Explanatory Statement

Introduction

1. The Regions (Transitional Provisions and Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 1995 (the "Ordinance") provided transitional provisions for the implementation of regionalisation and made consequential amendments to a number of ordinances. The Ordinance is printed on pages 545 to 555 inclusive of the 1996 Yearbook.

2. Under clause 9 of the Ordinance, the following ordinances are repealed with effect from 1 January 2000 -

St John's Provisional Cathedral Parramatta Ordinance 1969
St Michael's Provisional Cathedral Wollongong Ordinance 1969.

3. The effect of clause 9 is that St John's Parramatta and St Michael's Wollongong will cease to be Provisional Cathedrals on 1 January 2000.

Purpose of the Bill

4. The bill is promoted by 6 members of the Synod under Standing Order 64(3). Its purpose is to extend from 1 January 2000 to 1 January 2005 the date upon which the ordinances referred to in 2. are repealed. If the bill is passed the status of St John's Parramatta and St Michael's Wollongong as provisional cathedrals will be maintained until 1 January 2005.

5. In its report on Regionalism (published on pages 532 to 539 inclusive of the 1996 Yearbook), the Standing Committee recognised that the effectiveness of regionalisation would be determined through time and experimentation. The Standing Committee said no structure adopted should be permanent and a review should be made in the year 2005, or earlier if circumstances require.

6. The extension of the review date proposed by the bill would give the Synod time to evaluate the effectiveness of the present arrangements and the new Archbishop time to determine his mind on the shape of future regionalisation.

7. Were the Synod and Archbishop to decide that regionalisation should continue in its present form, then the future status of St John's Provisional Cathedral Parramatta and St Michael's Provisional Cathedral Wollongong will need to be decided. Both Provisional Cathedral Chapters have foreshadowed that they would present ordinances to change the status of their respective Provisional Cathedrals to Regional Cathedrals.

8. St John's Parramatta and St Michael's Wollongong are identified by the people of their region as the provisional cathedral of the region. They provide a focus for Anglican Ministry in the region and there is a desire to maintain the present status and identity of each church its city and region. Until the structure of regionalisation has been finally determined the promoters consider that St John's and St Michael's should retain the status of Provisional Cathedrals.

For an on behalf of the Promoters

PETER KEMP
IAN COX
14 August 1998