Postkiwi

I note that Phillip Aspinall has been elected as the new head of the Anglican Church of Australia. He’s currently Archbishop of Brisbane and will become Primate of Australia. It’s a part-time position which, I assume, means he stays on in Brisbane.

The three top candidates for the position were Peter Jensen of Sydney Diocese, Phillip from Brisbane, and Roger Herft, newly elected archbiship of Adelaide Diocese. It was a choice between hardliner, anti-women bishops Peter, newly established Roger, or moderate peace maker Phillip.

Phillip’s made his mark in Brisbane over a number of issues:
1. Firmly dealing with clergy who have been found guilty of sexual abuse.
2. Drawing the line on clergy in the Anglican Communion who have promoted the Traditional Anglican Catholic movement/denomination. Fr David Chislett was stood down by Aspinall for being consecrated as a bishop in the breakaway movement that caters for people who do not want women priests, let alone women bishops.
3. Promoting an inclusive approach that honours the Evangelical tradition but keeps dialogue open on contentious issues.

Brian, an Australian Anglican blogger at Nottoomuch.com, gives us a few pointers on the background. Daily Flute points out the irony of a lawyer turned economist (Peter Costello) downplaying the right of a theologian to comment on industrial law change. Aspinall has degrees in science, education and business administration as well as theology. See the ABC stories on the opposing views of Phillip Aspinall and Peter Costello.