With regard to item 7.2 about the Remarriage of Divorced Persons, referred to on page 29 of the Standing Committee's Report -

(a) Is there currently a need for legislation to be updated in relation to the remarriage of divorced persons?

(b) Is this a priority?

(c) What advice was received by the Standing Committee about the first appointed committee's report?

(d) Who is on the new committee?

(e) What are the points of reference to that committee and what is the status of the first referred to report?

(f) Are any of the original committee members on the new committee and were some or all of them considered for appointment?

To which the President replied -

I am advised the answers are as follows -

(a) The current law of the Church in the Diocese of Sydney, as advised by the Chancellor, is that a member of the clergy may conduct the marriage of a divorced person (whose spouse is living) only where the former marriage is dissolved due to the infidelity of the other partner, and where the permission of the Archbishop or his surrogate has been given.

Following much debate in the Diocese, and a Doctrine Commission report of 1984, in 1985 legislation was passed by the Synod about the remarriage of divorced persons, but it lapsed by reason of the want of archiepiscopal assent. A bill was subsequently promoted in 1986, but was deferred and referred to a committee for review. Nothing then happened.

In 1994 the Standing Committee respectfully requested that I appoint a committee to consider the issue. A committee was subsequently appointed, and it reported to the Standing Committee in May 1999. Its report recommends certain legislation about the matter.

While there are differing views, the brief history recounted above indicates a widely held view that legislation to change the current law about the remarriage of divorced persons is required.

(b) The brief history I have recounted suggests that the matter is not one of high priority. The matter is difficult and there are different views.

(c) When the report was discussed by the Standing Committee, the Standing Committee also received a letter from a member of the Standing Committee expressing differences of opinion about aspects of the committee's recommendations. Specifically, the view was expressed that differences in an understanding of the report of the Doctrine Commission of 1984 needed to be resolved.

(d) The Rev Drs Canon Peter Jensen and Glenn Davies (with power to co-opt).

(e) The committee has been asked to reflect further on the matter and report in due course.

(f) Yes, the Rev Dr Glenn Davies is a member of the new committee. As has been noted, the committee has power to co-opt