Anglican Church reveals how it will fund the extra millions of dollars under the national redress scheme

The Anglican Church is millions of dollars short of its national redress scheme funding commitments, and the Bishop reveals how the church intends to pay for the increased liability.

THE Anglican Church has ruled out selling more properties and instead will dip into its investments to find an extra $15m needed to meet its commitments under the national redress scheme and civil action for historic sexual abuse survivors.

The decision by the Anglican Synod, which met at Kingston on Saturday, will hit funds now used by the church for its chaplaincy work in prisons and hospitals, youth ministries, and local parishes.

However, it is not expected to lead to any job losses with more church volunteers expected to fill the gaps.

Bishop of Tasmania Richard Condie said the church’s liability to about 165 sex abuse survivors had more than doubled from about $10m to $23m.

“Redirecting these funds to the redress scheme will have an impact on our ability to do ministry across Tasmania, but we have made this choice because we are deeply committed to justice for survivors of abuse,” Dr Condie said.

“We’re not anticipating that anyone will lose their job and we think we can support the ministry, particularly with chaplaincy in hospitals and prisons, by supporting that at the local parish level.

“At this stage we don’t envisage selling any more properties to fund redress.”

CHURCH SELL-OFF CONTINUES TO FUND REDRESS SCHEME

Anglican Bishop of Tasmania Richard Condie. Picture: Eddie Safarik

Beyond Abuse founder Steve Fisher, who is a survivor of sexual abuse by an Anglican priest, hailed the church’s commitment to survivors.

“Credit where credit is due, the church is doing everything it can to find this money,” Mr Fisher said.

“Since the law was changed and people can take civil action, it has had to find more money.

“I would encourage anybody to go through the litigation process if they have the strength to do it.”

Mr Fisher said in his own case the church had been fair and reasonable.

“Nothing will ever take away the pain, but it can help a bit.”

Beyond Abuse founder Steve Fisher. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

In 2018, the church put 73 of its properties on the market to fund the redress scheme. It has sold about 50 properties.

Dr Condie conceded local communities still found the sale of churches difficult.

“We’re very sad about that and it was a difficult decision for us to make,” he said.

“We’ve been working really hard to try to rebuild trust in these communities.”

He implored anyone who had suffered abuse in the Anglican Church to come forward.

“I think that what we’re trying to do is be transparent and own up to what happened in our churches,” he said.

“We continue to apologise to people for the hurt that they experienced at the hands of people who they should have been able to trust and I think that transparency we hope will people have confidence in the church.”

Labor MP Jen Butler. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Labor member for Lyons Jen Butler said it was a positive step that the church did not plan more sales.

“That created huge anxiety across Tasmania and caused particular hardship in regional areas,” Ms Butler said.

“I hope they’ve learned their lesson from that approach.”

To report abuse, call 1800 017 286 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm).