WATCH (London)

WATCH Press Statement

2010-09-30T21:25:00.002+01:00

The Paradox of the Proposed Missionary Society of St Wilfred and St Hilda

It seems curious if not paradoxical that in proposing to form a Society for those who will not accept women bishops, the bishops concerned should choose St Hilda of Whitby as one of their patron Saints. As Abbess of a double monastery, with men and women "under her direction" (Bede), kings and bishops came to her for guidance and advice. Hilda of all people knew about discipline and loyalty to her church with her acceptance of the decision of the Synod of Whitby to follow the Roman rules and not the Celtic way which she had supported.

The "Society model" (which this proposal seems to embody)), was discussed in depth by the Revision Committee when it looked at how best to provide for those who would not accept women as bishops. It was rejected because, 'Crucially the majority of us came to believe that there was some risk of creating a society that was an even weightier body than a Diocese. This was because some of the representations made to us seemed to envisage that jurisdiction would in some way be conferred on the society itself and through it to its bishops…we therefore voted by 11 votes to 7 that we did not wish the draft Measure to be amended to give effect to a society model.' (Report of the Revision Committee, page 22 paras 110, 115)

How sad that the example given by St Hilda in her obedience to a decision concerning the ordering of her church is ignored by those using her name, who are themselves unwilling to accept the decision made by the Revision Committee and endorsed by the General Synod.

Contact:

Hilary Cotton: Vice Chair and Head of Campaign Home: 01483856827

Mobile: 07793817058

Sally Barnes: Media Officer Home: 020 8731 9860

Mobile: 07759343335

[WATCH News] General Synod elections : the latest

2010-09-23T17:30:00.001+01:00

WATCH has received several concerned comments regarding Election
Addresses and Hustings meetings for these elections: please would you
pass on the following information to electors (from your parish and
elsewhere) who support women bishops.
Candidates' views

·      Many candidates are being very unclear about whether they
support women bishops at all, and most are not spelling out if they
would support the Draft Legislation approved by General Synod in July.
·      Phrases along the lines of 'I support women bishops but do not
want anyone to leave the church', or 'I would like to see adequate
arrangements for those opposed' need sussing out: they are often a way
of sounding positive but in reality expecting to vote against the
Draft Legislation.
·      It is vital that those electors who want women bishops as soon
as possible, with no additional concessions to those opposed, vote
ONLY for candidates who support the Draft Legislation.
·      Please therefore encourage voters (ie members of Deanery or
Diocesan Synods) to ask candidates directly at (hustings, by email or
by phone) if they support the Draft Legislation.
Provision for those opposed to Women Bishops

·      Some candidates are claiming that the Draft Legislation
contains no adequate provisions for those opposed to women bishops.
·      The Draft Legislation DOES contain considerable concessions,
requiring each Diocesan bishop to set up a scheme for parishes who
don't want a women bishop or priests.   And the forthcoming Code of
Practice will also contain some provision.
·      These two sets of provisions will have statutory (legal)
force. General Synod passed this package of provisions by 373 votes to
14: ie they represent very clearly the will of General Synod.
·      These provisions may of course not be adequate for some
candidates - in which case voters should ask what would be adequate,
as this will often include suggestions that are unpalatable to the
majority of voters.
·      Some candidates are saying that WATCH wants no concessions at
all for those opposed.
·      This is UNTRUE: WATCH has stated publicly that we support the
Draft Legislation, and that "this represents a significant compromise
for WATCH and others who support women's ordained ministry: a
compromise made in a spirit of generosity to make space for those
opposed." (WATCH Press release 11 July 2010)

Membership of Relevant Organisations

·      The Election Regulations recommended that all candidates state
which groups or organisations they belong to, for example WATCH, GRAS,
Forward in Faith, Reform, Society of Catholic Priests, Affirming
Catholicism; there are many others.
·      Ask candidates, again at hustings, by email or by phone, if
they belong to any relevant organisation. This way you can find out if
they are willing to declare any allegiance: those opposed to women
bishops are often reluctant to identify themselves in this way.
Voting
·      Please also encourage voters to check that their voting paper
has been received by the returning Officer: the post is notoriously
unreliable.

Please let us know if there are any issues of concern where you are,
so that we can warn others.
Hilary Cotton
Head of Campaigns, Vice-Chair, WATCH
Tel: 01483 856827
Email: hilary.cotton@ntlworld.com

[WATCH News] Pope's visit and support for CWO

2010-09-03T13:17:00.001+01:00

Support for Catholic Women's Ordination (CWO): Friday 17th September 3.30pm Lambeth Palace

The Pope is visiting Lambeth Palace to meet with the Archbishop of Canterbury on the afternoon of the 17th September.The Catholic Women's Ordination (CWO) is holding a demonstration outside the Palace at 4.00pm.

The aim of the meeting is to draw the Pope's attention to the women in the Roman Catholic Church who wish to be ordained and to protest about his latest statement regarding women's ordination.

Many people have already mentioned that they would like to show solidarity with CWO by joining them on 17th September . Those wishing to join in the CWO meeting should be there by 3.30pm. If you would like to attend or find out more - please contact Sally Barnes on 07759 343 335 or by email sally.barnes3@btopenworld.com

What happened at General Synod? A WATCH report on July 2010.

2010-07-23T18:21:00.002+01:00

In summary, the General Synod in York followed the recommendations of the Revision Committee. They approved, with only minor amendments, the proposed legislation that will allow women to be bishops. They turned down all major amendments, including the Archbishops’ proposals for ‘coordinate jursidiction’. The Measure contains significant provisions for those opposed, and there will be a Statutory Code of Practice to support those provisions. This package was approved overwhelmingly by Synod.

Saturday’s debates.

The ‘Take note’ debate included a number of speeches by people opposed to even accepting the Report from the Revision Committee: if this had happened then the whole process would have stopped there and then. Ven Christine Hardman, Archdeacon of Lewisham, gave a spirited speech in support of the legislation (she had herself contributed the compromise on Diocesan Schemes) and on why having women as bishops with full authority is an imperative for the Church. If we baptise women as equal members of the body of Christ we must ordain them as full members of those offering ministry. The Bishop of Lincoln summed up the opinion of many by saying that the Revision Committee had got it right – just – and that to go further in compromising would be to go too far.

Tony Baldry is the newly appointed MP who liases between the General Synod and Parliament on Church business: he will have to present the final legislation to Parliament for approval. He gave a robust speech saying that it would be hard enough to present the draft legislation to Parliament as it contains compromises that fall foul of the Equality Act. But that a difficult task would be made almost impossible if he had to steer through Parliament a Measure that gives any scintilla of indication that women bishops do not have the same authority as their male colleagues. This warning was received by some members with due regard, but Synod these days includes a large number of members who object to being told what to do by Parliament, and to them this seemed to provide encouragement to go further in offering provision for those opposed.

One theme that emerged from the speeches by those opposed, and was supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury in his speech, was that this debate is about broad theological issues and not about gender. We need to be aware of and refute this suggestion: of course it’s about theology, and of course it is about gender.

Synod voted overwhelmingly to take note of (ie accept) the Report.

There followed debates on proposed amendments to the legislation.

Synod clearly defeated, again, the suggestions of separate dioceses (by 258 votes to 134) and statutory transfer of jurisdiction from a Diocesan bishop to an ‘acceptable’ bishop who had not ordained women (by 270 votes to 135).

The Archbishops’ amendment. Paula Gooder began the debate, speaking for the Steering Committee. They are the group responsible for steering the legislation through the whole process leading to its enactment. She said that the Committee believed that ‘coordinate jurisdiction’ might look like a good idea in theory, but in practice, when there is conflict between two coordinate bishops, whose authority would prevail? If the Diocesan bishop’s, then we are talking about delegation, in which case the Revision Committee’s legislation should suffice; if the coordinate bishop’s, then we are talking about transfer, which Synod had already turned down.

Bishops spoke on both sides of the argument: the Bishop of Coventry in favour and the Bishop of Bradwell (acting Bishop of Chelmsford) against. Father David Houlding of Forward in Faith made an impassioned speech, ‘This is it; this is when you decide whether we can stay’. Senior clergywomen were called very late in the debate, but both Ven Christine Allsopp and Canon Celia Thomson spoke with great clarity and weight about how badly this amendment had been received by clergywomen across the Church, and how women would not be willing to serve as bishops under such conditions. The vote, when it came, was extremely close.

For Against Abstentions
Bishops 25 15 0
Clergy 85 90 5
Laity 106 86 4

Totals 216 191 9

Although the majority of Synod voted to support the amendment, the House of Clergy voted against it: this meant the amendment failed. The opposition have portrayed this as a victory ascribed to the ‘procedural device’ of voting by Houses. But Synod votes on many issues by Houses, essentially to make sure that all three groupings who will have to work with a proposal will support it in practice.

The opponents are presenting these voting figures as an indication that Synod wanted further concessions to those opposed, and that Dioceses should press for this. In our view the closeness of the vote indicates a mix of loyalty to the Archbishops and a lack of clarity about what the amendment would mean in practice. One Synod member (utterly supportive of women bishops, and wanting the simplest possible legislation) told me how hard it was to vote against the amendment, given that it was presented by the Archbishops and had been so carefully (and emotionally strongly) presented as ‘the only way’ by those opposed to women’s ordination.

Ironically as long ago as 1978 the first motion calling for women to be ordained as priests and bishops was passed by the Bishops and Laity and turned down by the House of Clergy. How different things might be now if that vote had been protested, as the opponents are doing now.

During Saturday evening and all of Sunday the Archbishops came under enormous pressure from the opponents to do something to reverse what had happened. In turn, we urged the bishops to encourage Synod to follow due process and to allow the legislation to go out to the Dioceses.

Monday’s debate.

The Archbishop of Canterbury began the day’s debate by telling Synod that he wanted them to carry on with ‘due process’ and send the legislation out to the Dioceses for debate. He urged the Synod to seek the mind of the wider church, but he also asked them to continue to seek a solution that will satisfy as many as possible of those who will not accept women as bishops. He also indicated that the House of Bishops will begin now to create the Code of Practice to accompany the legislation. Although this cannot be approved until the legislation is finally passed, people need to know what will be in the Code before they can make a sensible decision about whether to support the whole package.

The debate on whether to include Clause 2 in the legislation followed. Should we press now for the simplest possible legislation, given that the opponents were saying that what was on offer in the draft legislation wasn’t enough to let them stay, or should we go with the Revision Committee’s recommendations? There followed a superb hour of debate. Canon Robert Cotton began by explaining why it was so important to hear what this compromise meant for those who would be most affected by it, setting the tone for a serious, attentive, dignified debate. It was deeply moving to hear woman after woman explain what it is like for them continually to be asked and expected to ‘be gracious’. But despite the sacrifices already required of them for the past 15 years since they were made priests, they still wanted to urge Synod to vote for these concessions. This would enable them to work alongside those who would not accept them, and make space for trust to develop. This hour was a manifestation of the giftedness of the women who might be bishops. Compared with the debate on the Act if Synod in 1993, when the bishops insisted that Synod had to make concessions in order for the women priests legislation to get through Parliament, this was indeed grace revealed.

Voting to include Clause 2 in the legislation: For Against Abstentions

373 14 17

This gives a clear steer to the Dioceses that the legislation was overwhelmingly supported by Synod in this form, with these provisions for those opposed. We need to stress this, to refute the opposition’s contention that the vote on the Archbishops’ amendment indicated the need for further provision.

Almost all the other proposed amendments were defeated, with only a few minor technical ones agreed.

What is in the legislation?
• Clause 1 makes it possible for the Church of England to consecrate women as well as men as bishops
There was no debate on this clause at Synod: even those opposed didn’t challenge this.
• Clauses 2, 3, 5 and 7 comprise provisions for those who will not accept women as bishops (or, in some cases, priests).
The inclusion of these clauses is a considerable compromise for supporters of women bishops: there will still be parishes where women are not invited to serve.
• Under Clause 2 each Diocesan bishop will set up a local Scheme, in consultation with their Diocesan Synod, to make suitable arrangements for any parish that wants to have a male bishop and/or a male vicar. Clause 3 describes how a parish can write a Letter of Request asking for such arrangements to be made.
Any duties passed to a male bishop will be delegated, ie the Diocesan bishop retains full authority over the whole Diocese.
• Clause 5 outlines the scope of the statutory national Code of Practice to which all Schemes must adhere. The House of Bishops is to press on with preparing the Code, which will need to be approved by General Synod.
Some members of the Revision Committee (including women) will be in the drafting group for the Code. We expect there will be intense pressure to make the Code include all the things that the opponents have not managed to get included in the Measure – flying bishops etc. We need to urge the bishops to resist this.
• Clause 7 grants the Church of England additional exemption from the Equality Act 2010. This is needed to allow provisions for those opposed. At present, the Church is exempt as long as it has no women bishops, but as soon as there ARE women bishops then any provisions for those opposed fall foul of the Equality Act.
We oppose any exemption from sex equality law, but recognise the need for it in this case. But we need our Parliamentary supporters to make clear that any arrangements, including the Code of Practice, must not go beyond a ‘proportionate’ response to the needs of those opposed.
• The other Clauses are technical clauses or deal with specific situations.

What happens next?
General Synod now sends the legislation to the wider church for consultation. All Diocesan Synods will debate it over the next 18 months. Most Dioceses will encourage Deanery Synods and PCCs to debate it as well. Dioceses cannot amend the legislation – they can only say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ – but they can suggest alterations, and no doubt the opponents will urge them to ask for further provisions such as those offered by the Archbishops’ amendment. It will then return to General Synod for final approval, at which there needs to be a 2/3 majority in each House (bishops, clergy and laity) – ie more than 66% of the members of each House have to vote in favour. It then goes to Parliament for approval, and there are some final finishing-off stages before it becomes possible to consecrate a woman as a bishop.

Diocesan, Deanery and Parish debates
We know that the vast majority of the Church want women to be bishops. We believe that the package of legislation to be debated is the best possible way forward. We think that Diocesan Synods will support it, but we need to ensure that it is endorsed without requests for further provisions. WATCH will be offering resources, training and help for those speaking in local debates: let us know when you need it and we will supply it.

General Synod elections: URGENT.
We need people who support the legislation to stand for General Synod now. We especially need supportive lay-people to stand. The opposition will be well organised in getting their supporters to stand, as their last chance to stop women bishops is to prevent a 2/3 majority in Synod at the final approval stage. Synod is usually unrepresentative of the church ‘at large’, as it tends to attract those who are single-minded or of a minority position. If you want to see women as bishops without further delay and without any further concessions to those opposed then please stand, or encourage someone you know to stand. We can help with all the preparations. Please contact Clare Herbert for more information at herbert.clare@googlemail.com. The closing date for nominations is 3rd September.

Hilary Cotton
WATCH Synod Campaign Coordinator July 2010

WATCH Celebration 17th July 2010 - Sermon by Bishop John Gladwyn

2010-07-23T00:43:00.000+01:00

"But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb”

Waiting for the outcomes from York last weekend I was not sure what we might be preparing for today – a wake or a party! The picture of Mary, in John’s account of the Resurrection morning, weeping outside the tomb is not meant to suggest this should be a wake! This picture speaks to multitudes of experience across the world as well as in the church. Whether we travel in heart and mind to places like Haiti and the burden carried by women in that poverty stricken and devastated nation or to households in our own society where women suffer from violent and emotional abuse or even into churches enduring misogynist ministry – the picture of Mary weeping outside the empty tomb evokes a host of stories in our own time.

Last Sunday you will be interested to know we had absolutely no mention of the General Synod. The Parish Eucharist sailed on in blissful innocence. But we could not fail to hear the Gospel Word from the story of the Good Samaritan. It was Jesus who movingly described the way the one on the outside did the neighbourly thing whilst those caught in the bonds of the institution got it all wrong. The Gospel continually punches holes in the walls of defence we humans create to keep the voices of difference at bay. Throughout the Biblical story God finds the people to carry forward the Good News story who break the mould. Mary is one such person – pointing to a new day and fresh beginning for the community of faith.

It is a basic but deep Gospel truth that we meet our Lord outside the empty tomb. Picking up the images used by Paul and thinking of the Samaritan in Jesus’ story we encounter the redeeming face of the crucified and risen Lord in the life of our neighbour who is different from us. Emmanuel Levinas – a great Jewish/French philosopher of the post war period leads us into the mystery of God whom we discover in the other who faces us in the bond of unconditional love. The key to a truly human community is not similarity but difference. Difference comes to us from the outside.

Here is the Gospel transformation of our fractured and frightened world and divided church. The resurrection journey moves us into a community that values the diversity of the human experience. That moment when Mary stands weeping outside the empty tomb and encounters the risen Lord in the beauty and gentleness of the new life is the sign and symbol of the new community.

I remember, preaching at the 21st Anniversary service in Southwark Cathedral for LGCM pondering the question as to why so many gay and lesbian people gave themselves to the ministry and life of the church in the face of so much hostility from the institution. This experience must bust the notion that the church is in control of its own life and ministry. It can only be the grace of God in the face of Jesus Christ that brings the people outside inside the community of faith. We are all faced by the loving and searching face of Jesus Christ meeting us in our neighbour – and especially the neighbour we are tempted to avoid.

