"With great sadness and regret, we realise that many faithful Anglican clergy and lay people will no longer be able to remain as members of the ACA if changes allowed by the Appellate Tribunal majority opinion take place in their dioceses", Bishop Condie said.

"We love these people and don't want them to be lost to the Anglican fold." he said, "We want them to be recognised and supported as they love and serve their own communities."

Those allegations "are not limited to, covering up a failure in mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, allowing those involved to continue in their positions of leadership which risked further negligence and abuse, and not informing his diocese of the abuse in a timely manner."

The group also asks ACNA leaders to confirm whether Ruch will be paid while on leave.

"My first responsibility to the Province is to be a faithful pastor to the bishops, clergy and people," Bishop Robert said, "so that together we may all be equipped for our work in God's service and built up in the Body of Christ." But he indicated that a significant focus would also be to encourage greater work within the greater body of Christ.

The congregation is rallying around the couple, with members launching an online petition calling for the clergy to reinstate them in their roles, be inclusive and reject discrimination. Some members have stopped taking communion, attending services and fundraising.

"This is an important issue for every Australian who has gay children or are gay themselves," Mr Sanders said.

"We are being discriminated against by the church for being who we were born to be."