Anglicans eye tense Synod debate on women bishops
by Jennifer Gold
Posted: Monday, July 7, 2008, 10:14 (BST)
Anglicans are anticipating a tense debate on the consecration of women bishops at the Church of England's General Synod on Monday.
Meeting in York, Synod members are due to debate a motion proposing a national code of practice to accommodate conservative parishes opposed to the oversight of a female bishop.
Synod members will also be asked to consider a motion put forward by the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt Rev John Packer, on a compromise plan that includes the appointment of so-called "super bishops", or "complementary bishops", to accommodate traditionalists.
Whilst liberals are calling for a blanket measure that would make no concessions for objectors, more than 1,300 clergy wrote to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York last week threatening to leave the Church if suitable arrangements were not put in place for traditionalists.
Father Robert Fayers, one of the signatories of last week's letter, said that the Church was not in the position to allow women bishops without alternative measures for objectors.
"The Church of England is part of the universal church - we call it one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
"Unless the whole Church makes the change...then I don't think the Church of England... has got the competence or the right or the authority to make the change," he was quoted by the BBC as saying.
In his Sunday sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said that Jesus would feel the pain within all factions.
"He will be with those in very different parts of the landscape who feel that things are closing in, that their position is under threat and their liberties are being taken away by those anxious and eager to enforce new ideologies in the name of Christ," he said.
"He will be with those who feel that their liberty of questioning is under threat, he will be with gay clergy who wonder what their future is in a Church so anxious and tormented about this issue."
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Added: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 1:18 (BST)
Either God's Word is God's Word, or it isn't! The centrality of the Gospel and the proclaiming of that is the earthly Church's job. Jesus said in Matthew 16 v 18, to Peter, that He, Jesus, would build HIS church, not us!
How dare anyone use God's Word to justify their own position without the prompting of the Holy Spirit! This means PRACTICING homosexuals, not those who just 'feel' like they are homosexual, or anyone who does things that God tells us are an affront to Him. We are to repent - turn away - from our sin and follow Him, and He will forgive, heal and accept us at the point where we are in our lives.
I write this in answer to Archbisop Williams' comment about Jesus' feeling the pain, confusion and anxiety about the 'all factions' and 'gay' clergy's place in the Anglican Communion, who have questions about their 'liberty' being under 'threat' and being 'tormented' over the/this issue/s. They SHOULD feel these things if they continue to practice their behaviours, under the delusion that God doesn't mind - He's love, isn't He, He won't really judge us because of what we do, will He - wake up, people, and read Matthew 25 v 31-33 and 41. The rest of the passage talks about giving care to people equalling caring for Him, or refusing to. However, we must realise that He will judge His church more stringently than anyone else, we would have been expected to know better - Matthew 23 v 13-28! I speak from experience as a Christian who committed sins that damaged me and my family, and a continuing journey of being saved. So I know something of what it takes, and is taking, to regain my sense of salvation and grace in the sight of God. And that is through Jesus. But I need to constantly remember what Paul wrote to the Romans. And so does everyone.
As for women clergy being bishops, I do not think that Jesus would genuinely have any problem with the concept, as He had women in His retinue, and helped Him and the disciples, in terms of the culture they were in at the time. However, there were women who were in charge of fellowships in Paul's time - Nymphia in Laeodicea, (Aquila and) Priscilla written about in 1 Corinthians, and others - and that scripture does not necessarily deny women have spiritual authority, even though Paul tells the Corinthians in 1 Cor 14 v 34-35 about women not speaking in the meetings, according to JEWISH law, not the Law of Grace - read it in context of the times.
Knowledge and wisdom are associated with each other, but are mutually exclusive. This means that one can have knowledge of a subject but not the ability to use it wisely - a truism, I know, but the difference needs clarifying. So, scholars need to ask the LORD for His wisdom to correctly interpret His Word concerning these subjects, even if some will not like or accept it. Therefore, the Bishops need to search scripture very carefully to discern the will of the LORD. If not, we will all be in very deep trouble, if our designated spiritual leaders don't.
Chris Maguire , Ventnor, IoW
