Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Mon, 9 Nov 1992 15:46:00 GMT
From:         Z_STAFF_CL@SOUTHAMPTON-INSTITUTE.AC.UK
Subject:      Church of England Synod - Ordination of Women

As I write this, we are less than 48 hours from the start of a much
awaited and much feared debate in the Church of England Synod.  I am
not sure when you will read this, or even recieve it as we have one
or two problems here. (I've recieved no external mail all weekend and
we are not sure when the line will be fully open again.)


I am about to look a little at what this means to the C of E and to me
personally, in your company.  If you rather I didn't or you want to
argue the cases, this isn't for you. I don't offer this in that spirit.
The Synod will do all the fighting I can handle this week.

If you want out of the conversation, I do ask that you pray.  Not for Yes
or No but for God's Will to be made known to the C of E on Wednesday and
His healing power given to those who need wholeness during and after
this week.



Alot has been said about the effect this week may have on the Anglican
community here and throughout the world and the links with other churches.
I think the hurt has been underestimated and the threats of actions grown
out of proportion.  But action is more readily reported here than what is
felt.

Some of you have heard my hobbyhorse of the wonderful diversity and breadth
and unity of faith within the C of E.  This is crunch time for a lot of the
people in the church and for me.  Perhaps after this week, the range will not
be so wide or the unity so glorious.

It is perhaps true that the C of E hasn't, on its own, the authority to make
the choice.  But then neither has any other church for the rest of the world.
This is a choice about what happens in in C of E and what is felt to be right
for them.  That I believe is a choice open to us.

A Yes would affect problems in the movement for unity with the Roman Catholics
and Orthodox Churches (with whom the C of E is not in full communion and who
don't fully recognise our ministers.)   But possibly no more than other acts.

The C of E synod has already stated that there is no theological reason why
women's vocations to the priesthood cannot be tested or women priested. A No
would be a slap in the face for those churches with whom we are in communion
who do ordain women priests. The Anglican Communion is split in itself.  When
C of E priests go to fellow Anglican churches they are recognised as priests.
When Anglican priests come here from other countries, they are only recognised
if they are men.

A No vote would also disallow the fullness of ministry that can be offered by
women.  Day to day, women deacons do much the same as their male priest
collegues, excepting those few things that are specifically priestly duties.
I have sat in a church where the priest has had to be wheeled in for less than
5 mins of the service - it is disruptive and vaguely unreal.  Those two clergy
shared the ministry in their parish in full measure.  No task was not given
to either because of their gender.  I often heard this priest comment that
there were things he had to do because he was priested that would have been
better done by a women who had not just head understanding of the problem but
"knew what it was really about."

The church does itself so much harm by restricting its ministry and fitting
square pegs in round holes.  (Sorry, this really is a side issue but the
idea that men are ordained deacon, serve their title for a year and then are
priested looses the church some of its best deacons.  Much the same as
keeping those who would best be priest as deacon because of their gender.)

"No women disciples!"  This arguement I can't really see.  In such a Jewish
environment it was unseemly for women to speak in public, they would not have
had the opportunity of the profile and freedom to travel, preach and teach
Peter, James and John had. So no, there were none amongst the twelve.  But
there were women amongst the larger circle of disciples - Mary and Matha,
the "other" Mary to name but 3 - an innovation in itself. If Jesus recognised
that ministry has as much to do with the society you minister to as the
message you carry, why can't we ?

Many non-christians (who are puzzled by what this is all about and amazed by
the apparent discrimination in the church which claims that all are equal in
Christ) are looking on with interest and the behaviour of those members of the
C of E who are involved in this, on both sides. What is shown will be the
image of what believers behave like for those people.  In this most heart
rending of times, the church is going to make its biggest impression.  Isn't
that just the Way ?!

You're probably expecting me to say pray for the Yes vote.  I can't ask that.
I know what I think is logical.  I know what I feel is right.  I also know
what is deep seated in me and I believe is God's will.  I also know that I am
human and cannot fathom what God's purpose is.  With that in mind, I can't
even ask myself to pray for either Yes or No.

As some of you know, I'm part of the M O W Diocesan Steering Group for
Winchester Diocese.  I have spent 10 years working for the vote to go Yes.
Part of me doesn't want the vote to happen, in case it is Yes - so many will
be hurt.  I can't face the prospect of a No because of all those I know who
have given their lives to the church, men and women, who will feel moved to
leave.  Moreover, I dread not having a clear result - both sides will feel
hurt.  Personally, my life and those whom I call friends will change on
Wednesday, whatever happens.

Indeed, I for one will be hurt either way.  A Yes will hurt much of the church
I have grown to be part of and many of the people in that church who will feel
that the C of E nolonger holds to their understanding of the faith. This much
the media are good at saying.  The threat of split because of this is well
reported.

A No will also change much and hurt many, this the papers and TV seem to
forget.  All the women deacons who have given so much to the ministry of
the church, the parishes who have found how special the ministry of women
clergy can be.  These will wonder if they can go on, if they can exist in
a church which does not value women's ministry in a way which allows it to
be tested along side that of men's.  A church that preaches "In Jesus there
is no Greek or Jew" but does otherwise.

Again, I ask not that you pray for Yes or No but for God's Will for the C of E
to be made known and His healing power given to those who need wholeness or
help, during and after this week.

Carol A Long,  Southampton Institute of Higher Education, England
        email     :  Z_STAFF_CL@UK.AC.SOUTHAMPTON-INSTITUTE
DISCLAIMER - merely musings unless otherwise stated.
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