In an historic move on Monday, the Church of England voted to accept female bishops - however, the move to do so could cause a rift within.
From the News Tribune:
"More than a dozen other Anglican churches around the world have authorized women to serve as bishops. The Episcopal church, the Anglican body in the U.S., is led by a woman, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori.
Hundreds of traditionalists have threatened to leave the British church if sufficient safeguards were not put into place for those who objected. Advocates of women in the episcopate had argued that any concessions would effectively make women second-class bishops.
The synod - composed of bishops, clergy and laity - rejected compromise proposals for new "super bishops" who would cater to objectors. Some traditionalists believe church leaders should be men, as was Jesus and the 12 apostles.
The Archbishops of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, said he did not want to limit the authority women bishops had within the church. Church of England officials say it is unlikely that any woman would be consecrated as a bishop before 2014. The church has ordained women as priests since 1994, but hasn't allowed them to become bishops.
The women's ordination vote also might complicate Anglican relations with the Roman Catholic Church, which does not ordain women. Leaders of the two traditions have been meeting regularly in an effort to find unity."
From the Guardian:
"The Church of England was thrown into turmoil last night over the issue of women bishops, as it rejected proposals that would have accommodated clergy strongly opposed to the historic change.
In an emotional, sometimes bitter debate lasting more than seven hours, the General Synod voted against introducing separate structures and "superbishops", to oversee parishes opposed to women bishops, because they were seen as amounting to institutionalised discrimination.
Instead, the 468 members narrowly agreed to the idea of introducing a national statutory code of practice, throwing out all compromises that would have appeased opponents of women bishops.
A code of practice has yet to be fully explored, but will not satisfy the demands of traditionalists and conservative evangelicals, who had formed an alliance to block consideration of any such code."
From the Times Online:
"After one of the most contentious debates faced by the Church’s General Synod, its members voted to allow the consecration of women bishops but rejected compromise proposals for new “super bishops”, who would have catered for the objectors.
The decisions, after more than six hours of debate, led to extraordinary scenes at the University of York, with one bishop in tears as he spoke of being “ashamed” of the Church of England.
On the proposal to bring forward legislation to consecrate women bishops, the synod bishops voted by 28 to 12 for the motion, the clergy by 124 to 44 and laity by 111 to 68. There were seven abstentions across all three houses. Legislation will be drawn up, coming back to the synod in February next year, and then go to dioceses for approval. A final vote will require a majority of two thirds from bishops, clergy and laity.
But during the debate there was minimal support for traditionalists while long applause was given to strong speeches in favour of straightforward legislation to consecrate women with only a code of practice to safeguard opponents’ concerns."
From the News Tribune:
"More than a dozen other Anglican churches around the world have authorized women to serve as bishops. The Episcopal church, the Anglican body in the U.S., is led by a woman, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori.
Hundreds of traditionalists have threatened to leave the British church if sufficient safeguards were not put into place for those who objected. Advocates of women in the episcopate had argued that any concessions would effectively make women second-class bishops.
The synod - composed of bishops, clergy and laity - rejected compromise proposals for new "super bishops" who would cater to objectors. Some traditionalists believe church leaders should be men, as was Jesus and the 12 apostles.
The Archbishops of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, said he did not want to limit the authority women bishops had within the church. Church of England officials say it is unlikely that any woman would be consecrated as a bishop before 2014. The church has ordained women as priests since 1994, but hasn't allowed them to become bishops.
The women's ordination vote also might complicate Anglican relations with the Roman Catholic Church, which does not ordain women. Leaders of the two traditions have been meeting regularly in an effort to find unity."
From the Guardian:
"The Church of England was thrown into turmoil last night over the issue of women bishops, as it rejected proposals that would have accommodated clergy strongly opposed to the historic change.
In an emotional, sometimes bitter debate lasting more than seven hours, the General Synod voted against introducing separate structures and "superbishops", to oversee parishes opposed to women bishops, because they were seen as amounting to institutionalised discrimination.
Instead, the 468 members narrowly agreed to the idea of introducing a national statutory code of practice, throwing out all compromises that would have appeased opponents of women bishops.
A code of practice has yet to be fully explored, but will not satisfy the demands of traditionalists and conservative evangelicals, who had formed an alliance to block consideration of any such code."
From the Times Online:
"After one of the most contentious debates faced by the Church’s General Synod, its members voted to allow the consecration of women bishops but rejected compromise proposals for new “super bishops”, who would have catered for the objectors.
The decisions, after more than six hours of debate, led to extraordinary scenes at the University of York, with one bishop in tears as he spoke of being “ashamed” of the Church of England.
On the proposal to bring forward legislation to consecrate women bishops, the synod bishops voted by 28 to 12 for the motion, the clergy by 124 to 44 and laity by 111 to 68. There were seven abstentions across all three houses. Legislation will be drawn up, coming back to the synod in February next year, and then go to dioceses for approval. A final vote will require a majority of two thirds from bishops, clergy and laity.
But during the debate there was minimal support for traditionalists while long applause was given to strong speeches in favour of straightforward legislation to consecrate women with only a code of practice to safeguard opponents’ concerns."
Well, it's about time someone realized exactly who runs most of the churches/synagogues/mosques in the world! I was raised Catholic and I say, "Pooey on Youey" to whonever thinks it's "unfortunate" for the Anglican church to have female bishops. Things will, no doubt, get more organized and be more open.
ReplyDeleteDuchess
now Catholic Wiccan
Well, it's about time someone realized exactly who runs most of the churches/synagogues/mosques in the world! I was raised Catholic and I say, "Pooey on Youey" to whonever thinks it's "unfortunate" for the Anglican church to have female bishops. Things will, no doubt, get more organized and be more open.
ReplyDeleteA Lie by The Great Liar.
ReplyDelete"He was hardly going to choose women and send them into a situation where they might have been in grave risk," Duke said.
Ye of little faith. As if Jesus and/or God couldn't protect women. Jesus' best friend was a woman prostitue who was about to be stoned to death. He saved her. Jesus had many opportunities to choose deciples. He chose men.
One need look no further than Mary to see the high regard every Catholic has (or should have) for women. Mary, the mother of the human God. When the young Jesus was with the rabbis "about his father's work" even He obeyed his mother and went home with her. We ask Mary to help us because Jesus listens to his mother -- as we all should.
The Anglicans are being deceived by The Liar who fools them into believing the Truth can change. The Truth cannot change. Truth is perfection. That which is perfect does not, can not, will not change.
The act of attempting to ordain women priests and bishops is futile at best and deceiving at worst.
Futile because saying the words of ordination does not make it so. Any act of ordination or consecration must be done validly and in the correct form. The attempt by the Anglicans is invalid as the Anglicans are excummicated. No authority. The form is incorrect because it is woman. They may as well be attempting to ordinate a lump of coal -- they will fail.
Deceiving because it fools people into thinking the Truth can change to "suit the times". It is a lie that the Truth can change. The deception results in people following The Liar and that leads to Death.
Do not follow The Liar, it doesn't want you in heaven. The Holy Trinity wants you in heaven. Follow the Catholic Church and its irrevokable, unchangeable Truth.