Affirming Catholicism has issued this press release:
10/04/08 – for immediate release
Vote on women bishops in Church in Wales exposes a key issue for the Church of England too.
Affirming Catholicism shares the disappointment of most members of the Church in Wales that the move to ordain women as bishops did not receive a large enough majority to be passed. We regret that the God-given gifts that women have to offer as bishops for the Church in Wales continue to be refused.
Hendrik Haye, convenor of Affirming Catholicism South Wales, said: ‘Although we are saddened by the result, we are glad that there was no compromise on the principle that women bishops must be accepted on exactly the same terms as men’.
Rev’d Jonathan Clark, a member of the General Synod of the Church of England and of Affirming Catholicism’s Board, said: ‘We believe that the church can and should include, as it does now, people who disagree about this issue. But the debate in the Church in Wales has highlighted the problem also facing the Church of England: some members don’t believe their own church has the right to make decisions about who will be ordained. The issue was fudged when women were ordained as priests: now it has come out into the open.’
The Church of England’s General Synod is expected to debate the ordination of women as bishops at its meeting in July.
• Affirming Catholicism is ‘a movement of inspiration and hope in the Anglican Communion, seeking to bring together and strengthen lay and ordained people who recognize the positive, inclusive and joyful currents in the Catholic tradition of Christianity.’
while the conservatives brag about winning ground at one level, they hope that no one notices the changes at another; namely, Australia’s first female Anglican bishop :
http://news.smh.com.au/anglicans-appoint-first-woman-bishop/20080411-25g6.html
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/first-woman-bishop-to-be-appointed/2008/04/11/1207856790126.html
http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKSYD16487120080411
This “obviously” has no relevance to the true Christaians, as Jesus is complete and sufficient unto himself and has no need of the Daughter of Zion nor a Covenant of Peace.
Congrats to the Aussies.
Also, the Diocese of Edmonton, has just elected their replacement for Victoria Matthews (who was just confirmed as the new Bishop of Christchurch in New Zealand). She is Jane Alexander – currently Dean of All Saints Cathedral – http://www.anglicanjournal.com/issues/2008/134/apr/04/article/diocese-of-edmonton-elects-dean-as-bishop/.
So that makes two female diocesans in Canada now (out of 30), as Sue Moxley was elected in the fall to replace Fred Hiltz as Bishop of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. (Sue was already a Suffragan of the Diocese).
I really don’t understand the objection to structural provision for opponents. I don’t mean a flying bishop functioning under an existing diocesan – that would be offensive to the diocesan, especially a woman. But what is so wrong with an alternative jurisdiction?? Just because I disagree with a fellow sister/brother does not mean I believe they should not have their needs met. I think the vast majority in favor of female bishops will be very angry indeed if a few zealots take the lead and depict us all as being against other faithful followers with whom we disagree. Worse still,… Read more »
I am pleased that the momentum is growing that a bantustan for the “trads” is totally unacceptable. Could it be that not only women would be second calss bishops, but the discrimination would extend to men ordained and confirmed by them . A two caste Church of England.
Wake up and smell the coffee, Wales et. al. We’re here to stay.
The Rev’d Lois Keen
The CofE is at least preparing the ground for the ordination of women to the episcopacy with the appointments of some women as archdeacons and deans. That’s taken long enough since women were first priested. The Church in Wales hasn’t even started on this path yet. I don’t see any sign of an inclusive leadership strategy or action plan in place. It’s a sad thing to debate principles and fail to agree on how to manage basic disagreement, but it’s even sadder not even to make progress where a path to progress was made possible by ordaining women to priesthood… Read more »
I’m afraid Keith is right – but so is Lois.
Can we have a woman bishop in St David’s – just pro tem – Betty Mcniven would be my choice
Good on Wales for insisting that women bishops be fully accepted or not at all. No half measures! The Flying Bishop Scheme in the CofE is a dangerous ecclesiological innovation that should have been properly aired in the Instruments of Unity before being implemented (and then not implemented). It was a political deal that has saddled the Communion with a force capable of undermining the Catholic foundations of the Church. For Wales to stand against the tide and insist that there be no deal-brokering was an important step. It is unfortunate that this has meant delaying acceptance of women as… Read more »