The Curious Amalgam: Reflections on a Fortnight of Change

Saturday, 20 December 2025

The Curious Amalgam

A Reflection on Inclusion and Tradition

← Read the original Dec 6 story: History at the Altar

It has been exactly a fortnight since the Anglican Diocese of Southern Queensland made history with the ordination of the 2025 cohort at St John’s Cathedral. Since that day, the conversation has moved from the celebration in the pews to a deeper reflection on the shifting tectonics of the global Church.

This week, I received a fascinating note from The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG. In his reflection, he captured the irony of the current moment—observing that the progress in Brisbane has highlighted a strange convergence of conservative forces elsewhere.

"It is curious to see a rare amalgam of Roman Catholics and Sydney Anglicans! At about the same time, the Roman Catholic Church announced that it was not intending to move with women deacons in the same direction."
— The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG

Kirby’s phrase, the "rare amalgam," perfectly describes the current religious landscape in Australia. On one hand, we have the Brisbane Diocese moving decisively toward a lived reality of inclusion. On the other, we see two groups that are historically theological rivals—Rome and Sydney—forming an unlikely "amalgam" in their shared resistance to these changes.

The Divergent Paths of 2025

While Brisbane celebrates the ordination of women and those in same-sex marriages, other centers of power are doubling down on traditionalist structures.

Theological Path	Brisbane Anglicans	The "Rare Amalgam" (Rome & Sydney)
Women Deacons	Fully Ordained & Empowered	Prohibited / Traditionally Opposed
LGBTQ+ Inclusion	Focused on Integrity & Marriage Rights	Strict Adherence to Traditional Gender Roles
Core Philosophy	Evolution of "Faithfulness in Service"	Preservation of Sacred Tradition / Scriptural Literality

As I explored in my book and recent research paper, the success of the Brisbane movement is not an accident. It is the result of a rigorous theological evolution that prioritizes a Christ-like expectation of faithfulness and integrity over rigid, exclusionary definitions of "chastity."

Closing Reflection: Progress often reveals the hidden boundaries of the past. As we approach Christmas, the contrast could not be clearer. Brisbane has chosen a path that reflects the diverse, inclusive community it serves. While the "amalgam" of the traditionalists remains, the doors that were opened on December 6th cannot be easily closed.

Dive deeper into the legal and theological work behind this change:

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Editorial Reflection: Shane St Reynolds, 20 December 2025.