MOW Australia Ltd.
|
MOW Australia Ltd.
|
Home
|
This page contains an archive of news items relating to the movement. You can also download recent editions of MOWatching, the magazine of the national Movement. If you have questions about us or want to get involved, please contact us. We can give you information and share our experiences with you. MOWatching archives | News archives | Conferences and special events archives MOWatching archives20112010200920082006March | June | Conference edition 2005
News archivesMOWatch Quiet Day: Learning, gentleness and the arts - Abbesses of Saxon England as models of ministryIn the Anniversary Year celebrating women ordained to the priesthood in Australia the focus for reflection will be three women in our English Church tradition who helped shape that tradition. The Quiet Day material was prepared by the Rev'd Lesley McLean. To participate in the Quiet Day you need to register from 23 May to Lesley McLean - click here to send an email. Download the flyer for more information [pdf]. Updated 11 April 2012
20th anniversary of women priests in the Australian Anglican ChurchMOWatch is celebrating this year the 20th anniversary since the first women priests were ordained in the Australian Anglican Church. Visit our special anniversary page to download a timeline of events in 1992 and browse the calendar of special celebratory events being held around Australia. The logo on the left was designed by Ro Yule for MOW Melbourne for the 1992 ordinations. It was used on a large banner in St Paul's Cathedral and appeared on souvenirs such as mugs and scarves. We will be using it as a special anniversary logo during this year, 2012. The logo appears here as it was used on the banner. Updated 28 January 2012 Vale Pam AlbanyPam Albany died peacefully on 28 December after 11 weeks in Palliative Care at Calvary Hospital in Sydney. Pam was convenor of MOW Perth in the early years of MOW and became one of the first Vice-Presidents of MOW National. Pam was a person who gave much of herself in the cause of women and the Church. An early prophet, she is one for whom we all give thanks. And Genieve makes three...
Vale Diane HeathMOWatch Inc celebrates the life of Diane Heath a leader in the Movement for the Ordination of Women both nationally and in Melbourne. In Melbourne Diane was elected as Vice Moderator at the inaugural MOW Melbourne meeting in 1984; after Janet and John Gaden moved to Adelaide in 1986, Diane became co-convenor with Linda Walter and Susan Sandford. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first women deaconsThe year 1986 was an auspicious occasion, during that year Australia's first women deacons were ordained in the dioceses of Melbourne, Tasmania, Perth and North Queensland. "A son has been born to Naomi: the politics of begetting in the book of Ruth": An Afternoon with Meg Warner (following MOWatch Annual General Meeting)Come along and explore how the story of Ruth challenged the mainstream ideologies of its time. This is a rare chance to engage actively with exciting new biblical scholarship, regardless of the extent of your knowledge of the Old Testament. You may like to bring your own Bible. This special talk will follow the Annual General Meeting of MOWatch. When: 10.30am for
AGM; 2-5pm for "an afternoon with Meg Warner" For more information
or to book, contact Kathleen on 9432 9774 or
katgazz@optusnet.com.au.
Download flyer
[pdf]. Vale Patricia BrennanMOWatch Incorporated mourns the loss of Patricia Brennan. Founding President of MOW (National) Inc. Patricia died on Sunday 6th March 2011. Patricia was a woman of great energy and breadth of vision. She imagined a different church and worked tirelessly towards it over a number of years. As prophet and our strong campaigner sister Patricia will be much missed by all who knew her. Our prayers for consolation and hope are with Rob and their family at this time. MOWatch will establish
a tribute and memory book. Please email messages for inclusion to
susan.sandford@bigpond.com.
Messages may also be posted to MOWatch President, PO Box 97, North
Bendigo, Vic., 3550. All messages will be compiled and presented to
Patricia's family. Public lecture by Rev Penny JonesRev Penny Jones, Rector of the Anglican parish of Woy Woy in the Diocese of Newcastle,
will be giving a free public lecture as part of the Sydney MOW 2010 lecture series. All welcome.
2.30pm at St Luke's Anglican Church Hall, 17 Burton Street, Concord. Street
parking is available and afternoon tea will be provided.
