Anglican Primate and Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Keith Rayner has commended the decision of the Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Revd Harry Goodhew, to withhold assent from the Ordinance passed by the Sydney Synod to permit lay persons to preside at the Holy Communion. In a statement released today Dr Rayner said:

"Archbishop Goodhew's decision is for the good of the Diocese of Sydney, the whole Anglican Church of Australia and the world-wide Anglican Communion.

"If lay presidency had been permitted, the Sydney Diocese would have been isolated. It would have represented a major challenge to the constitution and the unity of the Anglican Church.

"There are times when a bishop must resist popular pressures for the sake of the integrity of the Church. Most Anglicans will share my relief at Archbishop Goodhew's responsible and courageous decision.

"I hope that the people of his own diocese will support their Archbishop and put this matter behind them."