The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Forward in Faith have issued this statement on the House of Bishops report GS 1886 Women In the Episcopate – New Legislative Proposals. They do not like the bishops’ proposals.
WOMEN IN THE EPISCOPATE: NEW LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS
STATEMENT FROM FORWARD IN FAITHWe are grateful for the work of the working group whose report is annexed to the House of Bishops report GS 1886 (‘Women in the Episcopate – New Legislative Proposals’). We strongly welcome the House of Bishops’ endorsement of the group’s five-point vision (para. 12 of the House’s report).
However, we are puzzled by the conclusions that the House has apparently drawn from the working group’s report.
We continue to believe that a solution to address the new reality of women bishops will need to build on the existing framework which has enabled us to live together in the Church of England over the last twenty years. We agree with the view that there can be ‘no cheap trust’. Our future can only be based on a mutually trusting relationship. The proposal of legislation which sweeps away existing legal security damages trust.
In November, an attempt to push through a Measure with legal provisions which no representative of the minority recognized as remotely adequate failed – after much prayer and invocation of the Holy Spirit. We are puzzled as to why the House of Bishops apparently believes that its new proposals, which would involve no legally binding provision at all, are more likely to gain the necessary majorities.
As an organization whose members are overwhelmingly lay, the fact that the House of Bishops’ proposals would involve a significant shift of power in favour of incumbents and bishops is of particular concern to us. So too is the fact that the proposals would expose lay representatives, as well as incumbents and priests in charge, to the risk of incurring significant costs in defending themselves against legal challenges.
We still hope that the ‘new way forward’ promised in February will involve prayer, reconciliation, mutual respect and consensus. We welcome the facilitated conversations as a means of moving towards this end. We do not believe that the House of Bishops’ preferred option (Option 1) represents the mind of the whole Church of England.
We therefore hope that the General Synod will choose a way forward which builds on the existing arrangements rather one which destroys them. Such legislation would be far more likely to secure final approval in the shortest possible time.
Our comments and questions are set out in more detail in the document which accompanies this statement.
+ JONATHAN FULHAM
The Rt Revd Jonathan Baker, Bishop of Fulham
ChairmanLINDSAY NEWCOMBE
Dr Lindsay Newcombe
Vice-Chairman4 June 2013
The comments and questions are below the fold.
GS 1886 – COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS FROM FORWARD IN FAITH
1. In commenting on the ‘Report from the House of Bishops’ on new legislative proposals, we begin by reiterating that we are not trying to prevent women from becoming bishops in the Church of England.
2. Rather, we are trying to ensure that new legislation will provide a firm basis for those who uphold the traditional understanding of the Church and its ministry and sacraments to continue to flourish within the Church of England. We cannot see that the House of Bishops’ proposal would achieve this.
3. The Secretary General’s note about ‘a new way forward’ (GS Misc 1042), circulated in February with the agreement of the House of Bishops, reported that the facilitated conversations revealed ‘strong support for giving the highest priority to finding a solution which will enable legislation to be approved by Synod on the fastest possible timetable’ (para. 9) – involving final approval by the present Synod. We are puzzled as to why the House of Bishops apparently believes that its new proposals will achieve this.
4. The House of Bishops’ proposal would transfer power from the laity (who currently have the ability to pass the legally binding Resolutions A and B) to bishops, patrons, and incumbents or priests in charge, who would be free to take ‘discretionary decisions’ (GS 1886: Annex, para. 88) about appointments and ministry in parishes, ‘taking such account as they wished of any statements declarations or guidance that the House of Bishops might have made nationally’ (Annex, para. 83). As the great majority of Forward in Faith’s members are laypeople (including very large numbers of lay women), we note this with particular concern. We are also puzzled as to why the House of Bishops apparently believes that this new proposal is more likely to commend itself to the House of Laity than the Measure which failed in November.
5. Reference is made to the legal right of representatives of the laity to veto parochial appointments. However, we note that if the Bishop suspends presentation to the living, as happens in a great many cases, parish representatives have no legal right to veto the appointment of a priest in charge.
