The next Archbishop of Canterbury has called the rejection of women bishops a “very grim day”, as bishops prepare for an emergency meeting on the issue.
The ordination of women bishops in the Church of England was narrowly rejected by its ruling general synod on Tuesday.
The Rt Rev Justin Welby, who takes over the Church’s top role next year, said the lost vote was hard “most of all for women priests and supporters”.
I know this is kind of a vain hope, and that it is possible that the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury said more than what was quoted, but it would be nice if the incoming archbishop also said something acknowledging that many of those voted against did so because their future in the church was not going to be safeguarded by the bill in its current form, and that this needs to be addressed.
I know it is very fashionable to acknowledge the tears of the pro-WO movement whenever they don’t get absolutely all of their agenda right now, but if you’re going to do the whole ‘bishop is the point of unity’ thing, then you could try and speak for both sides of this debate and not just booster one.
Well, it’s not a “very grim day” for those who were going to have to leave the COE because they were refused protection for their theological beliefs! It’s a day of relief for them.
Bad [but not unpredictable] beginnings by Justin Welby.
I wonder how heavily the presence of the Ordinariate weighs on the decision-making in the C of E and wider Communion now. Trads can’t be bullied into just accepting any “new thing” the CoE wants to experiment with..
I agree, not a good start by +Welby. ++Williams has said more to acknowledge the fears and pain of the opponents of women bishops than +Welby has done.
If he wants to be taken seriously as a mediator, then +Welby needs to show that he has at least some interest in the concerns of the conservatives.