Press release from the Church of England
Consultation paper on the operation of the Resolution of Disputes Procedure
04 June 2015
House of Bishops’ Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests
Consultation Paper on the Operation of the Resolution of Disputes Procedure
The Independent Reviewer, Sir Philip Mawer, appointed to consider grievances and concerns relating to the operation of the House of Bishops’ Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests has issued a consultation paper on the working of the disputes resolution procedure. The paper sets out how Sir Philip intends to implement the new procedure.
The consultation paper is available here.
The closing date for comments is 4 September 2015
In practical terms, the most vulnerable people in this process – and probably numerically the highest number – are likely to be individuals *within* churches, where the individuals in conscience don’t agree with female bishops, but where the local church does not seek pastoral oversight because dissenters are in a minority. Given that it is desirable for people to be retained, protected, and cared for within local church communities where they may have belonged all their lives, what pastoral provisions are intended for such individuals? (Note – I personally believe in female ordination and episcopacy, but that does not mean… Read more »
And the result of that “generosity”, Susannah will be to delay gay marriage in the Church of England. They will not brook a church within a church for the likes of the pro gay lobby. They will join with their evangelical brethren ( who support women’s ordination ) and keep gays out of the Church of England for at least 20 years.
I agree with Susannah on tolerance, but there should be a quid pro quo here. The church should’ve traded toleration for traditional positions for tolerance of liberal positions. Not just on sexuality, but in theology.
Instead, tolerance only seems to run one way: conservatives demand safeguards, but also the right to impose their “discipline” on liberals.
This isn’t tolerance, it’s hegemony.