Hopes of an end to the Church of England’s 40-year battle over women bishops could face a last-minute challenge this week amid wrangling over ordination services and an argument about the definition of a single word….
Hopes of an end to the Church of England’s 40-year battle over women bishops could face a last-minute challenge this week amid wrangling over ordination services and an argument about the definition of a single word….
Well, no doubt all are reassured by the example of PB Schori’s handling of the EcUSA and her honorary degree from Oxford (D.D., though whether the doctorate is in Divinity or Depositions is a bit unclear) and plaudits from ABC Welby.
/sarcasm
#1- I daresay that all that Synod legislation he is sponsoring reads in an entirely different light when you realize he is proposing KJS as the ideal for all women bishops. I am surprised that Synod members did not run away in terror at the prospect of an HoB with 6 or 7 KJS’s.
Of course, perhaps Welby will see the light, resign next year, and allow the paragon of female episcopacy to take her proper place as Archbishop of Canterbury.
No doubt someone will object with “she is not a citizen of the Commonwealth” or some such. But let me remind you, until a couple days ago, Oxford never gave a degree, honorary or otherwise, to someone who claimed to be Dean of a non-existent school on their curriculum vitae.
[blockquote] “Draft guidelines say simply that she could bring in a male bishop to minister to that parish and “entrust†some of her responsibilities to him.
Reform asked for a footnote explaining what that would mean in practice but the current bishops decided against making any additions.
Mrs Leafe said the refusal did not bode well for hopes of securing agreement from all sides. “I think it is a sign of how complicated this so-called ‘simpler’ measure is becoming and I think people are recognising that it isn’t as simple as it seems,†she said.” [/blockquote]
Orthodox evangelicals and anglo-catholics in England are right to scrutinize and question any assurances given to them by their bishops. They should not trust anything said to them.
It is also very important that the orthodox hold out with a strong witness: CofE may or may not get women bishops this time around. But if and when it does, it is already clear that it will be a disaster for CofE – the sort of women who get preferment will be mostly liberals of the most extreme kind. Many people, both inside and outside the church will be looking for an alternative, and it is important that the orthodox have shown by then that they are consistent, i.e. that they can be trusted to hold to their beliefs. That is what most people seek in a church.