Divisions in the flock
Worldwide strains in the Anglican Church have surfaced in the election of a new Melbourne archbishop, writes Jill Rowbotham
August 12, 2006

DUTY hangs heavily on Muriel Porter, probably the most powerful laywoman in the Anglican Church of Australia and chairwoman of the 18-member team charged with finding the next archbishop of Melbourne. Never again, she vows, as the board of nominators enters the home straight for the election of this crucial leader, a process that begins on Monday, when the names of the candidates will be announced.

This is the second time in six months the local church parliament, or synod, has met for the purpose. Last time three candidates were whittled to one, but the final contender could not attract the required two-thirds of the votes from clergy and two-thirds from the laity.

This is not the first time it has taken more than one attempt to elect an archbishop of Melbourne, but this time members of the factions that dominate Melbourne Anglicanism talk of a hardening of positions, which was not the case when they elected Peter Watson six years ago.
Melbourne divides into evangelicals, liberals and Anglo-Catholics, although Porter's view is that the latter two are both versions of Anglo-Catholic: conservative and liberal. the rest