Women Bishops

Some jottings for a session I ran yesterday on women bishops (a little of which is specific to the Diocese of Chichester or the Deanery of Dallington!):

INTRODUCTION

A controversial question we are unlikely to agree about!

“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

THE BACKGROUND

The current position: why are we discussing this again now?

Women priests allowed since 1992 with parishes able to:

(a) Refuse the priestly ministry of women

(b) Refuse to have a female incumbent

(c) Ask for alternative episcopal oversight from a Bishop who has not ordained women priests

General Synod has so far approved draft legislation:

· opening the Church of England episcopate to women;

· rescinding the present arrangements whereby parishes may pass various resolutions or

petitions for “extended episcopal oversight”;

· requiring every diocesan bishop to provide a scheme for the delegation of certain

functions to a male bishop in certain circumstances, such schemes to be subject to a

code of practice drawn up by the House of Bishops.

Before it meets again in November, The General Synod is asking Diocesan Synods to vote on the question:

‘Does this synod approve the proposals embodied in the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure and in draft Amending Canon No. 30?’

The Diocesan Synod will vote on this question on Saturday 8th October 2011.

If a majority of Diocesan Synods approve the draft legislation, it will return to the General Synod (probably in February 2012) for Final Drafting and further consideration. The Final Approval stage, at which two-thirds majorities are required in each House, could be reached in July 2012. If approved, the legislation will then go to Parliament for consideration by the Ecclesiastical Committee and each House.

Bishop John wants every Parish and Deanery in the Diocese to discuss the matter before it comes back to Diocesan Synod, and to vote on the following questions:

1. Are you in favour of ordaining women to the episcopate in the Church of England?

2. Do you think that provision should be made for those who cannot on theological grounds accept this development?

3. Do you think that the provisions in the draft measure are appropriate for this purpose?

Diocesan Synods can also pass “following motions” to express concerns about aspects of the legislation.

PCCs are being asked to vote on the four questions above, and also to consider whether they wish to put forward a following motion to be considered by Deanery Synod, and then by the Diocesan synod – and to do this by the end of June.

Deanery Synod will vote on the issues on 19th July 2011.

It is entirely up to Synod members (not their PCCs) how they vote on these questions.

THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

My answers to these questions:

1. Are you in favour of ordaining women to the episcopate in the Church of England?

No

Men & women: equal but different

Same value, dignity, status, worth etc.; different roles, offices, functions

Not questioning the ability of women!

Male headship in the home / family (Colossians 3:18; Ephesians 5:22-24)

The church is the household / family of God – a similar pattern applies

Male headship in the church (1 Corinthians 14:33-38; 1 Timothy 2:11-14)

Paul does not appeal to something cultural or temporary

Headship and submission does not necessarily imply inferiority since Christ submits to the Father as his head and both are equally God (1 Corinthians 11:3)

The authority of Scripture

Jesus and the Apostles were all men.

Although Jesus was not afraid to oppose wrong traditions or be counter-cultural, he upheld this traditional biblical approach to male leadership

From the earliest times, only men were ordained presbyter or priest (elder)

The Roman Catholic, Orthodox and many Evangelical churches do not allow women “priests” so to go ahead without wider ecumenical agreement is harmful to church unity

Bishops serve as a focus for unity and it would be hard to see how women bishops could be anything other than divisive

2. Do you think that provision should be made for those who cannot on theological grounds accept this development?

Yes.

This was promised when women priests were first introduced. It was explained in Parliament that ‘protection for incumbents and in particular parishes, should remain in perpetuity for as long as anyone wanted it.’ The then Archbishop of Canterbury said ‘it is our intention for this to be permanent and we are not thinking of rescinding it.’ A House of Bishops’ paper stated that ‘those who for a variety of reasons cannot conscientiously accept that women may be ordained as priests will continue to hold a legitimate and recognised place within the Church of England’. The 1998 Lambeth Conference passed a resolution calling on all Provinces to ‘affirm that those who dissent from, as well as those who assent to, the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate are both loyal Anglicans’. At its meeting in May 2010 the House of Bishops confirmed that “…there remains a strong commitment on the part of the House to preserve an honoured place within the Church of England for those unable to receive this development.”

3. Do you think that the provisions in the draft measure are appropriate for this purpose?

No.

The legislation suggests special arrangements within the existing structures and a national statutory code of practice to which all must have regard and powers delegated from female diocesan bishops complimentary male bishops.

This would make it very difficult for those who cannot accept the leadership and authority of a female bishop.

Would the Apostle Paul be acceptable for ordination in the Church of England and would he be willing to be ordained in such a church?

‘Does this synod approve the proposals embodied in the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure and in draft Amending Canon No. 30?’

