Australia’s largest Anglican diocese, the diocese of Sydney will debate on controversial new plans for it to take on independent “Bible-based” churches or congregations from other denominations, reports the Church of England newspaper.
As part of a mission strategy to convert at least 10 percent of Sydney’s population to Bible-based churches, the Sydney diocese is considering forming relations with evangelical congregations.Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, acknowledged that the diocese’s mission of evangelism was obstructed by child abuse scandals, boring church services and institutional distrust. However, he emphasised that “the list does nothing to weaken my resolve.”
It has been three years since the 10-year recruitment drive of the diocese began. He encouraged them not to lose hope, saying, “the first three years of the mission are the shakedown years.”
The Church of England reports that the Sydney diocese has been scrutinising the possibilities of uniting with both Protestant churches and independent evangelical churches.
The Standing Committee Report of the diocese which will be debated on Synod on Monday said that it is hard to monitor the amount the congregations are interested in affiliating with the diocese.
The report also recommends that the diocese send out a pre-emptive message which would “constitute a powerful expression of the Diocese’s goodwill towards the commitment to the continued support and encouragement of congregations and churches with which it shares unity in the gospel.”The first three years of the mission are the shakedown years.
Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen
The report underlines that the union of the diocese and evangelical congregations is intended as one of “fellowship rather than a purely business relationship.”
The Synod is expected to have a heated debate next week due to doubts about the constitutionality and legal implications of the union.
