After lengthy debate, the Church of England’s General Synod voted on Monday to confirm its support for the ordination of women as bishops without offering much in the way of safeguards for objectors.
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(Photo: AP Images)The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, speaks during the debate on Women Bishops being held today at the General Synod, Central Hall, York University.
The Synod had already agreed to the ordination of women bishops in principle but was voting on Monday night on legislation to confirm the process towards the first ordinations as well as possible concessions for church members and clergy opposed to female bishops.
Much to the disappointment of the more traditional Anglicans, members rejected proposals to create new dioceses for objectors and to appoint “super bishops” who would have offered alternative care for opponents.
Synod members voted at the York meeting to instead implement a voluntary national code to accommodate objectors. Bishops voted 28 to 12, clergy by 124 to 44 and the laity by 111 to 68.
The idea of "super bishops" had enjoyed the support of the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, meanwhile stressed to the Synod his view that a “systematic marginalization” of Anglo-Catholics would be wrong. He was quoted by The Times as describing traditionalists as a “necessary abrasion.”
Adding that he does not want to limit the authority of women bishops, Williams said, "I am deeply unhappy with any scheme or any solution to this which ends up, as it were, structurally humiliating women who might be nominated," as reported by The Associated Press.
The vote casts a shadow of uncertainty over ongoing efforts between the Church of England and the Vatican to achieve “full visible unity.” On Tuesday, the Vatican condemned the Church of England's support for women to become bishops, noting it as a move breaking with tradition. Cardinal Walter Kasper, head of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, said the decision will have consequences for dialogue which had so far been "fruitful."
Dialogue between the two church bodies has already been on the rocks because of concessions to homosexual clergy in parts of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Church legislators will now get to work on drafting new legislation to turn the vote into reality, reports The Times. The ensuing document will be debated at next February’s Synod in London before being passed over to dioceses for approval. A final vote is not likely to be taken for another two to three years.
Women have been allowed to become priests since 1994, but they have not received the green light to become bishops in the church.
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Hey Lina take some medicina
Lina (our resident Satanist);
Ah, now stop your crying. What did you expect, brainiac? Christians are just going to crawl in the corner and whimper.
You came on here throwing around your flames, you're likely to get cast out. Now scram.
You are right, though. I am an awful human being - saved by grace, through God's Son, Jesus Christ! Available to even the likes of you, Lina. Halleluia!
This problem is created by too MUCH authority. When you start your own church, you have all the authority to make and change any and all rules.
When your church has been started by Jesus, and it's His Church, this is why every Pope has said "I don't have the authority" to make these types of changes. And in the end, God's way has prevented the gates of hell from overcoming Jesus' Church.
Brothers and sisters, consider anew that the church Jesus founded in Matthew 16:18 has not been overcome by the gates of hell. Consider yourselves invited to come home.
Hey, my babe Lina (I only said "babe" because I know that you femi don't like it)
Is that the same Satan that thought he took Jesus down? Boy, you Satanists sure like to count your chicks before they're hatched. LOL
lina, lina, ... wake-up, wake-up, ... you took waaayyy too many Prozac this morning.
The Church of England Is Dead
After reading the below reasons, I realized it is the men and not the women who should stay out of ministry
10. A man's place is in the army.
9. The pastoral duties of men who have children might distract them from the responsibility of being a parent.
8. The physique of men indicates that they are more suited to such tasks as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be "unnatural" for them to do ministerial tasks.
7. Man was created before woman, obviously as a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment rather than the crowning achievement of creation.
6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. Their conduct at football and basketball games demonstrates this.
5. Some men are handsome, and this will distract women worshipers.
4. Pastors need to nurture their congregations. But this is not a traditional male role. Throughout history, women have been recognized as not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more fervently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
3. Men are prone to violence. No really masculine man wants to settle disputes except by fighting about them. Thus they would be poor role models as well as dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
2. The New Testament tells us that Jesus was betrayed by a man. His lack of faith and ensuing punishment remind us of the subordinated position that all men should take.
1. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep sidewalks, repair the church roof, and perhaps even lead the song service on Father's Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the church.
God bless you John 14:6.
This is why after many years of being a reformed minister and studying the early church fathers and their interpretations of Scripture, that I became Catholic. Their strong witness coupled with the fact the Catholic Church will not bend on moral issues converted me hook line and sinker. Also, it didn't hurt that the majority of my preconceived thoughts about Catholic beliefs I had were false. I came to find out that Catholic beliefs and doctrine are the most biblical, historical and reasonable.
