This consecration was foreshadowed in an announcement made within the
Parish on 20 June last year. Subsequent to that, I met with Father
Chislett and key officials of the Parish, and have written to him and to
parishioners about the matter. As lately as 19 January 2005 I met with
him, with Archbishop Hepworth of the Traditional Anglican Communion and
with bishops of our own Church in Sydney. In person and in writing I
have consistently indicated that to go ahead with the consecration in
this way would mean that I would have to consider the types of actions
that I have taken today.

The question is raised whether Father Chislett has in fact become a
member of the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia, which is not a body
in communion with the Anglican Church of Australia. If that is the case,
then he can no longer claim to be a member of the Anglican Church of
Australia. It puts in serious doubt whether he can continue as the
Rector of All Saints. A host of other questions are also raised,
including whether Father Chislett has acted in accordance with the
Constitutions and Canons of this Church in force in the Diocese of
Brisbane and with the Oath and Declarations he made at the time he
received a licence here.

I have therefore today taken two actions which are consistent with what
I wrote to Father David and to the Parish officials in November 2004. I
trust that these will in due time clarify the situation –

First, I have laid the matter before the Commissioners under the
Benefices Avoidance Canon, and directed them to enquire into the
circumstances. In making their enquiries, they are required to call upon
Father Chislett to respond with any explanation and evidence as he may
see fit, and to afford him all reasonable facilities for doing so. It is
within their brief, if they so determine, to advise me whether it is
expedient for Father Chislett to retain his licence as Rector. If that
is what they advise, it will be open to me to revoke his licence.

Second, I have put to Father Chislett directly the question of whether I
should revoke his licence if he is not any more a member of this Church;
I have asked him to respond to this within a week.

I assure you that I have not taken these actions lightly. I have sought
and received extensive pastoral, theological and canonical advice. Most
recently I sought the views of the Diocesan Council, which expressed its
unanimous and unequivocal support for what I have done.

This is a difficult time for us all. I have received from some
parishioners of All Saints expressions of grave concern and disturbance
relating to Father Chislett's actions. I am also sure that there are
other parishioners of All Saints who have looked forward to this event,
and have welcomed it. Because of the seriousness of the matter, I have
suspended Father Chislett's licence as the Rector of the Parish of All
Saints Brisbane, and it is my intention that it should remain suspended
until there is some resolution of the matter that is before us. This
means that Fr Chislett is not permitted to act as the Rector of the
Parish, nor to function as a priest within the Diocese. I have suggested
to the Churchwardens and the Trustees that, with the consent of the
Parish Council, Father Chislett should continue to receive his stipend
and other emoluments for a period of four weeks, after which the
situation should be reviewed.

I have arranged for Bishop Bevan Meredith, who will be known to many of
you, to conduct the services this Sunday. He is a revered senior figure
within our Church, and fully sympathetic with the traditions of the
Parish. Bishop Richard Appleby, the Regional Bishop, will be making
further arrangements for a locum tenens situation to be set up into the
future. You should be assured that in providing for the pastoral
ministry within the Parish, I am aware of the historical sensitivities
of the parishioners generally, and will provide a ministry that is
consistent with those sensitivities.

I welcome from parishioners any responses that you may care to make to
this letter or to the situation as a whole. I expect to be away over the
coming week and next weekend at the national conference of the Bishops
of our Church and then at the Standing Committee of General Synod. On my
return I trust that we may be able to pick up this matter again between
us. I assure you that you will be in my prayers during this difficult
time, together with Father David. I hope and pray that the matter may be
resolved in the not too distant future for the good of the Parish, the
Diocese, the wider Church and all concerned.

The Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall is Archbishop of Brisbane