(Credit to Paul Osborne. "Focus". Brisbane)The General Synod of the Australian Anglican Church this week unreservedly apologised to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for the part the Anglican Church of Australia played in the hurt and trauma caused by the unjustified removal of children from their families.
24 February 1998
Muriel Porter, the Melbourne Anglican)A number of parishes in the former Diocese of Carpentaria have seceded from the Anglican Church following a long-running dispute over the appointment of a Torres Strait Islander Bishop.
23 February 1998
(CT) The Archbishop of Papua New Guinea the Most Revd James Ayong, thanks all who have given to the PNG Church Partnership drought appeal which has so far realised more than £10,000 from the UK, with further support from Australia.
18 February 1998
Lay and diaconal presidency is in agreement with the Australian Anglican Church's Constitution, says the Appellate Tribunal, the Church's highest court. But, it goes on, a canon of General Synod is required to authorise the change: a diocesan ordinance is not enough. The tribunal's finding, announced on 11 January after two years' deliberations, took many in the Anglican Church of Australia by surprise.
23 January 1998
The national Anglican paper in Australia, Church Scene, ceased publication at Christmas after 25 years of publication. The weekly paper provided news and comment on the very diverse Anglican dioceses in Australia and preserved its editorial independence. It had to close because of financial difficulties.
18 January 1998
Up to 695,000 people are now at severe risk of starvation or serious illness, PNG's senior drought coordinator has warned.
23 December 1997
The Anglican Church in three dioceses has been on the alert after bushfires across New South Wales last week. Archbishop Harry Goodhew, Metropolitan of NSW, has reactivated his bushfire relief disaster fund.
22 December 1997
The worst drought in living memory has inflicted severe damage on the fragile economy of Papua New Guinea. The Anglican Church is appealing for financial support to help the country meet the crisis.
05 December 1997
Church leaders in Australia, criticising the Federal Government's plans to limit Aboriginal land-rights in rural areas, have sparked a national debate about the role of Churches in politics.
05 December 1997
Sydney Diocesan Synod has rejected a move to suspend any debate on women priests until at least the year 2002. Synod members will meet as a conference to discuss the role of women, probably in March next year.
07 November 1997