The 14th General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia was held in Canberra, against a backdrop of a number of important circumstances. Within the Anglican Church, the Appellate Tribunal had determined by a 4 to 3 majority that there was nothing in the Constitution to prevent a woman becoming a diocesan bishop. Within Australia, there were issues of drought and climate. Within the Anglican Communion, there was the ongoing international turmoil over human sexuality.