The ordination of women bishops has moved a step nearer after the Church of England’s General Synod voted to send draft legislation and a code of practice for further discussion.
But the two-hour debate yesterday once again revealed deep rifts in the church.
Anglicans opposed to women bishops have threatened to leave the church if adequate safeguards are not put in place to cater for them.
The compromise package being proposed is understood to include so-called “complementary bishops” who would minister to parishes which object to women bishops.
The matter of women priests and bishops only divides. Those holding to Holy Tradition need assurances that the Faith which they seek to guard will continue to have an Anglican expression, but I doubt that they will receive such assurance in the UK. Western Europe has mosly signed on to the ideologies that oppose Holy Tradition. Read more here: http://jandyongenesis.blogspot.com/2009/01/ideologies-opposed-to-holy-tradition.html
I find it telling when those who preach unity insist on having their own way knowing that it will create dis-unity. This is what happens when matters of faith and doctrine are viewed through the lens of entitlement politics and secular justice.
Br. Michael, disunity is not being created; there’s already disunity. However, it’s important to remember that both sides are sincere in their beliefs and struggle with the issue.
I think over matters of conscience it’s sometimes necessary to exercise the wisdom of Gamaliel (Acts 5:39-39) and sacrifice unity for the sake of the whole body of Christ. Hopefully those on the wrong side of God’s plan for his church will later see the healthy branch flourish and embrace the correct doctrine.
Susan Russel drive by chatisement to come soon.
#4: Remember that “the wisdom of Gamaliel”, is not described as such in the Acts of the Apostles. God simply used a bit of prosaic common sense to thwart the lynch mob hoping to kill the Truth by executing its messengers. True wisdom would have enabled Gamaliel to understand the Truth of Christ Jesus and identify it as such to the lynch mob! Just so, the CofE does not need to practice some sort of holy ignorance (so called) by letting this experiment- which is so clearly out of order and out of Holy Tradition, as well as Holy Scripture and Holy Reason- tear down the AC further. True wisdom would move the CofE to repent and and undo the mess made by the advocacy of WO.
Holy Tradition remains unchangedeven in the face of human error. It stands unchanged because it reflects the one Reality. If you want unity, be sure that you are standing in Holy Tradition. Everything else is illusion, smoke and mirrors.