When I was Bishop of Guildford it fell to my lot to go into Chichester Diocese to ordain those women called to the priesthood. I did so at the direction of the Archbishop of Canterbury because Bishop Eric would have nothing to do with the process. So I took my passport and dark glasses and crept across the border to meet these women and those who encouraged them and ordain them. What a moving experience to hear their stories of vocations which they had carried in their hearts for decades. Only in recent times had the church caught up with the mystery of the work of divine love in their hearts.

The risen Jesus meets our broken and fractured human life lovingly and beautifully outside that empty tomb. He comes to us in the faces and lives of the excluded. It is from the outside that the life and ministry of the church is transformed by the resurrection experience. It is the life and witness of those who have encountered the mystery of Christ beyond the life and borders of the institution of the church who bring the church on towards the future God has for it and for all humanity.

So the story is about out obedience to what God is doing in the world and in peoples lives. The ministry of the Gospel is not the possession of the church but the gift of God. It arises from that love of God which the world has seen in Jesus. In the face of our caution and even fear God demonstrates a divine freedom. In response to all our efforts at controlling vocation God opens new and surprising opportunities beyond our imagining.

We have gathered today to celebrate the courageous Gospel witness of WATCH and particularly its leaders past and present. As we move into a new chapter for the church and diversify its oversight with the experience of women may that new chapter deepen the capacity of the church to be a community that values and sustains difference and constantly seeks to widen its doors to all whom we so easily exclude.

The Gospel requires no less of us today and in the years to come.

The outcome of General Synod

2010-07-22T14:29:00.002+01:00

Reasons to be optimistic

1. Synod’s decision is good news for the Church
• Synod’s endorsement of the draft legislation is a decisive step forward. It allows women to be bishops without dismantling the office of bishop and offers space to those opposed. It is a good and generous compromise.
• It relies on trust not legal separation.
• It is good news for the Church.

2. A Generous Compromise
The draft legislation is a generous compromise because
• Those in favour of women bishops dropped their insistence on the simplest possible legislation in order to include as many people as possible.
• Provision is made for parishes opposed to women’s ordained ministry to have a male priest and/or a male bishop via Letters of Request.
• The Code of Practice and Diocesan Schemes will aim to ensure that those male priests and bishops are in fact acceptable to the requesting parishes.

3. The draft legislation had overwhelming support – other ways of accommodating those opposed did not.
• The draft legislation proposed by the Revision Committee had overwhelming support from Synod (373/14).
• Other ways of accommodating those opposed were all rejected by Synod: separate dioceses (258/134), transfer (270/175), and co-ordinate jurisdiction (by Houses)
• The Archbishops’ Amendment for co-ordinate jurisdiction did not command enough support to succeed by Houses. Each House was significantly divided. (Bishops 25/15, Clergy 85/90, Laity 106/86)
• This draft legislation is the way forward that best unites the church.

The next stage.

Discussion in the dioceses
• The Draft Legislation now goes to the dioceses for discussion and approval.
• When it returns to General Synod it will need a 2/3 majority in each house to pass.
• This is a very high threshold but is achievable with a Synod that properly reflects opinion across the church as a whole.

New Synod
• The final vote will be taken by a new Synod elected this autumn.
• Those opposed are aiming to stop the legislation by packing Synod with their supporters.
• It is vitally important that people who support the full inclusion of women stand for Synod and that everyone uses their vote wisely.

PLEASE CONSIDER STANDING FOR GENERAL SYNOD

YOU WILL NOT SPLIT THE VOTE.

WE CAN SUPPORT YOU.

PAPERS ARE OUT ALREADY.

THE DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS IS 3RD SEPTEMBER.

[WATCH News] Radio 4 John Broadhurst

2010-07-19T19:04:00.001+01:00

Sally Barnes from the WATCH Commitee writes:

So many WATCH members, men and women, contacted us as a result of listening to the Radio 4 profile of Bishop John Broadhurst during the weekend I felt I had to respond to a couple of the comments made in the programme that people found so offensive. During his appreciation of Bishop Broadhurst, Bishop Edwin Barnes was heard to say, regarding the successful vote in Synod, that General Synod was "swamped by more and more part-time women clergy". He then went on to describe them as "Ladies with time on their hands". Apart from being deliberately offensive ("swamped" having very unfortunate connotations) his remarks are also highly inaccurate at every level. As one of our members commented in his email, "Bishop Barnes neglects to point out that the House of Clergy in General Synod is an elected house. Those who serve are those who are voted into office by their peers. This (his comment) is not just an insult against women (shameful as that is), but against the collective clergy of the Church of England and against the whole idea of Synodical Government".
However, Bishop Barnes comments also mask the underlying reasons why there are a number of "part-time" and frequently unpaid (euphemistically called non-stipendiary) women priests in the Church of England. He, equally, but unsurprisingly, fails to recognise the many ways in which they enrich the Church through their ministries.
Firstly it shows there are very many women whose vocations and gifts have been recognised by the Church and are being used as priests to its and our great benefit.
Secondly, part time workers, having other roles and/or jobs, bring the insights and experiences gained from them into their priestly roles in parishes, or, wherever else they are placed. Because of this they know from practical, first hand experiences what it is like to be sharing in the wide-ranging professions and areas of work in which their parishioners are involved. This can only be to the benefit of the faith community; knowing what life in society, education, industry, care etc is like and the issues they bring of which they have a deep understanding and a great deal of expertise.
Thirdly, being part-time does not mean that we become "part-time Christians" as our Christian faith is always with us. The number of women who work in industry, nursing, teaching, the caring professions etc, nurturing their growing families, who have told their stories about how their colleagues and neighbours, of no faith, a great deal, some, or of other faiths, come to them at moments of stress for help and advice, is legion. Their ministry is evident, accessible and welcomed.
Fourthly, the number of women who are non-stipendiary is largely down to the Church and the fact as an institution it gets experienced vocations and ministries on the cheap. Many women would prefer to have a stipendiary post but the Church does not place them as such. They are often married to a priest who is the one who has the paid job. They often work as non-stipendiary in parishes where no one else wants to go, and, as many part-time people know it usually ends up being virtually full-time. Only recently a friend who is a part-time non-stipendiary priest was telling me how she was asked to go to a parish that was on its knees (and I don't mean in prayer) to work three days a week. She did so; now the church is flourishing and more involved in the wider community too. She does this willingly and happily but does not deserve - along with many others - to be looked down on and commented on in the disrespectful way that Bishop Barnes clearly intended. I suppose the one thing that this programme succeeded in doing was to highlight publicly the kind of put downs and undermining ordained women have been experiencing for years.
My final point, and one worth remembering, is that the early Christians all had other roles in order to earn their keep; tent maker, fisherman and so on, while they were teaching, praying and worshipping together. Food for thought here I think!

[WATCH News] Another Woman Bishop in the Anglican Communion

2010-07-15T15:51:00.001+01:00

I've just sent you a Newsflash about corrections to our information on Woman Bishops in the Anglican Communion.

And now I have news of another woman bishop!

Lydia Mamakwa was consecrated Area Bishop of Northern Ontario in the Diocese of Keewatin in Canada on 4 May 2010. An aboriginal priest from Kingfisher Lake, an Oji-Cree First Nation located north of Sioux Lookout, Bishop Lydia Mamakwa says the election of an area bishop to serve native parishes is a giant step in the fulfillment of what native clergy has long envisioned. "They want to do things for the churchŠto be self-reliant and self-determining within the Anglican Church of Canada," she says. "I want to carry that vision."

Lydia becomes the first First Nation woman to become a bishop. She is married to James Mamakwa, chief of Kingfisher Lake Nation.

So it was to have been 29 women bishops, but Bishop Nerva Cot has died, so sadly we

remain as 28 women bishops in the Anglican Communion.

Fwd: [WATCH News] News of Anglican women bishops

2010-07-15T15:50:00.001+01:00

First woman bishop for Cuban church dies

The first woman bishop in the Episcopal Church of Cuba and in the Caribbean, Nerva Cot Aguilera, died on July 10 after a brief battle with severe anemia, the Episcopal News Service (ENS) has reported. She was 71.

Bishop Cot became the first woman Anglican bishop in the developing world when she was consecrated in Havana's Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in June 2007. She retired in 2008 after a ministry in the church that began in 1987 when she became one of the first three Episcopal women priests in Cuba.

"I feel very honoured by my designation," Bishop Cot told the Associated Press shortly after her consecration as suffragan bishop. "It's a historic act that demonstrates women's possibilities."

Fwd: [WATCH News] Good News and Thank You

2010-07-12T19:28:00.001+01:00

WATCH (Women and the Church)

Press Statement 5.45pm 12th July 2010

Both Sides Compromise as Draft Legislation Goes Forward for Discussion in the Dioceses

Today the General Synod overwhelmingly endorsed the draft legislation prepared by the Revision Committee with only a couple of minor amendments. After rejecting the ways of accommodating those opposed, that were debated on Saturday, Synod accepted the proposals suggested by the Revision Committee in clause 2 of the draft legislation.

After a moving debate, the motion was passed with an overwhelming majority; 373 in favour; 14 against with 17 abstentions.
Several powerful speeches made it clear the sacrifice that had been made by the majority who welcomed women's ordained ministry in voting for this compromise. "This is good news for the whole Church and we are delighted" says the Revd Rachel Weir, Chair of WATCH. "Synod's decision gives the Church a powerful mandate to move forward enthusiastically; welcoming the ministry of women at all levels within the Church whilst making space for those who are opposed to stay within our body".

Contacts:    Revd Rachel Weir: Chair of WATCH                                      07815 729 565
                       Hilary Cotton: Vice Chair and Campaign Coordinator     07793 817 958
                       Sally Barnes: Media Officer                                                      0208 731 9860
                                                                                                                                07759 343 335

Press Release Saturday 10th July 2010

2010-07-10T22:16:00.001+01:00

Full Steam Ahead for Women Bishops - Church can Move Forward at Last

WATCH is delighted that the Church has today affirmed its wish to
appoint women as bishops on the same basis as men.

The General Synod, meeting in York, re-iterated its decision of July
2008 that when women are appointed bishops they will be in charge of
their entire Diocese. Amendments suggesting that there should be
separate dioceses for those opposed, or permanent flying bishops, or
that parishes should automatically be transferred to another bishop,
were all rejected by the Synod.

Hilary Cotton, Vice-Chair of WATCH, said, 'We are absolutely delighted
that Synod has stuck with its decision of two years ago and wants
women to be bishops with full authority. This is good news for all
women, not just women in the Church.'

Rachel Weir Chair of WATCH said, "This has been an agonisingly slow
journey and the Church has rightly wanted to do all it could for those
who find this difficult, but we are delighted that Synod has made the
right decision in the end". Now at last the Church can move forward
and accept the wonderful gifts of leadership that our women bring"

On Monday the Synod will decide what minor amendments to make. It will
also be given the opportunity to vote for the simplest possible
legislation, in other words that 'the Church will appoint male and
female bishops'. Arrangements for those opposed would then be
entrusted to individual bishops under a Code of Practice that will be
drawn up in the near future.

This is not the end of the journey. The wider Church will now be
invited to debate the proposals and if approved General Synod will
have a final vote on them in about eighteen months time.

Contact:
Hilary Cotton: Vice Chair and Campaign Co-ordinator Home:
01483856827

                                   Mobile: 07793817058
Sally Barnes: Media Officer
              Home: 020 8731 0960
           Mobile: 07759343335

Notes for Editors
WATCH (Women and the Church) is a voluntary organisation of women and
men who are campaigning to see women take their place alongside men
without discrimination and at every level in the Church of England.
This requires the removal of current legal obstacles to the
consecration of women as bishops. WATCH believes that the full
equality of women and men in the Church is part of God's will for all
people, and reflects the inclusive heart of the Christian scripture
and tradition

Vigils for General Synod

2010-06-18T14:33:00.001+01:00

As General Synod approaches - 9 to 13 July in York WATCH groups are setting up to have Vigils to support and pray for these important debates.

This is what has been arranged so far:

Prayer Vigils for the General Synod Debate on Women Bishop's Legislation are taking place at Ripon Cathedral, Newcastle Cathedral and Guildford Cathedral over the weekend of General Synod (9th - 13 July).

What is truly remarkable about these Vigils is that they are drawing together in prayer people from across the spectrum of opinion on this matter including WATCH, Forward In Faith, MCU, Affirming Catholicism, Society of Catholic Priests, Reform and local parishes and in Ripon and Leeds it is supported by both the Diocesan and Flying Bishop. The Vigils focus on supporting members of the General Synod in prayer as they take part in a complex and demanding debate the outcome of which is likely to have a significant impact on the life of the Church and the communities to whom we minister.

WATCH members are working closely alongside people from Forward in Faith and other groups to avoid party politics and ensure everyone is made genuinely welcome.

I would like to encourage you to send these details to your local General Synod representatives so that they know they are being held in prayer during what is likely to be a demanding and critical debate.

Please also think about organizing a similar vigil locally, either in your local cathedral or parish church, or park or community hall or front room!

Every blessing,
Lindsay Southern

WATCH National Committee Branch representative

and

Jenny Standage WATCH newslist

WATCH call to action

2010-06-10T16:01:00.001+01:00

MOVING FORWARD ON WOMEN BISHOPS

CALL TO ACTION!

WATCH supports the draft legislation proposed by the Revision Committee as a framework for moving forward without further delay.

But this represents a significant compromise.

The ideal

WATCH has always campaigned for the simplest possible legislation for women bishops, that is, a Single Clause Measure. This is the only way of having women bishops without discrimination. A Single Clause Measure would have brought women in the Church of England under the protection of the Equality Act. It would also have put us in step with all other Anglican Provinces that have consecrated women as bishops. Most importantly it would have signaled that the Church now values women as much as men. What is being proposed falls short of this ideal.

The current proposals

The draft legislation provides for the consecration of women as bishops with special arrangements for those with conscientious difficulties by way of delegation from the diocesan bishop under a statutory Code of Practice. This is the approach is that Synod approved after lengthy debate in July 2008.

Under the proposals, each diocesan bishop would be required to draw up a Scheme in her or his diocese that takes account of a national Code of Practice and provides local arrangements for the performance of certain Episcopal functions in relation to parishes with conscientious difficulties.

In addition such parishes would be able to request, when there is a vacancy, that only a male incumbent or priest-in-charge be appointed.

A compromise for WATCH

It is a significant compromise for WATCH to consider supporting anything short of a Single Clause Measure. However, the Revision Committee has listened to all viewpoints and investigated the practical possibilities with great care. Their lengthy report is a testament to the enormous patience and generosity of their process.

All these factors lead us to believe that WATCH should support the proposals at Synod. However, this is a compromise so that we can move ahead with women bishops NOW and be as inclusive as we can without compromising the integrity of the episcopate or of women.

Our Concerns

Although we support the legislative framework proposed, WATCH has concerns over certain details of the draft legislation. Our Synod Task Force is considering possible amendments. Our principle concerns are as follows:

1. The Code of Practice.

The Code of Practice has not yet been drafted and yet will be key to the content of Schemes that are drawn up at local level. Para 448 of the Revision Committee’s report accepts that 'much … turns on what the Code of Practice says and the extent to which the bishops … are prepared to commit themselves to a broadly consistent approach across the country'.

We have an incomplete picture at present and we are concerned that there is room for many discriminatory practices to return at a later stage in the process. WATCH is prepared to support the draft Measure but we reserve our position on the details of the Code of Practice.

The Revision Committee has recommended that a draft Code of Practice be ready before Final Approval of the legislation. We would urge the preparation and publication of the draft Code at the earliest possible opportunity and endorse the Committee’s proposal that both men and women should be involved in the drafting process.

2. Diocesan Schemes

The Measure does not provide for a ‘national standard’ for Diocesan Schemes and there is no obligation to consult with a local or national advisory group in drawing up a Scheme. This leaves open the possibility that practice will polarise across dioceses with some dioceses continuing to provide a very difficult environment for women in ordained ministry. There is no simple mechanism for challenge or redress if a Scheme is unsatisfactory.

Where the Diocesan Bishop will not ordain women, the Scheme makes no provision for the care of parishes who support the ministry of women or for women discerning a vocation to the priesthood.

3. Letters of Request

Provision for those opposed is triggered by the PCC sending a Letter of Request to the Diocesan Bishop. WATCH would like to see the grounds and process for such Letters to be tightened.

We are concerned that the PCC need only pass a resolution ‘on grounds of theological conviction’ and that these grounds need not be further specified in the Letter of Request. We are also concerned that the Diocesan Bishop is given no opportunity to challenge the reasonableness of any such ‘theological’ grounds.

These theological grounds need not be of the PCC themselves – the theological convictions of others (also unspecified) is enough. Given the seriousness of the request – alternative Episcopal oversight or the appointment of a male priest – there is need for more rigorous scrutiny of the grounds of a Letter of Request.

WATCH would also like to a requirement for wider consultation in the parish before the PCC considers whether to send a Letter of Request.

4. Exemptions from the Equality Act.

WATCH deeply regrets the need to seek exemptions from the Equality Act and will seek to minimise the effect of such exemptions wherever possible.

What next ?

The draft legislation returns to Synod in July for its Revision Stage. But, as the House of Bishops recently made clear, this is likely to be a very difficult Session.

