Smith, the primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, said it’s “perplexing” that the leaders of the Diocese of the Southern Cross are departing, given the General Synod’s affirmation of traditional marriage and failure to recognize same-sex marriage. Yet members of the new diocese appeared to believe that did not go far enough in condemning same-sex marriage, saying a “majority of bishops” at the General Synod “were unable to uphold the Bible’s ancient teaching on marriage and sexual ethics.”
“My conviction is that the Anglican Church of Australia can find a way to stay together, graciously reflecting God’s great love, with our differences held sincerely,” the primate wrote. “This week’s announcement makes achieving that end more difficult but not impossible.”
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