The documents in this library cover all of the generally applicable Acts of the Melbourne Diocesan Synod, and the Canons of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia.

  • Articles of Faith

The Thirty Nine Articles
The articles of religion, agreed upon by the Archbishops, Bishops, and the whole clergy of the Provinces of Canterbury and York, London, 1562.

Related legislation

Anglican Trust Corporation Act 1884
Incorporating amendments as at 9 November 2000.

Acts of Melbourne Synod

Anglican Council for Early Childhood Services Act 1962
An Act to repeal the Free Kindergartens Act 1943 and to provide for a Free Kindergarten Council. Reprinted 7 November 2022 incorporating amendments.

Archbishop Election Act 2022
An Act to provide for the election of the Archbishop of Melbourne, to repeal the Archbishop Election Act 1988 and for other purposes. Assent 18 October 2022 and reprinted with amendments as at 4 June 2024.

Archbishop in Council Act 2018
An Act to provide for the governance of the Diocese in relation to the temporal affairs of the Diocese. Reprinted with amendments as at 1 July 2024.

Archbishopric Act 1980
An Act relating to the appointment of Archbishops, to provide for the superannuation of Archbishops and the performance of certain duties of an Archbishop during vacancies of the See. Reprinted with amendments as at 1 July 2024.

Canonical Fitness of Bishops Ordinance Acceptance Act 1980
An Act to accept the Provincial Ordinance Concerning the Canonical Fitness of Bishops. Assent 9 Oct 1980.

Cathedral Act 2016
An Act relating to the use and governance of the Cathedral. Reprinted with amendments as at 1 July 2024.

Children’s and Young People’s Ministry Act 2023
An Act to establish the Steering Committee for Children’s and Young People’s Ministry, to set out the purposes and functions of the Steering Committee, to provide for the employment of staff to assist the Steering Committee, to provide for the employment of staff to assist the Steering Committee, to provide for a review of this Act in 2027 and 2030, and for other purposes.

Clergy Act 2022 and Clergy Regulations 2023
An Act to provide for the selection, appointment, continuation in office, cessation, remuneration, and conditions of engagement of clergy and certain others in ministry in the Diocese and Clergy Regulations. Assent 18 Oct 2022. Reprinted with amendments as at 1 March 2024.

Diocesan Tribunal Act 2021

An Act to provide for a Diocesan Tribunal for the Diocese of Melbourne, to amend the Offences Act 1963, and the Professional Standards Uniform Act 2016 (Diocese of Melbourne), to repeal the Diocesan Tribunal Act 1963, and for other purposes. Assent 4 November 2022. Reprinted with amendments as at 1 January 2023.

Diocese of Melbourne Insurance Act 1986
An Act to make provision for the Insurance of Diocesan Property, to authorise other Insurances and for other purposes. Assent 1 Oct 1986.

Episcopal Standards Act 2015
Episcopal Standards Act 2015 relating to professional standards of the Diocesan Bishop. Reprinted as at 1 March 2023 with amendments.

Episcopal Standards Protocol and Regulations 2015
The Episcopal Standards Protocol and Regulations 2015 authorised by Archbishop in Council on 17 December 2015.

Financial Governance Act 2018
To reform the Diocesan accounts, abolish certain statutory and other funds, provide for uniform standards of management and accounting practice, and for other purposes. Reprinted with amendments as at 1 July 2024.

Interpretation of Diocesan Legislation Act 2016
Interpretation of Diocesan Legislation Act 2016. Reprinted as at 1 November 2023 with amendments.

Melbourne Anglican Diocesan Corporation Act 2015
For the incorporation under the Corporations Act 2001 of a company limited by guarantee to be known as the Melbourne Anglican Diocesan Corporation Ltd, and for other purposes. Reprinted as at 1 July 2024 incorporating amendments.

Melbourne Anglican Diocesan Corporation Constitution

Melbourne Anglican Trust Corporation (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2018
An Act to make transitional provisions for the Melbourne Anglican Trust Corporation Act 2018, and to amend the Trustee Act.

Melbourne Anglican Trust Corporation Act 2018
To provide for the governance of the Trust Corporation and for the management of property held in trust for the Church and for special trusts. Reprinted as 1 July 2024.

Melbourne Archbishopric Act 1980
** Assent 15 Oct 1992. Reprinted as at 1 March 2023.

Offences Act 1963
To adopt the canon of the Church of England in Australia entitled the “Offences Canon 1962” and for other purposes.  Reprinted as at 2 January 2023.

Parish Governance Act 2013 and Parish Governance Regulations
Parish Governance Act 2013 and Parish Governance Regulations. Amended July 2024.

Professional Standards Uniform Act 2016
An Act for the adoption of the Professional Standards Uniform Act in the Diocese of Melbourne. Reprinted with amendments as at 4 September 2024.

Professional Standards Uniform Regulations 2017
Professional Standards Uniform Regulations 2017, amended 18.04.2024.

Provincial Council Constitution Act 1980
An Act to consent to the Alteration of the Constitution of the Province of Victoria. Assent 9 Oct 1980.

Provincial Council Representation Act 1981
An Act to provide for the Election of Representatives of the Diocese in the Council of the Province of Victoria. Assent 4 Oct 1981

Regulation of Elections Act 1980
An Act to consolidate and amend the Law for the Regulation of Elections by Synod. Reprinted as at 2 January 2023 incorporating amendments.

Shared use of Church property 2002
An Act relating to the shared use of church property and for other purposes. Reprinted as at 1 March 2023 incorporating amendments.

Social Responsibilities Committee Act 1985
An Act be it enacted by the Archbishop, the Clergy and the Laity of the Anglican Church of Australia within the Diocese of Melbourne in Victoria duly met in Synod according to law. Assent 8 Oct 2010.

Synod Act 1972
An Act to amend and re-enact the Synod Act 1878-1959. Assent 10 Oct 2008. Reprinted as at 1 January 2024 incorporating amendments.

Synod Standing Rules and Orders
Outlines the standing orders governing the business process of Melbourne Synod as at 12 October 2023.

Trustees Act 1910
An Act relating to the Corporation Trustees and for other purposes. Reprinted as at 1 March 2023 incorporating amendments.

The Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Church of Australia

For the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia, and the Canons in force as passed by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia, follow the link below:

www.anglican.org.au/governance