Download the flyer [in RTF format]. Photos from 2010 MOWatch Conference onlineHave a look at some great photos
from the 2010 Conference taken by MOWatch member Patricia Hayward on Facebook (you don't need to login to Facebook to see them). Public lecture by Dr Marion Maddox in SydneyDr Marion Maddox, author of God Under
Howard and Director of Macquarie University's Centre for Research on
Social Inclusion, will be giving a public lecture titled, "Where has all
the passion gone? Women in church and state" at 2.30pm on Saturday 19th
June at St Peter's Anglican Church Cremorne, 29 Waters Rd. Street
parking is available and afternoon tea will be provided. All welcome.
Download the flyer [in Word format]. Series of free lectures to be presented by Sydney MOW in 2010
The Sydney Movement for the Ordination of Women is presenting a series
of free lectures in 2010. Speakers will be Dr Marion Maddox, Rev Beth
Spence, and Rev Penny Jones.
Download the programme here [in Word format].
Dr Patricia Brennan's speech to the 2009 Sydney MOW Annual General Meeting available to download
Sydney MOW's outgoing convenor Dr Patricia Brennan gave a speech at the
2009 AGM detailing our history and calling us to return to the role of
prophets.
Download it here [in PDF].
Vale Alison Gent
ALISON GENT passed away 13 November 2009.
A woman of incredible faith and strength, who became a foundational member of the Movement for the Ordination of Women in Adelaide in 1984. We remember her dedication and pioneering efforts for the equality of women in the Church. With sincere admiration and love from the President and members of MOWatch (formerly the Movement for the Ordination of Women).
Updated membership forms - please note new ratesAt the MOWatch Inc Annual General Meeting held on 26 August 2008, at the MOWatch Conference in Perth, members agreed that the membership subscription for 2009/2010 be increased as follows: Full membership: $40.00
Download
an updated membership form here (includes MOWatch contact list) Exciting news regarding MOWatch membersA few exciting things
from the
Melbourne Anglican that are of interest to us:
Bp
Barbara Darling is to be Bishop of the Eastern Region in Melbourne; Morna
Sturrock, who is still a member of MOWatch, has
won the annual Dame
Phyllis Frost Award; and the lovely Sarah
Macneil, who spoke at our 2006 conference, is to be the
first woman Dean of St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide! MOWatching archives now onlineRecent editions of MOWatching, the
magazine of the national Movement for the Ordination of Women, are now
available to download in PDF form from the
archives.
The November 2008 edition has just been published -
click here to download. Vale Rev Barbara PaceWe heard the sad news yesterday that Barbara Pace died on 19 November. Barbara was involved in MOW from the early days, and remained a member right up until this year. She was ordained a deacon in Melbourne in 1986, ordained a Priest in Melbourne in 1992 and worked as an Hospital Chaplain. As a deacon Barbara was the first woman to sit in the House of Clergy in the General Synod in the 1980s. Edited to add:
Read an obituary by Dr Janet Scarfe Sydney Synod 2008It's that time again, and Rev Chris Albany's motion asking the Synod to "explore ways in which different views about women's ordination can be creatively lived out in the life and practice of the diocese" is on the business paper for 4.30pm Tuesday 14 October. MOW members will be there - contact Patricia on 0408 468 433 or Bronislava on 0413 668 916 if you'd like to meet up with us. I (Bronislava) also have a plan to
semi-"live blog" Synod as it goes along, if I can and where it helps
rather than hinders my sanity! Check
my blog for details,
but my views are in no way endorsed by Sydney MOW or MOWatch as a whole.
You can also check out the diocese's
official Synod website
for more info. The end of a "moratorium"The Committee of the Sydney Movement for the Ordination of Women is planning a prophetic event to mark its founding night that took place outside St Andrews Cathedral at 7:30pm on the 4th October, 1983, 25 years ago. There will be a meeting in Chapter House (St Andrews Cathedral, next to Sydney Town Hall) on Saturday, 4th October at 7:30pm, 2008 to celebrate the priesting of 633 Australian women and the consecration of two women bishops in dioceses outside of Sydney over the last sixteen years. Meanwhile, the Sydney Diocese has closed its heart and mind to the full range and resources of women's ministry. Join us on this historic occasion of
celebration. Thanks to all who attended and made possible a wonderful conferenceThanks to the conference organising
committee in Perth and to the supportive Perth diocese for a wonderful
2008 MOWatch conference! It was a great opportunity to be inspired by
our speakers - including Dr Esther Mombo, Dr Jenny Plane Te Paa, Revd
Canon Dr Jane Shaw, Rt Revd Kay Goldsworth and Ms Ann Skamp - and each
other. The conference
website will be kept online for the time being for reference
purposes. Esther Mombo to give the 2008 Barry Marshall Memorial LectureIt's becoming a bit of a tradition - that the keynote speaker of the MOWatch conference also gives that year's Barry Marshall Memorial Lecture.
