when he returns a Church that is modelled for Him to govern.
There is this big, red button that says “Do not press. Will result in self-destruction!” that Anglicans just can’t seem to resist.