Today the Church of England confused “unity” with “unison” and voted down a compromise resolution that would have ended centuries of discrimination against women as bishops while leaving a place to stand for those who disagree.
The victims in this sad, fear based decision are not the women whose vocations have once again been reduced to bargaining chips in a game of church politics or even the conservatives who feel marginalized because of their increasingly minority position. The real victims are the tender souls yearning for spiritual community and for the Good News of the Gospel and hearing instead from the Church yet-another-reason not to be a Christian.
Today’s decision was inward looking, short-sighted and a deep disappointment to all who yearn for a robust proclamation of the inclusive love of God made manifest in Christ Jesus. And for all the challenges we face as the Episcopal Church, I have never been more grateful to be an Anglican on this side of the pond.
7 comments:
And then there is "our side" who said this was not the right legislation http://hereticsanon.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/i-hope-they-dont-vote-for-women-bishops-on-tuesday/
Yep ... having labored in those fields believe me ... cats are a piece of cake to organize compared to Brits. Seriously!
From Anglican Ink:
http://anglicanink.com/article/liberal-member-synod-explains-his-no-vote-women-bishops
"The truth is that, in July with Clause 5.1.c as then proposed, the Measure stood a chance of being accepted by those most adversely affected by it and I might have voted for it then. But after that clause was watered down and talked merely of respect - a word which is no reassurance at all to anybody who has been attending to developments in The Episcopal Church on the other side of the Atlantic - it was likely to lead to grief and further departures. And I absolutely do not want to see the Church of England ending up as a result of our in my view correct determination to include women in the ordained ministry at all levels with an even smaller footprint. I do not want the Church to vote to shrink more, and there is no doubt that the ordination of women has not had the entirely positive effect that was anticipated. It has not led to an increase in the membership or the effectiveness of our church, however good most women priests have been. The decline in numbers and in status and in the respect in which we are held by ordinary citizens who are not active members has become precipitate."
Here's a great example of how everyone is entitled to their opinion -- but not to their own facts. Blaming decline in "status and respect" on women clergy rather than the irrelevance of a church so mired in internal fights that it has no will to either look or minister outward makes for a convenient scapegoat but not so much for a compelling argument against women bishops. Happy Thanksgiving.
There is some evidence that churches with women leaders as priest - are mostly growing and have more participation by men.
Susan - don't forget that there is more than one Anglican church across the pond - it is only the Church of England that was voting on this. Some of us [in Scotland] have already voted some years ago without any fuss or rancour. Women and men are treated equally in Canon Law in Scotland.
Even if this motion had passed in England, it would only have allowed women to become second-class bishops anyway. It was a some way from equality. (Just like Witnessing and Blessing of Lifelong Covenant services are a some way away from marriage).
Susan - don't forget that there is more than one Anglican church across the pond - it is only the Church of England that was voting on this. Some of us [in Scotland] have already voted some years ago without any fuss or rancour. Women and men are treated equally in Canon Law in Scotland.
Even if this motion had passed in England, it would only have allowed women to become second-class bishops anyway. It was a some way from equality. (Just like Witnessing and Blessing of Lifelong Covenant services are a some way away from marriage).
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