The New Zealand International player re-posted Israel’s online campaign, which seeks to raise AUS$3m for legal action against RA, on the grounds of religious discrimination.

The former Wallaby fullback had his AUS$4m (£2.2m) contract terminated after posting ‘hell awaits’ sinners including adulterers and homosexuals’ on Instagram.

Netball Australia have insisted that Mrs. Folau is not in breach of her contract.

In a joint statement with the Super Netball league they said: “There is no action required by the league,

“We will continue to support Maria as a valued member of the Thunderbirds and the Suncorp Super Netball league.”

Chief executive of regional body Netball South Australia, Bronwyn Klei said:

“While Netball SA in no way endorses the reposting, we do not believe Maria has contravened our social media policy.”

Folau is a Silver Fern and Commonwealth Games gold medallist and is set to play for her country at this summer’s Netball World Cup in Liverpool.

The ‘Rise in Strength’ conference gathered 60 female leaders from 18 different nations, to call on the Christian community to honour women’s leadership in family, church and community contexts.

The joint initiative from The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Women’s commission and the Lausanne Movement, sought to address gender inequality and encourage women in their spiritual gifting, through prayer and worship and urged the Church to celebrate the service of women in the work of God.

Elke Werner, a leader of the Lausanne Movement said: “It is so important to recognise the contribution of so many women in the different nations of the kingdom of God.

“These women are heroes. But we also need to stand up for women and girls who cannot fulfil their God-given potential because of barriers in their church culture.”

A survey of 500 female leaders, conducted by the consultation, suggested that sexism and church culture were the biggest obstacles to women pursuing Christian ministry.

Director of the WEA Women’s Commission said: “We want to acknowledge the pain when women’s voices are silenced, single women are ignored, or when the Church tolerates abuse.

“But we also want to be positive about what we can achieve when we work together using our gifts.”

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Ziad al-Bandak, head of a Palestinian presidential committee leading the church renovation, said Saturday that international experts were arriving in the West Bank town to examine the font.

Mr al-Bandak described the Byzantine font as a “magnificent” discovery that had been covered by a larger known vessel.

In 2013, Unesco declared the church a World Heritage site and a restoration project was launched five years ago to overcome decades of neglect.

During holidays, especially Christmas, the church attracts pilgrims and tourists to the occupied West Bank town.

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