The seven female bishops of the Provinces of the Anglican Church Australia and of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia have used their first ever meeting to speak out “for the well-being of girls and women across the Anglican Communion.” The Bishops have served in the Anglican Episcopate for various lengths of time ranging from less than 2 years to more than 23 years.

During the three day meeting, in the Diocese of Gippsland, to the east of Melbourne, the bishops addressed the history and experience of women in the episcopate and reflected on the journey of women to ordination to all three orders of ministry in their respective Provinces. 

They have issued a communiqué from their gathering, which expresses their general concern “for the well-being of girls and women across the Anglican Communion and the opportunities for them to live into the fullness of their humanity.”

They also affirmed the statement developed by the Anglican delegation to 61st Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women which calls (among other things) for “the God-given empowerment of all God’s children.”

The Australasian bishops went on to say that they see “commitment to the effective inclusion of female voices in decision-making at all levels as vital for the world and the church.”

The Bishops in attendance:

The Rt Revd Genieve Blackwell, Marmingatha Episcopate, Diocese of Melbourne

The Rt Revd Kay Goldsworthy, Bishop of Gippsland

The Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Waikato

The Rt Revd Dr Sarah Macneil, Bishop of Grafton

The Rt Revd Victoria Matthews, Bishop of Christchurch

The Rt Revd Alison Taylor, Bishop for the Southern Region, Diocese of Brisbane

The Rt Revd Kate Wilmot, Assistant Bishop of Perth