6. We note with concern that, as the report admits, there would be a possibility of litigation against lay representatives exercising their veto on the presentation of an incumbent, in which case they would be ‘personally exposed to having to defend (at their own cost) their decision’ (Annex, para. 133). Again, we are puzzled as to why the House of Bishops apparently believes that this new proposal is more likely to commend itself to the House of Laity than the Measure which failed in November.
7. We further note with concern that an incumbent or priest in charge who declined to nominate a female curate ‘would be in a similar position’ (Annex, para. 134).
8. GS 1042 included four propositions from the working group which ‘commanded a wide measure of endorsement’ in the facilitated conversations (para. 17). The fourth of these (paras 28-9) was that any new package would need to fulfil two objectives:
The House of Bishops’ new proposal is to repeal the 1993 Measure (including Resolutions A and B) without replacing them with any legal provision at all. This cannot fulfil the objective of providing ‘a greater sense of security for the minority’ than the Measure which failed in November.
9. While trust and grace are obviously important elements in the life of the Church, we agree with the Church Times in noting:
10. The 1993 settlement included elements that are difficult for female priests and their supporters. It also included elements that are difficult for us. That is the nature of compromise. Despite those elements of difficulty, we continue to believe that the 1993 settlement has essentially worked and that only a solution which builds on it rather than destroying it stands any chance of commending itself to a sufficiently broad range of members of the Church of England and of the General Synod.
11. In November 2012 a legislative process that had begun six years earlier (with the appointment of a legislative drafting group) ended in failure. At no stage in the process had there been any evidence that the legislation would command the support of the necessary two-thirds in the House of Laity. The fact that the legislative process was nevertheless pursued to its predictable conclusion has been hugely damaging for the Church of England’s credibility. To embark upon a fresh legislative process on the basis of proposals that would appear to stand even less chance of commanding the necessary breadth of support would be highly irresponsible.
12. We continue to be committed to playing our full part in working to identify a way forward that is based on consensus and will command the necessary breadth of support.
4 June 2013
Like so many in the church I am sick of all this. To quote Cromwell, ‘In the name of God go’. Let all those who cannot support Women Bishops depart for Rome and the rest of us can concentrate on spreading the Gospel.
“In November, an attempt to push through a Measure with legal provisions which no representative of the minority recognized as remotely adequate failed – after much prayer and invocation of the Holy Spirit. We are puzzled as to why the House of Bishops apparently believes that its new proposals, which would involve no legally binding provision at all, are more likely to gain the necessary majorities.”
That is a very good question……
“Let all those who cannot support Women Bishops depart for Rome and the rest of us can concentrate on spreading the Gospel.”
So, then, the next massive preoccupation / distraction for the Church won’t be the LGTB ‘rights’ agenda, there will be just a concentration on spreading the Gospel? Good luck with that … whoever is left …
” To quote Cromwell…”
Another good friend of Anglicanism!
… because only the final approval will require 2/3rds majorities, and that is scheduled for either July or November 2015. The earlier date would involve a decision by the Synod as presently constituted; the later date would be the first sitting of the next Synod, so the make-up may be substantially different. No doubt the process could be made to move faster or slower as necessary. And this shows just how important the next round of elections to the House of Laity of GS could be.
John Clark – it just isn’t a case of departing for Rome. Some have, granted, but many Anglo-Catholics won’t because they do not wish to leave the Church for some foreign ecclesial body. OK, I put it in extreme terms, but the nub of it is that for those with Catholic inclinations the succession of bishops is important. In this country the “authentic” and local succession lies in the Church of England. To many of Catholic leanings, instinct and Tradition say that for an English Christian only the Church of England will do. You can’t just leave the family you’re… Read more »
‘The sooner we all understand that, and stop trying to wish members of the family away….’
Indeed, let us stop trying to wish female members of the family away from any ordained order.
Lets have an exceptional arrangement for Anglo Catholics for the interim, until 2015 and another for women in the episcopate, ie “a 45th Diocese for a woman, bishop of whitby” in celebration and in the gift of the queen. X
I’m not sure these homely Grantham Grocer analogies really help. But if one member of the family keeps shouting “You’re not really my father!” and “Aunty doesn’t doesn’t make her boys play with girls!” then it’s time for TufLuv. “Of course we’ll always love you, and there’s always a place for you here. But when you’re in this house you do not, repeat you do not, behave the way you’ve been doing to your sisters.”
