 While archbishop, in order to ease the tensions involved in the debate over women's ordination that had occurred under Archbishop Robinson, Goodhew placed a moratorium on discussing the issue for a time, a move strongly criticised by the Movement for the Ordination of Women.Goodhew maintained a private support for the ordination of women and gave his blessing to women who had left the Diocese of Sydney to be ordained elsewhere.Harry Goodhew and his wife Pam have long served a missionary role in Africa, visiting African countries to teach and to assist in setting up small business enterprises to aid people in need.