Safe Journeys brother in Christ.
msnchris70--
It is a dark, sad, day, indeed. I have a feeling in the future many if not all of us who adhere to the Bible as truth, and who will not exchange the truth for a lie, will end up joining you in Rome.
This is a sad day, but this is the time we live in. I agree with John 14.6 that the Methodists are just the same if not worse. I think it is funny that while there is so much focus about all these Liberals they haven't focused any articles about demographic changes. The Liberals are dying out, not us conservatives.
While mainline protestant Churches are dying on the vine because of their moral departure from Scripture, the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are winning over millions of converts from these Anglican and Methodists Traditions who are morally conservative and scripturally orthodox.
The Catholic Church has had the largest gain by far. One article alone from CNS estimated 3 million from these traditions have swam the Tiber.
While some of you think that all organized Christian Churches are dying, we Catholics in fact are growing. Yes, we do have some uneducated ones that defect to the more ecstatic forms of Christianity but the majority always return.
It is the Church that should be influencing the culture, not the other way around.
God bless all my fellow Christians who stand strong in these terrible times.
The church like the political landscape is changing, it's ok to be a democrat and a christian, just like it's ok to be a republican and not go to church. When people focus on everything they miss the main thing.
steveh20--
I attended a baptism, not so long ago, back in the Midwest - heartland America - that was held at a United Methodist Church. It was, and I do not exaggerate or engage in any hyperbole, probably 50% homosexual. And these were open homosexuals, many with partners and children. And they were openly participating in all church functions, the entire choir was gay (I realize that may be redundant), they were taking communion, and the "pastor" was obviously accepting of all of it. They had their "open hearts, open doors, open minds" slogan everywhere, and we even sang this hysterical hymn about "celebrating our diversity" (no, I am not making that up) that started me laughing so hard I had to make a bathroom visit so as not to cause a scene. I barely made it through the rest of the service.
But I was so angry at being there, at being forced to participate in such an abomination, that I nearly walked out. It was only out of respect for family members that I stayed, but I prayed for God's forgiveness like I've never prayed before (actually, I don't think I prayed nearly hard enough).
What was taking place in that church was abominable. And that it was being done in the plain sight and with the obvious approval of the pastor made me feel as if I was attending a "black mass" or some Satanic ritual. I was sick to my stomach for hours afterwords. And I was furious with the liberal family members who had suckered us into this without warning. It took me a long time to forgive them.
So it's not tabloid television, I witnessed it first hand in a supposedly "mainline" denomination, right smack dab in a city in the heartland of America.
dongard--
Organized Christianity has survived for 2,000 years and is only growing, especially in Africa and Asia. Sorry to dash your hopes.
And nowhere did I say women are "evil". I said that the introduction of women into the clergy generally leads to an increased liberalism. Why did I say that? Mostly from experience and observation. Here's my personal take. The type of women that enter the "priesthood" in these other denominations are generally activists, and typically lesbian (from what I have seen, I would gather that almost 1 out of 3 women - and maybe 1 in 2 - in the ministry is homosexual even if so-called "closeted"). Conservative, Bible believing, complimentarian women are not the ones who are attracted to ministry. Ministry attracts the liberal radicals - the agitators and activist types.
So, yeah, I stand firmly behind my opinion, and the history of every denomination that has allowed women clergy backs me up through fact. Once women are introduced into the clergy of a denomination, it quickly takes on a radical, liberal agenda and sound doctrine is pushed out in favor of activism and things akin to liberation theology.
Women aren't evil, and women have a place in the church and in serving in the church. Women are denied the pastoral role in scripture, that is the place of men. Anyone agitating against that, is obviously someone who doesn't believe in scripture. And yes, that *is* evil, in my view.
stevo and dony;
Stevo- you ol' english duff - I told you before you went to bed last night to get your hiney back into the fold and stop playing your rhetorical games.
dony - you big fat drama baby. Now come on - women evil - ha! They tried that when I was in jr high Bible study, but that didn't work. God's creation is ... well ... you know... ooooooo so good. That is if you aren't ... well .... you know... THAT WAY!
Toe!! LOL I meant tow of course, what a silly old bag puss I am.....