Opponents, though a small minority, remain very vocal and, despite the careful listening of the Revision Committee, still claim they have not been heard. There will be attempts at Synod to bring back structural separation, declarations by bishops and other discriminatory measures.

WATCH will oppose any attempts to institutionalise division within the Church.

The Revision Committee has already explored the options thoroughly and has found that none of the approaches suggested to them by those opposed would work in practice.

There must be no further concessions to accommodate theologies that demean and diminish women.

WATCH needs you to ACT NOW!

Get involved!

This is a crucial time for the future of our Church. We need your help to ensure that the best possible legislation is passed by Synod and that there are no further delays in the process. Synod has been debating this for more than thirty years. Now is the time for action! Please help us campaign in the weeks leading up to Synod.

Get writing!

 to your Diocesan Bishop,

 to your General Synod representatives

 to the Church and national press

key points to remember

• this legislation is a compromise

• structural solutions will not work

• the integrity of the church is at stake

• we need to move forward NOW!

Get blogging!

Engage positively with online discussions

Get together!

Meet locally to co-ordinate action and share ideas. Contact WATCHwww.womenandthechurch.org to find friends in your area.

As well as preparing for this Synod we need to make sure that good people stand for the forthcoming General Synod elections. Have you considered standing yourself? We can help you through the process.

Keep praying!

[WATCH News] First Finnish woman bishop

2010-06-08T01:59:00.001+01:00

News has come from Finland that they have elected Pastor, Master of Theology, Irja Askola (born 1952) as Bishop of the Diocese of Helsinki on the second round of the election with 591 votes. She is the first woman to be elected as bishop in Finland.

Irja Askola graduated as Master of Theology in 1975, and was ordained as priest in 1988. Her home parish is Alppila. She works now as the Special Assistant in Theological Affairs for Bishop Mikko Heikka.

And news from WATCH is that OUTLOOK is about to come out with a centre spread of all the 28 women bishops in the Anglican Communion!

[WATCH News] Another woman Dean

2010-06-01T17:26:00.001+01:00

The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich has just announced that the Reverend Canon Dr Frances Ward is to become the next Dean of St Eds and Ipswich Cathedral.

Currently a Residentiary Canon and Canon Theologian at Bradford Cathedral, Frances is responsible for all the worship. She has also taken a prominent role developing dialogue between the Church and the Muslim communities in that multi cultural city and is currently writing a book on the subject.

Previously she was a vicar in the Diocese of Manchester, at the other Bury in Lancashire. She has done various jobs in parishes and as an educator since she was ordained in 1989. This includes teaching for the United Reformed Church at the Northern College in Manchester.

"Suffolk holds real attractions for me," says Canon Ward. "As a child I sailed the estuaries of Suffolk and North Essex, and will relish rediscovering this beautiful part of Britain, and serving the town of Bury St Edmunds and the diocese as Dean. The Diocese and Cathedral will celebrate their centenary in 2014 and already all sorts of ideas are shaping to make that a year to remember," she says.

Frances is married to Peter, who is a Consultant Paediatrician, They have four children, and a dog called Phoebe. She will move to Suffolk in late summer and will be installed as Dean on Saturday 16 October 2010 at 2.30 p.m.

Frances is a member of WATCH and we in WATCH wish her all the very best for the future.

This means that when Frances is installed there will be FOUR women deans in the Church of England - Catherine Ogle to be installed as Dean of Birmingham this summer, with Vivienne Faull as Dean of Leicester and June Osborne as Dean of Salisbury.

Fwd: [WATCH News] Lucy Winkett

2010-05-08T16:15:00.001+01:00

Canon Lucy Winkett to be Rector of St James's Piccadilly

It has just been announced that Canon Lucy Winkett has been appointed as Rector to St James's Piccadilly. On making the announcement the The Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres said;

"Lucy Winkett is among the most talented priests in her generation in the Church of England. I am delighted that after such a fruitful ministry at St Paul's Cathedral she will be moving to Piccadilly to work with a gifted and diverse congregation."

We too would like to send our heartiest congratulations to Lucy on her appointment. We wish her well and much joy in her new role.

[WATCH News] Congratulations and Good news

2010-04-14T03:29:00.001+01:00

Now Easter has come it seems like Spring has too! A Happy and Joyful Easter to all WATCH news people.

Congratulations to WATCH member Paula Gooder who is to be a Lay Canon of Salisbury Cathedral. If you get the Church Times you will have been reading extracts from her book This Risen Existence.
Paula used to be our Book Reviews editor for OUTLOOK. She is Canon Theologian of Birmingham Cathedral, Hon Lecturer of the University of Birmingham, and Associate Lecturer of St Mellitus College, London already!

Congratulation also to the Revd Shirley Griffiths who will be the next Archdeacon of Wrexham and Rector of Llandegla in St Aspah diocese in Wales. Peggy Jackson became the first woman Archdeacon in Wales when she became Archdeacon of Llandaff last year - but Peggy is English and Shirley is actually Welsh, so she is the first Welsh woman to be made archdeacon in Wales! Shirley held posts in Ripon & Leeds diocese before moving to be vicar of Abergele and St George in the diocese of St Asaph.

Earlier this year I sent you the news that two women had been elected bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles.
The Revd Canon Diane Jardine Bruce was elected on 4 December.
Then the Revd Mary Douglas Glasspool was elected on 5 December!

These two elections have now been confirmed, so now it is sure that Diane and Mary will be suffragan bishops in the Diocese of Los Angeles.

Happy post Easter spring days!

Fwd: [WATCH News] What happened at the EGM

2010-03-24T01:38:00.001Z

We had a very good meeting at St Anne's Soho last Saturday. Apart from the elections we also met over lunch in groups corresponding to the different regions and dioceses of the C of E and brainstormed what we would like to be doing in the future.
We also had an up - date on the situation re Women Bishops legislation coming out in early May and the General Synod meeting in York in July.

NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM PREPARES 'WATCH'

(Women and the Church) FOR CRUCIAL SYNOD

With what is expected to be a crucial General Synod approaching this July, 'WATCH' (Women and the Church), has elected a new Chair to succeed Christina Rees.

The Archdeacon of Northampton, the Venerable Christine Allsopp, spoke for all members as she thanked Christina for her 14 years of energetic service and strong campaign leadership at a General Meeting on March 20th.

The new Chair is the Rev Rachel Weir, a former Barrister, and currently serving in the parish of Headington Quarry in Oxford. She is joined by two new Vice-Chairs elected at the same General Meeting: Hilary Cotton and the Rev Mark Bennet.

Hilary, a seasoned campaigner for WATCH in Guildford Diocese and nationally, is a specialist in women's leadership development. Mark was a forensic accountant with KPMG and solicitors Leigh, Day & Co before ordination and is Team Rector of Great Parndon in Harlow.

Hilary will head WATCH's campaign in the period leading up to the General Synod. "The next few months will be both busy and demanding as we prepare for the crucial debate in July," Hilary says "I look forward to working in partnership with all our supporters to enable approval of the best possible legislation for women to be appointed bishops."

The new leadership team will bring renewed strength and vision to the work of WATCH.

"We are taking WATCH into an exciting new era", says Rachel, "Though campaigning for women bishops on equal terms remains top of our agenda. WATCH will also be moving to a broader focus. We want to celebrate the enormous gifts women bring to the church and to help the Church to celebrate women."

Fwd: [WATCH News] Brenda Harrison RIP

2010-03-01T01:26:00.001Z

Dear WATCH people,

Brenda Harrison, a WATCH member and very active supporter has died after a battle against cancer.You can see a photo of her on the front of the last OUTLOOK. She is holding the banner on the right hand side of the picture. She was with us at the Lambeth Conference and then here at the February Synod in 2009.

We will all miss Brenda.

Fwd: [WATCH News] Another woman bishop!

2010-02-12T17:36:00.001Z

On 7 February Revd Griselda Delgado del Carpio was consecrated as co-adjutor bishop of Cuba in Havana!

Find out more via this link http://us1.forward-to-friend.com/forward/show?u=d120aa8efc4112c7cae41108e&id=1ef840385d

Click on Read more to see the picture!

And this news will soon be on our website

Cuba already has a suffragan bishop - Rt Revd Nerva Cot Aguilera. We met her at the Lambeth Conference in 2008 at our stall.

This brings the total of women bishops in the Anglican Communion to 26.
I wonder how many there will be when the Church of England eventually gets round to allowing this to happen!

from Jenny

Fwd: [WATCH News] General Synod 8 February

2010-02-09T13:56:00.001Z

Dear WATCH people,

I was up in the gallery at General Synod yesterday afternoon 8 February and heard Bishop Nigel McCullough read out his statement about where we are with the Women Bishops legislation.

This is a brief report of what he said - below.

More waiting now until May and then July!

The Revision committee which is charged with revising a draft measure that would pave the way for women to be consecrated as bishops in the Church of England needs more time to consider the legislation, Bishop Nigel McCulloch of Manchester told General Synod members on Monday 8 February as they began their February session in London.
McCulloch said the committee, on which he serves, aims to release a comprehensive document with the revised legislation several weeks ahead of synod's July session. Before 17 May was mentioned.

In February 2009, General Synod decided to send the draft measure to the revision committee so it could rework the legislation. Although no official timeframe was set for the committee to complete its work, the revised legislation was expected to be presented to Synod's February 2010 sessions.
McCulloch said the committee, which received nearly 300 submissions in all with 114 submissions from General Synod members relating to the measure, had "not completed its detailed scrutiny" of the legislation.
The draft measure had two principal objectives: "to give the General Synod power to make provision by canon allowing women to be consecrated as bishops; and to set out the legal framework for the arrangements to be made for parishes which, on grounds of theological conviction, feel unable to receive the ministry of women."
The process involved in allowing women in the episcopate of the Church of England is complicated and ultimately will require endorsement by the U.K. Parliament before any measure can take full effect. It is generally estimated that -- assuming all stages of the legislative process proceed without delay -- canonically, women will not be able to become bishops until at least 2014.
"The work of the revision committee is just one of many stages in the process," said McCulloch.

Fwd: [WATCH News] 27 February Liturgy Day

2010-02-04T12:48:00.000Z

It looks a very stimulating day, so please consider attending, or suggesting it to friends who might be interested.

Those of you within striking distance of London may be interested in this day being put on by the Lisieux Trust.

Please remember to reply to Dorothea McEwan, 0208 883 5408, daily from 5 to 9 pm or: dorotheamcewan@uwclub.net

The Lisieux Trust for Women's Ministry* has sent an invitation (below) to WATCH (London) members for an event they are holding in London on Saturday 27th February. If you would like to attend please contact: Dorothea McEwan, 0208 883 5408, daily from 5 to 9 pm or: dorotheamcewan@uwclub.net
Happy (and warmer) New Year to you all.

The Lisieux Trust for Women's Ministry

invites you to a

Training Day

'Making Liturgy'

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

St. Andrew's

Waterloo, London.

*The Lisieux Trust is a sister organisation to the Catholic Women for Ordination(CWO). They have an informative website which can be found on www.catholic-womens-ordination.org.uk or google the Lisieux Trust

Fwd: [WATCH News] WATCH member becomes Lay Canon

2010-02-03T19:24:00.001Z

Congratulations to WATCH member Christine McMullen! She has been made a Lay Canon of Derby Cathedral. Christine used to be our Book Reviews editor for OUTLOOK and is our Contact for the Diocese of Derby. She is also a member of General Synod.

General Synod meets next week February 8 - 12 in Church House in London. But the Revision Committee has not finished its task so the legislation for women as bishops debate has been moved to the July Synod.
Bishop Nigel McCullogh will give a statement to the Synod about the current situation regarding the work of the Revision Committee on the afternoon of the first day - Monday 8 February.

So it's more waiting waiting for everyone!

WATCH (London) Update: Women Bishops Report Delay

2010-01-21T09:26:00.001Z

WATCH (London) Update

Revision Committee Deadline: Church Times Article

For those who read the Church Times you may be interested to note an article (p3) in 15th January 10 edition (www.churchtimes.co.uk) regarding the lack of progress made by the Revision Committee in producing proposals to admit women to the Episcopate. As a result the committee states it is unable to report to the February meeting of the General Synod as requested heralding yet more delay.

The Revision Committee had a clear remit to carry out the request of General Synod and not deviate from what had been explicitly required of it. As the committee has failed to do so it should be required to give an interim report accounting for this delay, the decisions that have been made so far and why. Most specifically, reasons should be given for the unexpected and unprecedented press release in October 09 and the subsequent change of heart that took place. Transparency of action is more important than the secrecy that members have been requested to keep. This would avoid the suspicion that delaying tactics have been in place to hold the proposals up even more and the strain that must have been borne by those committee members who have been supporting the admission of women to the Episcopate whose work we greatly appreciate.

The Revision committee was given a clear brief and time scale. Those responsible for organising the working of the committee should account for this delay to General Synod in February and give an interim report so that members of General Synod have an opportunity to provide further, clear direction.

It would be helpful as members of London WATCH, if you feel so inclined, to write to the Chair of the Revision Committee, the Venerable Clive Mansell: archdeacon.tonbridge@rochester.anglican.org and/or members of Gnerral Synod for your Diocese

giving your comments on this vital issue. Enough time and discussion has been held on this matter. It is not as if this is a new or surprising development which has suddenly been sprung on the Church. Much discussion and thought has taken place over many years, together with the patient, faithful witness provided by our valuable priestly women who should not have to wait any longer to be accepted. The Church needs the gifts of these women in Episcopal Ministry.

Sally Barnes - On behalf of WATCH (London) Committee

[WATCH News] And yet another bishop!

2009-12-11T18:54:00.001Z

Joyful news from Peterborough Diocese :

Following a recently revived ancient tradition, Eve Crookenden Johnson
(Aged 13) was inaugurated as Child Bishop at All Saint's, Wellingborough,

in the Diocese of Peterborough this morning December 6 by the Archdeacon of

Northampton, The Venerable Christine Allsopp. Bishop Eve will serve until
Holy Innocent's Day (28th December), during which time she will preside at
services and pray for and bless the parish congregation.

The Peterborough WATCH contact, Dr Dennis Allsopp writes:
" As Bishop Eve was inaugurated in front of a packed congregation, the sun
broke through the wet grey clouds and blue sky blessed us.This was indeed
a joyous event and a portent of happy things to come. Resplendent in her
newly-crafted vestments, Bishop Eve blessed the congregation and joined
Archdeacon Christine in greeting several hundred parishoners as they left
the church.May every blessing be upon Bishop Eve in her short present
ministry ,the good people of Wellingborough and the Priest at All Saint's,
Fr Tony Lynett."

We in WATCH all wish Bishop Eve well !

[WATCH News] And another new bishop!

2009-12-06T19:25:00.001Z

I didn't think I would be doing another news item so quickly after the one sent yesterday - but here is another newly elected woman - Mary Glasspool.

The 114th annual convention of the Diocese of Los Angeles made history for the second time in as many days on Dec. 5, electing an openly gay candidate, the Rev. Mary Douglas Glasspool, as bishop suffragan, pending the required consents from the majority of the church's other dioceses.

"I'm very excited about the future of the whole Episcopal Church, and I see the Diocese of Los Angeles leading the way into that future," Glasspool said after the election. "But just for this moment, let me say again, thank you, and thanks be to our loving, surprising God.

Glasspool is the second openly gay partnered priest to be elected a bishop in the Episcopal Church. The first was Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, who was elected in 2003.

For more details go to : http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_117538_ENG_HTM.htm

But Sister Teresa says - Caution: Confirmation will be opposed. Last opposed confirmation was overturned with traditionalists winning.

Diane Bruce's election will also have to be confirmed, so we must just wait and see what happens next!

Happy Advent time everyone.

Briefing from the WATCH Parliamentary Task Force on the Equality Bill in the House of Lords.

2009-12-05T15:48:00.001Z

1. Current proposals for women bishops.

The draft legislation for women bishops currently with the Revision Committee for Women and the Episcopate contains restrictions on the ministry of female bishops, and male bishops who consecrate them or ordain women as priests, both within the Measure and in the statutory code of practice which will accompany it. General Synod in July 2008 asked

'that special arrangements be available, within the existing structures of the Church of England, for those who as a matter of theological conviction will not be able to receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests;'

but we believe that the current proposals go too far in restricting female bishops and male bishops who consecrate them.

2. Equality Bill, gender and the Church of England

Within the Equality Bill the Church of England may need to claim exemption under Schedule 9 concerning gender in two ways:

1. Some episcopal appointments may only be open to men who do not ordain women. We are not sure what exemption may cover this.

2. Provisions for those opposed, which create restrictions on the ministry of female bishops and possibly male bishops who consecrate them, may be exempt under the 'non-conflict' clause 2 (6).

The application of a requirement [to be of a particular sex] engages the non-conflict principle if,

because of the nature or context of the employment, the application is a

proportionate means of avoiding conflict with the strongly held religious

convictions of a significant number of the religion's followers.

3. WATCH's suggestions for issues and questions.

WATCH believes that the best future for the Church of England will include having women and men as bishops without any discrimination between them in terms of functions, responsibilities for care, or geographical territory.

We therefore suggest that you may like to consider raising the following in the debate on the Equality Bill:

1. Why the Established Church, which has a duty of care for every person living in England, should be able to claim exemption from equality law where it concerns gender, when the basis of society has for over 30 years been the expectation of equal treatment of the sexes.

