From Canon Nerissa Jones and others
Sir, - The new General Synod
opens with a seminar presenting the theological grounds for admitting women to
the episcopate. At the same time, the Bishop of Guildford is considering the
practical ways in which the Church of England might proceed and make pastoral
provision for those who will not accept the ministry of a woman bishop.
We affirm the authority of the Church of England to admit women fully to the
historic threefold ministry. Nevertheless, while the gender of those who are
ordained is a matter indifferent, the ministry itself is not. We are gravely
concerned that all but one of the options that will come before the Synod would
change the nature of the episcopate.
Any option that seeks to make pastoral provision by using legislation to
limit the ministry of women bishops would create, in effect, a second class of
bishops, which would be discriminatory and un-Catholic: it would split the
episcopate in two, and profoundly undermine the ministry that we share with the
universal Church and that we claim to maintain.
We recognise that those who oppose the ordination of women lack confidence
and trust in the Church. The way forward must be to build trust, to create
robust systems that ensure that behaviour matches rhetoric, and to maintain the
maximum level of communion possible.
Affirming Catholicism supports the first option of the Rochester report: a
simple, single-clause Measure allowing women to proceed to episcopal ministry,
coupled with a code of practice, but with the significant addition of a robust
mechanism to enforce its provisions.
We recommend that the Church sets up a provincial panel of reference
answerable to the Archbishops, to monitor compliance with the code of practice,
investigate particular breaches, and report publicly, so that the whole Church
can be informed about the care being shown to those of a minority view.
We believe that it is vitally important that Christian charity is shown
towards those who in good conscience cannot accept the ministry of a woman
bishop, but such pastoral provision as is made must not undermine the fullness
of the ministry exercised by women bishops, nor subvert the catholicity and
apostolicity of the whole Church.
We have written to the Bishop of Guildford along these lines, and encourage
others to do so as a matter of urgency.
Nerissa Jones, Barry Norris, Richard Jenkins, Robin Welton, Lisa Martell
Standing Committee
Affirming Catholicism
St Matthew's House
20 Great Peter Street
London SW1P 2BU
From the Revd John Wells
Sir, - I was sorry to read a letter (
28 October) attacking the Bishop of Manchester for appointing a
traditionalist priest to an archdeaconry; and this week (
4 November) I was hurt by an allegation in another letter that the same
Bishop, while at Wakefield, had been ostracised by traditionalist priests in
that diocese.
In fact, we were grateful to Bishop Nigel for his pastoral care and personal
concern, and for the way in which, by respecting our position while remaining
true to his own, he made it possible for us to remain fully integrated in the
life of the diocese. It is good to know that he is still pursuing the same
policy.
JOHN M. WELLS
2 Clarkesmead, Tiptree
Colchester CO5 0BX