In view of the impending retirement of Dr Peter Jensen as
Archbishop of Sydney in July, plans have been announced for the
election synod to begin on 5 August.
The synod will be chaired by the Rt Revd Robert Forsyth, a
Sydney regional bishop, who will be administrator of the diocese
until Dr Jensen's successor is enthroned.
The Sydney election process is a direct one, without initial
sifting of potential candidates by a nomination board. Twenty synod
members can nominate any "duly qualified person", and nominations
close on 24 June. Nominees can withdraw their names until 15
July.
Once the election synod begins, nominations will be subjected to
a series of votes.
Before formal recognition as Archbishop, the final candidate
must solemnly promise, among other things, not to allow the "use of
the chasuble or other eucharistic vestment", in accordance with the
century-old chasuble ban in the diocese of Sydney.
Meanwhile, the fourth woman bishop in Australia has been
consecrated in Brisbane. The Ven. Alison Taylor, from Melbourne
diocese, was consecrated in St John's Cathedral last Saturday, to
become Bishop of the southern region of Brisbane diocese.
This weekend, the Rt Revd Kay Goldsworthy, a regional bishop in
Perth, will be one of five candidates presented to the election
synod for the diocese of Newcastle, New South Wales.