A letter from the Primate to Archbishop Phillip Aspinall
Homilies & Addresses
“Not only have you held positions of responsibility, but you have exercised those positions with great dedication even when that dedication has been at your personal cost. You have led the church through times of significant challenge and your attention has constantly been on the mission of the church,” says a letter from the Primate to Archbishop Phillip Aspinall AC, which was read by Bishop Cam Venables on the occasion of the Archbishop’s farewell
30th November 2022
The Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall AC Archbishop of Brisbane
Dear Phillip,
At its recent meeting the Standing Committee of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia passed the following resolution:
The Standing Committee noted the resignation of Archbishop Dr Phillip Aspinall AC as Archbishop of Brisbane from 2 February 2023 and gave thanks for his commitment and long service to the Anglican Church of Australia and the Standing Committee of the General Synod and wished Archbishop Philip and Mrs Christa Aspinall God’s richest blessings in the future.
The resolution speaks of your commitment and long service to the Anglican Church of Australia and that is without doubt. You have been in Holy Orders for more than thirty-four years and in Bishops’ Orders since 1998. You served as our Primate for nine years from 2005 to 2014. You have been a member of the Standing Committee of the General Synod since 1995, chair of the Ecumenical Relations Committee since 2016 and a member of the World Council of Churches Central Committee since 2013. This list is not exhaustive (I didn’t think you’d want the whole thing rehearsed) but it is indicative of your service and commitment to our church.
Not only have you held positions of responsibility, but you have exercised those positions with great dedication even when that dedication has been at your personal cost. You have led the church through times of significant challenge and your attention has constantly been on the mission of the church and the church’s effectiveness in that mission.
The resolution of the Standing Committee thanks you for all you have done and I want to add my thanks for your service among us. I pray God’s richest blessings for you as you complete your ministry as Archbishop of Brisbane and move into the next phase of your ministry as a disciple of Jesus.
May this next chapter be graced by family and golf and may you have the space to read and reflect, cook and tinker. Please keep us in your prayers as you and Christa will be in ours.
In Christ
The Most Reverend Geoffrey Smith
Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia
A letter from the Primate, The Most Rev’d Geoffrey Smith, to Archbishop Phillip Aspinall AC was read by Bishop Cam Venables on the occasion of the Archbishop’s farewell in St John’s Cathedral on 3 December 2022
