Posted on: April 7, 2020 10:52 AM

Related Categories:

The Archbishop of Adelaide, Archbishop Geoffrey Smith, has today (Tuesday) been elected Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia. Archbishop Geoffrey assumes his new responsibilities with immediate effect as his predecessor, the Archbishop of Melbourne Philip Freier, retired from the primacy on 31 March.

In a first round of elections, held on 14 March, Archbishop Geoffrey won majorities in the Houses of Bishops and Laity; and the Bishop of Tasmania, Bishop Richard Condie, won a majority in the House of Clergy. A majority was required in all three houses.

A second round of electronic voting opened yesterday and concluded today. The Board of Electors cast their votes electronically, with the polls open for 24 hours. The General Secretary of the Anglican Church of Australia, Anne Hywood, announced the news shortly afterwards.

Archbishop Geoffrey will serve for an initial term of six years.

“I am very conscious of the enormous privilege we the church have in sharing the mission of Christ, and the importance of unity in that task”, Archbishop Geoffrey told the Anglican Communion News Service today. “My prayer is that our unity might be strengthened to better enable the witness and work of the church in the world.”