1 June 2024
12.00pm
Well it’s been an interesting, but given the inclement weather, thankfully short, day. To wrap up, here’s a quick look back at what’s transpired.
Synod passed the Professional Standards Uniform Legislation Amendment Bill 2024.
The bill amends two pieces of legislation found in the Professional Standards Uniform Act Adoption Act 2016.
Most of the proposed changes were to the Professional Standards Uniform Act 2016, and there were minor changes to the Adoption Act.
Significant changes to the Uniform Act include the amendment of the definition of the Diocesan Corporation, and the expansion of the definition of neglect.
The main purposes of the amendments are to:
- extend the definition of misconduct; and
- require a lay Church worker to hold a clearance for service before holding or performing the work of a prescribed role, office or position; and
- update powers and functions of the Professional Standards Board, Professional Standards Committee and the Office of Professional Standards; and
- update drafting to use gender-neutral language; and
- make minor and technical amendments.
The motion was moved by Bishop Genieve Blackwell and seconded by the registrar Malcolm Tadgell.
Read more: Action plan set to help churches with evolving child safety laws
Synod also passed the Archbishopric Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 today. It aimed to make the legislation wording clearer and tighter, remove gender-specific language and provisions now superseded.
As mover Bishop Paul Barker explained earlier, the bill contained amendments to the Melbourne Archbishopric Act 1980, the Melbourne Anglican Diocesan Corporation Act 2015, the Archbishop Election Act 2022 and the Financial Governance Act 2015.
Changes to make the wording clearer and tighter cover:
- removing “Melbourne” from the title of the Melbourne Archbishopric Act;
- capturing accurately the outcomes of the processes under the Archbishop Election Act 2022;
- the retirement date of an Archbishop on the grounds of age;
- complying with the requirements of secular law in recruiting an Archbishop;
- confirming that it is the Council of the Diocese (not the Archbishop in Council) that determines the Archbishop’s stipend and other benefits.
Bishop Kate Prowd seconded the bill.
Finally, synod considered and passed the Statute Law Amendment Bill 2024, which aimed to amend the Archbishop in Council Act 2018 and the Parish Governance Act 2013.
Mover Bishop Bradly Billings summed up the bill as “necessary legislative housekeeping”. It included changes to the Parish Governance Act 2013, one of which clarified to parish nominations committees the appointment of replacement church wardens.
Ms Laura Tsakmakis seconded the motion.
And that’s it from me, Jenan Taylor, and from my colleague Hannah Felsbourg. Thanks for sticking with us and enjoy the rest of the weekend!
11.40am
The registrar Malcolm Tadgell has just taken synod members through the process for electing the next Melbourne archbishop, saying that the See will be vacated as of 9 February 2025. He described an eight step process for synod members. This was:
- Candidates for Archbishop
- Board of Nominators
- Nomination of candidates
- Election Synod Members
- Convening the election synod
- Proceedings of the election synod
- Board of electors
- Confirmation and installation of the new archbishop
11.30am
And synod business has now reached an end, and we’re about to have closing prayers.
11.25am
Synod is now considering the Statute Law Amendment Bill 2024 which seeks to amend the Archbishop in Council Act 2018 and the Parish Governance Act 2013.
Mover Bishop Bradly Billings has summed up the bill as “necessary legislative housekeeping”, saying the series of proposed amendments intended to tidy up three Acts of synod.
Bishop Billings said these included changes to the Parish Governance Act 2013, one of which clarified to parish nominations committees the appointment of replacement church wardens.
And this bill has passed as well!
Ms Laura Tsakmakis seconded the motion.
11.20am
The Archbishopric Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 is on the table. It’s aimed at making the legislation wording clearer and tighter, removing gender-specific language and provisions now superseded.
Mover Bishop Paul Barker is explaining the proposed changes, calling them “minor and uncontroversial”.
Bishop Barker said the Act was unclear about the exact final date of work for an archbishop, and the proposed changes clarified how the legislation described the retirement date on the ground of age.
He said they also aimed to make the Act’s language gender neutral given that an Archbishop of Melbourne could conceivably be female.
The bishop said amendments brought the act into alignment with the Archbishop Election Act and the diocese’s current professional standards clearance process.
Finally, the changes confirmed that it was the Diocesan Council rather than Archbishop In Council that determined the archbishop’s stipend, he said.
And synod has passed the bill.
Bishop Kate Prowd seconded the bill.
Read more:
Church votes for simplified Archbishop Election Act
11.15am
And we’re back.
Bishop Blackwell has moved that the Professional Standards Uniform Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 and synod members have passed it. The Bill sought to make sure Melbourne and Bendigo dioceses met their legal child safety obligations.
