Church reveals sale list
THE sale of about half of the Anglican Church’s property holdings in Tasmania is expected to raise around $20 million, Tasmanian Bishop Richard Condie said.
Releasing a list of properties being considered for sale, Dr Condie said 25 per cent of the funds raised would be put aside to fund payments to the victims of sexual abuse in the church.
The list of 108 properties includes 76 churches and will be finalised after consultation with local communities.
Most properties are in rural areas, although the list also includes St Stephen’s Church in Sandy Bay, St Raphael’s at Fern Tree and St Peter’s at Blackmans Bay.
“Today we are releasing a preliminary list of properties proposed for sale. This list is not exhaustive and is not yet finalised. We are at the very beginning of the process,” Dr Condie said.
“After Synod there will be a period in which parishes can seek a review of the decision to sell a property, making a case for its exemption. Diocesan Council will make its final decision in December.
“Local communities are welcome to express their concerns about church property marked for sale. It will be best to do this when the list is finalised after the June Synod.
“We want to provide concerned members of the community with an opportunity to work out how they can help preserve part of Tasmania’s heritage, while allowing us to meet our redress obligations.”
Dr Condie said the church acknowledged the sale of churches would be a difficult time for many communities.
“I understand that the sale of churches and cemeteries causes pain and sadness for church members as well as the wider local community. They have been an important part of our Tasmanian heritage.
“However, our commitment to justice, recognition and support of survivors through providing redress underlies the need for this sacrifice,” the bishop said.
“The heart of the Christian message is that the innocent one, Jesus of Nazareth, took the punishment for the sins of the whole world. Sins that he did not commit. Making a costly sacrifice to right past wrongs is a profoundly Christian thing to do, and most worshipping Anglicans I have spoken to in the last weeks are prepared to do it gladly,” Dr Condie said.
He said the church expected to pay $8.6 million in redress to victims of sexual abuse and $4.7 million would come from property sales, $2.8 million from church funds and $1.1 million from contributions by congregations.