Madeleine Davies reports in today’s Church Times that July might be too soon to return to fray, bishops warn.
CAMPAIGNERS who want to see a fresh Measure to admit women to the episcopate at the General Synod next July may be disappointed, two bishops have suggested…
On Tuesday, however, the Bishop of Dover, the Rt Revd Trevor Willmott, suggested that the House “ought to be able to share with people a process” at the Synod in July. “That will lead in due course to fresh legislative proposals.”…
“July might be too soon to return to the fray, bishops warn”.
At last some sensible comment seems to be emerging from the general atmosphere of panic which erupted following last month’s vote.
Why not address this matter in February 2013? I do not see the point in waiting another half year. It would be a great step forward if women in the CofE could be consecrated as bishops within the coming year. This silliness to delay again and again is counterproductive on every level.
Hidden at the end of the article:
“Next Wednesday, a debate on the Synod vote is scheduled to take place in the House of Commons. It will be introduced by Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP for Exeter, who is a patron of the Group for Rescinding the Act of Synod.”
And indeed, on the parliamentary schedule for Wednesday 12 December, we see:
“Backbench Business
“Church of England Synod vote on women bishops”
Depressing to see that bishops still haven’t got it. Parliament isn’t going to wait that long. And within the church we need theology and scholarship to challenge the fundamentalists, not lazy pragmatism and theological relativism. This lot need a lesson in history from Diarmuid MacCulloch.
Panic? Don’t be offensively silly.
Deep and angry shame, rather, that the Church, having decided a generation ago that there is no valid theological obstacle to the admission of women to Holy Orders should still be too afraid to implement that insight.
Yes, depressing indeed that the Bishop of Dover really really hasn’t got it.
Much as I am inclined to disagree with the +Dover just about most things – I wonder how productive it is to rush back in to action in February? It would be likely that only similar-with-a-small-tweak legislation could return in that time frame, which wouldn’t in fact address the concerns those pro WB had about the legislation. It would in fact still be the same Synod and therefore the C of E would risk ending with the same result, if the only legislation likely to pass in February is one that provides MORE provision I , for one, don’t want… Read more »