Towards an Anglican Church Southern Queensland apology to LGBTIQA+ people: listening to the voices of LGBTIQA+ people and their loved ones
Justice & Advocacy
As part of a consultation process to develop a Diocesan apology, LGBTIQA+ people who are current or past members of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland, and their family members and other loved ones, are invited to share their experiences of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland through its parishes, schools and other institutions
Last year at our Diocese’s Synod a motion was passed that in part “acknowledges that the Church’s attitudes and behaviours have created and are creating trauma and affirms efforts to support those so affected” (page 12).
At the same Synod, a process to prepare an apology to LGBTIQA+ people was initiated, with our Synod intending to offer an apology to LGBTIQA+ people for the harm caused by the Anglican Church Southern Queensland’s treatment of LGBTIQA+ people.
A committee has been formed by Diocesan Council to work in consultation with LGBTIQA+ people to develop a Diocesan apology. Committee members include myself (Chair), The Rev’d Deb Bird, The Ven. Geoff Hoyte, The Rev’d Dr Margaret Wesley, The Rev’d David Ruthven, The Rev’d Canon Gary Harch and Dr Nadine Garraway.
A listening process is subsequently being initiated by the Committee.
An invitation to be heard
The Committee charged with developing the apology would like to hear from LGBTIQA+ people who are current or past members of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland, and their family members and other loved ones, about their experiences of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland (Diocese of Brisbane) through its parishes, schools and other institutions.
How you can share your voice
There are opportunities to:
- meet one-on-one with a Committee member to share your experience*
- meet with the whole Committee*
- provide a written response to the Committee (this can be anonymous, if preferred).
To meet with a Committee member or the whole Committee, to provide a written submission or to find out more, please contact the Committee via apology@anglicanchurchsq.org.au or by calling me (Committee Chair) on 07 3835 2239. Please respond to this invitation via email or phone by COB 12 January 2024. The Committee plans to provide the text of an apology, along with a report, for our Diocese’s Synod, which will next meet in June 2024.
* The Committee hopes to be able to meet with each person who wishes to share about their experiences and believes that it will have the capacity to do this. We wish to flag, however, that if this turns out to be unviable that we will encourage some people to make a written submission in lieu of a face-to-face meeting.
Jump to next article
