Anglican Church urged not to rush and to postpone property sales

A PROMINENT Anglican parishioner is calling on the church not to rush its fire sale proposal but to sit down and talk with the community.

St John’s Church at Franklin is one of those on the sale list. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

A PROMINENT Anglican parishioner is calling on the church not to rush its fire sale proposal but to sit down and talk with the community.

Damon Thomas, a current Hobart City Alderman and member of the Save Our Community Soul group, said the church would “rip the heart out of Anglicanism in the state by rushing it”.

He called for a moratorium until April 30 before any sale is agreed and argued it would allow for the legal, moral and equitable claims to be determined.

This month Bishop Richard Condie said the Tasmanian Diocesan Council would make the final decisions about property sales in December.

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But Mr Thomas said extending the deadline would allow for clarity with the Burial and Cremation Act review and relieve the stress of angry parishioners.

Hobart City Council Alderman Damon Thomas. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“The church isn’t in a position to sell property at the present time,” he said.

“Until the legislation goes through there’s nothing the church can easily do. There’s no way possible the church could pass over the obligation to maintain the graveyards.”

Mr Thomas said there was no reason to put the communities under stress and everyone would “breathe a sigh of relief” if the Anglican synod waited until April to sell the churches.

Mr Thomas attended the Save Our Soul Community meeting at Campbell Town District High School on Sunday where more than 300 people expressed their anger at the way the church has proposed to sell properties.

In June the Anglican Diocesan Council voted to sell 108 properties, including 76 churches, to help fund a redress scheme for victims of childhood abuse.

The Save Our Community Soul group is seeking to challenge the legal right of the church to sell assets it says are owned by communities.

It’s understood since its formation just over two weeks ago there has been no discussions between the group and the diocese.

“This is not a time for the parties to avoid each other, this is time for meaningful dialogue,” Mr Thomas said.

“There could be a mediated outcome.”

He said no one at the meeting denied the need to fund the redress scheme but there was a solid case the community still owns the church. He said postponing the decision would also allow for much greater certainty and respect to the remains of those buried next to churches.

Bishop Condie said the church would manage the sale of properties in a controlled manner over the next two to three years.

“The Save Our Community Soul group is welcome to provide comment as part of the community feedback process and the Diocesan Council will consider their input,” he said.

“We have invited representatives from the group to meet with us soon, so that we can hear their concerns.”

The church recently extended the deadline to October 1 for local groups to respond to the planned sales.