At its synod, the Church of England voted not to allow a provision to grant alternative male oversight to clergy and parishes who believe a woman should not serve as a bishop.
I have always been ambivalent about the legitimacy of women bishops: I think there are good arguments on both sides. That being said, it seems to me inconsistent to allow women priests but disallow women bishops. So, although I have reservations, I find myself not completely averse to either women priests or bishops.
But is this really about women being called by God to serve as priests and bishops? I don’t think so: if it were we wouldn’t need a campaign:
Christina Rees, of Women and the Church, which campaigns in favour of women bishops, said: “We have already tried our best to keep everyone in [the church] and to increase the level of communion between those who hold different views on women’s ministry.
None of the recent battles at the CofE synod focussed much on God’s calling: the big thing is the battle for Equality – a secular notion that is the antithesis of Christian service, sacrifice, dying to self, humility, placing others high than oneself and carrying one’s cross. Not that I am much good at any of those things either – but then I’m not mounting a campaign to further their antipode.
One thing that rules out all these ladies for bishop is – they are too eager to become one: that should disqualify anyone.
Other than ambition, lust for power and vanity, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to be a bishop. I know of very few bishops who are sufficiently unpretentious to be taken at all seriously: better to become a barmaid, they occasionally make sense.
Kingsley Amis, in his Advice to a Writer, restores proportion to the office of bishop and archbishop. Ladies, take note. It even has a Canadian ending:
That time you heard the archbishop fart
You did quite right to say.
And should the ploughboy turn up gold
The news would make our day.
But when the ploughboy farts henceforth
Forget about it, eh?
“Christina Rees, of Women and the Church, which campaigns in favour of women bishops …” – reading this, it just occurs to me to wonder: When there are women bishops, what will they find to campaign for then? Women ABPs, presumably, and then equality/majority of women on the episc. bench. Then … back to gay issues? Campaign for majority rule by gay people … or something … must be something to campaign for (except, that is, for the acceptance of Jesus Christ as the one and only saviour of the world).
John,
Yes, I suspect that campaigning for gay and lesbian bishops would be next on the agenda.
Once again the revisionists clearly demonstrate that their agenda is entirely “I want, I want, I want” and not “God’s Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”.
Who are you all to say that it isn’t Gods will to have women priests and bishops. I dont understandstand what the reason could be for saying no. What valid reason could there be?
Don’t get me wrong. I believe that sometimes campaigning(and protesting, and rioting) is all just for the sake of loving the sound of ones own voice) however I believe in this case, something needs to be said.
I didn’t actually say “no” – I said I was ambivalent.
I did say, though, that anyone who is that desperate – woman or man – should not be made a bishop.