Monday, November 24, 2008

AUSTRALIA: Sydney diocese votes for lay and diaconal presidency -- again

http://www.episcopal-life.org/81808_101952_ENG_HTM.htm

[Episcopal Life Online] 24 Nov 2008--he General Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia, has voted "overwhelmingly" in favor of lay and diaconal presidency, which means that lay people and deacons could be permitted to administer and consecrate the sacraments at Holy Communion -- a role that is usually limited to priests.

In the motion, the synod affirmed "its conviction that lay and diaconal administration of the Lord's Supper is consistent with the teaching of Scripture, and that the Lord's Supper in this diocese may be administered by persons other than presbyters..."

The Sydney synod has been debating lay presidency since 1977 and has passed several motions in favor of the practice, some of which have been ruled unconstitutional with the national church or vetoed by the archbishop of the diocese.

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