Bishop's new clothes
Christopher Bantick
December 27, 2006

The installation of a new archbishop is a significant moment in Melbourne Anglican Church life.This year it was a difficult choice. One round of candidates was rejected before former Northern Territory bishop Philip Freier was elected.

Dr Freier, as Archbishop of Melbourne, is set for a challenging time.

It has not begun well. In his inaugural sermon on his investiture at St Paul's Cathedral, Dr Freier spoke of the disparity between the haves and the have-nots.

Considering the "best efforts" of those who have gone before him, Dr Freier noted that not much had changed.

"But even these best efforts have arguably left the suffering of the powerless in the world in much the same misery that they have known," he said.

There is an inescapable irony here. St Paul's Cathedral, historically a citadel to serving others, would appear to ignore the poor clustered around its steps each day. the rest