Confrontation is threatened by traditionalists in response to the latest news from the Revision Committee on Women in the Episcopate which has ruled out the structural changes demanded by those opposed to women bishops.
After its third meeting, the Committee said it was “unable to identify a basis for specifying particular functions for vesting which commanded sufficient support both from those in favour of the ordination of women as bishops and those unable to support that development. As a result all of the proposals for vesting particular functions by statute were defeated.
“The effect of the Committee’s decision is therefore that such arrangements as are made for those unable to receive the episcopal ministry of women will need to be by way of delegation from the diocesan bishop rather than vesting.”
What is the source of these quotes? Is there a link? Elves?
More than anything else, I love clear expository prose. At least, when I can find it. Mercy! Who teaches these people how to write! Larry
[Apologies – Link has now been fixed – Elf]
[blockquote] The chairman of Reform, the Rev Rod Thomas, said the Committee had “served the Church badly,†and their decision had “overturned the will of Synod, created the spectre of confrontation, and risks extending the controversy for another five years.†[/blockquote] It looks like it’s going to be a long road to the required 2/3 majority. Does anyone know how the synod deck is stacked?
#4 Brer
Synod will probably hear from the Committee in February, however the final legistlation will not be voted on for some time. As for the composition of Synod there will be ‘elections’ next year, but that is a debatable term as usual in the Church of England.
I think the continuing disappointment is that our bishops have decided to bring the divisions of elsewhere here with their mishandling of the whole of this. But there we are – Rowan will probably mess everything else up long before we get to issues of women bishops. People are just waiting for him to mess up in December and all the indications are he is on course for losing both the pre-eminence of his office and hope of future unity under Canterbury if the squeaks coming out of bishops like +Bristol are anything to go by.
Thanks, PM.
What’s happening in December that awaits the deft hand of the archbishop?
The JSC is due to meet before the end of the year per Kearon here [at the start of the audio]
http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2009/5/8/ACNS4618
Mind you – you would never know from Rowan’s diary:
http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/2643
Anything to do with the Covenant has gone all very hush hush at the moment – which is generally a sign that mischief is afoot – the only person spilling some of the beans has been Dr Eileen Scully the Canadian revisionist Rowan stuck on the committee:
http://news.anglican.ca/news/stories/2125?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+acc-news+(Anglican+Church+of+Canada+News+Stories)
The ABC has already ruled from the cathedra that Women’s Ordination is passed by his fiat and told the Pope he ought get on board. So he has messed it up already. He doesn’t need to mess with any more.
Of course, his “ruling” took quite a number of Anglicans by surprise since the “reception” thingy is supposed to be going on, but, you know, sometimes an Archbishop has to go with ….. the flow. Water runs downhill, too, unless energy is applied in some fashion. Not something likely to occur with Rowan by all the historical evidence.