2. Members of the House have a duty to consider this issue, whether they are members of the Church of England, or Christians, or not. (NB disestablishment is a connected issue, but the point here is that the House has a responsibility for the Church as it is, not how some might like it to be). The point could be made that only active members of the Church of England have been involved in debates on the legislation: as part of the Establishment, the House has a responsibility to all those people who are inactive members or not members at all, as this will affect them.

3. Any Measure (legislation) passed by General Synod concerning the appointment of women as bishops will eventually come to the House of Lords for approval: could the House approve a Measure that discriminates unfairly in the way that the current proposals do? .

4. Is it right for one group within the House of Lords (the bench of bishops) to be drawn from those who are discriminated amongst on the grounds of gender (which will be the case if the current proposals for women bishops are passed)?

5. Should the 'non conflict' clause of Schedule 9 should be removed? It gives a licence to any group that wishes to hold to ransom the Church (or other religious body) when considering changing its stance on issues of gender (or sexuality etc)

6. The mission of the church is severely compromised when it appears to be haggling about whether women can be bishops on the same basis as men: this appears absurd, outdated and unrepresentative of Christian values to most people outside the Church

7. The underlying message of the proposed legislation is that ALL women are somehow not-quite-ok: if a group needs 'protection' or 'safeguards' from the ministry of female bishops or male bishops who consecrate them, this makes all women suspect.

8. The concept of 'protection' or 'safeguards' is demeaning to the Church and to all women, and runs counter to the experience of the House of Lords which decided to allow women to sit as members in 1958, without any 'protection' for those who did not want to sit next to them, and which has benefited greatly has benefited from their service here.

9. If the Church of England wishes to encourage other religious groups to treat women fairly, with dignity and respect, then it needs to do that towards its own women, especially those it expects to act as leaders and representatives.

Hilary Cotton

For WATCH Parliamentary Task Force

Email: hilary.cotton@ntlworld.com

www.womenandthechurch.org

4^th December 2009

Fwd: [WATCH News] New woman bishop

2009-12-05T15:27:00.001Z

Hello WATCH News people!

Good news from Los Angeles!

The Revd Canon Diane Jardine Bruce became the first woman elected a bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles on Dec. 4.

" Diane is a skilled pastor and a proven leader," said Los Angeles diocesan Bishop Jon Bruno. "Her gifts and expertise are major assets in this diocese and the wider church and I am delighted with the opportunity for us to continue to serve together in new ways."

Go to

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_117534_ENG_HTM.htm for more details

A Fulcrum Statement

2009-11-18T15:30:00.001Z

'Making way for Women Bishops'

Following the vote by General Synod in July 2008, the Revision Committee on Women in the Episcopate has been meeting to draft legislative proposals for the next Synod meeting in February. http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9509.html. After their discussion in October they announced a way forward which seemed directly at variance with the decision made by the General Synod. That decision had been for a simple measure which would avoid enshrining in law any distinction in the status of men and women bishops. Instead, the Revision Committee suggested provisions for the statutory transfer of authority:- vesting particular functions in bishops who would provide oversight for those unable to receive the Episcopal or priestly ministry of women.

The last few weeks has seen considerable turmoil as members of the General Synod, WATCH and many other church organisations have protested about these proposals. Some have argued that they would have resulted in legalising a two-tier episcopate. However, at its most recent meeting on November 13 the Revision Committee was unable to draw enough support for the specific draft provisions from both those in favour of women in the episcopate and those against. All the proposals for vesting were defeated and the Committee announced that suggestions for the statutory transfer of authority have now been dropped. This means that arrangements for those unable to receive the Episcopal ministry of women will need to be made through delegation from the diocesan bishop.

This is much closer to the decision made by General Synod, and to be welcomed. Fulcrum reiterates its own position that on the basis of biblical theology we positively advocate the consecration of women to the episcopate for the sake of the Church and its mission. We therefore hope to see a Measure which will give an unequivocal affirmation of their ministry. We are aware that the Revision Committee will still have its work cut out to bring proposals to the General Synod in February 2010 that both recognize the full inclusion of women to the episcopate and show concern and respect for those who in conscience are not able to accept women's Episcopal leadership. The Commission will need to explore carefully the shape of the proposed legislation and in particular decide whether to adopt the simplest possible legislation, or to include a statutory code of practice. Fulcrum will be praying for the committee as it meets and works through the issues.

WATCH paper

2009-11-16T12:49:00.003Z

The final WATCH paper in the series on Preparing for Women Bishops – Legislation for Women Bishops by Peggy Jackson – is now available to read/download on the WATCH website at http://www.womenandthechurch.org/preparing.htm

WATCH Press Statement

2009-11-16T12:49:00.001Z

Saturday, 14^th November 2009 – for immediate release

WOMEN BISHOPS LEGISLATION NOW ON RIGHT TRACK

WATCH is delighted to hear that the Revision Committee on Women in the Episcopate has decided that legislation for women bishops will no longer include proposals for the mandatory transfer of authority - the vesting of particular functions by law – in bishops who would provide oversight for those unable to receive the Episcopal and/or priestly ministry of women.

WATCH commends the recent work of the Revision Committee, which met yesterday to explore how the previous proposed arrangements could be made to work. WATCH is aware of the huge outcry from members of General Synod and from other Church members to the earlier announcement of the Revision Committee to make changes in law that would have resulted in a two-tier episcopate.

WATCH Chair, Christina Rees said: "This is a real breakthrough. I am delighted that now we can look forward to having women as bishops on the same terms that men are bishops. Women will bring valuable different perspectives and ways of doing things and will also bring a sorely needed wholeness to the Episcopal leadership of our Church. The House of Bishops will cease to be the 'men only' club it has been and will be more representative of the people whom the Church exists to serve. Now the Church will be able to draw on the experience and wisdom of many gifted women. We know from 15 years of having women as priests that they are often able to reach people and approach situations in ways that are creative and empowering for many others."

WATCH is pleased with the outcome on two counts: first, and most importantly, the new proposals express the theological understanding of the Church about the status of baptised Christians and about the relationship between men and women and God. Secondly, the Revision Committee has shown that it has heeded the will of General Synod to draft legislation that would not have arrangements in law that would differentiate between male and female bishops.

WATCH continues to urge the Revision Committee to bring proposals to General Synod in February 2010 which adopt the simplest possible legislation, so that the Church of England can proceed to opening the Episcopate to women in such a way that the nature of the Episcopate is retained and the Church can best communicate its belief that women and men are equal in the eyes of God.

Revision Committee on Women in the Episcopate

2009-11-15T22:07:00.001Z

Embargoed until 0930hrs, Saturday 14 November

The Revision Committee met for its third scheduled meeting yesterday (13 November) since 8 October (see earlier statement: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9509.html). It concluded a substantial exploration of ways in which the draft legislation could be amended to enable certain functions to be vested by statute in bishops who would provide oversight for those unable to receive the episcopal and/or priestly ministry of women.

After much discussion, the members of the Committee were unable to identify a basis for specifying particular functions for vesting which commanded sufficient support both from those in favour of the ordination of women as bishops and those unable to support that development. As a result all of the proposals for vesting particular functions by statute were defeated.

The effect of the Committee's decision is therefore that such arrangements as are made for those unable to receive the episcopal ministry of women will need to be by way of delegation from the diocesan bishop rather than vesting.

There remain important issues for the Committee to determine at its forthcoming meetings over the shape of the proposed legislation in the light of this decision, in particular whether to retain a statutory code of practice or adopt the simplest possible legislation.

The work of a Revision Committee in scrutinising draft legislation, and in considering submissions to amend it, is only part of a longer legislative process. The Revision Committee on this draft legislation will report to the full General Synod at the conclusion of its work and the Synod will debate its proposals and have its own opportunity to support, amend or invite further reconsideration of the legislation by the Revision Committee. Further stages in the legislative process would require consideration of any legislation by the Diocesan Synods of the Church of England, final approval by the General Synod, Parliamentary approval and the Royal Assent.

WATCH (London) Revision Committee Good News Update

2009-11-15T22:05:00.001Z

WATCH (London) Good News Update!!

The Revision Committee on Women in the Episcopate has rescinded the proposal it made in October to limit the authority of women bishops by statute. A big thank you to all those of you who wrote to the Chair of the Revision Committee stating your opposition to this proposal. We also thank those members of the Revision Committee who worked to bring about this welcomed change. This good news gives us some hope of a resolution that will enable both men and women bishops to serve equally together in the Episcopacy. Attached is the press release from the Revision Committee.

A press release from National WATCH is about to be issued and will be sent to you as soon as it is finalised.

New Women Bishops

2009-11-15T20:12:00.001Z

Barbara Andrews has been appointed as the new Suffragan Bishop for the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior in Canada.

This brings to 25 the total number of women bishops in the Anglican Communion. 2 in New Zealand; 2 in Australia, 5 in Canada, 1 in Cuba and 15 in USA. 19 are currently serving while 6 have retired; these 6 incl 2 who are still acting as Asst Bp in their Diocese.

"The Application of the Sex Discrimination Legislation to Religious Organisations"

2009-11-06T19:44:00.002Z

On Wednesday 11th November at 3.30pm in Westminster Hall, Robert Key, MP for Salisbury, has arranged for a debate to take place on:
"The Application of the Sex Discrimination Legislation to Religious Organisations".
This is an excellent achievement. We are grateful to Robert for his efforts on our behalf to draw attention to the fact the Church is outside Sex Discrimination Legislation. This debate has cross-party support.

Action for WATCH Members
Please contact your MP to let her/him know about this debate, why it is important and ask for their support.
If you can, please attend the debate. We could all meet up at 3.00pm at Cromwell Green - the main public entrance to the Commons and then go in together. We could also, like the poem, "wear something purple" if you feel so inclined!

To email MPs it is usually surname first followed by initial then @parliament.uk; e.g. smithj@parliament.uk

On Line Petitions for Lay People, Ordained Men and Ordained Females

2009-11-03T16:55:00.002Z

Just one more task for WATCH (London) members if you would like to join in.

A letter to all women clergy has been sent out by NADAWM (read contents below on the women clergy gopetition website) which is gathering a large number of signatures. Many lay people and male clergy have expressed a wish to have a similar letter that they could sign up to. These are on the appropriate websites below. Please share them with as many friends as you can. It is so important that we capture the real groundswell of opinion that we have been made aware of particularly in the last few weeks in a tangeable way. With many thanks and good wishes - Sally

For women clergy at http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/31823.html

For men clergy at http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/31836.html

For the laity at http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/31837.html

Mary Johnston Chair of WATCH (London)

2009-10-30T17:12:00.000Z

Women as Bishops in the Church of England. Yes please, the sooner the better, for the sake of our Church and, more important still, for the spread of the Gospel in our country. Much of this newsletter explores the progress towards that goal - and the aggressive undertow that threatens to disrupt and distort it.

Just as this newsletter was going to press, the Revision Committee, set up by General Synod to consider the draft legislation to open the episcopate to women, dropped a bomb-shell: the Committee has voted to revise the draft accepted by General Synod, so as to provide for certain episcopal functions to be assigned, by law, to an “acceptable” male bishop, rather than be delegated by a woman bishop under a Code of Practice. Having as its goal women bishops on equal terms with male bishops, WATCH was well aware that the draft proposals accepted by Synod contained serious flaws, which it has urged the Revision Committee to rectify. These have been elucidated in Hilary Cotton’s exposition reported later in this newsletter. But, far from addressing the flaws, these revised proposals would shift the Act of Synod up a gear into an Act of Parliament, thereby legalising and consolidating the barriers currently existing between those who do not accept women in ordained ministry and the vast majority who do. To gauge the damaging effect of such an escalation read the article from Sally Barnes based on Monica Furlong’s book, “Act of Synod, Act of Folly” on page 2 and the following item from GRAS (Group for Rescinding the Act of Synod). It must be highly improbable that a future government, of any political colour, would ultimately countenance such legalised division, based specifically on gender discrimination, in the nation’s established Church.
Meanwhile, the Revision Committee will continue to meet – at considerable financial cost, funded of course by ordinary faithful laity, most of whom have no problem whatsoever with the concept of women bishops – settling which duties will have to be assigned by women bishops, and those male bishops who accept them, into the hands of “untainted” males. Their detailed proposals will be put before General Synod next February. That will be the occasion to amend or reject them. So don’t rush, just yet, to cancel those standing orders to church funds! WATCH is active at every level of the Church, and will steadily work to achieve honourable legislation, with compassionate provision for those who still find ordained women unacceptable. And WATCH is not acting alone in this.
Already, other groups looking forward to a church where men and women are fully accepted have met with WATCH to decide how to proceed. Meanwhile, the Revision Committee’s unexpected reversal of the thrust of the House of Bishops’ motion, accepted in debate by General Synod, could give no clearer demonstration of the absolute necessity for all of us to support WATCH in whatever way we can – by speaking out on this issue, with donations and of course with prayer.

But how sad for the Church to be struggling to move backwards, to be spending so much time, effort and money in resisting as so often in church history the creative impulse of the Holy Spirit. And all of this at a time when the nation is looking critically at its core values, wanting wholesome direction it can sign up to. Stay with it…pray without ceasing, and keep WATCHing

Act of Synod: Continuous Acts of Folly – Sally Barnes

2009-10-30T17:11:00.002Z

I wish to acknowledge and thank the Venerable Peggy Jackson, Archdeacon of Llandaff, for her interest in and contribution towards this article via an email discussion on this topic. The suggested wording of the proposed motion for PCCs faced with the requirement to discuss Resolution B when a vacancy arises was provided by Peggy. I am grateful to her for her thoughts and wisdom. Sally

I have recently been re-reading “Act of Synod- Act of Folly? Edited by Monica Furlong in 1998*. Monica compiled this book after the Act was pushed through General Synod in 1993, without going through the same consultative processes with deanery and diocesan synods as that of the Ordination of Women Priests Measure. Reading it I was struck how contemporary the contents still are; how the book could well do with a reprint, with a contextual update, as little has changed over the past fifteen years. The same arguments are being called into play by those opposed to women bishops now that were used for opposing women priests then. “Reception” has been a myth. There has been no serious attempt at getting those opposed to examine where the real roots of their opposition lie. No consideration has been given to the negative effects discrimination has on the life of the Church or the individuals concerned. The notion of “Taint” is still strong as demonstrated in the recent proposals put forward by the Legislative Drafting Group regarding Women Bishops. The aims of the Act of Synod have been stretched beyond what was originally intended. It has created many problems within those few parishes

where the priest (usually) and some parishioners are opposed to women priests and been divisive within the church as a whole.
In the Measure, Resolutions A & B (see the recent GRAS pew sheet printed below) were created to allow a Parish unable to accept the ministrations of a woman priest to avoid ever having to do so. But, it is as a result of the Act of Synod, that “Extended Episcopal Oversight” (flying bishops) came into being. This enables a parish to petition (commonly known as Resolution C) for a “flying bishop” to replace their Diocesan or Area bishop for confirmations and ordinations, thus violating their authority and integrity. In reality it would have been more honest to have named this “Alternative” Episcopal Oversight as that is what in reality it has turned out to be. When a vacancy occurs in a parish (whether opposed or not - and the vast majority (93%, according to reports published in 2004, are not opposed to women priests) the PCC is required to decide whether or not they wish to debate the option of passing Resolution B (the one that forbids the appointment of a woman incumbent). A parish is not required to hold a debate but must by law always be asked whether they wish to do so – even if they have already received and enjoyed the previous ministry of a woman incumbent. Recently, this issue has been raised with GRAS and WATCH by a number of women –who have been required to bring this to their PCCs, which they have found deeply offensive. To be asked as a woman to raise an issue (and frequently to have to explain all these ramifications afresh) which implies her own sex is unacceptable and tainted in some way is shocking enough. For the Church to continue this practice - of calling into question every time the validity of orders of the women it has itself ordained – is a public collusion with female inequality and lack of value; – hardly a Christian concept or a promise of the Good News of the Gospels.
It has been suggested that the time has come for those who are in this position, individuals and whole parishes, to start objecting volubly and strongly to this discriminatory practice by drawing public attention to it, and demanding that it end. Parishes faced with this situation might wish, instead of re-deciding whether to debate Resolution B, to debate an alternative motion - along the lines of, “This PCC, believing that the sacramental and incumbent ministry of women priests is essential to the wholeness of ministry and mission of the Church of England, finds it offensive that Parishes should still by law be invited to debate the passing of Resolution B under the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993. We call upon the General Synod to repeal without delay all such provisions in this Measure which continue to discriminate against women priests, and request that a motion to this effect be debated in Deanery and Diocesan Synods at the earliest possible time”. It is quite paradoxical that, at a time when the secular government is passing innovative Equality legislation, that shows value and worth to all groups in society, and challenges discrimination that inhibits people’s opportunities and gifts (surely Christian concepts in the first place), the Church should still actively be encouraging such discrimination to be perpetuated towards women. It is time to remind each other that the way women are treated by the Churches is closely linked to and encourages the oppression of women throughout the world. It is time to call a halt and let the gifts and insights of women along with men be accepted and become an integral part of a healthier Church.

Women Bishop’s What’s the Problem?

