The Church of England, it is often said, is a broad church. You can’t get broader than John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford and chair of the church’s board of education since January 2011. When he went up to Oxford University, he joined the Conservative and Labour parties simultaneously, though today, he admits, quietly and a little grudgingly, to being “on the left”. In ecclesiastical terms, he is said to be an “open evangelical” which would mean, very loosely, that he is traditional in doctrine but liberal in political and social matters, including the ordination of women as bishops. He prefers, however, to resist even that label, perhaps understandably, since one clergyman described an open evangelical to me as “a bigot who wants a nicer title”. Pritchard says: “I am a Christian of the centre, the generous centre”.
The right man, you may think, to negotiate the turbulent currents of the education system, in which Pritchard plays a key role.
“In ecclesiastical terms, he is said to be an “open evangelical” which would mean, very loosely, that he is traditional in doctrine but liberal in political and social matters, including the ordination of women as bishops.”
And what do temporal and secular “political and social matters” have to do with leading The Body of Christ?
But at least categorizing women’s ordination to the priesthood and consecration to the status of bishop as “political and social matters” is an honest statement.
Todate, there has not been a conclusive theological proof of the correctness of women’s ordination. Just radical rhetoric and actions based upon secular agitation.
I believe that I am neutral on women’s ordination. I am just waiting for an appropriately studied, deliberated and approved synodic action on this issue. It hasn’t happened.
Todate, all that has happened has been a series of secularly driven ‘spirit of the times’ political blitzkriegs that have forced women’s ordination on several national churches.