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Melbourne's first woman bishop?
By Market-Place
March 12, 2008

Melbourne's Archbishop Philip Frieir ... denies speculation he'll be floating the name of a new assistant bishop this month.

Speculation is continuing about whether Melbourne could be Australia's first Anglican diocese to appoint a woman bishop.

Melbourne's Archbishop Phillip Frieir has denied he will bring a proposal for a new assistant bishop to this month's Melbourne diocesan council meeting on 27 March, but speculation has stepped up in the weeks before Australian Anglican bishops gather for their annual conference.

Under Melbourne's diocesan procedures for appointing new assistant bishops, the archbishop brings a ‘name' to the diocesan council seeking the council's agreement before details are announced.

Following the Appellate Tribunal's ruling that it's already legally possible to appoint women bishops in some dioceses, Melbourne's diocesan synod made the required legislative change last November.

The introduction of the first women bishops is set to be the key agenda item at next month's National Anglican Bishops Conference. Adelaide's Archbishop Jeff Driver is drafting procedures to introduce the change.

Melbourne's Archbishop Philip Frieir has been a keen supporter of moves to introduce the first women bishops, but says he has no immediate plans to make the first appointment.

"I am glad to be able to have women and men as people I can consider for Episcopal roles in the church," Archbishop Philip Frieir told Market-Place.

"No, I won't be bringing a name for a new Assistant Bishop on 27 March."