2009-10-30T17:10:00.002Z

WATCH (London) would like to thank GRAS for allowing us to print their Question and Answer Pew Sheet created in response to the most commonly asked questions relating to women bishops.

Surely women and men are born equal, so who rejects equality in ministry?
There is a minority of people in the Church who will not accept the ministry of women as priests or bishops and they want special arrangements to be made for them. Some say that the Roman Catholic and Eastern Church do not ordain women while others quote a theological interpretation of scripture on ‘headship’.

What do parishes do if they are against women priests?
The clauses in the l993 Measure mean that a Parish unable to accept the ministry of women can avoid them by their PCC passing Resolutions A or B.
The clauses in the l993 Act of Synod mean that such a parish could apply to have ‘alternative Episcopal oversight’, also known as ‘Flying Bishops’, to come in to parishes and replace their own bishop at confirmations and ordinations – now known as Resolution C.

Why is this a bad thing?
Together, these clauses enabled the Church of England to permit discrimination against women and allowed ‘alternative Episcopal oversight’ to violate the integrity of the Diocesan Bishops. To this day the church is training and ordaining clergy who deny the legitimacy of the orders of their colleagues: the diocese of Chichester has three bishops, none of whom will ordain women to the priesthood.

What is the Synod proposing?
In July 2006 the General Synod agreed to “welcome and affirm the view of the majority of the House of Bishops that admitting women to the episcopate in the Church of England is consonant with the faith of the Church”.
The Legislative Drafting Group has been given the task of framing suitable legislation to enable the ordination of women bishops

What can be done for people who do not accept women bishops?
What can be done is that bishops can be allowed discretion to acknowledge and honour the consciences of individuals and parishes, who still find difficulty with the ordination of women. What the Church has proposed so far is a Code of Practice to accommodate those priests and lay who cannot accept ordaining women bishops without discriminatory provisions.

In what way does this build discrimination and division into the church?
One of the draft Codes of Practice provides an option by which opponents can 'avoid' not only the ministry of women bishops and priests but also the ministry of a male bishop who has ordained women, most male clergy who accept them and anyone, male or female, ordained or confirmed by them.

Does this break the integrity of the episcopate?
Yes. The Church in Wales thought it very important to maintain the integrity of the episcopate and have refused to vote for such provisions as an amendment to their Women Bishops’ Bill even though this would cause delay in the passing of their Measure.

How is mutual acceptance sought?
An ecclesiastical rule (Canon A4) instructs all those who are ordained or consecrated bishops, priests or deacons that they ought to accept all such duly appointed clergy in their various roles.

What is the GRAS position?
GRAS believes that:
• Women should be ordained bishops as soon as possible
• The l993 Act of Synod should be rescinded as soon as possible as a precondition of the new legislation.
• The legislation should be simple, clear, final and unconditional, with no discriminatory provisions.
• To restore and maintain trust in the integrity and authority of the episcopate each Diocesan bishop should be responsible for making the arrangements he or she judges to be right for the care of the opponents.
• Since the Church has accepted the orders of women as priests and bishops, in future those being ordained should continue to accept those orders as valid in accordance with Canon A4 which should not be altered or modified

www.gras.org.uk

WATCH (National) Series of Papers

2009-10-30T17:09:00.002Z

WATCH (National) is about to make available four papers which address the notion of "Taint" where the ministry of women priests is concerned. The papers were written in response to the proposals contained in the Report of the Women Bishops Legislative Drafting Group (GS 1685, April 2008) and the Draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure (GS 1708, December 2008) - the document that is with the Revision Committee at the present moment.
The papers focus on the proposals, some of which imply an underlying concept of taint with regard to women priests and bishops, and others which, if passed, would further erode the unity and damage the historic episcopacy of the Church of England.
The papers will be put onto the WATCH website www.womenandthechurch.org If you cannot access our website and would like them sent to you please write to our Administrator, WATCH Office, St John’s Church, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8TY. Donations towards costs will be gratefully received.
The papers are:
Walls of Suspicion, Hatred and Taint by Revd Jean Mayland,
The Consecration of Women as Bishops and the Unity of the Church by Revd Mark Bennet
Women in the Episcopate: What does the Church really want? by Revd Joanna Collicutt
The Legislative Drafting Group Proposals: Key Issues for the Church by the Venerable Peggy Jackson.
As an introduction to these four papers we are also posting on the WATCH website a chapter from the book Act of Synod - Act of Folly edited by Monica Furlong, published in 1998. The chapter is called:
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, but Two Integrities? by the Revd Dr Judith Maltby.

Election to General Synod 2010: Why Not Stand?

2009-10-30T17:08:00.002Z

The current General Synod (GS) ends in July 2010. Elections for the next Synod will be held in the autumn of 2010. Members of deanery synods are eligible to vote for those wishing to stand for General Synod, so, if you are on a deanery synod please make sure that you find out about the candidates standing in your diocese and vote when the voting papers are sent to you. If your diocese holds Hustings, it is important that you attend to hear what each person has to say and ask questions. It is also very important to be alert to the wording in the candidates' election addresses, for example, being “in favour” of women's ministry does not necessarily mean that the candidate is in favour of women as bishops - or ordained women in general - in some cases. Several people who voted last time, seeing these words, felt let down when they realised too late that the wording was ambiguous. Please ask when in doubt, or, ring if an address is unclear on this issue. Another key point to remember, if you do not know already, is that the voting system is by Single Transferable Vote. You are asked to vote in preferential order; the candidate who you most want to support getting your first, number one, vote; the next favoured your second and so on. With this method of voting all votes count, votes getting transferred from one candidate to another as people get knocked out.

What about you? Have you considered standing? Or if you know someone you would like to see on General Synod, please encourage her or him to stand. The membership of the next General Synod, especially in the House of Laity, will be crucial to the vote on women bishops. It is not too early to start encouraging people now - or even thinking if you could be that person. Why not talk to a present General Synod member to see what is involved? If you would like to do this and do not have a contact then please let me know and I will put you in touch with a WATCH GS member who would be only too pleased to discuss this with you.

Proposed Apostolic Constitution and personal ordinariates statement by the Vatican, 20th October 2009

2009-10-30T17:07:00.002Z

See www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2009/10/20/ACNS4662
This proposal offers the Anglo-Catholics who will not accept the ministry of female priests or bishops a ‘safe home’ in the Roman Catholic Church. The Bishop of Ebbsfleet (a ‘flying’ bishop) has indicated that 22nd February 2010 is the day when decisions will be made about who might join such an ordinariate from the Church of England. This date is after General Synod will have met and indicated what provision may be available within the Church of England. See www.ebbsfleet.org.uk/

Comments:
1. This is great news for some, who will no doubt leave the Church of England. They will not, however, take with them any parsonages or churches, or leave as parishes or Dioceses, as this would be a legal impossibility for the established Church. However, those leaving will no doubt still demand to do so.
2. In reality, many opposed to the ordination of women will still want to stay, and will continue to fight for separate provision within the Church of England.
3. The proposal gives the supporters of legislation for women bishops a lever to say ‘with such an offer available, it would be odd to create a divided episcopacy in the Church of England, such as is suggested by the Revision Committee’.

4. The Roman Catholic official stance is currently deeply opposed to women’s ordination, and the high-profile arrival of supporters of that position from another church may help to bolster their position. However there is a lot of support for women’s ordination in Roman Catholic parishes, and those Anglicans who leave to join the Roman Catholic church will find that they have not left the issue behind them.

5. The process leading up to the public announcement of the offer from Rome was deeply disrespectful and undermining of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Church, circumventing the Council for Church Unity which is the agreed and well-established forum for such ecumenical discussions. It is particularly invidious that Church of England ‘flying’ bishops were involved in the background discussions.

6. We wonder whether the Revision Committee would have made the same decision about a way forward if they had known about the offer from Rome?

WATCH (London) Donations

2009-10-30T17:06:00.002Z

As you know WATCH (London) has never had a yearly membership fee. We carry out the work we do by covering the cost of newsletters, postage and events from the donations you kindly send us. We would welcome donations from members in support of WATCH (London), especially at this time when so much is taking place. It is vital that everyone is kept fully informed about the many issues relating to women bishops and the progress or lack of it in future legislation.

WATCH Papers for 2009: Preparing for Women as Bishops - The Act of Synod and Theological Seriousness by Judith Maltby

2009-10-13T14:37:00.000+01:00

The first in our series of WATCH Papers for 2009: Preparing for Women as Bishops - The Act of Synod and Theological Seriousness by Judith Maltby - is now available to see and
download from our website at

http://www.womenandthechurch.org/watch_papers/The%20Act%20of%20Synod%20and%2
0Theological%20Seriousness.pdf

WATCH EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT AT REVISION COMMITTEE’S VOTE & CONTINUES TO PRESS FOR WOMEN BISHOPS ON EQUAL TERMS

2009-10-10T15:04:00.000+01:00

WATCH (Women and the Church) issues the following response to the press release of 8th October by the Committee established by General Synod of the Church of England to consider the draft legislation enabling women to become bishops. http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9509.html
In that press release we were informed that the Revision Committee has voted to amend the draft legislation so as ‘to provide for certain functions to be vested in male bishops by statute rather than by delegation from the diocesan bishop under a statutory code of practice’.
WATCH is very disappointed that the Revision Committee has come to this decision. In the Church of England, as in society as a whole, people want to see women able to serve as bishops on the same basis as men. WATCH has long been campaigning for the adoption of the simplest possible legislation to this effect.

What is being proposed by the Revision Committee needs further clarification but we do not believe that statutory transfer can avoid creating a two tier episcopate. This would be demeaning to women and would fundamentally damage the office of bishop in our church.
Moreover, were such proposals to pass through our church synods, the Church of England would be in the extraordinary position of asking Parliament to ratify legislation that institutionally discriminates against women.
There will be opportunity for detailed scrutiny of the Revision Committee’s proposals, including the tabling of amendments, when the draft legislation returns to Synod in February. WATCH is confident that Synod will, on further consideration, adopt legislation which reflects the mainstream theology of our church: that men and women are equally made in the image of God and equally graced to hold the offices of priest and bishop.

Contact

Christina Rees (from 12th Oct) - christina@mediamaxima.com - mob 07768 051 646
Sally Barnes –sally.barnes3@btopenworld.com - tel 0208 731 9860/mob 07759 3433 35

The Lisieux Trust for Women’s Ministry

2009-10-02T01:03:00.002+01:00

invites you to a
Training Day
‘Making Liturgy’

Saturday, February 27th, 2010
St. Andrew’s, Short Street, London, SE1 8LJ.

All are welcome.
Donation to cover the hire of the room.

Please book your place by ringing the organiser:
Dorothea McEwan, 0208 883 5408, daily from 5 to 9 pm.

Programme

10:15 Welcome / Coffee
10:45 Welcome Liturgy
11:00 First Session. What does ‘Making Liturgy’ mean? An introductory presentation by some of the authors of the book Making Liturgy.
11:45 Small groups: each small group to be led by one of the authors:
Gillian Limb on liturgy and dance,
Pat Pinsent on creating new liturgies,
Myra Poole on what can be expected from experiential liturgies.
12:45 Lunch
14:00 Second session. Developing Liturgy. A short input lecture.
14:30 Small groups continued:
Ianthe Pratt on lnclusive language in liturgy,
Veronica Seddon on worship and liturgy,
Lala Winkley on experimenting in the liturgy.
15:15 Plenary:
a, each group reports on its workshop / presents its work / explains why they did what they did.
b, General discussion of problems encountered, pitfalls, solutions.
16:00 Tea
16:20 Concluding liturgy.
16:50 End.

Southwark and London WATCH Quiet Day 3rd October Ham Convent

2009-08-27T10:31:00.001+01:00

Southwark and London WATCH Quiet Day

Southwark and London WATCH are joining together for a:

Quiet Day at Ham Convent , on 3 October between 10am and 4pm.

Ham Convent is at 56 Ham Common, Richmond, Surrey TW10 7JH.

The convent can be reached by the 65 bus route from Richmond Train Station towards Kingston. Get off bus at Ham Gate Avenue, few minutes walk to St. Michael's Convent.

Plenty of space for parking cars.

The day will be taken by the Rev'd Imogen Nay of Southwark. Imogen trained at Westcott and is now a curate in Surbiton. She is an enthusiastic member of WATCH.

There is room for 14 places. Please join us by letting Martin Carr know if you would like to come by emailing martingcarr@hotmail.co.uk We look forward to hearing from you.

Martin Carr (Southwark) Sally Barnes (London)

WATCH (London) Event Invitation

2009-08-24T14:47:00.001+01:00

WATCH (London) Event:

Westminster Abbey Prayer Pilgrimage

Wednesday 11th November from 6.00-8.00pm

WATCH (London) invites you to a Prayer Pilgrimage to be held at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday 11th November starting at 6.00pm.

The pilgrimage will involve a conducted walk around key sites of the Abbey with pauses for moments of prayer and reflection. We hope the pilgrimage will be taken by

Canon Jane Hedges who is well known to WATCH (London) members.

November 11th is itself a memorable date for the Church as it will be fifteen years since the first women were ordained priests in the Church of England. So, this day and date appear to be a good time to hold a prayer pilgrimage and give thanks for the ordained women who have brought so much to the Church.

Do come and bring any friends who would like to experience a peaceful and reflective evening at this ancient building of worship and prayer, which has as one of its aims, "To serve pilgrims and all other visitors and to maintain a tradition of hospitality". On 11th November we will be sharing in that tradition of hospitality as pilgrims.

I would be grateful if you would let me know if you are able to come.

All good wishes to everyone.

Sally Barnes - Secretary to WATCH (London)

WATCH (London) Update

2009-07-24T21:30:00.002+01:00

National WATCH update

If you are on Facebook National WATCH can be accessed on
http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=9835957110
Find out what events are happening - if you have a local event and want it advertising more widely an event page can be created for you. You can ask questions or add to debates on the Discussion Board or simply leave a message on the wall. This is an additional form of communication WATCH is using - the emails, newsletters and Outlooks will remain the same.

Women Bishops – The Real Threat.

2009-07-01T20:12:00.000+01:00

From a talk given by Hilary Cotton to London WATCH on 15th June 2009
Introduction.

1. Where are we in the process?
The proposals ‘on the table’ are draft legislation that would allow women to be bishops, and includes arrangements for those who will not accept them, or who will still not accept women priests. These proposals are currently being looked at by a General Synod Revision Committee, who are discussing a large number of amendments suggested from all quarters of the Church.

They will bring revised proposals to General Synod next February (2010); Synod may ask them to revise them some more. Once Synod is happy then the proposals go for debate at Diocesan Synods; they then come back to General Synod for final approval, then are presented to Parliament for approval. Finally they receive Royal Assent and General Synod ‘signs them off’.

2. The Church of England claims exemption from the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act (under section 19), and will claim a similar exemption from the Equality Bill currently before Parliament. WATCH is working with our Parliamentary supporters to challenge whether the Established church should continue to be exempt from such equality legislation, but we don’t expect that to change imminently.

3. In all that I say I aim to remember that those who think that women should not/cannot be bishops are trying just as hard as we are to be faithful.

Women Bishops – The Real Threat - Why are the Proposals as they are?

2009-07-01T20:09:00.000+01:00

General Synod has said three times that it believes that it is the will of the Church of England for women to be allowed to be bishops (in July 2005, 2006, 2008). So the principle is established.
However, in the debates at Synod it was clear that Synod was saying ‘Yes, but…’

There are 3 such ‘buts’:

1. ‘…but we may be wrong.’ (a theological ‘but’)
• Some members of the Church keep telling us that we are. And they quote from the Lambeth Conference resolution of 1998 that ‘…..those who dissent from, as well as those who assent to, the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate are both loyal Anglicans’.

Response
• Yes, we may be wrong (in fact we will be in some measure, because our understanding and insight is always partial this side of heaven)
• But we mustn’t carry that doubt into the Church’s structures and orders – we mustn’t doubt people’s priesthood within the same Church. Already there are some clergy who will not accept communion from their diocesan bishop because he ordains women.

2. ‘….but we have lots of faithful clergy who are doing good work, some in difficult parishes, who think we are wrong, and it would cause us real problems if they left.’ (a pragmatic‘but’)

Response
• Yes, there may be problems (but probably fewer will leave than say they will)
• Is this a good enough reason to divide the House of Bishops and separate parish from parish under different bishops?

3. ‘…..but it’s not fair to change the rules for those who have served for many years as faithful priests in a church they love.’ (a moral ‘but’)

Response

• This is indeed reasonable: National WATCH and others recognise this and acknowledge that there need to be arrangements for such expectations. In all other Anglican Provinces with women bishops these arrangements are informal and made after discussion between the Diocesan bishop and parishes concerned: the Church of England is the only Province proposing that such arrangements need to be made in law. I do not believe that legislating for such arrangements is the best way of building good relationships between parishes and bishops: the law tends to divide rather than bring together.
• We have a responsibility to build trust with each other so that such informal arrangements work for the good of all.
• However, such arrangements should only apply to those already ordained: we must not continue to ordain those who will not recognise the orders of or work harmoniously with female colleagues.

To these ‘buts’ the General Synod Legislative Drafting Group has responded with the current proposals – in a typical Anglican middle way or perhaps ‘fudge’.

Women Bishops – The Real Threat - What are the proposals?

