Anglican Church votes to sell 100 properties

THE Anglican Church Synod has voted to sell 100 properties including churches in a history-making fundraising move being watched by the world.After giving in principle support to the Redress Fund Ordinace bill the synod, made up of clergy and laity, voted the sell the properties to provide redress to past victims of childhood abuse.

THE Anglican Church Synod has voted to sell 100 properties including churches in a history-making fundraising move being watched by the world.

After giving in-principle support to the Redress Fund Ordinance bill the Synod, made up of clergy and laity, voted to sell the properties to provide redress to past victims of childhood abuse.

The vote was passed after hours of passionate debate, which appeared to be split between those from rural and city parishes.

Almost all the properties proposed to be sold to raise the money needed are churches, rectories or halls in rural areas.

Registrar James Oakley said the Diocese had decided what properties were already surplus or were likely to become surplus to requirements as congregations continued to dwindle.

He told the Synod there was no other viable way to raise the money needed.

The church owns 14 commercial properties across Tasmania and has more than $34 million in shares, but the money-making properties have been quarantined by church authorities.

While rural parishes are set to lose their church buildings, city congregations are expected to meet a bill of $250,000 to fund their share of the $8 million needed to redress victims of childhood abuse.

The bills from victims are expected to start coming very soon after the July 1 start of the National redress Scheme.