The Right Reverend

Glenn Davies
Archbishop of Sydney
ChurchAnglican Church of Australia
ProvinceNew South Wales
DioceseSydney
In office23 August 2013 – 26 March 2021 (2013-08-23 – 2021-03-26)
PredecessorPeter Jensen
SuccessorKanishka Raffel
Other post(s)
Orders
Ordination1981 (deacon)[1] · ? (priest)
by Sir Marcus Loane[2]
Consecration21 December 2001[3]
Personal details
Born
Glenn Naunton Davies

(1950-09-26) 26 September 1950 (age 73)
NationalityAustralian
DenominationAnglicanism
Alma mater

Glenn Naunton Davies (born 1950) is an Australian Anglican bishop. Since August 2022 he has served as bishop of the Diocese of the Southern Cross, an Anglican diocese set up outside of the Anglican Church of Australia.[4] He previously served as the Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of the Province of New South Wales in the Anglican Church of Australia[5] from 23 August 2013 to 26 March 2021.[6]

Early life and education

Davies was born on 26 September 1950.[citation needed] He was educated at Shore School, the University of Sydney,[7] Westminster Theological Seminary, Moore Theological College and the University of Sheffield.[8]

Ordained ministry

Davies was ordained in 1981 and began his ordained ministry as a curate at St Stephen's, Willoughby. He was then a lecturer at Moore Theological College until 1995 and rector of St Luke's, Miranda. He has been the canon theologian of the Diocese of Ballarat.

Davies was the Bishop of the North Region (of Sydney) from 2002 to 2014.[9]

In 2013, he was nominated by 182 members of synod for Archbishop of Sydney.[10] He was subsequently elected and became the archbishop-elect on 6 August 2013.[11] His installation service was held on 23 August 2013.

Controversy and stances on issues

Davies took conservative stances on issues of morality. He directed criticism at church branches that had moved to bless same-sex unions, such as the Wangaratta diocese in Victoria.

In October 2019, in his presidential address to the synod of the Diocese of Sydney,[12] Davies advised those who wanted to change the doctrine of the Anglican Church of Australia to allow the blessing of same-sex marriage to leave the church.[13] These comments were criticised by some within the church who want it to be more inclusive.[14] In response, Davies indicated that his comments were directed at those who wanted to change church doctrine and not to members of congregations or those who identified as gay.[13]

He said: "I fear for the stability of the Anglican Church of Australia. These developments have the potential to fracture our fellowship and impair our communion. I have stated this on numerous occasions at the annual National Bishops' Conference, but sadly to little effect. My own view is that if people wish to change the doctrine of our church, they should start a new church or join a church more aligned to their views - but do not ruin the Anglican Church by abandoning the plain teaching of Scripture. Please leave us."[15]

This hardline stance caused the Anglican Church to split in Australia in 2022, with a breakaway "Diocese of the Southern Cross" having conservative elements of the church leaving the parent church. On 15 August 2022, it was announced that Glenn Davies would be the first bishop of the new Diocese of the Southern Cross set up by GAFCON Australia.[16]

Publications

Davies is the author of Faith and Obedience in Romans (1989, Sheffield Academic Press) as well as numerous journal articles and essays.[17]

Personal life

Davies is a recipient of the Centenary Medal.

References

  1. ^ "Interview with EFAC President Dr Glenn Davies". Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion in Australia. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Glenn's CV - Glenn Davies". Archived from the original on 11 August 2013.
  3. ^ "Diocesan Bishops and Archbishops of Australia and Sydney". Sydney Diocesan Archives. Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  4. ^ "A new Anglican diocese, bishop and church in Australia". Anglican Ink. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  5. ^ "New Anglican Archbishop of Sydney chosen", The Age, 6 August 2013.
  6. ^ McEachen, Ben (25 March 2021). "Sydney Anglican Archbishop Glenn Davies' final week in the office". Eternity News. Eternity News. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  7. ^ Who's Who 2008: London, A & C Black, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
  8. ^ Glenn Davies
  9. ^ Davies, Glenn (18 January 2016). "Statement of Glenn Naunton Davies" (PDF). Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Glenn Davies' website". Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  11. ^ "Sydney Anglicans have a new Archbishop", Sydney Anglicans website, 6 August 2013.
  12. ^ Davies, Glenn. "Presidential Address - Third Session of the 51st Synod of the Diocese of Sydney" (PDF). Sydney Anglicans. Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  13. ^ a b Davies, Glenn. "My words were for the bishops and I stand by them". Sydney Morning Herald. No. 18 October 2019. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  14. ^ "'So damaging' : Anglicans warn of impacts of Archbishop's call for same-sex marriage supporters to leave the Church". The Feed. Special Broadcasting Corporation. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  15. ^ Koziol, Michael (15 October 2019). "'Please leave us': Archbishop tells same-sex marriage supporters to abandon Anglican church". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  16. ^ "An Anglican lifeboat for faithful christians – GAFCON Australia".
  17. ^ "Glenn Davies' website". Archived from the original on 11 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
Anglican Communion titles Preceded byPaul Barnett Bishop of North Sydney 2002–2013 Succeeded byChris Edwards Preceded byPeter Jensen Archbishop of Sydney 2013–2021 Succeeded byKanishka Raffel
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