2009-07-01T20:07:00.000+01:00

The proposals in the draft law include the following clauses:

1. Women may be bishops.
• This is effectively a ‘single clause measure’, since alongside this Measure the 1993 Measure (containing Resolutions A and B) will be repealed, and the Act of Synod, (leading to so-called Resolution C) will be rescinded.

2. Any male bishop may declare he won’t consecrate and/or ordain women as
bishops/priests.
• This is the clause that introduces the idea of ‘taint’: that anyone who ordains women as priests or bishops is ‘tainted’ by those actions, and therefore ‘unacceptable’ to those opposed.
• If opposition is about whether a bishop is male or female, then any male bishop would do for those opposed, and statements like this will not be necessary. But this being part of the Measure endorses in law that for many of those opposed it is not sufficient to have the ministry of a male rather than a female bishop, but that the only acceptable bishops are those who have kept themselves separate from their episcopal colleagues in not ordaining women as priests or bishops. This is a powerful declaration of separation.

3. There will be ‘flying’ bishops for as long as the Measure remains.
• Under this clause the Archbishops of Canterbury and York shall (ie must) appoint such bishops.

4. A Code of Practice must be written under which bishops will be able to (expected to)delegate the care of parishes and individual clergy who won’t accept them to a male bishop – ‘flying’ if requested.

Women Bishops – The Real Threat - law of the land the Act of Synod

2009-07-01T20:05:00.000+01:00

In my (Hilary) view these clauses put into the law of the land the Act of Synod (including Resolution C). In effect we will be making the Act permanent.

What threats do these proposals hold?

Threats to the Church of England.

1. We will be led by a divided House of Bishops.

• This is not about being divided in their beliefs about the ordination of women: the House lives harmoniously with a diversity of belief about many things already
• It is about being divided by whether they recognise each other as bishops
• The corollary of some not recognising their female colleagues, is that they won’t recognise those (men) whom their female colleagues ordain as priests
• The eventual outcome would be the need for priests to carry a ‘pedigree’ as to the ‘line’ of their ordination.

In my experience in other fields of work, such a fundamental division leads to poor leadership. Legitimised groupings form, based on a particular issue, and from then on suspicions arise as to the motives for support on other issues. Groups become factions. Poorer decisions are made because of a lack of trust. Building good relationships helps, of course, but is no substitute for ‘good order’.

2. Dioceses will lose their geographical integrity,

• parishes being ministered to by ‘complementary’/flying bishops will in effect permanently ‘belong’ to that bishop.

3. Clergy ministry will be permanently undermined.

• Since it is officially ok to believe that women are not priests or bishops, and it is officially sanctioned to avoid women priests or bishops, it is from there only a small step to thinking it is ok to treat clergywomen with scorn or rudeness, or to ignore them. This culture is now endemic in some pockets of the Church of England, and, to their cost, some women have assimilated it in order to make it less hurtful. This leads to them becoming more cautious and wary, less confident in standing up for themselves because they are not sure if senior staff will support them.
• This applies to men too: Catholic male priests have experienced not being recognised as such by their colleagues opposed to women’s priestly ministry, and treated as traitors if they support the ordination of women. Similarly, evangelical clergymen have been dismissed as ‘unsound’.

4. The seeping away of faithful people.

• The stated aim of the current proposals is ‘for as many people as possible to remain within the Church of England’. The problem is that we don’t hear about those who have drifted away because the way women are treated by the church is no longer tenable or bearable for them; and that’s just those who leave. How many are holding on by their fingertips? The mission of the church is seriously compromised by what is seen by society as continuing sex discrimination.

Women Bishops – The Real Threat - Threats to the Gospel.

2009-07-01T20:03:00.000+01:00

1. Theological threat – these proposals are based on a fundamentally wrong Christian anthropology. In truth the Church believes that men and women are equal before God, and equally made in the image of God.

• These proposals dignify the idea that women are inferior to men, and are ‘not quite’ made in image of God. This is understandable at one level, since the Church has been implying this (and sometimes stating it) for 2000 years. We won’t undo that heritage in just fifteen years of women’s priesthood.

2. Pragmatic threat – these proposals will set in place a continual waste of talent.

• We need the experience, wisdom, insight and gifts of our most able clergywomen in the House of Bishops and other senior posts, and these proposals will deter women from serving the Church in these forms of ministry. It is hard enough to be ‘the first’ woman in any role, with the heightened visibility and expectations of others, as well as dealing with others’ anxieties. How often still do clergywomen receive the comment ‘oh, you’re a woman’? But when the institution of the Church itself says you may not be whom you say you are – in effect creating ‘episcopacy-lite’ – then is it even possible to take on the role successfully?

3. Moral threat – we must not protect the minority at the cost of the whole Church and the gospel.

• Sometimes we must draw a line and say ‘thus far and no further – it will be too costly if we allow these proposals to go through’. We must make a beginning to setting right the way women have been disregarded and mis-regarded by the Church. Acknowledging that will be painful for all of us.
• But most importantly, we must not create separation in law: we must always allow for growing together – we must leave space for grace.

Women Bishops – The Real Threat - What Happens Next?

2009-07-01T20:01:00.000+01:00

If the Proposals currently on the table are presented to General Synod next February without significant amendment, then the task for General Synod will be to weigh up if it’s worth it. Is it worth having women as bishops in this way, with these risks attached?

Editorial – Mary Johnston Chair of WATCH (London)

2009-04-07T11:07:00.000+01:00

As you know, General Synod debated in February the proposed legislation to enable women to become bishops. The next stage in the process is for a Revision Committee to consider the many amendments subsequently submitted. The national committee of WATCH submitted a substantial report listing many objections and suggesting alternatives. Our thanks to all those London members who took the time and trouble to write individually to the Revision Committee. Their revised proposals are due to come before General Synod in February 2010.

Given that WATCH believes, along with most of the Church and society at large, that women bishops would be a blessing, what are the outstanding issues?

WATCH has always stated that it would recognise the provision of space for those unwilling to acknowledge women bishops, these arrangements to be set out in a Code of Practice. But if that Code were hardened to compel a woman bishop to delegate her authority to an alternative male bishop, rather than to require her to consider a parish request, that compulsion would undermine her episcopal authority, and render her a sub or second-class bishop, legally prevented from exercising jurisdiction throughout her diocese. And if priests and parishes are to be permitted to request oversight from certain male bishops whose sole requirement is that they have neither ordained a woman nor participated in her ordination or consecration, the church risks complying with the ugly anthropological notion of taint. WATCH members in London and throughout the country have raised very many other entirely justified objections.

Faced with demands for similar “protective measures” for those who do not accept women bishops, the Church in Wales has withdrawn its own proposals for women to be admitted to the episcopate rather than compromise the principle of Episcopal integrity.

WATCH may well have to consider whether it would be preferable to delay until a more propitious time, rather than acquiesce in arrangements for women bishops, which both denigrate women and damage the Church.

As articles in this newsletter suggest, there is a deepening understanding among churchwomen that the Church is still gripped by the patriarchy which has been endemic in society for centuries. The early Church, following Jesus’s teaching and example, challenged those social norms. We need to go back to our roots.

This tortuous process of opening the episcopate to women tends to blur the bigger picture, which glows with heart-warming instances of ordained women being recognised for their ability and their gifts. One such occasion was the induction – by the Bishop of London himself – of the Revd Marjorie Brown as Vicar of St Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill, in the Edmonton Area, the first woman incumbent in Edmonton. London WATCH members will know that Edmonton has long been the Area where women have faced the greatest struggle for recognition. That the Bishop of Edmonton was also present at Marjorie’s induction and preached the sermon speaks volumes. It was an inspiring occasion.

Rather more quietly, but similarly impressive, is the appointment of a former London priest from the Kensington Area, Canon Joanna Udal, to serve as the Archbishop’s Secretary for Anglican Communion Affairs, at Lambeth Palace. Since leaving Kensington in 2001, Joanna has served in the Sudan as Assistant to the Archbishop there, where peace-building, theological education and ecumenism were part of her work. As in Marjorie’s case, we can rejoice that Joanna’s marked gifts have been recognised, for the great benefit of the Church.

So London’s women continue to progress and shine! Support them with your prayers and your commitment, and rejoice with them and the whole Church as we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection. Happy Easter!

The Big Question: A Roman Catholic Perspective – Myra Poole

2009-04-07T11:04:00.001+01:00

Myra Poole has been a member of the international congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur for fifty years. Her earlier career was a history teacher and headteacher. Her present interests are in feminist theology and spirituality. She is a founding member and activist of Catholic Women's Ordination since 1993, as well as writing various articles and two books: 'Prayer, Protest, Power: the spirituality of Julie Billiart for today (2001, Canterbury Press), a feminist reflection on the charism of her congregation and wrote jointly with Dorothea McEwan, 'Making All Things New: women's ordination as a catalyst for change in the RC Church' (2003, Canterbury Press)

Since Christmas and New Year I have had various experiences that include visiting the Francis Bacon exhibition at Tate Britain, an artist I knew little about, but now do have some understanding of the thought behind his psychological paintings. On a lighter note I also went to see ‘Oliver’ at Drury Lane, worth a visit for the sheer joy of the staging and the songs. I wondered if Rowan Atkinson would be able to make the part of Fagin his own but he did. But I really wish to share with you my unexpected experience on Sunday 11^th January, when I was invited to be the RC voice on the ‘The Big Questions’, BBC1 at 10.00am.

I had never seen this programme but as Christina Rees of WATCH, the Anglican Women and the Church group now working for women bishops in their church had also been invited, I decided to say yes for the sake of the cause. The programme was live from a school in Leicester - a two-hour car ride was necessary to get there and back! I dutifully prepared myself for most eventualities at least I thought I did. It was only as the programme began that I realised the question was not on women bishops but on the gender question in general. O.K., I thought, I can handle that but the other two interesting questions on the programme took me by surprise. The first was why do young white working class boys do so badly in schools and the second why do women ‘Kiss and Tell’. A woman called Sarah had apparently written a book on her affairs with Geoffrey Archer and Gordon Ramsay. This part became quite amusing as Kizzi, the PR man next to me said –‘If you are at it you have to take it’. He was also responsible for ‘Kiss and Sell’ site- not a bad idea!

I found the programme very interesting and funny in parts but I came away feeling a total failure. The reason for this was that I only got a chance to say three words and then the compere, Nick Campbell, switched straight to the three Evangelicals sitting opposite. Christina was her usual very able media self but I really wondered if it had been worthwhile going all that way just for three words. I tried to get a word in but it was impossible. I told the assistant producer, a very nice young woman, who came to thank me at the end and I found myself welling up with tears!

I could not understand my over reaction was it my pride that had been hurt, perhaps a bit, but I realised it went much deeper than that. I had one message very dear to my heart and no speaker had touched on it. No one made the connections between all religious theologies, really ideologies, which are a major cause of holding women’s poverty in place. If women cannot publicly image God on an altar etc. because they are second-class, dirty etc., according to the beliefs of different generations, then it becomes justified to treat women as playthings.

These religious ideologies have countenanced extreme violence against women and kept them often in abject economic poverty, as well as culturally, psychologically and religiously. On this programme I again heard the ‘man the head of the household’ syndrome. No wonder domestic violence is so rife, even with those who profess no faith. Whether we are aware of it or not these ideologies have gone deeply into the psyches of every generation and it continues to be propagated by women as well as men. Is ‘sexism’ the ‘original sin of the world’?

I am not interested in ordination per se, certainly not in the present RC culture and structures, but I am deeply concerned, with many others, to expose the underlying religious causes that enable these myths to be propagated from generation to generation. The non - ordination of women sums up for me, like nothing else, where so much of the blame lies and the sexist theology and structures that keep it in place. The non-ordination of women, struggle for Bishops etc. is the tip of a very deep and solid iceberg of wrong historical cultural thought on women worldwide.

In the West, at least, a general consciousness does appear to be emerging among ordinary people, that the most dangerously misogynist institutions in the world are the churches. Peter Shilton, the football speaker on the programme, summed up the general disbelief of non-church going people on this question. Why all this fuss and knife stabbing when equality is now written into British law?

I know some people think well why bother with any Church, my answer is that this kind of theology has underpinned attitudes in secular society and all the different issues that follow from it today. Moreover, there is no doubt that more people than not are still trapped in a false emotional security to these Institutions and fear criticising them - at least publicly. We also live in an age of increased rise in fundamentalism in all religions.

If we really care about the poor of the world then it seems to me we have to care about the fundamental ideas that keep women poor. If we cannot expose these we will not begin to eradicate the many forms of women’s poverty. We can go to the developing countries and help the people, we can give money, we can sign petitions ad nauseam, but unless we gradually expose the dangers as well as the good inherent in all religions and in all cultures, we will not get very far.

This, in my opinion, is the great importance of feminist theology and spirituality. I think we in the West have a special obligation because we have the greater freedom, education and resources, to speak and challenge these religious institutions. Organisations like Women, Word and Spirit, WWS, and Catholic Women’s Ordination, CWO, do but I do not think we are making the connections clear enough or often enough, especially in mixed groups. I am also concerned that we have not passed these connections on to our younger people, men as well as women. Many work for wonderful women’s organisations but are still unaware of these connections.

This is where feminist theology and secular thought unite. I have always said in my life I gained more understanding of the real Gospel when Ken Livingstone was in charge of the former London authority in the 70’s and 80’s than from any church. It was this authority that initiated the three isms – racism, classism and sexism. My life was changed, so were the schools and eventually it has permeated British society to a greater or lesser degree. But most of the churches continue to propagate past ideas with alacrity. How can we all lose our fears, work together and bring this dangerous farce to an end? That for me is The Big Question of our day.

Myra Poole

Reflections on the Legislative Drafting Group Proposals - Revd Canon Professor Marilyn McCord Adams

2009-04-07T11:03:00.000+01:00

Revd Canon Professor Marilyn McCord Adams is Regius Professor of Divinity & Canon of Christ Church Oxford and a member of General Synod for Oxford. The article below is a copy of the speech Professor McCord Adams wrote outlining her views of the Proposals of the Legislative Drafting Group (LDG) regarding the admission of Women to the Episcopate. Unfortunately she was not called upon to speak so we are printing it below as we feel it is of great importance. We thought, even if you have not read any of the LDG proposals, you would like to reflect on the key points and warnings Professor McCord Adams makes. Editor

Our concern here is not with individual. In my election speech for this office (to stand for election to General Synod), I promised to support a single clause measure. These drafts do not constitute a single clause measure. I, therefore, oppose sending them on for revision, and I urge you to do the same.

Some of my conscientious reasons are theological.

First, these drafts enshrine the Donatist heresy (condemned by Article 26 of the 39 Articles). They imitate the ‘93 Act of Synod in giving institutional recognition to the notion that the ‘sacramental’ acts of male bishops who have ordained women would not be valid, that parishes should have the right that their children be confirmed and ordination candidates that they should be ordained by male bishops who make declarations not to dirty their hands.

Second, these drafts further institutionalise the sin of misogyny, which I understand as the often unconscious but enacted belief that female human beings are so non-normative as to be unfit for symbolic or leadership roles. This is one of the sins of the fathers that has been so entrenched in social institutions from earliest times that it is possible to appeal to Scripture and tradition to justify repeating it.

Our concern here is not with individual but with institutional misogyny, with the deliberate creation of institutional machinery to house it. Despite the fact that the majority of Synod recognized misogyny as a sin in ‘92, Synod lacked the courage of majority convictions and made institutional provision for misogyny with the ‘flying bishops’ scheme. The present drafts invent still more institutional machinery on the same model.

Right after last summer’s vote, Synod was told that it should be ashamed for not being more generous to conscientious objectors. My own view is that the majority of Synod who favour the ordination of women should be ashamed that our Church is so equivocal, so unable to take one step forward on women’s issues without at the same time cutting down our full stature in Christ.

The procedural logic of these drafts is also disturbing. The desideratum of keeping valued members on board at all costs is allowed to trump the majority’s wish to rid our Church of institutional gender discrimination. What if other groups who have theological conscientious objections to the institutional policies of our Church, find themselves unable to remain without comparable institutional provision? What if the Donatist heresy spread, so that women clergy and CofE parishes found themselves conscientiously unable to accept the ministry of male bishops who refuse to ordain women? and/or bishops who ordain men who cannot conscientiously receive the ministry of women?

What if all of the women of the CoE felt they couldn’t conscientiously stay unless women were admitted to all ranks of the clergy on an equal footing? Following the procedural logic behind these drafts could turn the CoE into a government umbrella sheltering proliferating splinter groups. Or are we counting on some loyal Anglicans to sacrifice their conscientious theological convictions? Are we assuming that the procedural logic will not be evenly applied? If so, that’s yet another cause for shame!

