NEWCASTLE Anglicans have joined two other Australian dioceses to support same-sex marriage church blessings at a Hunter Synod where Bishop Peter Stuart said he had "spoken frankly" to a Sydney archbishop against the move.
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Newcastle Anglicans strongly supported changes to church rules that could allow clergy to bless same-sex marriages and protect clergy in a same-sex marriage from church discipline.
Newcastle joined Ballarat and Willochra in backing the proposals only two weeks after Sydney Anglican Archbishop Glenn Davies controversially called on those who wished to amend the church rules to "please leave us" because the proposal would "ruin the Anglican Church".
The proposed amendments are yet to be considered by the church's highest decision-making body, the Appellate Tribunal, ruling out any immediate changes.
The vote to support the same-sex marriage amendments was just one of a number of significant statements on social justice to be passed by the Newcastle Synod at Christ Church Cathedral on Friday and Saturday.
Newcastle Anglicans celebrated the Uluru Statement from the Heart and called on the Federal Government to introduce a Bill for a referendum to bring about constitutional change to enshrine a First Nations' Voice in the constitution.
The diocese's decision-making body also called on the Federal Government to develop more humane and life-enhancing policies when responding to refugees.
In a statement after the Synod Bishop Stuart said the same-sex marriage debate was measured and highly respectful but also indicated significantly different views.
"Synod members spoke personally and profoundly about their life experience and decisions. They reflected on the bible, church law and the pastoral needs of parishioners," Bishop Stuart said.
"We are going to have to be diligent in finding good ways of working together with competing views."
Bishop Stuart said faithful Christians who recognised the authority of Holy Scripture did not have a consensus view on how LGBTIQ people, and particularly those who are Christians, are to be supported and embraced.
Bishop Stuart told Synod he was very conscious of the harm that has been done by the church to the LGBTIQ community, their partners and families.
"Our conversations have often come over as demeaning," he said.
He asked people to see the image of God in all people.
"That simple fact should shape our discourse," Bishop Stuart said.
He acknowledged Archbishop Davies' leadership which had "increased rapport among the bishops of NSW", but the comments on same-sex marriage made to Sydney Synod on October 14 "did not reflect the rapport".
"He and I have spoken frankly with each other in the last few days," Bishop Stuart said.
He said Archbishop Davies had indicated he would visit the Hunter before his retirement after Bishop Stuart repeated an earlier invitation.
More than 60 Hunter clergy and 160 lay people attended the Synod.
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