11:03am
Synod members are taking a short break in proceedings and to warm themselves on this cold Melbourne morning. We’ll be back with more, shortly.
10.35am
A few delegates have lined up to speak into and ask questions of the motion.
A member from St George’s Malvern commended the mammoth effort saying it represented what a court would consider to be reasonable steps to prevent abuse.
Colin Reilly asked how a visitor or parish member could ascertain whether a lay person held a child safety clearance. Bishop Blackwell said the vicar of the church would have this information.
Michael Shand stood up to support the bill, saying it was a much more effective response to child safety, and was an effective response to upholding standards for our Church.
“We’re a much better Church for it,” Mr Shand said. He commended the bill.
10:15am
The Professional Standards Uniform Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 which aims to make sure Melbourne and Bendigo dioceses met their legal child safety obligations, is on the table.
Current professional standards legislation contains two Acts: the Adoption Act and the Uniform Act.
Mover, Bishop Genieve Blackwell has explained that the bill is primarily for the purpose of making amendments to the Uniform Act. Its secondary purpose is to make some amendments to the Adoption Act to facilitate those changes.
Bishop Blackwell asked delegates to note that the amendments were developed in collaboration with the Bendigo diocese to make sure Melbourne and Bendigo maintained consistent professional standards legislation.
She said the bill covered three key refinements—the definition of misconduct, clearances and matters in relation to the work of the Professional Standards Committee and Board—and has spoken on each.
Significant changes to the Uniform Act include the amendment of the definition of the Diocesan Corporation, and the expansion of the definition of neglect.
The registrar Malcolm Tadgell seconded the bill.
Read more:
Synod condemns violence against civilians in Israel and Gaza | Melbourne Synod day 4
Governance merger will see Archbishop in Council members become diocesan corporation directors
No appeal on Hollingworth decision after ex Archbishop gives up PTOAction plan set to help churches with evolving child safety laws
10.00am
We’ve had morning prayers and the Archbishop Philip Freier is now giving his Presidential Address.
We’ll have the full address here later today, but in the meantime, Archbishop Freier has spoken about safe ministry and shared a video resource for churches to use in their own context. He’s also spoken about the Yoorrook Justice Commission, Australia’s first Indigenous truth-telling commission and the Anglican Province of Victoria’s response. Melbourne’s Bishop Genieve Blackwell and Bishop Richard Treloar from Gippsland attended the hearing day. He’s encouraged people to view the written response on the commission’s website. The archbishop spoke about the work of Canon Glenn Loughrey and the work he’ll be doing with the Commission. He’s also spoken about Hope25 an initiative for churches to join together to proclaim the hope of Jesus in this uncertain world.
9:00am
Good morning and welcome to the special session of Melbourne Synod 2024, an in-person event at St Paul’s Cathedral.
I’m Jenan Taylor and I’ll be taking you through today’s happenings via this liveblog if you’re unable to attend in person. My colleague Hannah Felsbourg is also here today and you might spot her roaming the floor with her camera in hand.
Today’s session starts at 9.30am with morning prayers, the presidential address from Archbishop Philip Freier, announcements and procedural matters.
We’ll then take a look at the legislation amendments being moved.
Key items today:
Professional Standards Uniform Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Bishop Genieve Blackwell is moving a bill to amend professional standards legislation, aimed at making Melbourne and Bendigo dioceses meet their legal child safety obligations.
Under Bishop Blackwell’s proposal, there are some significant changes to the Uniform Act including the amendment of the definition of the Diocesan Corporation, and the expansion of the definition of neglect.
Read more:
Professional standards to come before special synod
Governance merger will see Archbishop in Council members become diocesan corporation directors
Archbishopric Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Synod will consider a motion for a bill to amend the Melbourne Archbishopric Act 1980, the Melbourne Anglican Diocesan Corporation Act 2015, the Archbishop Election Act 2022 and the Financial Governance Act 2015 and for other purposes.
Bishop Paul Barker is moving the bill, and Bishop Kate Prowd is seconding it.
Read more: Church votes for simplified Archbishop Election Act
Statute Law Amendment Bill 2024
Delegates will consider a Bill to amend the Archbishop in Council Act 2018, the Parish Governance Act 2013, and for other purposes.
Bishop Bradly Billings is moving the bill, and Ms Laura Tsakmakis is seconding it.
Read more: Synod condemns violence against civilians in Israel and Gaza | Melbourne Synod day 4
We’re set to finish the day with a short presentation on the process for electing a new archbishop, by the registrar Malcolm Tadgell.
We’re looking forward to a shorter than usual, but insightful synod. In the meantime, if you need to reach us with any queries, comments or corrections, email us at editor@melbourneanglican.org.au
Enjoy!
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