No.

A proposed “following motion” from The Church of England Evangelical Council (supported by Forward in Faith and Church Society and others):

“This Synod [or PCC],

1. desires that all faithful Anglicans remain and thrive together in the Church of England and therefore

2. calls upon the House of Bishops to bring forward amendments to the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure to ensure that those unable on theological grounds to accept the ministry of women bishops are able to receive oversight from a bishop with authority (i.e. ordinary jurisdiction) conferred by the Measure rather than by delegation from a Diocesan Bishop.”

FURTHER RESOURCES

www.diochi.org.uk/draftlegislation

“The Rochester Report” Women Bishops in the Church of England? GS 1557 Nov 2004 287pages (available at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/papers/womenbishops.pdf ). Related study material for groups is also available at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/papers/womenbishops/wb.doc

http://www.churchsociety.org/issues_new/ministry/wombishop/iss_ministry_wombishop_intro.asp

http://reform.org.uk/

Broken Promises

Regarding Women Priests:

In the course of Parliamentary consideration of the legislation in 1993 Synod
representatives explained that the Synod had removed time limits in earlier
drafts so that ‘protection for incumbents and in particular parishes, should
remain in perpetuity for as long as anyone wanted it.’ In relation to the
proposed Act of Synod the then Archbishop of Canterbury said ‘it is our
intention for this to be permanent and we are not thinking of rescinding it.’

...

A House of Bishops’ paper, Bonds of Peace6, was issued in 1993 to explain
the proposal of the House that the special arrangements already agreed in the
legislation should be supplemented by those in the proposed Act of Synod. It
stated that ‘those who for a variety of reasons cannot conscientiously accept
that women may be ordained as priests will continue to hold a legitimate and
recognised place within the Church of England’.

Source

Controversial

The good people of Warbleton and Bodle Street Green have requested a session on Predestination, Free Will, the Sovereignty of God and all that jazz.

And I'm thinking we also ought to have a session on Women Bishops as I think our PCCs are soon to be called upon to discuss the matter.

Controversial stuff. But important and lots of fun too!

The Missionary Society of Saint Wilfrid and Saint Hilda

has been launched by some catholic Anglican bishops including (from my part of the world) the Bishop of Chichester, the Bishop of Horham and Bishop Lindsey Urwin. It will be very interesting to see how it develops.

Is the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans / FCA UK which came out of the GAFCON movement an evangelical equivalent?

There seems to be a lack of English Evangelical Bishops seeking to make a similar kind of provision?

In fact, who are the English Evangelical Bishops who are opposed to the consecration of women to the Episcopate? And even if some are in favour of it, what provision will be made for their evangelical brothers and sisters and friends who up with this can not put?

Or maybe the good old C of E itself might yet do something adequate?

Bishop of Chichester re Women Bishops

A pastoral letter from The Bishop of Chichester to the Diocese in the light of movements in the C of E towards women bishops (PDF file).

Anglicans, "Gays" and Women "Bishops"

Here's the text of the handout I prepared for our discussion / Bible study on Anglicans, "Gays" and Women "Bishops":


Readings: Gays - 1 Cor 6:9-11
Women bishops - 1 Timothy 2

Hope you’re not too sick of these issues – v. topical – better for midweek than Sun –
Ask the vicar what he thinks and what we are going to do about it!
Important issue – laity as well as clergy need to be informed
Something might happen soonish!

Jim Packer’s talk and comments on the church website – not just repeating that

Anglicans

Confused and competing versions of “Anglicanism” – for some, “Anglican” virtually = inclusivism!

Historical definition:

A catholic Reformed church

Evangelical origins at Reformation

“Legal” Definition:

Evangelical constitution – BCP, 39 Articles, Ordinal - Canons

Sound basis today – Scripture, Catholic Creeds & “historical formularies” – Declaration of Assent (CW)

Practical arguments:

“A good boat to fish from” – hatching / matching / despatching – “I am C of E” – the church people don’t go to – culture affirming – by law established - not a cult, a useful badge to wear

Strengths of Anglicanism: e.g., infant baptism, liturgy (depending on your view of these things)

Problems with Anglicanism: Liberalism (and Anglo-Catholicism) – theological colleges, administration, hierarchy

The High, The Low, The Broad: A confused trumpet blast?

A lack of moral and theological church discipline

Presenting issues: gays & women bishops – what next…?!
Fundamental issues: scriptural authority, creation order of M & F, church etc.

Gays

The problem of terminology

Practising homosexuality not homosexual “orientation” (?!) / temptation – nature / nurture not the main issue

Luther on temptation – you cant stop the birds flying over your head but you don’t have to let them nest in your hair – its not a sin to be tempted, the Lord Jesus Christ was tempted!

