The Perth diocese of the Anglican church has offered a “heartfelt apology” to Australia’s gay and lesbian community, saying the church was “deeply sorry for any harm we have done”.

As the Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Diocese Glenn Davies was announcing a $1 million donation to the no campaign in Australia’s non-binding voluntary postal survey on same-sex marriage this week, his colleagues in Perth were saying sorry for the church’s past behaviour.

At the 49th synod of the Perth Diocese, the membership passed a motion offering “a heartfelt apology” to “people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer whom we have hurt by words and behaviour that have not displayed the love of God”.

“We are deeply sorry for any harm we have done and repent of such ungodly behaviour,” the motion read.

The church also stated a “desire to be places where LGBTIQ+ people will feel safe”, and encouraged its churches to “demonstrate our repentance in changed attitudes and conduct”.

The Sydney Diocese’s $1 million donation has been widely criticised by other sections of the church.

But Perth’s diocesan secretary, Keith Stephens, said the timing was coincidental.



“This motion came before the Perth Synod before we knew about the Sydney diocese, so I don’t think anyone in Perth even knew about Sydney,” he said.

He said the Perth apology was not in relation to any specific past action by the church, but for a “culture of tone, and how we have behaved in the past”.

“As a Christian I can say that it’s important we acknowledge where we have failed, and seek to reconcile ourselves to those we have hurt,” he said. “This was an outward expression of seeking that reconciliation [and] it is just asking for a cultural shift in our mind from where we have historically been on this this issue.”

Guardian Australia understands a similar motion was put forward at the general synod – a national gathering of the church – in September, but defeated.

In his address to the Sydney synod on Monday, Davies warned that “removing gender from the marriage construct” would have “irreparable consequences for our society, for our freedom of speech, our freedom of conscience and freedom of religion”.

But in Perth, Bishop Kate Wilmot – who is the diocese administrator while a new archbishop is elected – struck a different tone, raising concerns about the impact of the debate on the LGBT community and reminding church followers they were being asked to vote on civil ceremonies.

“One of my concerns in the current debate about civil marriage is that there will be hurt and harm to these sisters and brothers in Christ,” she said.

“I encourage you to complete the postal vote according to your conscience, mindful that it is a civil ceremony and institution that is being considered.”

She said the church’s official position that marriage is “a life-long partnership between one woman and one man has not changed”.

“I expect that consideration of the question of two people of the same sex marrying in church will outlast the Synod membership of many here today,” she said.