Sydney Anglican Diocese is painting itself into a corner yet again, by presumptuously and disrespectfully banning Australia's five legally ordained Anglican women Bishops (Bishops Kay Goldsworthy, Genieve Blackwell, Sarah MacNeil, Angela Taylor, and Kate Wilmot) from ministering in their authorised priestly capacity within the Sydney Anglican Diocese. Unlike their male counterparts, these five Australian women Bishops did not receive invitations to attend the episcopal consecration of the current Sydney Anglican Archbishop, Dr. Glenn Davies.
Well known for its obdurate opposition to the ordination of Anglican women to the Anglican priesthood, the Sydney Anglican Synod, and its softly spoken leader, Archbishop Glenn Davies, irrationally combine their misogynist ban with an unsustainable claim that they welcome and promote women into the fullness of priestly Anglican ministry. But a close examination of Sydney Anglican Diocesan ministry training programs at Moore College and elsewhere reveals that Sydney Anglican women receive only a parody of the training that male candidates for Anglican priestly ministry receive. Women trained under this oppressive patriarchal regime are banned from celebrating Holy Communion, teaching, preaching, conferring blessings, and from leading parishes. Sydney Anglican Diocese's misogynist ban on women's priestly ministry is now its defining characteristic.
The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia, and the Australian Anglican Primate, Archbishop Phillip Freier, appear to endorse the Sydney Anglican Diocese's blatant discrimination against Australia's Anglican women Bishops. No official reprimand has been issued by Archbishop Freier. The ministry of male Sydney Anglican Bishops and priests is still permitted and welcomed in Anglican parishes throughout Australia. Since the Sydney Anglican Diocese persists in its offensive ban on Australia's five Anglican Women Bishops, reciprocal ministry bans on misogynist Sydney Anglican male clergy should be enacted by Archbishop Freier, to support legitimately ordained women Bishops.
