No longer leaving north London for Whitby: the Revd Philip
North
Credit: DIOCESE OF YORK
No longer leaving north London for Whitby: the Revd Philip
North
THE Revd Philip North, Team Rector
in the Old St Pancras Team Ministry, in London, this week withdrew
his acceptance of his nomination as Bishop of Whitby after
protests at his opposition to women bishops. He would have been
the third opponent in succession to hold the
appointment.
Fr North was nominated less than two
months ago to succeed Dr Martin Warner, after the latter was
translated to Chichester (News, 26
October). Speaking in the General Synod debate on the
women-bishops legislation last month (
Synod, 30 November), Fr North said that he valued the ministry
of women deeply, but stated: "I simply do not accept the authority
of the Church of England to make this decision" (about women
bishops). The Church of England was "not some small, independent
state Church, but part of the wider Catholic Church with all its
limitations and all the joys that that entails".
In a statement issued on Sunday night by the diocese
of London, Fr North said: "It was a great honour to be
chosen for this role, and I had been very much looking forward to
taking up the position. However, in the light of the recent vote in
the General Synod, and having listened to the views of people in
the Archdeaconry of Cleveland, I have concluded that it is not
possible for me, at this difficult time for our Church, to be a
focus for unity. I have therefore decided that it is better to step
aside at this stage.
"I have reached this
decision after a time of deep reflection and feel sure that it is
for the best. I now look forward to refocusing my energies on the
pastoral needs of my parish."
A churchwarden of St
Oswald's, Lythe, in Whitby, John Secker, had written to the
Archbishop of York, Dr Sentamu, in a letter dated 28 November,
which gathered a number of signatories.
The letter said: "We are
puzzled, dismayed and very disappointed that for the third time
running we have been assigned a Bishop of Whitby who does not
accept the ordination of women priests. . .
"We are aware that some
parishes, some clergy, and some of the laity in the Whitby
bishopric do not accept the validity of women priests but, as in
the rest of the country, a substantial majority of us do. So why
should we have to have a bishop who does not accept them? We assume
that there must be some sort of rationale behind the decision, but
you should be aware that many of us feel aggrieved and
overlooked."
In a reply, dated 6
December, Dr Sentamu wrote: "Whatever fears there may be about Revd
North's ability to work with all in the Archdeaconry [of
Cleveland], I am confident that he will not only live up to Bishop
Martin's example, but also go beyond it in his valuing of the
ministry of his female colleagues.
"Clearly the appointment
of Revd North has also been made as part of our accommodation for
our petitioning parishes in this diocese. The fact is that the vast
majority of our petitioning parishes are in the Cleveland
Archdeaconry and so the see of Whitby is the obvious choice for
such episcopal provision where the diocesan bishop is an outspoken
advocate of women's ministry."
York diocese has eight
Resolution A parishes and 15 Resolution B parishes. It is
understood that four of the A parishes, and four of the B parishes,
are in the archdeaconry of Cleveland, in the Whitby episcopal
area.
A statement from the diocese of York, issued on
Monday morning, said that Dr Sentamu wrote to all clergy and
Readers in the archdeaconry of Cleveland, on Sunday, expressing his
"sadness" and "disappointment" at Fr North's decision to
withdraw.
Dr Sentamu wrote: "Philip
North is not a single-issue priest. As a gifted pastor-teacher he
is deeply committed to the flourishing of the diverse ministries of
all God's people - lay and ordained. His dynamic vision for making
Christ visible in mission and ministry, as well as serving the
poor, would have been a great asset to us all. . .
"The question of the
appointment of a new bishop will be first referred to the Dioceses
Commission. As many of you may know, the Dioceses Commission will
be reviewing our diocese, its structures, boundaries and delivery
of mission. As to the timing of when this will happen, the Dioceses
Commission will let us know."
Responding to the news of
Fr North's withdrawal, the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Richard
Chartres, said: "I can understand the reasons for Philip's
decision. He is a gifted and energetic priest and I am glad that he
remains in this diocese to continue his outstanding work in Camden
Town."
A statement from the
Catholic Group in the General Synod, of which Fr North is a member,
said that the decision to withdraw was his "personal decision".
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