In September 2007 a majority of the Appellate Tribunal of the Anglican Church of Australia decided nothing in the church's constitution prevented a diocese from consecrating women priests as bishops. The appointment of women as bishops is still contested in a few parts of the Anglican Church in Australia and is discussed in both the religious and mainstream press.
The Anglican Diocese of Sydney refuses to recognise women as priests or bishops and will only ordain women as deacons. Metropolitans usually consecrate bishops. The metropolitan of the province and state of New South Wales is also the Archbishop of Sydney. The Anglican diocese of Canberra and Goulburn, the Anglican diocese of Grafton and the Anglican diocese of Newcastle are located within the province of New South Wales. Three consecutive Archbishops of Sydney, who are also Metropolitans of New South Wales, formally authorised the consecration of six women bishops within those dioceses, but would not participate in the ceremonies and deputised other bishops to conduct the consecrations: the Bishop of Newcastle for three women in Canberra and Goulburn, one woman in Newcastle and one in Grafton, and the Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn for the first female Bishop of Grafton.
These women have been consecrated and installed as bishops in the Anglican Church of Australia. Each bishop's biographical article is linked from her name when one has been written.The Anglican Church of Australia. 2021. “Directory.” NameDate first consecrated bishopOffice, Diocese, DatesKay Goldsworthy22 May 2008Assistant Bishop, Perth (2008–2015); Bishop, Gippsland (2015–2017); Archbishop, Perth ()Barbara Darling31 May 2008Bishop for Diocesan Ministries, Melbourne (2008–2009); Bishop of the Eastern Region, Melbourne (2009–2014)Genieve Blackwell31 March 2012Regional Assistant Bishop, Wagga Wagga, Canberra and Goulburn (2012–2015); Assistant Bishop Marmingatha Episcopate, Melbourne ()Alison Taylor6 April 2013Bishop, Southern Region, Brisbane (2013–2018)Sarah Macneil1 March 2014Bishop, Grafton (2014–2018)Kate Wilmot6 August 2015Assistant Bishop, South Area of Episcopal Oversight, Perth ()Sonia Roulston10 May 2018Assistant Bishop, Inland Episcopate, Newcastle ()Kate Prowd6 October 2018Assistant Bishop, Melbourne ()Denise Ferguson21 July 2019Assistant Bishop, Adelaide (2019-2024)Carol Wagner22 February 2020Assistant Bishop, Canberra and Goulburn (2020–2024)Sarah Plowman 21 June 2024 Assistant Bishop and Bishop for the Northern Region, Brisbane ()Sophie Relf-Christopher15 August 2024Assistant Bishop, Adelaide ()Vanessa Bennett Short, Mark "Pastoral Letter: Appointment of New Assistant Bishop", The Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. Read aloud in churches Sunday 6 May 2024, sent to all churches and ministry units.24 August 2024 Assistant Bishop, Canberra and Goulburn ()Tiffany Sparks12 March 2026Assistant Bishop, Grafton (since 2026)
References
Further reading Fry, Alex D. J. 2024. Gender Inequality in the Ordained Ministry of the Church of England: Examining Conservative Male Clergy Responses to Women Priests and Bishops. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. St Mark's National Theological Centre (Australia). 2014. Taking Stock: The Joy and Challenge of Ordained Women in the Anglican Church of Australia. Canberra: St. Mark's National Theological Centre. Smith, Christine A. 2013. Beyond the Stained Glass Ceiling: Equipping & Encouraging Female Pastors. 1st ed. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press. Lindsay, Elaine, and Janet Scarfe. 2012. Preachers, Prophets and Heretics: Anglican Women’s Ministry. Sydney: UNSW Press. Porter, Muriel. 2008. Women in Purple: Women Bishops in Australia. Mulgrave, Vic.: John Garratt Publishing.
See also List of the first women ordained as priests in the Anglican Church of Australia in 1992 List of female Anglican bishops Ordination of women in the Anglican Communion