Sydney Synod has overwhelmingly restated its in principle support for lay and diaconal administration of the Lord’s Supper.

But far more significantly - in what supporters say is ‘a great outcome’ for women deacons - the motion also ‘accepts’ the argument that there is no longer any legal impediment to deacons officiating at Holy Communion given the wording of the Ordination Service for Deacons Canon 1985 and the repeal of the 1662 Act of Uniformity by a recent Synod Ordinance.

The motion itself does nothing to change the legal situation.

“We don’t make law or change law in a motion,” the Bishop of North Sydney, Glenn Davies told Synod in moving the motion. “We merely express our view.”
Later, Bishop Davies described the Synod vote as ‘very significant’ and ‘a win for women’s ministry’.

“It takes the heat out of the women’s debate,” he told SC. “Developing the fullness of the diaconate was the aim; expanding the ministry of women was an intentional consequence of this motion.”

In seconding the motion, Archdeacon for Women’s Ministry, Narelle Jarrett, told Synod the current situation “seriously diminishes the ministry of women” explaining the right to administer the Lord’s Supper “is forbidden them for entirely unbiblical reasons”.

“Why can’t women deacons administer the Lord’s Supper in a girls’ school or a women’s prison? Do we really think that only a male priest can administer this sacrament?”

Archdeacon Jarrett said the current situation also causes problems when congregations are led by male deacons. A number of new church plants in Sydney Diocese, including some that are extra-parochial, are led by male deacons.

The current policy makes it difficult for these churches to regularly provide the Lord’s Supper to members.

Debate on the motion was passionate and a string of amendments was suggested seeking to water down the motion. All were defeated on voices.

Regarding the legal implications, Judge Chris Armitage from Killara sought to remove the word “lay” from the motion.

He said any move to approve lay administration would breach section 71 of the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia and he “guaranteed” it would “end up in the secular courts”.

However he agreed with Bishop Davies that diaconal administration of the Lord’s Supper is now legal.