Australia's Anglican Church has split, with a conservative group of bishops opposed to same-sex marriage forming a breakaway diocese — but progressives argue they are "entirely faithful to scripture".
Described as an "Anglican lifeboat for faithful Christians", the newly formed Diocese of the Southern Cross was announced at the Global Anglican Future Conference in Canberra over the weekend.
Bishop of Tasmania and conference chair Richard Condie said decisions made at a recent Synod of church leaders "opens the way to blessings for same-sex marriages".
The Right Reverend Dr Condie said: "Those of us who hold to scriptural teaching believe that that's not what the Bible teaches about marriage".
"Marriage is between a man and a woman, as The Bible teaches," Bishop Condie said.
"We have found that adoption of that new teaching quite difficult."
Bishop Condie said the new diocese would be a "safe place for Anglicans" who "can no longer sit under the authority of their bishop".
He said the new diocese would also address concerns about "the lowering of standards, particularly in sexual ethics for leaders in the Anglican Church".
Bishop Condie is referring to church leaders who are in same-sex relationships.
He said the new church would welcome women and divorced people as leaders "as long as the circumstances of that are understood and people are repentant".
But it is not clear if women could be ordained.
"It's a little early to tell exactly what the diocese will decide to do, but we want to welcome women into the life of the church," Bishop Condie said.
New diocese to be led by former Sydney archbishop
The new group will be led by retired Sydney archbishop Glenn Davies, who described the formation of the new diocese as a "sad day".
"I love the Anglican Church of Australia," Bishop Davies said.
"The revisionist teaching of leaders around certain parts of the country has forced this situation."
The diocese's first church service was held at an RSL club at Beenleigh in Logan, Queensland.
"I have no doubt that many others will join," Bishop Davies said.
He said church assets would remain with the Anglican Church.
"Unless the diocese wishes to sell the property, which is a very generous thing and that may be the case, but we shall see.
"So this will be a sacrificial move on behalf of clergy, lay people and parishioners who recognise it's actually more important to follow Jesus and his teachings than to stick with property."
Bishop Davies said the new congregations would have to meet at community halls and other venues.
He said similar splits within the Anglican Church had occurred around the world.
Bishop Davies said if the church were to "repent and change their ways, we wouldn't need the Diocese of the Cross".
Progressives say they're 'entirely faithful to scripture'
But progressive Anglicans, including theologian Matthew Anstey, have disputed claims same-sex marriage was not in line with teachings.
"We believe we're being entirely faithful to scripture and to God and that our faith is genuine and authentic," Associate Professor Anstey said.
"We also reject the claim that you are able to make a judgement about our faith.
"We are also wanting to be clear, the form of Anglicanism we believe in passionately is one that is comprehensive, inclusive, affirming, open-hearted, generous and open to dialogue and conversation with all people of all faiths, or no faith … that's not new."
He said the move left many questions unanswered: it is not clear how much of a breakaway movement it will cause.
"One of the questions is will we one day become like the USA where there are two separate Anglican churches? And nobody knows the answer to that," he said.
"The rhetoric being used by the other side, the conservative side, would make one think that's certainly an option that might lie before us."
Anglican Church 'used to living with disagreements'
Dr Renae Barker, an expert in law and religion at the University of Western Australia, said the new diocese had emerged from division around human sexuality.
"This is a debate which is going on worldwide," she said, adding the United States, Canada and New Zealand had gone down a similar path.
"Where a separate legal entity … has been set up as a separate Anglican identity for those who are concerned about the direction the church is taking in matters of human sexuality."
She said it was not the first time a separate Anglican church organisation had been set up in Australia.
"In the 1990s, the Australian Anglican Church began ordaining women.
"Back then, there was quite a lot of dissent and distress about that decision and a separate legal entity, a separate church was set up for Anglicans who could not follow the rest of the church down that pathway."
Dr Barker said it was hard to tell how big and how much support the new diocese would have.
"The Anglican Church is used to living with disagreements," she said.
"Many dioceses and parishes and clergy and lay people who disagree with the ordination of women remained in the church."