A gospel / salvation issue

Public notorious sin

“Ah, but you eat shell fish and that’s forbidden in Leviticus too!”

Romans 1

“that’s just your interpretation” – the clarity of Scripture

The Culture card

Homosexual practice in the ancient world – was it loving, faithful, consensual, adults? (Is it often now?!)

Lambeth statement on human sexuality

A double standard for clergy and laity - Church leaders to set an Example but…

Jeffrey John in UK – not a Bishop in Oxford diocese but Dean of St Albans

The Archbishop of Canterbury’s personal and ecclesial positions

James Jones, the (evangelical) Bishop of Liverpool – confusing article

The blessing of same-sex unions across the Atlantic

Not just a pastoral or evangelistic welcome to gay people but calling good evil and evil good

The Windsor Report & Process

Faithful clergy and parishes sought alternative episcopal oversight – Archbishop Greg Venables of Southern Cone

GAFCON - Archbishop not necessarily essential arbiter of Anglicanism

- Primate’s Council to oversee traditionalist parishes out of fellowship with their own bishops

 Sign petitions at Anglican mainstream – PCC?

Women “Bishops”

A secondary non-gospel / salvation matter of church order?

Impossible or inappropriate? C.f. gay marriages – is it is marriage? Is she a bishop?

Anglo-Catholic type arguments

Jesus and the Apostles were all men
Ministers represent Jesus and have an apostolic ministry
The Catholic church has not had women for 2000 years so how can the C of E make this change on its own

Evangelical type arguments

The Bible forbids women to teach having authority in church – 1 Cor 11
The church as the family of God reflects male / female relationships in the family – Eph 5

Arguments over women priests / presbyters / preachers

Female / male headship – women preachers but not senior pastors / incumbents / presbyters?

Tom Wright, the (evangelical) Bishop of Durham

Culture card – so what? - what is a biblical culture?

The Manchester Report

Possible “solutions”: Third Provence, Flying / Super Bishops, (statutory) Code of Practice, Nothing

 Write to bishops, synod members, MPs, Queen

No women bishops before 2014 ish

“More in line with our culture” or more compromised with the “world”? – married to the spirit of the age, widowed in the next?

See also:

Virtue on line (American evangelical Anglican news service); Reform; Church Society

Presenting & Fundamental Issues

Evangelicals have often argued that though the "presenting issues" which have brought Anglicanism to a crisis are homosexual practice among the clergy and women in the episcopate, the underlying issue, the fundamental issue is the authority of the Bible. I agree. Sometimes hermeneutics have been included. As has God's creation pattern for men and women. We need to think too about our doctrine of the Church and its ministry. There are lots of fundamental issues and they're all related, it seems.

Could I accept women bishops?

I am against women being consecrated bishops, I don't think women should preach to men and they probably shouldn't be presbyters. But could I accept a woman bishop?

After all, there probably are or have been other people whom I don't reckon should be bishops and I would have accepted their ministry unless I was convinced they were New Testament False Teachers.

When I was at Oak Hill I obediently went to chapel (mostly!) when women were preaching and accepted their ministry because I thought that it wasn't for me to decide who preaches in chapel and I am required (by being there) to go. Likewise, it is not (perhaps, sadly! - hee hee) for me to choose the bishops and if we want to continue in the C of E it seems we will soon be stuck with it. Whether we want to stay in is, I think, a different question, but I think we could.

Church "in line with society"

A number of speakers on the Today programme this morning were saying that the C of E is coming "in line with society" in accepting women as Bishops. When you look at our society and remember that the "world" is under the judgement of God, this doesn't seem like great news to me. Marry the spirit of the age and you will be a widow in the next.

Women Bishops: What now?

So do we write to our MPs and Her Majesty the Queen about all this now? It would be fascinating to know what her position on women bishops is.

C of E: revisionist splinter-group?

I think we evangelicals should perhaps take more seriously than we sometimes have the argument of our Anglo-Catholic brethren that to consecrate women to the episcopate would be to step outside the tradition of the Catholic church.

Since the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox and Evangelicals (mainly!) do not have women in the most senior positions of ecclesiastical leadership, the C of E will be clearly and visibly aligning herself in this way with the liberal revisionist rump if she goes down this line.

It would be interesting to know the stats on numbers of Christians and churches that would advocate women bishops?

Anglicans, Gays & Women Bishops

The Lord being my helper, I think I'll speak on this subject at our mid-week meeting tomorrow. There'll be an hour for talk and discussion then 30mins for prayer and some bible study ought to be included. I hope people aren't too sick of it all. What would you say? Any pointers?