The Diocese of the Murray made history on 12 August 2023 when the Bishop, the Right Reverend Keith Dalby, ordained three women deacons to the priesthood: The Rev’d Carol Cornwall, the Rev’d Margaret (Margo) Holt and the Rev’d Alison Dutton.  They will be Assistant Curates in the parishes of the Southern Suburbs, Strathalbyn and The South Coast respectively.  The joy-filled service can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R6BHPBCtdA

The Bishop led the Diocesan Synod through an intense period of discernment, with the result that the decision to adopt the appropriate Canon to allow the priesting of women was passed 57-4 in June 2023.  A number of documents circulated by the Bishop as background resources can be found on his blog at https://murray.anglican.org/blog

There’s considerable coverage of the event on the Diocese of the Murray Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064907911596) and via Adelaide Anglicans (story and photos at https://adelaideguardian.com/2023/08/14/murray-diocese-welcomes-first-women-priests/). The ordination was also covered by The Melbourne Anglican (https://tma.melbourneanglican.org.au/2023/08/historical-first-as-women-priests-ordained-in-diocese-of-the-murray/).

MOW wishes Carol, Margo and Alison well in their ministry and laments that three Dioceses till refuse to ordain women priests—the Dioceses of Sydney, Armidale and the North-West.

(Image source: FaceBook)