Reverend Peta Sherlock is a frontrunner to become Australia's first female bishop.
Posted on 10/12/2003 4:31:09 PM PDT by NYer
Reverend Peta Sherlock is a frontrunner to become Australia's first female bishop.
In what promises to be one of the most bitter splits in the Anglican church in decades, the Melbourne Anglican Synod has broken ranks with other synods to approve the immediate ordination of women as bishops.
The move pits them against Sydney's more conservative officials and is likely to lead to a major confrontation.
The Melbourne Synod was expected to await approval of the motion at the national synod in October next year, where the powerful and conservative Sydney diocese is expected to be vehemently opposed.
But in a surprise move, Melbourne voted to consider women for vacant bishop positions immediately, regardless of whether the national synod approves the motion.
The position of regional bishop for the Melbourne diocese northern suburbs has remained vacant for some time with the search carried out as far afield as Britain.
Last night, Sydney's church authorities would not comment.
As a sign of the high emotion the issue raises, several leading clergywomen broke into tears when Melbourne made its decision.
"I actually didn't realise I would, but got a bit of a tremble in my voice because we're sick of it and it's extremely demeaning every time they talk about it again," said Peta Sherlock, Heidelberg archdeacon and a frontrunner for ordination as Australia's first female bishop.
The Reverend Sherlock was ordained a deacon in 1986 and was one of the first women to be ordained a priest in 1992.
"That's the scary thing for me. When I worked it out, it's half my lifetime that I have been discussed, that my position within the church has been discussed," Ms Sherlock said.
Ms Sherlock, along with Ringwood archdeacon Heather Martin and Burwood canon Colleen O'Reilly, is a likely candidate to become Australia's first female bishop.
The Reverend Charles Sherlock, who put the motion before the Melbourne Synod, hopes it will have enough support throughout the country to be passed at the national synod.
"We really do believe that God doesn't want barriers of gender in the priesthood," he said.
"We hope that we have come up with a proposal that is phrased in a way that Sydney might let through. They might not support it but they may let it through," Mr Sherlock said.
Since 1992, the Anglican Church has allowed female priests to be decided upon a parish-by-parish basis.
But the Sydney diocese and a few others around Australia have refused to allow women into the priesthood and even rebuff bishops who ordain female priests.
If the motion is passed at the national synod, each diocese will be able to decide whether to allow women to be bishops.
Those opposed will then not only refuse to acknowledge the female bishops but also any priests of either gender who are ordained by these female bishops, further dividing the church.
But Mr Sherlock still maintains the motion is in the church's best interests.
"I really do think for a whole lot of reasons based in the Bible, theology and whole lot of other things that it is right that all orders of ministry to be open to men and women," he said.
"I believe I would keep pressing that even if it causes temporary difficulties," Mr Sherlock said.
Canada, US and New Zealand are the only other nations to allow female Anglican bishops.
Australia-wide, women make up about 12 per cent of the Anglican clergy with 262 priests and 154 deacons.
Meanwhile, the Vatican's elevation of Australia's Archbishop Pell to Cardinal has met with a reverse reaction. The contrast is most remarkable! According to ABC News Service in Australia ...
Archbishop Pell
MARK COLVIN: There's been a mixed reaction today to the elevation of Australia's most prominent Catholic archbishop to the rank of cardinal.
Congratulating the Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell, the Prime Minister said the appointment was recognition of the Catholic community's contribution to Australian life.
But Canberra's Assistant Bishop, Pat Power, was in the forefront of the critics who say the appointment turns back the clock in the Catholic Church.
Dr Pell has deflected the criticism by pointing to a diversity of opinion in the Church.
Toni Hassan reports.
TONI HASSAN: It's no secret the Pope, now seriously ailing, is one of George Pell's greatest heroes.
Respect and admiration between the two men is mutual, and now official as George Pell accepts exclusive membership as cardinal into John Paul the second's inner sanctum.
Dr Pell, like the Pope, is a trenchant critic of modernity and yet, as highlighted at today's press conference, is a skilled user of the modern media.
