Judith Maltby has written for Comment is free Women bishops now.
The Church of England cannot justify continued discrimination against its female members…
…A number of cross-party parliamentarians in both houses are making it clear that they will not vote into the law any measure from General Synod which discriminates against women. Imagine: lawmakers who do not want discrimination against women enshrined in the law of the land. Who do these people think that they are? Where is their sense of right and wrong?
A recent Church of England report suggested that the Labour government was had lost its moral compass. Might one suggest that the moral compass of these parliamentarians is working rather better than the Church of England’s? Could it be time to take the plank out of our own eye?
Religious Intelligence has Church of England’s treatment of women “shameful”, General Synod is told by Judy West.
..The Rev Dr Threlfall-Holmes, General Synod member for Durham and Newcastle Universities, said: “It is shameful that the Church of England still treats women as a problem to be solved.
“The draft legislation coming before Synod on Wednesday was always going to be a compromise between gender equality and the desire in the church to ‘protect’ those who disagree with the ordination of women. So in that sense what we have before us is about what was to be expected.
“But we will need to be very careful not to be misled into setting up a separate ‘church within a church’ in a misguided attempt to secure unity.”
The Northumberland Gazette has Church ‘tone’ on women bishops criticised.
…Dr Miranda Threlfall-Holmes criticised the “tone” of legislation on women bishops to be debated on Wednesday by the General Synod, the Church’s national assembly.
She said: “I think it is a shame that we continue to give more emphasis to the people who are a very vocal minority that disagree than to the huge majority who just want to get on with it.
“It is sending a very negative impression…
“..It was revealed at the weekend that traditionalists are vehemently opposed to the arrangements proposed to cater for their constituency. A number of Anglo-Catholic bishops told the Sunday Telegraph that none of their number would serve as a ‘complementary’ bishop as it would mean they had to serve under a diocesan. At present the ‘flying bishops’ are under no such constraints – Judy West @ Religious Intelligence – After a great deal of trouble has been taken to accommodate what were perceived to be the real needs of the conservatives who reject the idea of women clergy – either as… Read more »
It takes my breath away that the C of E can vote against racism and then vote for gender apartheid at the same time.
No women bishops leaves the Westminster Parliament , the only legislature in Western civilization where women are restricted from certain reserved seats. This weakens the case for a continued “episcopal” presence for men who represent a denomination that baptizes less than a quarter of English babies.
I think it is a mistake – both tactically and rhetorically – for people to argue for WO and women bishops on the basis of ‘gender equality’. It immediately enables opponents to talk of surrender to a secular, non-religious, agenda. That is a misrepresentation but unfortunately a plausible one. Much more measured statements are required. Further, it is entirely right and proper to bring in the considerations that derive from the C of E’s status as an established church, but these considerations should be adduced on a pragmatic basis, not as intrinsic rights, because this again provides easy ammunition to… Read more »
“I think it is a mistake – both tactically and rhetorically – for people to argue for WO and women bishops on the basis of ‘gender equality’. It immediately enables opponents to talk of surrender to a secular, non-religious, agenda. That is a misrepresentation but unfortunately a plausible one.” But look at the language used. Even right here, from people I otherwise respect (yes RIW, I do respect you, though I might get snotty on occasion): “the opponents of women’s ministry” “gender apartheid” Those who oppose OOW do NOT oppose women’s ministry. We have for the past at least forty… Read more »
Gee, Ford, I wouldn’t like to be your enemy!
All best,
John.