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NEW METHOD
Election of Bishop if
Synod Fails
CHANGE APPROVED
Decision by Archbishop of
Australia
An ordinance amending the method of
electing the Bishop of Newcastle was
adopted yesterday by the Synod of the
Diocese of Newcastle.
The new drdinance gives a new system
of preferential voting .to. Synod,.. bt re
tains the principle that a two-thirds
majority in both orders isnnecessary to
elect the Bishop. If Synod fails to elect
alter two ses?ions,. the ordinance provided
that the Archbishops of Australia shall
elect the Bishop, but renders ineligible
all the men on whom Synod voted.
Rev. R. S. Lee moved: "That an or
dinance to amend the 'Bishop election
ordinance of 1925 be read a second time,
and that the third rending be made an
order of the day for to-morrow,"
3Mr. Lee said that there was no drastic
change in the new ordinance. but Sydnod
desired that the election of Bishop siould
be by Synod itself, instead of by a
committee, except in very special cirenm
stances. Synod had not been able to
express its own mind as it desired in the
past. The election of a Bishop was an
expression of the majority of the Synod.
A simple majority might prove adequate
for the expression, bht "a simple majority
might mean, as the Synod was at present
constituted, that one portion of the House
would have an overwhelming vote that
would -thrust npon the other section a
Bishop that it did not desire. They
wanted the Bishop to come to the diocese
feeling that. lie was welcomed by the
nembers of Synod.' There - were two
safeguards in the-ordinance which would
muarantee that the Bishop would have a
hearty welcome from members of both
orders.
Individual Voting
The Synod would vote on each name
separately by orders by ballot, MIr. Lee
said. If a two-thirds majority were ob
tained in each House for a candidate, he
would be declared elected as Bishop. It
the required majorities were not obtained,
a percentage of the votes of the two
Houses would be taken. Fifty per cent.
of the votes of the clergy would be equiva
lent to 50 per cent. of the votes of the
laity. That would give equality between
the two Houses. If the requisite two
thirds majority of each order were not
obtained for any of the names submitted,
the name for which the lowest aggregate
total of the percentage of votes of the
two orders had been given woold be
struck off thie select list. When the
select list had been reduced to one man,
the name of the candidate would be sub
mitted to Synod in the question: "Is
it the wish of Sydney that (the candi
date) be elected Bishop of this diocese?"
If the two-thirds majority of each order
votel in favour of the questione the can
didate. wolild be declared elected.
Tinder the present system it was felt
that a two-third majority was often
impossible to obtain, in both houses, and
it was difficult for Synod to arrive at
its own. mind, AMr. Lee said. His scheme
was designed to eliminate all names ex
cept one, and the house would be asked
to give a two-third majority on that
nme.-. At .that stage Synod would have
a, fsrther opportunity of expressing its
opinion by a negative vote, but he was
sure that in 1l out of. 20 cases the final
name would be elected unanimously.
:Provision. for Disagreement
If tlih* requisite two-third majority of
each.order were not received, Synod would
adjourn ;or.: a: period, not .exceedin a
i:nontio tdot,.furthero';rec6nsider the, elec
'tion' of Bishop,.ERev.Lee said. A further
select list, together with the name of the
last remaining candidate, would be pre
pared.., Those eliminated from the select
list at the previous session would not be
eligible again. The procedure would be re
eated' at.the second session, and if tile
Synodfailed to reach agreement it would
he deemed to lave failed to elect. The
election of the Bishop would be then dele
gated to the arehbishops of the Church
in Australia. None of the persons voted
for by Synod would be eligible for election
by tbe Archbishop. The reason for dele
gatin, the election to the Archbishops
was that it wais not felt desirable to dele
gate the election to a committee within
the diocese. The election was not dele
gated to tile Bishops of the province be
cause it. might cause embarrassment if
sonme of them , were candidates. With
the Archbishops these difficulties would
not arise. The ordinance was really pre
ferential voting taken to pieces so that
each step could be surveyed.
Rev. K. S. C. Single said that the pro
cedure under the new ordinance was bet
tel.
Canon Vithycombe hoped that the bill
would be'passed. The great benefit the
bill would give was the presentatiodi of
thee individual names to Synod. He had
no ddoubt that Synod would agree on a
name before the election procedure got
far. It seemed a lengthy and intricate
proceeding, but he was sure they would
reach a definite" result.
The ordinance was debated in commit
tee. and progress reported. The ordinance,
with minor amendments, was adopted.
Standing Orders were suspended, and the
third reading was carried immediately.
Bishop Answers Questions
Rev. C. W. White asked two ouestions.
which were answered by the Bishop.
Answering the question, "What has hap
pened tb the suggestion of having a dioce
san broadcasting station?" The Bishop
said that twice hie had been in touch with
the. authorities .regarding the establish
ment of the station. He -had' been in
formed that there' was no possibility at
present of further wave-lengths being
made available in the Newcanstle district
They had not lost sight of the project
The second.aunestion was. ."What
answer shall we give .to.our 'eople when
they ask why permission appears to have
been givesi for a marrinCe cermlnony to
be performed :in Lent, and to a divorced
man?" The Bishop. said that 'the mar
ringe took nlace on: Foote'? eve. at a tilme
that was not conisdered to he. in Lent
Therefore, sneesifJ)" nermission wns': .not
uenulired.... Thle parish'.priestc Ihad b'eei'
informed 'by~ the mans ' that :he :wa-s a
bachelor, and nhad marrieds the eouinle. in
good faith.,
Ordinanceps dealin?' with ..the internal
machinery of the :Churhl' thht were-rend
for the osecond .anrld .thlird;, time? ,we're-.
'An ordinance ..to n: anlenr tlhe"l Nweistlo'
Diocesan ' DeTbt Redemlptioni Fulndl ordin
once of 19i39a na. ordiislnce to reneal the
1Newcastle Dienesoan. Guaraltee antiLonss
ordinannre? nsuld to?reeo'otitsite the: flnd
as 'the Dificsan 'CLon' '.,uid:.' n. or?'din
Once to amend" fli. Pairochinl nrdirini?se.
1l2l: and-anss ordinPise : nri?entier.l dete'
minatinu No. I.of .thle Genernl 'snsl' of
]l1i. Tie' deternmisintisn dellt.?vwitl ifle
princile ti ,he' follonsed "it the electionl
of thie .Prmnte."'whiel -iwasd ldiscussedl at
tihe last.' S n d'?' i
" . The Luncheon:.' i:
The health ofithe" Dean (Ve;r; Rev.?T.
11. Armour) 1?wds proposed at, the- Synod
luncheon -by Cauon. Pnrus,:: The"Dean.
he said; was pre-eminiiently' a 'frienidly
mln .It wnaunimpoitannt" for ,'ynu g: men
t irememiber -the 'value. of friendship.
The Dean exemplified the spirit' of
friendslin, and wa. "'wll;ing to -liaten to
'.tine ,li'mportant things:
Thie Denni said that lhe ?nas griteful for
the tribute. which w?as not altogether
deerved.
Iev. C. W.: WhiteL thianked :the
Cathedra onmen's Guild 'for" its hospi
atli?. ot the lanheons. '
The Secretiry or the' Gi?ild (Miss' I. M.
Philips) responded.
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