Primate and Bishops

The Primate is the President of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia. In between Synods, he is also President of the Standing Committee of the General Synod which is elected by the General Synod to take responsibility for the affairs of the General Synod in between General Synod sessions.

The current Primate is the Archbishop of Adelaide, The Most Reverend Geoffrey Smith.  His initial six year term commenced on 7 April 2020.

The Primate is chosen by a Board of Electors, comprising diocesan bishops and representative clergy and laity.

Responsibility for each of Australia’s 23 dioceses rests with the bishops and archbishops appointed to those roles. The Primate may offer support and guidance to other bishops and dioceses primarily at their invitation. The Primate has no legal power to compel other bishops or dioceses to act.

The Primate also has responsibilities internationally. Since 1978, the Anglican primates have met regularly for an Anglican Communion Primates’ Meeting at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is regarded as the leader of the Anglican Primates. While the gathering has no legal jurisdiction, it is one of the instruments of unity among the autonomous provinces of the Communion.

ANNUAL BISHOPS’ MEETING

Each year the Primate calls together bishops in diocesan leadership to meet together for four days.

This meeting is not a formal instrument of the General Synod. The Primate and Bishops together determine the agenda and review the Bishops’ Protocols.

The Bishops’ Protocols express the common mind of the bishops, established by consensus at the annual Bishops’ Meeting.

The Bishops Protocols were last reviewed and affirmed at a meeting held in Bendigo in March 2024.

A communique  from the Annual Bishops’ meeting held in Bendigo 2024.

OCEANIA ANGLICAN FONO

In March 2017, the Primate invited the Primates of the Oceania Region to meet to discuss opportunities for support and collaboration.

In attendance were:
Archbishop Philip Freier – Anglican Church of Australia
Archbishop Clyde Igara – Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea
Archbishop Winston Halapua – Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Archbishop Philip Richardson – Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Archbishop George Takeli – Anglican Church of Melanesia

The 2017 statement arising from this first meeting commits to the continuation of the Oceania Anglican Fono (a gathering, meeting or council)

The 2018 Fono was hosted by the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia and held in Suva, Fiji from 2-5 March 2018.

The Primates in attendance were:
Archbishop Philip Freier – Anglican Church of Australia
Archbishop Allan Migi – Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea
Archbishop Winston Halapua – Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Archbishop Philip Richardson – Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Archbishop George Takeli – Anglican Church of Melanesia

Also invited to join the Fono were:
Archbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
Bishop Anthony Poggo, the Archbishops Adviser for the Anglican Communion
Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick, Bishop for Hawai’i and Episcopal Diocese of Micronesia
Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Secretary General of Anglican Communion Office
Mr Phil George, Lambeth Conference Chief Executive Officer

The 2018 statement arising from this meeting addresses regional priorities in the areas of climate change, family violence, disaster preparation and relief  and opportunities for leadership development and capacity building.