GEORGE PELL: I preach the truths of the Gospel without apology. I preach what, then teach what the Second Vatican Council teaches. I don't make up teachings, I stand with the Pope, I'm happy and proud to continue to try to do that. I mean, the modern Pagan mix in our society is not making people happier or more productive.
TONI HASSAN: Busy and productive Dr Pell has been, since his earlier days as a ruckman for St Patrick's College in his native Ballarat.
He's now one of around 150 cardinals chosen from around the world to advise the Pope. In the event of the Pope's death, those cardinals aged under-80, will vote in a conclave for his successor.
(to George Pell) It's been a meteoric rise, hasn't it?
GEORGE PELL: Well, I mean, cardinals have got to come from somewhere, and I wouldn't think being a supporter of the AFL is any impediment in the Catholic Church. But I'm sure that my story today is repeated amongst the overwhelming majority of the 31 new cardinals.
TONI HASSAN: Were you ever concerned that allegations of sexual assault would hinder your prospects of promotion like this?
GEORGE PELL: I never was worried about the problem in those terms. Obviously, it was a great concern. I was only concerned to clear my name.
TONI HASSAN: And his name was cleared, leaving the way open for Dr Pell to become perhaps the most influential Australian ever to serve in the Vatican. He's not surprised by the promotion but does his ambition stop there?
Dr Pell wouldn't be drawn on the Pope's replacement, only saying that his feet are firmly on Australian soil and that he'll continue to speak out against the impact of gambling, divorce and Australia's treatment of asylum seekers.
And he dismissed criticism among bishops that his appointment is disappointing because his values are not in tune with many Catholics.
GEORGE PELL: The Catholic Church is not a small sect. There's a billion Catholics throughout the world, and obviously, there're different schools of theology, different approaches.
TONI HASSAN: He not only acknowledged pluralism within his flock, but the importance of the other great faiths.
GEORGE PELL: Mutual respect, tolerance, maintaining and building a cohesive Australian society, a multi-faith society, is a very important task for all leaders and for religious leaders too.
TONI HASSAN: Still, Dr Pell unabashedly holds the conservative church position against contraception, abortion, women priests and gay clergy.
Former Catholic priest, Dr Paul Collins, who's written extensively on Catholicism, says Dr Pell's promotion was expected but is one that may not be warmly embraced by his peers.
PAUL COLLINS: In many ways, he's cast himself in the role of the leader of the Australian bishops and the leader of the Catholic Church, and in some ways, willy-nilly, at any rate has become a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Australia and for the Australian Catholic bishops.
Although, interestingly, he is not the president of the Australian Episcopal Conference, that honour belongs to my own archbishop, Archbishop Francis Carroll, the Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn.
TONI HASSAN: However, the Sydney Archbishop's biographer, Tess Livingstone, says Dr Pell's elevation to the rank of cardinal is broadly welcomed by Catholics across Australia.
TESS LIVINGSTONE: Those who go to mass regularly and those who believe in the Church, I think it will have overwhelming support.
TONI HASSAN: Could you say the same about bishops in Australia? Catholic bishops, did the support him overwhelmingly?
TESS LIVINGSTONE: Uh, you'll have to ask each one of them, Toni. I think there would be a lot of different views around the Episcopal Conference table. What Archbishop Pell teaches is Catholic teaching, not George Pell teaching, and in that, they should be supporting him.
TONI HASSAN: Is it worth noting that at no point has the Archbishop been promoted to a job because of the election of his colleagues. I mean, it's become… his elevations have come from connections in Rome.
TESS LIVINGSTONE: He's been asked to do a lot of different jobs because he's been qualified to do them, Toni. You're not appointed to head up the seminary unless you've got the academic qualifications and, indeed, the pastoral experience to do it.
 |
The page cannot be found |
| The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is unavailable. | |
Please try the following:
HTTP 404 - File not found |
|
So...the Rev. MR. Sherlock made the motion to further his wife's career?From Rev. Mr. Sherlock's website (http://www.trinity.unimelb.edu.au/theolog/homepages/csherlock.html)
Married (since 1970) to the Revd Peta Robin SherlockTwo adult sons, Jonathan (30) and Peter (28), no longer at home
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.