There seems to be a complete lack of Christian love/charity in the comment by John Clark. Why should I be forced to leave the church of my birth because of innovations which have no basis in Scripture or Tradition?
No one would force anyone to go. If the Bishops’ recommendations go forward and people decide to leave, that would be their choice, no one else’s.
Helen, you can’t seriously be saying that the bishops bear no responsibility for their recommendations? By that logic they could decide to abolish the priesthood and then hold up their hands when people leave the church – “Well it’s their choice!” We have to accept that opponents of women’s ordination are not opposed because they’re nasty or misogynistic – many of them are women. We can’t legislate for people’s consciences, we have to give generous provision that gives opponents lasting security. I pray we can find a solution.
Jeremy –
“Indeed, let us stop trying to wish female members of the family away from any ordained order.”
Isn’t there a difference between wishing away someone who is a member of the family, and wishing someone in the family wouldn’t do a particular thing? Not saying the latter is OK, just that they are not the same kind of wishing away.
american pike – (describing the Church as a household isn’t new to me, I think) ‘”But when you’re in this house you do not, repeat you do not, behave the way you’ve been doing to your sisters.”‘ An entirely fair point – sometimes families do have to do this. Trouble is, the rules have been changed, and most of the neighbours are living by the old rules. Nor is the head of the household who has the right to lay down rules entirely clear (both sides argue from Tradition and Scripture about the will of God). So in a family… Read more »
Bernard
the CoE has a very clear decision making process which it has painstakingly followed. That does not mean that everyone will agree with the decisions it makes, but the “how families make decisions” question is not in doubt.
Erika, indeed there is a clear process, and we’re in the middle of it on this question. As it stands, the decision is that women can’t be bishops. One might argue that bringing the question of women bishops back in the lifetime of this Synod is breaking the rules of the process – certainly the spirit, although not the letter. It is interesting to wonder whether the Church would have proceeded again so soon if Parliament had kept out of it. Anyway, the point which is in doubt, judging by the “depart for Rome” type comments (and other unpleasantries, including… Read more »
Bernard “As it stands, the decision is that women can’t be bishops.” Indeed, and there are no women bishops because of that. But the current decision does not mean that the CoE has any theological objections to women as bishops. It is simply a matter of finding the right provisions before the first women bishop can be consecrated. That, and only that, was what the Draft Measure in November was about. And the CoE is planning to keep its promise to traditionalists. There will be provisions. What there has never been are promises that every single traditionalist will get 100%… Read more »
John Clark is in essence correct. The problem is that 20 years ago the message which probably won the day was that without women ministers the church would decline. Unfortunately that has not been true and the decline has carried on and in lots of places accelerated. Just how many more people need to be alienated before some sense is brought to bear?
‘Not very loving towards John who has to eat food he cannot abide or starve.’ Really? My kids eat spinach regularly whether they love it or not because essentially it’s very good for them. Jus’ talking dietary needs.
From a clearly cruel Mum
ps They also love junk food, but I don’t dish it up that much, I think its called being a responsible adult.
I’m saying Oliver that you have a choice, just as I do. How you exercise that choice is your responsibility, no one else’s. As for the bishops, the scenario you paint is ludicrous.
“the decline has carried on and in lots of places accelerated” Joseph Golightly.
True, but correlation is not the same as causation. Without a control group there is no way of knowing what the level of CofE attendance would be had women not become priests.
Erika, “But the current decision does not mean that the CoE has any theological objections to women as bishops.” I’m not sure that’s strictly true. If there were “not … any theological objections” then presumably we’d have women bishops. There are just enough theological objections within the CofE to prevent it. The trouble is that the CofE isn’t a uniform block, nor does it have a magisterium to say what its theology actually is. As for the promised provisions, I think that was taken at the time to mean Resolutions A, B, and C (C exists because the Bishops wanted… Read more »
That’s true but I don’t think you can divorce the choice people make (which is their own) from the decisions made by others that force them to make that choice. I’m afraid the bishops point stands- you can’t make life intolerable for one section of the church and then act all innocent when your decisions have essentially forced them out. If I burnt your house down, it would be facetious of me to simply call your decision to move “your choice”, as if me burning it down was of no import.