Welcome to Bishop Jana: Lutheran Bishop for the UK

2009-04-07T11:02:00.003+01:00

On Saturday 17^th January 2009 in the Church of St Anne and St Agnes in the City of London, the Rev Jana Jeruma-Grinberga was consecrated Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Great Britain. The WATCH committee, so pleased that we have a woman bishop in these shores, sent her a welcome card and supportive greetings. Bishop Jana was born and brought up in England of Latvian parents. Her husband is Latvian. They have two daughters who are bi-lingual speaking fluent Latvian and English. Bishop Jana speaks other languages including Swahili. Before ordination she completed a BSc in Human Biology going on to become a nurse specialising in Intensive Care work. During this time she explored her vocation to the ordained ministry but became ill with Epilepsy before she began her course. Later she began training on the North Thames Ministry Course where, on retreat, she had a very profound experience when a Benedictine monk asked her to see him and, knowing nothing of her illness, healed her. She has had no recurrence of her illness since. In 1997 Bishop Jana was ordained into the Latvian Lutheran Church where she was a pastor for four years prior to moving to St Anne’s Lutheran Church in London. On being approached to be a bishop, she was initially reluctant but agreed to explore the possibility and went into the

Latvian countryside for a week of silent contemplation. It was a prayer of Martin Luther that constantly came into her mind and made her feel that if Martin Luther had felt full of doubt about his ministry then her concerns were quite appropriate too and she would put herself into the hands of God. Now the Lutheran Community has welcomed Bishop Jana and so do we.

The prayer of Martin Luther that helped Bishop Jana decide on the course she was to take is printed below.

Lord God.

You have appointed me as a Bishop and Pastor in your Church,

but you see how unsuited I am to meet so great and difficult a task.

If I had lacked your help I would have ruined everything long ago.

Therefore I call upon you;

I wish to devote my mouth and my heart to you:

I shall teach the people.

I myself will learn and ponder diligently upon Your Word.

Use me as your instrument, but do not forsake me,

for if I was ever on my own

I would wreck it all.

Amen

Revd Marjorie Brown: First Woman Incumbent in Edmonton

2009-04-07T11:02:00.001+01:00

Sixteen years after the vote for women priests at last we have a woman incumbent in Edmonton. On Wednesday 25^th January, the Revd Marjorie Brown, was Instituted and Inducted as Vicar of St Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill, in the Edmonton Episcopal Area. There was much rejoicing during that evening among those who attended the service and packed the church. The Bishop of London instituted Marjorie, the Bishop of Edmonton preached. The music for this occasion including the setting, the Coronation Mass by Mozart, was superb. The Mayor of Camden was present and, on welcoming Marjorie at the reception afterwards, commented how pleased he was to welcome the first woman incumbent in Camden, especially as Camden was an Inclusive Area. Many WATCH members were present to greet Marjorie and join in with the celebrations of the congregation of St Mary’s. We all wish her and her parish much joy and many good wishes.

WATCH (London) Donations

2009-04-07T11:01:00.000+01:00

Please send donations to our treasurer:

Stephen Johnston, 56 Fairlawn Grove, Chiswick, W4 5EH.

With many thanks.

National WATCH: New Website

2009-04-07T11:00:00.000+01:00

WATCH London members who have not yet joined National WATCH as well as London might find it helpful to do so. By becoming National members you will receive Outlook, the National WATCH journal, plus other information that will keep you up-to-date with what is happening on a National scale. The National WATCH website can be found on: www.womenandthechurch.org

Comments on Further Report of the LDG on Women in the Episcopate - Joanna Collicutt

2009-04-07T09:22:00.000+01:00

I wish to make four points, none of them original, about the context and content of this document.

The LDG is hamstrung by the task set for it through the resolution passed by the General Synod in July 2008. The criticisms of the LDG’s proposals set out below should be read primarily as criticisms of the resolution.
The resolution (point b) talks of the ‘theological conviction’ of ‘those who will not be able to receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests.’ This notion is endorsed and elaborated by the lDG Further Report, first by including the term ’genuine’ (point 9) and secondly by including the term ‘with a good conscience’ (point 12, which proposes a form of words to be incorporated into para 4 of the proposed Canon A 4). This rests on a completely spurious rationale that if an individual or group feels that its motivation for belief is not malicious or duplicitous then the belief is valid. Yet we know from overwhelming scientific evidence (see for instance T. Wilson’s 2002 book Strangers to ourselves) that human beings have very poor insight into their own motives and tend to give rationalisations, plausible to both themselves and others, for decisions unconsciously made on the basis of bias and prejudice. The criteria of ‘genuine’ and ‘held in good conscience’ are not relevant to any argument about the acceptability of a theological conviction. On the other hand the point that people who mean well should not be vilified, while an important practical consideration in the management of conflict, does not justify giving credence to the convictions they espouse, especially where these convictions cause significant damage to other interested parties. Those who are unwilling to receive the ministry of women priest or bishops in the church are simply wrong (the considered and prayerful discernment of the General Synod is that the theological argument for women bishops is convincing). The sincerity of their belief does not make them right.
At various points in the LDG Further Report talks of ‘squaring the circle’ and, using the language of rights, that there are two conflicting rights to be set alongside each other, the right of women to exercise priestly and Episcopal ministry versus the right of those who are opposed to this on the basis of ‘theological conviction’. This is, again, spurious. There are three rights that need to be taken into account. These are the two already mentioned, along with a third: the right of people to be members of a church which does not institutionally discriminate and oppress women. I am a priest, I have no personal desire to exercise an Episcopal ministry, but I would seriously consider resigning my orders if the Code of Practice set out in the LDG Further Report is implemented because I could not ‘in conscience’ collude with an institution tainted in this manner, and I could not preach the gospel as good news to women inside and outside the church with any integrity.
If this Code of Practice is implemented the Church of England will have made a bad ecclesiological situation (alternative Episcopal oversight), which has been tolerated as a temporary measure, into a disastrous ecclesiological situation. It will institutionalise the discrimination that occurs naturally in a way comparable to the work of Apartheid in relation to racism.

What is the correct response? In my opinion the only possible response is absolute opposition to the LDG proposals. Either women are bishops in the Church of England of they are not. Any other arrangement will result in a situation where there are real bishops and lady-bishops.

Good News and Congratulations

2009-02-04T13:27:00.000Z

The Revd Canon Peggy Jackson, Dean of Women's Ministry in Southwark, has been appointed Archdeacon of Llandaff (Province of Wales in the Cardiff area, with a bit of the Vale of Glamorgan). Peggy will be working with the Archbishop, Barry Morgan, and also looking after 3 rural churches one of them founded in the 6th century.

The Revd Angela Berners-Wilson is to be made Prebendary of Wells Cathedral.

Angela, who some of you will remember, was ordained at the first ordinations in Bristol Cathedral on 12th March 1994. Because the women were ordained priest in alphabetical order Angela was the first woman to have hands laid on her in ordination as a priest in the Church of England.

Many congratulations to them both from all of us.

WATCH (London) Update

2009-01-31T13:28:00.000Z

Paper on Draft Proposals by Revd Canon Peggy Jackson

As a result of receiving your responses regarding the Proposals for the Draft Code of Practice the committee thought you would like to see the GRAS (Group for Rescinding the Act of Synod) Newsletter which contains a paper, in the form of an Editorial, from the Revd Canon Peggy Jackson. Canon Peggy is Dean of Women's Ministry in Southwark and a member of GRAS. Her thoughtful and detailed analysis of the proposals reflect many of the views we have received from a number of you. Her paper has been sent to all General Synod members who will be giving their first consideration to the draft proposals which will open the episcopate to women. This also includes proposals for those who remain opposed to women’s priestly and Episcopal ministry in the Church of England.
The rest of the newsletter contains helpful comment and information relating to other issues we are facing at this time. Our thanks to the GRAS committee for allowing us to share the Newsletter with WATCH (London) members.

Support us on 11th February

Many thanks to those of you who responded so positively to the recent email inviting WATCH (London) members to show support for Women Bishops by standing under the banner at Church House at 8.45am on 11th February It would be so good to have as many people as possible present at that time. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Welcome to our WATCH (London) Newsletter

2008-05-23T15:46:00.002+01:00

This is a very full edition focusing on the recently published Report of the Women Bishops Legislative Drafting Group (The Manchester Report). The newsletter contains the address Hilary Cotton, vice chair of the WATCH Parliamentary Task Force, gave to a meeting in the House of Lords that was held shortly after the Report was published. Following that is the statement to the House of Bishops regarding the Single Clause Measure as outlined in the Report that is being signed by a large number of women clergy. We have also printed the WATCH vision for the Church of England. Please note for your diaries the two WATCH (London) events that are being held on 28th June with Canon Jane Hedges at Westminster Abbey and 27th September, a Quiet Day at St Matthews Westminster, led by Canon Lucy Winkett.

Editorial – Sally Barnes

2008-05-23T15:45:00.000+01:00

“There is no longer slave or free, no longer male and female: for all of you are one in Christ” ?

The main focus in this edition is the Report of the Women Bishops Legislative Drafting Group. As many of you know a WATCH Parliamentary Task Group (WPTG) was formed in 2005 to raise the awareness of MPs and Peers of the implications of their responsibility for passing - or not - any legislation sent to them for the admission of women bishops to the Episcopate. Much has been successfully undertaken over the past 3 years. Shortly after the Report came out a meeting was being held in the House of Lords with members of the WPTF, senior ordained women, Peers and MPs or their representatives. This was timely. It made it possible to raise some key concerns we had about the content of the Report. The introductory talk given at that meeting by Hilary Cotton (Vice chair of the WPTF) is contained in this newsletter. But, to set her talk in context, it is important that you read the Report itself. There are three Proposals mooted. The second of which contains four Variations, each of increasing degrees of complexity, on how women can be made bishops so those who will not
accept ordained women as priests or bishops can, by implication, be “protected”.
The Report can be obtained from Church House Bookshop or downloaded from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/papers/womenbishopsreport
Many groups and individuals made submissions to the legislative drafting group. WATCH, GRAS (Group for the Rescinding of the Act of Synod) and others requested a Simple Status Legislation for women to be admitted to the Episcopate on the same grounds as male bishops with no discriminatory clauses attached. We all recognised that there are those who are opposed to the ordination of women. It was commonly stated in our submissions that a Code of Practice should be developed to take account of these views. However it was stressed it was important not to have any more Church-derived discrimination enshrined in law. It is not true, nor ever was, that any of us did not take account of the wishes of those who hold the opposite view. If you hear that being said, as I am sure you will, then please deny it. Brevity forbids me to discuss the full content of the proposals except to express the deep disappointment felt at the unchallenged acceptance, that runs throughout the report, that women are a problem to be dealt with; that the small minority who are opposed to ordained women need protection not only from them, but also, from the men who have had contact with them through ordination. So, we have now gone one step further in developing what appears to be the inception of a “Purity Code” in order to keep those opposed away from being “Tainted”. This is demonstrated by the use of language such as, enabling access to a “complementary bishop” for those unable to receive:
- the ministry of women bishops
- male priests ordained by women bishops
- male bishops who participate in the ordination of women to the priesthood or episcopate (p22 section 113 and repeated elsewhere in the report)
This is, and has been, a key issue for increasing numbers of us, male and female, who are members of the Church of England. The way it appears to view women has never been seriously addressed (as it has and is increasingly being in secular society so that gifts and abilities of people of either sex are developed and not wasted). It is why I ended this editorial heading of St Paul’s statement from Galatians with a question mark. Either we are all one in Christ or we are not. The hierarchy of the Church is becoming increasingly discredited by its attitude towards women and pandering to those who have a problem with them. Increasingly it becomes difficult for more people in the Church’s ministry and among the rank and file in the pews to support an Episcopate chosen in the way it is unwilling to address how women are treated in the Church. A Church that does not outwardly live as Christ did, giving real meaning to his words, “I have come that they (you/us) may have life and have it more abundantly” needs to question how credible it is in today’s world.

Sally Barnes is secretary to WATCH (London), member of the Parliamentary Task Force and on the National WATCH Committee

Some ACTION pointers for members from Mary Johnston, Chair of WATCH (London)

 Email or write to your bishop, to reach him before May 19th, urging him to promote women bishops on equal terms with men bishops, with no more discrimination against ordained women.

 Those of you who are lay people, speak to your parish clergy about this. Ask them to discuss it at their Chapter meetings. We need to stress the strength of opposition to further discrimination in our church.

 Pray for the bishops meeting on May 19th, for courage and inspiration, remembering that this is the season of Pentecost.

House of Lords: Talk given by Hilary Cotton

2008-05-23T15:44:00.004+01:00

Why did we hold the meeting?

Peers and MPs have to approve any major changes the Church of England as the Established Church wishes to make. This is because what the Church of England does affects everyone, not just its adherents, and Parliament has a responsibility to speak on behalf of the ‘silent majority’ who never attend church, or even despise it, but whom it still exists to serve. The Church of England does not ‘belong’ to the bishops, or to General Synod, or to its clergy. It belongs to the people.

At a final stage of the legislative process Parliament will vote on the legislation for women bishops. However, Parliament also has a very important contribution to make at this stage in the preparation of legislation – which otherwise will tend to be a rather introspective debate confined to the Church.

Where are we now?

The Manchester Report was published on 28th April. It will be discussed at House of Bishops when it meets on 19th May, and at the General Synod meeting in July.

The good news for us is that the Report affirms that Church has said ‘yes’ to having women as well as men as bishops. It goes on to examine ‘how’ that will happen, and presents three approaches: separate dioceses for those opposed; straightforward legislation that, in effect, says ‘A woman may be ordained to the office of bishop…’; and a third option containing 4 sub-options, which add on to that basic permissory legislation, with varying degrees of weight, a code of practice containing special arrangements for those parishes who will not accept women bishops, or male bishops who have joined in the consecration of women as bishops, or who ordain women as priests, or who have been ordained priest by a woman bishop. It begins to look like some sort of ‘Purity code’.

My first point is about discrimination and that the theological convictions of those opposed should not be ‘simply dismissed’ (para 154) as discrimination. Discrimination isn’t a minor issue. These theological convictions are based in a theology that is deeply discriminatory and oppressive towards women; let’s not go into church history to see how women have been viewed and treated by the Church, but the Gospel imperative is to ‘let the oppressed go free’ and we need to remember that calling. The Church of England is exempt from Sex Discrimination Act and the Gender Equality duty, and WATCH believes that that is not right.

Discriminatory beliefs breed discriminatory behaviour. Stories from clergywomen can be summed up thus: because it’s ok to believe that women should not be ordained, insulting behaviour that results from that belief is not challenged. Clergywomen continue to be ignored, treated with contempt, spat at and excluded by colleagues. Our belief is that this will not change until the Church fully endorses that they are priests, by removing the discriminatory legislation of 1993 and the Act of Synod. And we must stop ordaining those who will not work with female priestly colleagues.

Secondly, the Church of England is the Established Church, and one right stemming from that is having 26 bishops sitting in the House of Lords. With the composition of that House under considerable scrutiny at the moment, how is it viewed that this is the only legislative assembly in the civilized world that excludes women from a particular membership? How, as a house of ‘peers’ (equals) can it be right for it to contain those who are restricted in their office because, crudely, they don’t have the right physical bits? Because that will be the reality if we do anything more in statute than say ‘it shall be lawful for men and women to be made bishops in the Church of England’.

Finally, the issue of timing. An argument we are already hearing (including from some bishops) is ‘now is not the right time’. Well, too bad if it were because we’re talking another 6 years at least before it will happen (the Report says 2014 at the soonest). The Church must not hamper itself by preparing legislation or codes of practice now that will seem unnecessary, unwelcome or unworkable then.

Where will we be 10 years on?

We will have had 10 years of roughly equal numbers of women and men being ordained each year. The huge peak of clergy aged between 55 and 65 now (Church Stats 2006) will have retired: most of the small number who are against the ordination of women fall into this age group. The number of parishes having passed Resolution C – asking for a flying bishop – will still be tiny: 2.7% in Jan 2008. Fourteen out of thirty-eight provinces in the Anglican Communion have legislated for women bishops NOW including Sudan, South Africa, Mexico, Australia (where the first two women bishops have been announced in the last month). There will be female bishops in Ireland, Scotland, and probably Wales (last month the bishops of the Church in Wales resisted any arrangements in law for those opposed – the clergy turned it down by a tiny majority).

These are just the changes we will see in the Church of England. Society is at least 20 years ahead of the Church in its understanding of gender justice – and although there’s a long way to go yet, things will be radically different in 10 years’ time.

The Church needs to ensure that what we do now in enabling women to take their place alongside their male colleagues in the House of Bishops is clear, wholehearted, and without hint of taint or reservation.

What can you do to help us?

As Members of both houses, we would ask that you:
• alert your colleagues to the issues and why this is important now

• talk to bishops as they attend the Lords about the issues and your concerns

• Email or write to your bishop urging him to promote women bishops on equal terms with men bishops, with no more discrimination against ordained women.

In that way, the bishops Know that Parliament knows about the issues, knows about the process, and is ready to receive legislation for women bishops that is free of gender discrimination.

* Those of you who are lay people, speak to your parish clergy about this. Ask them to discuss it at their Chapter meetings. We need to stress the strength of opposition to further discrimination in our church.

* Talk to your Deanery and Diocesan representatives about the importance of supporting non-discriminatory legislation for women bishops.

Hilary Cotton - Vice chair of WATCH Parliamentary Task Force

Statement to the House of Bishops regarding the Single Clause Measure as outlined in the Manchester Report

2008-05-23T15:43:00.000+01:00

From: Women Clergy undersigned

We welcome the work done by the Legislative Drafting Group outlining ways forward for the Church with regard to the consecration of women as bishops. As ordained women, from amongst whom some of the first generation of women bishops may come, we wish to make our own contribution to the current debate.

