(a) Do the congregations that are currently being planted by certain recognised Sydney Anglican Churches outside their parish boundaries have any official status under existing Anglican legislation? In particular, do Diocesan services (such as public liability insurance, for example) cover these church plants?

(b) Do the congregations that are currently being planted by certain recognised Sydney Anglican Churches outside their parish boundaries automatically come under the existing accountability structures of the Diocese, namely the authority of the Bishop of the region in which that congregation is being planted?

(c) If either, or both, of the above questions are answered in the affirmative, then is it a legal imperative that, before any recognised Sydney Anglican Church seeks to plant a congregation outside its parish boundaries, it divulges its intentions to, and enters into full consultation with, the Bishop of that region?

To which the President replied -

I am advised the answers are as follows -

(a) In answering this question, a distinction is drawn between congregations "planted" within the Diocese of Sydney and those "planted" outside the Diocese.

Generally speaking, "congregations" have no official status under the ordinances of the Diocese. Churches have status for some purposes, and parishes have status for other purposes. However, if a "congregation" meeting in a parish is genuinely part of the activities of another parish in the Diocese and is controlled by that second parish, it can be covered by Diocesan insurances. However, care would need to be taken to consult with the Diocesan Insurance Officer to obtain confirmation of cover.

So far as is known, congregations "planted" to date outside the Diocese have no official status under the ordinances of the Church in this Diocese or in the diocese in which they are situated. In any event it is believed such congregations "planted" to date consider themselves to be "independent" and not part of the Anglican Church of Australia. Diocesan insurances do not apply to these congregations.

(b) This question seeks a legal opinion, and so is strictly out of order. A licensed member of the clergy or authorised lay person who leads a congregation is subject to the authority of the Archbishop in accordance with the rules of the church. If the congregation uses church trust property then the rules relating to church trust property will also apply.

(c) This question also seeks a legal opinion and so is strictly out of order. However, consistent with some of the proposals in the bill for the Recognised Churches Ordinance 2000 it is my strong desire that such matters be discussed with the regional bishop before any steps are taken.