19. Ms Caroline Bowyer asked -

As a new comer to Synod last year, I was surprised to hear, and at a loss to understand, the constant reference to "Bible-based" churches. In his Presidential address yesterday the Archbishop went some way towards explaining the meaning of this term, but I still have difficulty in understanding exactly why it is used. Could the Archbishop, therefore, clarify the matter by answering the following -

(a) Is the term "Bible-based" used to distinguish some churches in the Diocese from others?

(b) If so, is the term "Bible-based" used to distinguish churches, which hold to one particular interpretation of Scripture, namely that, which is more prevalent in this Diocese, from those churches, which hold to a different interpretation of Scripture?

(c) Does the Archbishop believe that there are any churches in the Diocese, which are not "Bible-based"? If so, how many such churches could he identify?

To which the President replied -

This question is out of order under business rule 6.3 for several reasons, including that it contains assertions and expresses an opinion.

Nevertheless I make the following comments.

In my 2002 Presidential Address I stated in relation to the term "bible-based" -

"I have in mind in particular the churches which owe their theological structure to the Reformation, and who thus see their fundamental authority in the 'great scripture' alone of the Reformation. They give scripture the priority over the traditions of the church and the findings of human experience whether rationalistic or spiritualising. From the scriptures they preach a gospel that is shaped by salvation through Christ alone, by faith alone, through grace alone, to the glory of God alone. This is the Reformation understanding of the gospel."

A church which upholds the Ruling Principles of the Anglican Church of Australia as currently expressed in the Thirty Nine Articles and the Book of Common Prayer is clearly a bible-based church. It is therefore my hope and expectation that all churches in this diocese whether or not they may wish to be identified as "evangelical", would nevertheless aim to be bible-based as they uphold these traditional Anglican values.