Functions

The Archbishop in Council is the peak governing body in the Diocese, when Synod is not in session.

The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC).  Members of the governing body are, therefore, subject to the requirements of the ACNC Act and Regulations.

Subject to the provisions of other relevant acts of Synod, the Council has responsibility for the temporal affairs of the Diocese including:

  • Setting and monitoring strategies for mission and ministry;
  • Formulating policies;
  • Carrying out a range of statutory functions that have been conferred upon it by ordinance or resolution of Synod.

The Archbishop in Council Act 2018, an Act of the Synod, governs the operation of the Archbishop in Council .

Composition

The Archbishop in Council is comprised of  up to 17 persons. The Archbishop (who is the Chair), and 12 persons elected by the Synod, 6 clergy and 6 lay persons, in equal proportions of men and women. The Archbishop may appoint up to 4 more members.

In addition to the elected and appointed members, a number of diocesan officers are entitled to be in attendance at meetings of the Archbishop in Council and may speak and contribute to matters under discussion, but do not vote – these include the Assistant Bishops, the Dean of the Cathedral Church, the diocesan legal officers (the Chancellor and the Advocate), and the Registrar.

The elected and appointed members of the Archbishop in Council are also be members of the Melbourne Anglican Diocesan Corporation Ltd (MADC) and of the Melbourne Anglican Foundation.

Members

The elected and appointed members of the Archbishop in Council are:

The Most Revd Dr Philip Freier (Chair)
Dr Timothy Arnold-Moore
The Revd John Baldock
The Revd Maria Brand-Starkey
The Revd Megan Curlis-Gibson
The Revd Helen Dwyer
Dr Jenny George
Professor Russell Goulbourne
Ms Ivy Lau
The Revd Rachel McDougall
Mrs Fiona McLean
The Revd Robert Miller
Mr Graeme Parton
Mrs Georgina Porter
Mr Ian Scarborough
Mr Neil Sigamoney
The Revd Malcolm Woolrich

Those entitled to be in attendance are:

The Right Revd Dr Paul Barker – Assistant Bishop
The Right Revd Dr Brad Billings– Assistant Bishop
The Right Revd Genieve Blackwell – Assistant Bishop
The Hon Justice Clyde Croft AM – Chancellor
Dr Ian Gibson – Advocate
The Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe – The Dean
The Right Revd Kate Prowd – Assistant Bishop
Mr Malcolm Tadgell – Registrar