Julia Baird published an article in the Sydney Morning Herald on 30 November 2012 in which she marked 20 years of women priests in the Australian Anglican church. In it she argued that “two thousand years ago, the Christian church was radical in a culture of patriarchy. Now, in Sydney, it is a reactionary in a culture of equality.” Her piece documented a motion at Sydney Synod by Professor Bernard Stewart and the Reverend Philip Bradford to note the 20th anniversary of women’s ordination to the priesthood – a motion that was amended by Synod to erase any mention of ordination and simply give thanks for women’s ministry.

Julia also noted the (then) recently published book, Preachers, Prophets and Heretics: Anglican Women’s Ministry, edited by Elaine Lindsay and Janet Scarfe. This is a collection of essays by many of the key players in the ordination debate in Australia, including Keith Mason, Keith Rayner, Peter Carnley, Dorothy Lee, Muriel Porter, David Hilliard, Janet Nelson and Peta Sherlock. The book is available electronically via retailers such as Apple, Kobo and Amazon Kindle.

Julia’s article can be read at https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/going-backwards-into-the-future-20121130-2am0e.html