Laurence. The “control” you seem to want is borne out in the parishes who do not have women ministers where there is growth both in Reform and FIF set ups. Perhaps looking at the USA you will see the same result. What else do you require?
Laurence. The “control” you seem to want is borne out in the parishes who do not have women ministers where there is growth both in Reform and FIF set ups. Perhaps looking at the USA you will see the same result. What else do you require?
I hope that CoE can hold the family together. Innovations??? God created male and female in God’s image. Jesus was indeed the great innovator on behalf of women. He said “don’t judge,” he broke taboos to teach and heal women. Women were the first witnesses to the Resurrection. It is man who has resisted the innovations of Jesus. And he has done so with cruelty. Catholic. The sacraments are just as potent when administered by the women priests and bishops whom God has called. But what do you mean by Catholic? Do you mean Rome? I don’t. Using tradition, scripture,… Read more »
“There are just enough theological objections within the CofE to prevent it.” Seeing we have had women priests for 20 years and there is no difference between priests and bishops in terms of authority (the headship problem) or sacramental assurance, the objections that a group within the CoE still hold are not the objections of the church as a whole. All it promised was to recognise the integrity of the minority’s views, it did not actually say that it shared them. And among those who voted against the Draft Measure in November speaker after speaker explained that they did not… Read more »
In what sense is life being made intolerable for one section of the church Oliver? This kind of inflated language (“forced out ” is another example) is becoming increasingly tedious. Those who use it are not victims, despite all their protestations; they are people who need to grow up.
Helen, life is being made intolerable because traditionalists are being told that if they wish to stay in the church of their baptism they must subscribe to a doctrine of the priesthood which they believe is contrary to revelation.
Erika, I think it would be better to say that the question is “being answered.” We are still in the process of working out what we think, although it seems that the final answer will be the one we’re heading towards. The answer won’t actually be given until a Measure is enacted – which seems to be implicit in GS 1886 – once a Measure is passed anyone ministering in the C of E “must then be prepared to acknowledge that [it] has reached a clear decision on the matter.” And yes, times change, but that doesn’t mean we break… Read more »
Bernard I think that it is truly important to realise that the CoE has decided that women can be bishops. The Draft Measure was about how to achieve that aim and it was rejected because the Provisions offered were deemed to have been inadequate. Some individuals may still be making their minds up on this but the church has a whole has. As for breaking promises – I would still like to know what firm promises were given. Whether they mean that we cannot now have women bishops on an equal footing as men, never ever. Can you point me… Read more »
Erika, this is precisely why traditionalists feel disenfranchised. You are saying we must back women bishops or parliament will force it through. Well in that case why back the legislation? If it quickened disestablishment then that’s all to the good, since establishment has become a golden calf of the bishops that needs destroying.
Edward I don’t think that Parliament will force through women bishops. But it will say that it cannot continue to have established ties with an organisation that is so discriminatory. Already, there is a growing number of charities who can no longer work with the CoE because its own anti discrimination rules prevent it from working with organisations that do not afford women and gay people full equality. You cannot have an organisation like that as part of the Legislative in your country. Parliament would not “quicken” disestablishment, it would set it in motion. And although I agree with your… Read more »
Edward. Parliament exempted the Church of England from the provisions of the Equalities Act. What they gave can be taken away. It will be if they (Synod) do not get on and get those women as bishops.
Thought is still free in the Anglican Church, Oliver; there is no window into men’s souls. So I’m not sure in what sense you use the word “subscribe”. Self styled traditionalists will certainly be asked to accept that the rest of the Church of England has accepted women’s ministry and that bishops are bishops, no matter what their gender. If that’s intolerable, well I’m sorry, but perhaps you should try engaging with the theology that has occasioned the change, and look at the history of the priesthood rather than accepting it as “revelation”.
Helen, what you’ve just written says it all. You speak of thought still being free, yet in the same breath demand that traditionalists accept that “bishops are bishops no matter what their gender”. That is precisely the issue at hand – we don’t believe women are or ever can be bishops at all, and any system that asks us to treat them as such would be contrary to our genuinely held beliefs of God’s wishes for our church. I would accept that the Church of England tells its people that women can be bishops, but I would maintain that this… Read more »