People in Melbourne can hear Dr Esther Mombo give 'An African View on Anglicanism's current troubles' this Wednesday night. Details on the Trinity College website.
Jane Shaw's lecture from 2006 on 'Why we shouldn't be embarrassed to call ourselves Christians (but why we might be): a liberal manifesto' is also now available to download [pdf]. Conference updateEarly bird registration for the 2008
MOWatch Conference closes 25 July. The registration form is now
available to download
here.
See the conference page for more
details. Dr Muriel Porter to speak at Sydney MOW Annual General MeetingMelbourne Church historian Dr Muriel Porter will speak on The Road to Women Bishops in Australia at the AGM and Public Lecture organised by the Sydney branch of MOWatch. Dr Muriel Porter has been closely involved in the acceptance of women in the ordained Anglican ministry in Australia. All welcome! 2-4pm Saturday 5 July 2008 The agenda will include the AGM and
election of officers, future planning, and afternoon tea. Enquiries:
9949 4561 or 9719 9363. Conference flyer now available: download and register now!Click here to download the brochure for
the 2008 MOWatch conference, to be held in Perth from 25-28 August. The
theme of the conference is "Women of Faith in Action: Getting on With
it!" The conference will feature international speakers as well as
workshops and discussion groups. See the conference page for more
details. Vale Bishop Owen DowlingMOWatch is sad to hear that Bishop Owen Dowling, a great supporter of women's ordination, died last night. In the early
1990s, as Bishop in Canberra, he announced he would ordain the first women priests in Australia. The ceremony was to be held in February 1992 but was
delayed because of a court injuction attempting to block women's ordination. Bishop Dowling will be missed by us. Another female bishop!Great news - the second Australian woman bishop has just been announced.
Canon Barbara Darling, currently vicar of St James, Dandenong (Victoria), will be consecrated on May 31. Australia's first female Anglican bishop to be consecrated on 22 MayIn breaking
news, Kay Goldsworthy - who we were honoured to have speak at our
last AGM - is to be consecrated as Bishop at St Georges Cathedral, in
Perth, next month. Wonderful news! MOWatch congratulates Kay and hopes
she won't be the only female Australian Bishop for long. 2008 MOWatch AGM with guest speaker The Venerable Kay GoldsworthyThe Annual General Meeting of MOWatch Inc will be held on Saturday 9 February at St Luke's Anglican Church, 11 Stanmore Rd, Enmore, Sydney NSW, commencing at 12 noon with a light buffet luncheon. Limited parking is available in church grounds, and there also in nearby side streets and a public car park on Edgeware Rd. Agenda:
We hope to see you there! 2008 MOWatch Conference announced with keynote speaker Dr Esther MomboThe 2008 conference of the Movement for
the Ordination of Women, MOWatch,
will be held from 25-29 August at the Burswood-on-Swan, situated on the
banks of the Swan River, with easy access to Perth City. Click here or
on the link at the left to express your interest and get all the latest
news. After the success of last year's conference, where one highlight was the energy of the women from WA, I think we're all
looking forward to this one! 2007 General SynodSee pictures and read Judy Little's
report!
Women bishops now a possibility in the Australian Anglican Church!We received the news yesterday that the Appellate Tribunal has ruled that there is no legal barrier to women being Diocesan Bishops.
