(Church Times) C of E to set about resolving deadlock on women bishops

Posted by Kendall Harmon

Prebendary [Rod] Thomas said on Monday that Reform would like the talks to be chaired by the Archbishop-designate, the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Justin Welby. "We feel very much that Justin Welby has been put by God in this place with a unique set of gifts to help us resolve this problem; he has our complete trust in seeking to move forward."

Campaigners for women bishops who are angry at the outcome of last week's vote have, however, indicated that they will press for a single-clause Measure, without provision for traditionalists enshrined in it.

The Rt Revd John Gladwin, a former Bishop of Chelmsford and the honorary vice-president of WATCH, said that opponents of the Measure had "blown up the bridge to any compromise solution". The "only . . . route" that could now be taken, he said, "is the route which removes all discriminatory provisions from the life and ministry of the Church".

Read it all.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Anglican Provinces • Church of England (CoE) • CoE Bishops • * Culture-Watch • Women

5 Comments
Posted November 30, 2012 at 5:30 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Peter dH wrote:

Christina Rees [...]  said that conservative Evangelicals were “using finding the perfect arrangements [for opponents] as a smokescreen. I think basically what they want is never to allow the Church of England to have women bishops.”

Except that the original wording of 5(1)c looked set to pass, if it hadn’t been for WATCH et al threatening to vote it down. And Christina Rees knows it well.

This is a blatant lie in the service of political posturing, and very far removed indeed from the moral landscape of the Sermon on the Mount. I speak here as someone in favour of WB in principle.

God have mercy on the Church.

November 30, 8:43 am | [comment link]
2. Katherine wrote:

What we are seeing, and we have seen it before, is a total lack of Christian charity towards the minority who cannot accept the modern innovation of ordained women.  The whole process of “reception” has degenerated into a determination to run them out or utterly subdue them, a pro-WO jihad which is unseemly and, it seems to me, un-Christian.  Peter dH, if only there were more like you, a charitable provision would be made.

November 30, 9:48 am | [comment link]
3. Catholic Mom wrote:

Hmm..my previous comment seems to have disappeared without a trace.  Possibly because it was perceived as violating the “giving advice to stay with or depart from a Church” rule.   

[As has this one been deleted by Elf]

November 30, 3:12 pm | [comment link]
4. Terry Tee wrote:

Catholic Mom:  I would add how strange I found it that, in the early discussions on the Anglican Covenant, Abp Rowan Williams clearly ruled out Petrine ministry in the sense of the one holding the whole together by setting limits where each might go.  Of course, whether he could have done so in the first place is a moot point;  perhaps he hath not the power.  Yet I was taken aback that he so clearly rejected the idea.  Or at least, so I remember.  BTW I greatly respect him, notwithstanding occasional bashings that he gets on this site.  And incidentally again, it is a sign of the times that he will be honoured guest in Westminster (RC) Cathedral in London on 7th December at Sung Vespers for the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception.  The Catholic Archbishop, Vincent Nichols, will give thanks at the service for + RW’s ministry and for the good ecumenical relations they have enjoyed.

November 30, 3:20 pm | [comment link]
5. Gregory wrote:

The intolerance of tolerance.

December 1, 11:50 am | [comment link]
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