From: wilcox@vax.ox.ac.uk (Stephen Wilcox, Mathematical Institute, Oxford, (2)73571)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Church of England to ordain women priests
Date: 15 Nov 92 23:31:52 GMT

This Wednesday, the Church of England General Synod, which is the
decision-making body for the two Anglican Provinces of Canterbury and York,
voted to ordain women as priests. The voting figures were approximately 
as follows:

Bishops: 39 ayes, 13 noes                     75% in favour
Clergy:  (sorry, the figures are not to hand) 70% in favour
Laity:   169 ayes, 82 noes                    67% in favour

To be carried, the vote had to attain a two-thirds majority in each of the
three houses; if only two lay members had voted the other way, the measure
would have fallen.  According to comment after the vote, several evangelical
lay members may have been swayed in favour by the debate. 

The debate was described by the Guardian as lacking passion. I would disagree
and say that the antis felt themselves backed into a corner---they did not in
general argue on the case for or against but only on the effects of the vote.
There was a notable exception in one bishop, who called for a return to the
traditional place of women in the home. Since the CHurch of England is broadly
liberal in its social outlook, this was unpopular. The pros, meanwhile, 
covered the whole gamut of the argument, with several closely argued
speeches and several personal pleas from female deacons that they be allowed to
fulfill their vocation. The Bishop of Durham made a notably passionate speech,
asking that the matter be resolved now so that the church could get on with the
matter of evangelism.

Understandably, members of the Movement for he Ordination of Women, who had
gathered outside Church House, were delighted with the result. Many people were
almost in tears of joy and relief. 

Opponents have so far been quieter. Response has varied from phlegmatic denial
that people will leave the church to an immediate announcement by Ann
Widdecombe, a government front bench spokesperson that she will leave. So far
only one priest, the Rev Martin Flatman of St. Mary and St. John in Cowley
Oxford, has announced his intention to leave, and has said he will not do so
until the first woman is ordained priest. [He has been the most outspoken
opponent in Oxford diocese.] It is thought that these people will probably
become Roman Catholics, but Cardinal Basil Hume, the Roman Catholic Primate of
England, has said that there is more to becoming a Roman Catholic than
opposition to women priests. In general the threat of schism seems to be
receding, according to today's paper.

Response from the Vatican was swift and condemnatory. The vote, they said, has
ruined all chances of Anglican-Roman Catholic reunion. Basil Hume was less
direct: he said that the dialogue would continue. Relations with the free
churches are likely to improve; they have had women as ministers for decades.

To take effect, the legislation must now be approved in parliament, where a
cross-party, cross-religion group, led by Emma Nicholson, is seeking to ensure
that its passage is smooth. However, John Gummer, a leading opponent may well
seek to halt the bill. [He was succesful a few years ago in halting a bill to
ordain divorced men.]

On a personal note, I believe that it is incredibly good news for the Church 
of England and for its women. To a certain extent, this measure has been 
occupying many people's minds for many years, almost to the exclusion of 
other subjects. We can now get down to the real business of being Christians 
in a world that has turned away from Christian teaching in all the most 
important areas of social justice. With the injustice that forbade women 
from becoming priests out of the way we will now be in a better position
to oppose injustice wherever it occurs in the world. 

-- 

Stephen Wilcox             |   For Sale: Posts in British Government. Suit
wilcox@vax.oxford.ac.uk    |   outgoing American. Highest bids accepted.