WUNRN
AUSTRALIA FIRST FEMALE BISHOP WON'T
CAUSE DIVISION:
ANGLICAN CHURCH
Australia's first female bishop Kay Goldsworthy (AAP: Perth Archbishop's House)
The Anglican Church has rejected suggestions the appointment of Australia's first female bishop will cause division within its ranks.
The Right Reverend Kay Goldsworthy was consecrated at a ceremony at Perth's St George's Cathedral last night.
The appointment follows a ruling by the church last year that nothing in its constitution could stop the consecration of a female bishop.
The Anglican Archbishop of Perth, The Most Reverend Roger Herft, says church protocol states all bishops will welcome Bishop Goldsworthy, even if they do not agree with her appointment.
"The Anglican bishops, all of them, have agreed to the protocols, so there's no way in which the Anglican Church of Australia will be split on this issue, because the bishops unanimously agreed to the protocol," he said.
Bishop Goldsworthy says there have been female bishops in other countries for two decades, and it has not caused division.
"There have been female Bishops for 20 years, bishops who are women for 20 years, in churches all around the world, and it has not fractured the communion," she said.
Archbishop Herft says opposition to the appointment is not cause for concern.
"Any matter that is of deep conviction to the soul will always have opposition, otherwise it won't be a matter of deep conviction of the soul, so I live with opposition, I live with that, and respect the people who have a conscience in that regard and I hope that they will respect us for our own position," he said.
But Bishop Goldsworthy says she has already received messages of support from other bishops opposed to her appointment.
"Saying we know we have differences, but you're in our prayers and congratulations," she said.
"I think the bishops have done very well, on their work together, to maintain unity in this matter, and it's good."
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