The Church of England is considering setting up an ombudsman to rule on disputes arising from the issue of women bishops.
If approved by the General Synod next month, the “independent reviewer” would investigate and rule on rows among Anglicans. Clergy who refuse to co-operate with its investigations would face disciplinary procedures.
Deep divisions have opened up within the Church of England over the proposed introduction of female bishops, which was blocked last year, despite most of the synod backing the move.
Somebody in the UK help me with this. It sounds like this is a liberal idea to make conservative clergy go along with women bishops and suffer a penalty if they don’t. I could be wrong–I hope I am.
I think you may be correct, David. Too bad Peter and the Apostles didn’t have an ombudsman on Pentecost: they might have lived a long and prosperous life.
A) If the word of bishops could be trusted, you would not need an ombudsman. But if that is the case, why would an ombudsman be any more trustworthy, as such person will be chosen by those already committed to destroying the unity of the church by imposing women bishops on the orthodox?
B) From the article, one would conclude that it will be the job of the ombudsman to impose appropriate penalties on those clergy who refuse to go along with women bishops. This is what is known in the US as an “enforcer.”
C) There is no mention of discipline for those bishops who violate the supposed “code of practice” (or whatever) by refusing appropriate oversight for orthodox parishes.
#2- I believe the ombudsman of that time was named Pontius Pilate. I imagine the new one will also be quite fastidious and wash his hands frequently.
#5, I expect in that case the Ombudsman will remain true to tradition.
If a clergyman does not agree to accept women bishops he will direct his minions to “Stwike him, vewwy woughly” and “thwow him to the floor”.
Its just like the beginnings of the TEC debacle again, the details are somewhat different but the overall stench is the same.
I hope and pray that CofE clergy have the sense to start cutting ties that can bind them to this rubbish. Set up trust funds for their churches, don’t communicate with their bishop or invite him/her to visit, and seek alternative oversight.
And look who’s involved:
[blockquote] “William Fittall, secretary general of the synod, said the ombudsman plans represented the “beginning of a new and hopeful phase”.” [/blockquote]
What a surprise.
There is, and has been for many years, an “ecclesiastical ombudsman” in the Church of Sweden; and during all those years the opponents of WO have been more and more marginalized. One thinks of the inscriptions on so many medieval grave monuments beginning, “Sum quod eris, eram quod es …”
Michael A,
Assuming she does not re-elect herself PB, KJS would be perfect for the job. Examine her record in TEC. When she took over in 2006, there were 3 whole dioceses and hundreds of additional parishes that did not accept the ministry of women bishops. Now, due largely to her personal efforts, every single diocese and parish in TEC recognizes women bishops as legitimate heirs of the apostles. And there are now very few people in TEC who object to gay marriage, again, substantially due to her personal efforts. I am sure she would be equally successful in CoE.
Remind me, for the sake of the CoE, not to post this on MCJ.
#8 Dr William Tighe
[blockquote]There is, and has been for many years, an “ecclesiastical ombudsman†in the Church of Sweden; and during all those years the opponents of WO have been more and more marginalized[/blockquote]
That is interesting. Please tell us more Professor Tighe.