Presbyterian Church bars women from senior roles in NSW and ACT

The Presbyterian Church in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory has voted to bar women from senior leadership roles, a decision that has drawn disappointment and concern from some members.

“

There has been a lot of discussion about what roles the few women, who have official roles left in the church, what can they have and it was all men debating what women are allowed to do.

During the church's annual general assembly in Sydney, a motion to exclude women from elder positions passed with 136 votes in favor and 61 against. Approximately 90 percent of the assembly attendees were men. This vote effectively reverses a policy that had allowed women to serve as elders since the 1960s, with about 10 percent of current elders being women.

Sonia Thew, a long-standing parishioner, described the outcome as "disappointing but not surprising." She noted that the debate largely involved men deciding on women's roles within the church. "They ask questions like 'Where is their place as practising Christians to have significance in the church?' in something that is very important to them," Thew said about her daughters, adding, "I think this diminishes the church. I think men and women are best working together to serve God's people."

“

They ask questions like 'Where is their place as practising Christians to have significance in the church?' in something that is very important to them.

Reverend John McClean, vice-principal at Christ College, explained the decision stemmed from interpretations of biblical passages regarding leadership. He acknowledged the complexity of the issue, stating it came down to "how we follow Jesus faithfully, that is in terms of what does the Bible say." He noted that "there are passages in the Bible that speak about men taking responsible servant leadership in congregations."

“

I am disappointed but not surprised this has happened. I think this diminishes the church. I think men and women are best working together to serve God's people.

Deaconess Sylvia Siu, the women's ministry facilitator, recognized the decision as the result of a "long thought-out, painful and hard process." While she accepted the outcome, she acknowledged the divided response within the church. "Some women have been grateful for the decision; they think it reflects what the church understands. But there have been a number of women who have been quite distressed," she stated.

“

It was the reversal of a decision made a long time ago. The discussion was really all about how we follow Jesus faithfully, that is in terms of what does the Bible say.