Diocesan Doctrine Commission

         

        The Diocesan Doctrine Commission prepares reports on important theological issues confronting the Diocese. 

        A report is initiated when the Archbishop, Synod or Standing Committee requests a theologically-informed consideration of a particular matter. Once completed, the report is presented to the requesting body, and is usually then published on the Commission's website.

        A report requested by the Synod will first be presented to the Standing Committee for discussion and response, before being presented to Synod. A requesting body may ask that further work be done, or potentially reject a report, but the requesting body will not be invited to amend a report.

        Once a report has been received by the requesting body, it will be made publicly available unless otherwise requested. A note will be added to the published report, commenting on its reception and status.

         

        Constitution and Current Membership

        The Doctrine Commission was constituted by the Archbishop as a result of a request from Synod in 1981 and consists of ten members appointed by the Archbishop every three years in consultation with the Standing Committee. The Terms of Reference were updated following a further request from Synod in 2023.

        Members retire at the first meeting of the Standing Committee following the first ordinary session of the Synod, and are eligible for re-appointment. At the first meeting of the Standing Committee after the first ordinary session of the Synod, the Archbishop recommends to the Standing Committee names of persons for appointment to the Commission. A Chair is appointed by the Archbishop from among the members of the Commission.

        Current members of the Doctrine Commission are:

        The Rev Dr Mark Thompson (Chair)
        The Rev Dr Andrew Leslie
        The Rev Dr Edward Loane
        The Rev Dr Gavin Perkins
        The Rev Dr Willis Salier



          The Rev Dr Andrew Shead
          The Rev Dr Robert Smith
          Bishop Michael Stead
        The Rev Dr Danielle Treweek


        Reports by Diocesan Doctrine Commission

        Reports prepared by the Diocesan Doctrine Commission may be viewed here.
         

        Alternatively, they are shown below by year of publication.

        2024

         

        2023

        2022  

        The Anglican Communion and the Anglican Church of Australia (ACA)

         

        A Theological Reflection on the Parish System

        The Doctrine of Concupiscence and its Relevance to the Experience of Same-Sex Attraction  

        The Relationship of Church and State and Religious Freedom

         

             

        2021

         

        2020

         

        2019

         

        2018

         

        A Theology of Baptism: Addressing the Significance of Baptism in Water

        A Theological Framework for Reconciliation, with special reference to the Indigenous Peoples of Australia 

        The Implications of Domestic Abuse for Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage

        Reading the Books of Homilies Today

        The Unchanging Heart of Parochial Incumbency

        On the Need of Children for a Mother and a Father

         

        Worship and Prayer in the Christian Assembly

         

        The Use and Misuse of Scripture with Regard to Domestic Abuse

         

          Faith and Doctrine in the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia   An Evangelical Episcopate / Purpose and Nature of Episcopal Leadership (6/15)

         

        2017

         

        2014

         

        2010

         

        2008

         

        Catholicity and Communion

         

         

        Human Sexuality and the 'Same Sex MarriageDebate

         

        36/07 Penal substitutionary atonement

         

         

        35/07 A Theology of Christian Assembly

        A Theology of Gender And Gender Identity

         

        7/14 Fellowship meals and the proclamation of Christ's death

         

         

         

         

        Working paper for the Report concerning Fellowship meals and the proclamation of Christ's death

         

         

         

         

        2007

         

        2006

         

        2005

         

        2000

         

        23/05 Anglican and Roman Catholic International Commission report 'Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ'

         

         

        30/05 Administration of Confirmation by Presbyters

         

        14/00 Administration of Confirmation by Presbyters

         

         

        Restricted licensing of women priests and theological objections to the ordination of women to the priesthood

         

        Archbishop Rowan Williams' Larkin-Stuart Lecture 'The Bible Today: Reading & Hearing'

         

         

         

        Review of Authority in the Church lll, The Gift of Authority

         

         

        1999

         

        1998

         

        1996

         

        1995

         

        The Doctrine of the Trinity and its bearing on the relationship of men and women

         

         

        Lay and Diaconal Administration of the Lord's Supper

         

         

        45/95 A Prayer Book for Australia

         

         

        Lay and Diaconal Administration of the Lord's Supper

         

        The Value of Work

         

         

         

         

        1994

         

        1993

         

        1990

         

        1988

         

        23/93 Admission of Children to Holy Communion

         

         

        Holy Baptism with the Laying on of Hands 1990

         

         

        34/87 Nature of functions of the Three-fold Orders of Ministry

         

         

        8/87 The Ministry of Women

         

         

        Diaconal Presidency at the Lord's Supper

         

           
         

        Lay Presidency at the Lord's Supper

         

           

         

        1987

         

        1984

         

        1983

         

         

        Anglican Diocese of Sydney on "Towards a Theology of Inter-Faith Dialogue"

         

        21/82 The Remarriage of Divorced Persons

         

         

        11/81 "Towards a Theology of Ordination"

         

         

        Ordination of Women to the Diaconate

             

        Contact

        All correspondence for the Doctrine Commission should be sent to the Secretary: 

        The Rev Dr Rob Smith

        Secretary, Diocesan Doctrine Commission
         

        Email: rsmith@smbc.edu.au