Rebel Tasmanian Anglican Bishop and Southern Cross breakaway backer Richard Condie soothes “confused” flock, warns ministers on gay marriage

The Tasmanian Anglican Bishop backing an anti-gay marriage breakaway has dismissed “widespread” fears the state diocese is now its defacto branch, but warned ministers would be punished for blessing gay unions.

Ron Sonners, church warden at Hamilton, says there is “widespread concerns and confusion” at Bishop Condie’s involvement with the breakaway Southern Cross diocese. Picture: Chris Kidd

The Tasmanian Anglican bishop backing an anti-gay-marriage breakaway has dismissed “widespread” fears the state diocese is now its de facto branch, but warned ministers would be punished for blessing gay unions.

Richard Condie’s support for the new Brisbane-based Southern Cross diocese has, according to some parishioners and church ­officials, created “widespread concerns and confusion” within the Tasmanian diocese.

“The bishop has come out and said ‘while I’m a very senior ­leader in this Southern Cross, my see (diocese) will remain the Anglican Church of Australia’. How does he reconcile that position?” said Ron Sonners, Hamilton parish church warden.

“Tell us what the long-term plan is ... It beggars belief that we are being asked to just accept these things without questioning, when our whole practice of our faith depends on it.

“I think it’s incumbent upon him to come out and properly ­explain away these concerns and confusion, which are widespread throughout the diocese.”

Dr Condie said it was “not true” his diocese had become a ­de facto branch of Southern Cross, despite his strong association with and support for it, and the presence of Tasmanian minister Susan Willis on its board.

Tasmanian Anglican Bishop Richard Condie. Picture: Supplied

“We are part of the Anglican Church of Australia – the diocese of the Southern Cross is one congregation in suburban Brisbane,” Dr Condie said. “I am not a member of the diocese of the Southern Cross, but support it as a pastoral measure for those who because of their consciences can no longer remain in the Anglican Church of Australia.

“Tasmanians are not joining the diocese of the Southern Cross. Susan Willis (being) … on the board … is not a conflict, as clergy are able to serve on other ecumenical bodies with similar aims to the Anglican Church.”

Dr Condie said that at its 2021 synod the diocese passed a resolution banning the blessing of same-sex marriages and priests not following church regulations “would be subject to discipline”.

Parishioners and ministers were “free to speak their minds”, but he expected “all ministers to act with respect and charity in their communications”.

He said there had been no ­diocesan support for or financial contribution to Southern Cross “and there are no plans to do this”.

Mr Sonners said there was concern proceeds from recent church sales could be “siphoned” to Southern Cross or the conservative, anti-gay-marriage ­Global Anglican Futures Conference that established the breakaway. Dr Condie is GAFCON chair and this month announced the creation of Southern Cross.

GAFCON says the new diocese is a response to Anglican bishops failing to “uphold the Bible’s ancient teaching on marriage and sexual ethics”.

Equality Tasmania president Rodney Croome said any flow of funds from the state diocese to Southern Cross would be ­“strongly opposed”, due to the group’s “clear opposition to LGBTIQ equality” and “links to bishops in other countries who campaign against the decriminalisation of homosexuality”.

“It is essential for the Tasmanian Anglican diocese to be clear and transparent about any ­resources it plans to put into the new diocese,” Mr Croome said.

Dr Condie, appointed bishop in 2016, was already unpopular in some parishes over his sell-off of churches and what some describe as an erosion of “high Anglican” services. However, he also retains much support.