Peter Carnley
Encyclopedia
Peter Frederick Carnley AC
(born 17 October 1937) is a retired Australian Anglican bishop. Carnley was the Archbishop of Perth from 1981 to 2005 and was Primate
of the Anglican Church of Australia
from 2000 until July 2005. He was born in New Lambton
, New South Wales
and became warden of St John's College
at the University of Queensland
, as well as lecturer in theology at the University of Queensland
, before becoming a bishop.
Carnley studied in Australia at Trinity College, Melbourne
and in England at St John's College, Cambridge
. As a lecturer in the 1970s he experimented with Process Theology
.
In the 1980s he supported the ordination of women
and ordained the first women priests in the Anglican Church of Australia in Perth, saying, "Today, we are peeling away the sickly yellow, faded, silverfish-ridden wallpaper with which the church has surrounded itself and imprisoned women for centuries past in its benign and perhaps well-meaning determination to confine them by role."
In 2001, amidst questions about the possibility of the church celebrating same-sex marriage
, Carnley suggested the church might be able to bless gay "friendships".
In the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours list, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia.
Since the 1980s he served as co-chair of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission
(ARCIC II) seeking greater unity between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He is serving as Distinguished Visiting Professor in systematic theology at The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church
in New York City for the 2011-2012 academic year.
, The Structure of Resurrection Belief (Clarendon Press, 1987). In this book he outlines several different ways Christians frame their belief in the resurrection of Christ and the way the resurrection frames their faith. He explores notions of the resurrection as an historical event, as an eschatological event and as a non-event. He also explores the role of memory, presence and faith in believing in the resurrection.
When Carnley became the Australian primate, this book caused controversy, with some saying it showed Carnley himself did not believe in the resurrection. Others objected to comments about how the Christian belief in the uniqueness of Christ had been misused to persecute people of other faiths.
Carnley says he believes in the uniqueness of Christ: "I think Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, but that doesn't mean that other religions don't have any truth at all."
He also says he has an Easter (or resurrection) faith in the real presence of the living Jesus:
"The Christian story, which pre-eminently transmits and celebrates the memory of Jesus and God’s revelatory deed in and through his life and death, should lead us beyond itself to a living encounter with the real presence of all that it celebrates and rehearses: him, whom by story we recall, we actually know as the living Spirit of the fellowship of faith."
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 17 October 1937) is a retired Australian Anglican bishop. Carnley was the Archbishop of Perth from 1981 to 2005 and was Primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of the Anglican Church of Australia
Anglican Church of Australia
The Anglican Church of Australia is a member church of the Anglican Communion. It was previously officially known as the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania...
from 2000 until July 2005. He was born in New Lambton
New Lambton, New South Wales
New Lambton is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, located west of the city centre. Its eastern boundary is the Great Northern Railway, where it is served by Adamstown railway station...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and became warden of St John's College
St John's College, University of Queensland
St John's College is a co-educational college situated within the St Lucia Campus of the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. The college is affiliated with the University of Queensland with whom the college co-sponsors The Australian Institute of Ethics and the Professions...
at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
, as well as lecturer in theology at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
, before becoming a bishop.
Carnley studied in Australia at Trinity College, Melbourne
Trinity College (University of Melbourne)
Trinity College is the oldest college of the University of Melbourne. Founded in 1872 on a site granted to the Church of England, Trinity is unique among Australian university colleges in its diverse education programs...
and in England at St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
. As a lecturer in the 1970s he experimented with Process Theology
Process theology
Process theology is a school of thought influenced by the metaphysical process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead and further developed by Charles Hartshorne . While there are process theologies that are similar, but unrelated to the work of Whitehead the term is generally applied to the...
.
In the 1980s he supported the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
and ordained the first women priests in the Anglican Church of Australia in Perth, saying, "Today, we are peeling away the sickly yellow, faded, silverfish-ridden wallpaper with which the church has surrounded itself and imprisoned women for centuries past in its benign and perhaps well-meaning determination to confine them by role."
In 2001, amidst questions about the possibility of the church celebrating same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
, Carnley suggested the church might be able to bless gay "friendships".
In the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours list, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia.
Since the 1980s he served as co-chair of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission
Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission
The Anglican—Roman Catholic International Commission is an organization which seeks to make ecumenical progress between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
(ARCIC II) seeking greater unity between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He is serving as Distinguished Visiting Professor in systematic theology at The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church
General Theological Seminary
The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
in New York City for the 2011-2012 academic year.
Books
Carnley is the author of a study of the Resurrection of JesusResurrection of Jesus
The Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus states that Jesus returned to bodily life on the third day following his death by crucifixion. It is a key element of Christian faith and theology and part of the Nicene Creed: "On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures"...
, The Structure of Resurrection Belief (Clarendon Press, 1987). In this book he outlines several different ways Christians frame their belief in the resurrection of Christ and the way the resurrection frames their faith. He explores notions of the resurrection as an historical event, as an eschatological event and as a non-event. He also explores the role of memory, presence and faith in believing in the resurrection.
When Carnley became the Australian primate, this book caused controversy, with some saying it showed Carnley himself did not believe in the resurrection. Others objected to comments about how the Christian belief in the uniqueness of Christ had been misused to persecute people of other faiths.
Carnley says he believes in the uniqueness of Christ: "I think Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, but that doesn't mean that other religions don't have any truth at all."
He also says he has an Easter (or resurrection) faith in the real presence of the living Jesus:
"The Christian story, which pre-eminently transmits and celebrates the memory of Jesus and God’s revelatory deed in and through his life and death, should lead us beyond itself to a living encounter with the real presence of all that it celebrates and rehearses: him, whom by story we recall, we actually know as the living Spirit of the fellowship of faith."