‘Self-censorship’ over women bishops

There has been no significant division in Melbourne Diocese after the consecration of the Diocese’s first woman bishop, Barbara Darling, on May 31.

Nevertheless, soul-searching continues amongst conservative evangelicals who feel they must fly “under the radar”.

Forum participants on sydneyanglicans.net have admitted that a certain “culture of self-censorship” exists among evangelicals in the diocese.

Three Melbourne Synod representatives spoke against the women bishops legislation.

St Jude’s, Carlton, evangelism minister, the Rev Timothy Patrick, says it’s clear most Victorian evangelicals feel they have “bigger fish to fry” .

“The fact that some Melbourne clergy deny that Christ is the unique incarnation of God, deny that a personal faith in Jesus is the only way to salvation and deny the supreme authority of the Scriptures in all matters of belief [is] actually [a] more important, central, gospel matter than the consecration of a woman to the episcopate.”

An evangelical herself, Bishop Barbara Darling was converted in Sydney.

Her role does not involve parish oversight.

However she will be overseeing chaplaincies, youth, children and multicultural ministry.

As a result it is unlikely her appointment will see any parishes seeking alternative episcopal overssight.

Data indicates that 56 per cent of Melbourne Anglicans attend evangelical churches.

“We’re praying and working for generational change here,” Mr Patrick says.

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