Have a look at the media release from the office of the Primate and today's article in the
Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney Synod, here we go againFrom Elaine Peterson (Sydney MOW Committee member): "The SMH report of the Sydney Anglican Synod (6th Sept. p.6- Fresh Offensive as Anglicans Fail on Conversions) missed the real reason why this "mission" will fail. A glance at the agenda will reveal a motion towards the end, put forward by two leading members of the diocese - a woman, seconded by a man - whose first clause is :- "Synod a.) affirms that the relationship of loving, sacrificial leadership of a husband and the intelligent, voluntary submission of a wife is the Biblical pattern of marriage and..." Five clauses follow, saying that this belief should not be used to justify domestic violence. On the principle that if a problem is being discussed, it already exists, the motion actually suggests that the Male Headship theory of Sydney diocese is in fact responsible for some domestic violence. Disapproving noise would be better replaced by a reconsideration of this strange doctrine. Whether this motion finally is discussed or whether it is amended by deleting the opening clause, and leaving the "motherhood"
statement of opposition to domestic violence, is not the point that Sydney Anglicans need to understand. While our church continues to teach that women are
subordinate souls, a more enlightened society, built on Christian values, will not flock to join us."
AGM of the Sydney branch of the Movement for the Ordination of Women and some news...
The Annual General Meeting of the Sydney branch was held today, and featured a talk from Val Webb, who is promoting her newest book about naming God.
Download Christine's Convenors' Report.
We also had an update about what's coming up in the life of the national movement. Firstly, there will be a few MOWatch people
attending General Synod in October as "observers", and we hope to have wall space for a display - if anyone is interested in volunteering to help out with this,
either for one day or longer, please let us know. We can also try and organise
accommodation for you. Secondly, plans are going well for the 2008 MOWatch
conference to be held in Perth. The venue has been selected, and the dates are sometime in August. Keep your ears to the ground for details! Also, 2006 conference
proceedings are to be published soon and will be sent to all financial members with a letter from Val. Would women bishops be allowed without a change to the constitution? Appellate tribunal hearing begins
A number of people are taking the push for women bishops to the next level by asking the Anglican Church of Australia's
Appellate Tribunal whether there are any constitutional barriers, and the hearings were this week (though the Tribunal is
expected to take several months before they make a decision). Amazingly, some claim that the word "person" in the
constitution means males only, at least when it comes to "who can be a bishop" (presumably not when it comes to the question
of "who is a member of the church"!). For more info see the
article in the Age or listen to an
interview with Muriel Porter on Radio National.
Sydney Movement for the Ordination of Women supports Keith Mascord's call for inclusive churchFollowing various events in the parish
of South Sydney, one brave Minister wrote an open letter to the Sydney
diocese basically saying that there needs to be more room for diversity.
The Sydney branch of MOW supports the points made in his letter - our
beliefs often run counter to the dominant theology here, which is
strongly opposed to women's ordination (to take just the most obvious
point of difference!)
Read a modified version of Keith Mascord's open letter to the diocese,
and keep visiting this site for updates as we hope to work with others
on this issue. Sydney Synod, the pressure is on
Thanks to
everyone who joined us at the opening of the 2006 Sydney Synod, where we
will be moving that women be allowed to be priests in this diocese, the
first time the issue has been on the agenda in 6 years. Peter Jensen's
speech demonstrated how women's ordination is somehow threatening to
"sexuality" (whose sexuality exactly?). Someone suggested that
to ensure sufficient time for debate, our motion be scheduled for 4.30pm
next Tuesday. We're looking forward to making our presence felt yet again,
so please join us and/or keep us in your prayers on the 24th! Back from Melbourne and ready for actionIn August a group from Sydney went to the MOWatch conference in Melbourne. It was a great chance for us to get to know
each other and the issues facing the Church at the moment. We returned from our conference with renewed energy, ready for
the upcoming Sydney Synod! |
Last updated 2018
Copyright (c) 2018
MOWatch members and friends are all delighted at the appointment of a third woman to be a bishop in the Anglican Church of Australia. Bp Stuart Robinson has announced that he will consecrate Archdeacon Genieve Blackwell as a bishop on 31st March 2012. Bishop-elect Genieve is to be the Assistant Bishop region of Wagga Wagga, North-West and South-West in the Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn. Genieve is currently Rector of Yass and Archdeacon of Goulburn Rural Ministries. In early 2012 she will move to Wagga Wagga and become Rector of Turvey Park and Archdeacon of Wagga Wagga.