We believe that it should be possible for women to be consecrated as bishops, but not at any price. The price of legal “safeguards” for those opposed is simply too high, diminishing not just the women concerned, but the catholicity, integrity and mission of the episcopate and of the Church as a whole. We cannot countenance any proposal that would, once again, enshrine and formalise discrimination against women in legislation. With great regret, we would be prepared to wait longer, rather than see further damage done to the Church of England by passing discriminatory laws. In this, we support the recent principled stand taken by the Archbishop and Bishops of the Church in Wales.

After 21 years of ordained ministry and 14 years of priesthood, many of us have much experience of building trustful relationships with those unable to accept the priestly ministry of women. In the Anglican Communion overseas, women take this experience into the episcopate, which leads them to invite other bishops into their Dioceses or Episcopal areas to ordain, confirm and take other services when required. Bishops should be trusted to act wisely and behave with dignity, and all bishops should work within clear expectations and codes of practice. The language of “protection” and “safeguard” is offensive to women, and we believe the existing disciplinary procedures are enough for women or men to be brought to account if they behave inappropriately. We would commend the good practice over the past 20 years of the 15 Anglican Provinces which have already opened the episcopate to women: none of these has passed discriminatory legislation.

Discussion of a single clause measure without including the possible arrangements for those opposed, characterises those who argue for it as somehow “not caring” about those who oppose the ordination/consecration of women. This is far from the truth. Strong relationships have been forged on the anvil of profound disagreement and there is ample testimony to the richness of these encounters, to set alongside those situations which have proved painful. As the broken body of Christ on earth, the Church’s internal relationships should rest on trust, forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation, rather than on protection and an over-anxious reliance on the letter of the law. Work has already been done on a draft proposal of robust and clear arrangements that make the passing of a single clause measure realistic in today’s Church, as well as theologically and ecclesiologically cohesive.

We long to see the consecration of women bishops in the Church of England, and believe it is right both in principle and in timing. But because we love the Church, we are not willing to assent to a further fracture in our communion and threat to our unity. If it is to be episcopacy for women qualified by legal arrangements to “protect” others from our oversight, then our answer, respectfully, is thank you, but no.
May 2008

WATCH NATIONAL - Vision

2008-05-23T15:41:00.000+01:00

WATCH has a vision of the Church of England as a community of God's people where justice and equality prevail, regardless of gender. WATCH believes that this vision is rooted in the Scriptures and enfolds God's will for the whole world.
To realise this vision WATCH promotes:

• the equality of all people as an essential expression of the Gospel

• an inclusive ministry of women and men, lay and ordained, in the Church of England

• the ending of discrimination against women in the Church of England

• the appointment of women as bishops without discrimination

• honesty and transparency in all appointments, including senior appointments

• the development of women in order to equip them for ministry at all levels in the Church

• support for women in ministry, especially for those who encounter non-acceptance, resistance, obstruction or opposition at parochial or diocesan level

• support for all those who suffer because of their advocacy of women's ministry

• a positive attitude to issues such as collaborative working and inclusive language

• an understanding of a collaborative Church as an opportunity for positive growth and change for God's people

• theological study and debate of all these issues and publicising the theological and ecclesiological work being done in support of our inclusive aims

• the monitoring of the current deployment of women in ministry and the provision of an information service

• education in all of these matters inside and outside the Church

These aims and objectives are pursued in co operation, where appropriate, with other Anglican Churches, other denominations and other organisations.

Website: http://www.watchwomen.com
Address: St John’s Church, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8TY

Talk - A Peculiar Ministry

2008-05-23T15:40:00.001+01:00

Saturday 28th June

10.00am –12.45pm

A Talk by
Revd Canon Jane Hedges

Canon Steward of Westminster Abbey and Archdeacon of Westminster

on
A Peculiar Ministry

to be held at
Westminster Abbey
Cheyneygates Room

(a gentle warning that there are 40 stairs up to the room)

Mary Johnston (Chair of WATCH (London) and General Synod member) will also provide an update on the activities of:

o WATCH (London)
o The WATCH Parliamentary Task Force
o Implications of the Legislative Drafting Group

Proposals regarding Women Bishops

o Issues arising out of General Synod

Please note that refreshments before the meeting can be obtained from the

Abbey Coffee Club in the Cloisters.

For information and acceptance contact:

sally.barnes3@btopenworld.com or 020 8731 9860

94 Hamilton Road NW11 9DY

Quiet Day

2008-05-23T15:38:00.001+01:00

WATCH (London)

Women and the Church

Quiet Day
Your Faith Has Made You Well

Saturday 27th September from 10.15am –3.45pm
Conducted by
Revd Canon Lucy Winkett
Canon Precentor of St Paul’s Cathedral

at
St Matthews Church, [20] Great Peter Street, Westminster

(Nearest Underground Stations St James’s Park and Westminster)
The day will consist of:

periods of reflective input

time for independent prayer and quiet thought

a closing Eucharist
Registration at 10.00am in St Matthews Church

Coffee and tea will be served
Please bring a packed lunch
Cost per person £10

Reply to: Sally Barnes 020 8731 9860

sally.barnes3@btopenworld.com

94 Hamilton Road NW119DY

FROM THE CHAIR - Mary Johnston

2006-07-01T16:27:00.000+01:00

When the protracted saga of admitting women to the episcopate of the Church of England finally enters the annals of church history, July 8th 2006 may well figure there as a watershed. On that day, the General Synod meeting in York voted, by substantial majorities in all three houses, to support the motion “That this synod welcome and affirm the view of the majority of the House of Bishops that admitting women to the episcopate in the Church of England is consonant with the faith of the Church as the Church of England has received it and would be a proper development in proclaiming afresh in this generation the grace and truth of Christ”. The principle of women bishops is therefore no longer in dispute. Both Archbishops voted in favour, as did 29 other bishops present. So it was disappointing that our own Bishop of London chose to vote against the motion, along with, predictably, the Bishops of Europe, Chichester, Blackburn and Beverley, and more surprisingly, Exeter, Chester, Winchester and Sodor and Man. One might have hoped that Bishop Richard, having recently appointed a woman Archdeacon to Northolt and valuing, as we believe he does, the fruitful ministry of very many able women priests in his diocese, might have decided to join most of his brother bishops in “welcoming and affirming”, or at least abstaining, but sadly not. Bishop Pete of Willesden voted in support.

Two days later, Synod supported a separate motion to set up a legislative drafting group, charged with the task of producing a format which would open the episcopate to women, whilst accommodating as many as possible of those “loyal Anglicans” who remain opposed. They will need the prayers of all of us. Given the hesitancy, and occasional downright opposition, to women bishops in some quarters – not least evidently in our own diocesan bishop – it is deeply reassuring that Canon Jane Sinclair’s amendment, that the drafting group should not tamper with Canon A4, was carried.

This crucial canon is the basis of all our Church of England orders. It pertains to the Ordinal, i.e. the manner in which our clergy are ordained. I quote:“those who are so made, ordained, or consecrated bishops, priests, or deacons, according to the said Ordinal, are lawfully made, ordained, or consecrated, and ought to be accounted, both by themselves and others, to be truly bishops, priests, or deacons.”

Much was achieved at York. Now it is up to all of us in London WATCH to equip ourselves to speak up for women bishops amongst our friends and at our PCCs and Deanery Synods. How encouraging that two Deanery Synods in the Edmonton Area no less, North and South Camden, have already held a worthwhile joint session to discuss the issues.

Nationally, WATCH has been pro-active in keeping MPs appraised of developments and helping them to understand the role that they will eventually have to play. The aims of the Parliamentary Task Force are written up in this newsletter along with a copy of a letter that has been received by all Members of Parliament. Sally Barnes, our editor and secretary, is part of that particular Task Force, one of many groups working steadily towards our goal of full inclusion in the Church. In her article, Julia Evans, a psychoanalyst, explores how that inclusion, for the Christian, is not a matter of legal or social necessity, but springs from our personal relationship with God. If, like many of our readers, you are personally unable to work physically for WATCH but recognise the need for the continued efforts of those of us who can, you can play a very full part by holding WATCH in your prayers – and also by sending a donation, however small. With rising postal costs, mailing this newsletter becomes increasingly demanding on our finances. Please let Sally have your email address if you have one – and donations would be very welcome!

Footnote from York: a young Anglican’s perspective on women bishops. In debate, one of those elected from the Youth Council spoke of women priests being part of all his conscious church life; of women in positions of leadership as the norm; “I have even heard,” he said, “that once we had a woman Prime Minister, but that was before my time”.

Mary Johnston is the Chair of WATCH (London) and member of the General Synod

Reflections on Inclusion - Julia Evans

2006-07-01T16:26:00.000+01:00

The following article is an abridged version of a much longer article written by Julia at our request. If you would like a copy of the full article please email Sally Barnes on: sally.barnes3@btopenworld.com

Introduction

This article was written in response to some impromptu comments at the September 05 Watch London Committee Meeting and is still work in progress. What follows is how I have made sense of inclusion using these comments.
Inclusion by Legislation

There seems to me an underlying proposition that inclusion is there to make things fair and is for our own Good. Legislation which ensures the population includes has a protective function as in the nanny state – it regulates difference.

Some thoughts on the function of rules or the law follow. I have heard it argued that the difference between the Old Testament Decalogue and Jesus’ two-fold summary of the law is between commands that restrict and commands that enable. National legislation aims at restricting us so that our actions conform to a norm of inclusion (the Good?). There are three consequences of this position: Exceptions to the law have no place, Accepted norms of inclusion cannot change as they are fixed by the law and Accepted norms become the foundation stones of what is viewed as normal civil society.

For many years, the biological male was head of the household. This was the accepted norm of good social order. The meaning and status of his family within the social order stemmed from him. This has been challenged in the wider world for many years - we have long had female sovereigns and more recently a prime minister. For more than 50 years, there have been many leading female academics and theologians. So the name of the father may now mean the name of the mother or sister or pop-star and so on. It is no longer automatically the Man of the house. However, the underlying assumptions about what is the normal, acceptable and obvious social order have not changed, so these prominent women are excluded as exceptions.

Thus, inclusion by legislation bases its framework on an assumed norm of good, acceptable behaviour. The legislative way can only be inclusive by being exclusive - an interesting paradox. Norms stay stable probably because life is easier if our position relative to the Good is stable. Inclusion becomes an ought rather than a choice of action. This is a driven inclusion rather than inclusion as a process.

Inclusion of only those who resemble us

Prof Peter Riddle (CT 18 Nov 2005) argues that the French way of integration or inclusion is superior to the British which relies on watch-dogs and institutions to reinforce what is good. (Please see previous section.) The French stress that all citizens are equal (that is have equal individual rights) and all are first and foremost, French (so no group differences are allowed). Inclusion by assertion of rights means that what I want gets priority without reference to others.

From working with intergroup processes, it is the case that groups very quickly compete and then project all sorts of bad stereotypes onto the other group. There are examples of sections of the Church of England who feel they have the right to rule on how someone else’s sexuality should be expressed – ‘philosophy in the bedroom’ indeed. This activity is supported by their interpretation of the Bible which they have the right to force on others. And also they have a right to their church being run according to their principles with a vicar of the correct sex. And they have the right to define and control the role women take in church. I remember visiting an art exhibition some years ago where the stereotypes projected onto women priests included the swastika.

I have yet to recover from Chet Myers’ (Inclusive Church Seminar October 2004) description of Jesus attending a professional, middle-class dinner party and actually treating the prostitute who was also present as a human being. Here Jesus challenges what the underlying, exclusive norms of respectable social behaviour cover. These respectable stereotypes reassure us that our behaviour and actions are correct. Respectable inclusion works by exclusion. .

Radical Christian Inclusion

If inclusion is not about rules which promote the Good or about protecting rights which reinforce my way of living, what is it about? I explore an answer here but suspect the actual answer can only be lived. Radical Christian inclusion means acknowledging everyone’s common humanity be they paedophile, poor black marooned in New Orleans’s stadium, or Asian/coloured suicide bomber whilst acknowledging each one as unique. Inclusion is a process. The Archbishop of York has recently (April 2006) commented that Christian inclusion means humbling oneself before other faiths and learning from them. A Christian’s reference point is not with the basic social unit of the family or with what is socially acceptable but is derived from his/her relationship with God.

This inclusive process relies on my probably idiosyncratic interpretation of the summary of the law that Jesus gave us. I think it is impossible to tackle the ruling to love one’s neighbour before a very strong attempt has been made on the first one. We are invited to love God which is an act of submission and trust. Once this is done, because our God is one of love and freedom not restrictive rules, we then have to find our position in God’s world. This position is not one of dependency (being submerged) or of having a direct line to God. Submission is not being submerged. So you are placing yourself in the position of being within God’s world and you only make sense in relation to God. The relationship the other way (how God makes sense of us) is the one we have to trust. It is not how you obey the rules or maintain your rights or the status quo. Now once you have found your position (and beware, it is in my experience very easy to fall out of God’s field) then you can go on to find your neighbour who is to be included. Just as you only have meaning relative to God so it is with your neighbour. God defines your neighbour, not us, and asks us to include them. This is done on a one-by-one basis. So we are not asked to include categories: all murderers, all pop-stars, etc but to include those who God has defined as our neighbours on a one-by-one basis. I understand that no theological argument can be found for excluding the category of all women from roles within the church. We are asked to maintain individual difference but only because we have a commonality through God. There are no easy rules of feeling comfortable or what is the natural order or doing what is correct but only doing God’s will. This is not restrictive but enabling because of what God is.

Now I reckon that as God does acknowledge us as unique individuals then we have to be prepared to do the same. This means that difference cannot be closed out with the use of stereotypes, the use of rights, the use of standards for human relationships, and so on.

I finish with Heidegger (‘The moment of Insight’ Robin Griffith-Jones CT 11 November 2005). Heidegger found the grounds for a new understanding of time in human experience. He defined kairological time: All moments of mere chronology become questions of the moment of insight, of the self-understanding that is true wakefulness. Such wakefulness leads to no “peace and safety” but to a fulfilled relationship with God within a constant and essential uncertainty before the divine. In this moment or kairos of insight, the Day of the Lord comes. Inclusion as a kairological process is what I believe Christian inclusion is.
Julia Evans is a committee member of WATCH (London) and a psychoanalyst

WATCH Parliamentary Task Force - Sally Barnes

2006-07-01T16:25:00.001+01:00

A group of WATCH members comprises the WATCH Parliamentary Task Force under the coordination of Revd Dr Daphne Green (Leeds). The aims of the group are to:
- prepare the way so that a single clause measure (possibly with a code of practice) allowing women to be bishops in the Church of England will be approved by the Ecclesiastical Committee and by both Houses of Parliament

- ensure that the suggestion that ‘the Ecclesiastical Committee would never
approve’ is not used as a lever in General Synod to include in legislation, or, any code of practice, unnecessary concessions for those who will not accept women as bishops

- lobby MPs through information sheets and letters so that they are fully informed about the background to the women bishops debate and their role in it
in order to create a groundswell of support in the House of Commons

- create a caucus in the House of Lords in support of the campaign

Some of the activities undertaken so far include requesting WATCH members up and down the country to write to their constituency MPs outlining the issues regarding women bishops and asking for their support. Daphne Green is keeping a data base of responses (which to date have been very encouraging). In addition all 659 MPs have been written to by the WATCH Parliamentary Group providing a more detailed fact sheet on the situation as it exists at present and why it is important that they should know about it. (The sheet is produced below which you might find a helpful source for discussion with others who are interested to know more). There are many more activities taking place and planned for but it would be helpful if WATCH members could make sure that their constituency MP (as well as those of their friends) has been contacted and that his/her response has been passed on to Daphne at daphne@staningleyparish.org.uk

Women bishops in the Church of England: Information for MPs

2006-07-01T16:25:00.000+01:00

1. At present by law, women priests cannot be bishops in the Church of England. This is in marked contrast to the situation in 14 other Provinces of the Anglican Communion, including Scotland and Ireland, where women and men have an equal opportunity of becoming bishops.

2. The Church of England first ordained women as priests in 1994. To do this, legislation had to be passed by the church’s General Synod by a two-thirds majority (66%) in each of the three houses (bishops, clergy and lay-people). It then had to be deemed ‘expedient’ by the Ecclesiastical Committee of Parliament, be accepted in both Houses, and receive the Queen’s assent.

3. Why does Parliament have this part to play in the Church’s decisions? The Church of England is still the ‘established’ church in England. This means that every person living in England is in a (Church of England) parish. They are legally entitled to be baptised and married in their parish church, for example, and their vicar has responsibility to care for them, whether they are church-goers (or even Christians) or not. All this stems from the establishment of the Church by Henry VIII in Tudor times. In return for this ‘universal’ care, Parliament scrutinises any significant laws the Church passes, as they may affect everyone who lives in a parish in England – which means everyone. This is why you as an MP have a responsibility to participate in the discussions and decisions about consecrating women as bishops.

4. There are today 2000 female priests in the Church or England (out of 10 000 in total). They are ministering in parishes, cathedrals, hospitals, schools, universities and prisons. A number are archdeacons and two are Deans of Cathedrals. More than half of those currently training to be priests are women.

5. In July 2006, the General Synod of the Church of England will vote on the principle of allowing women to become bishops. If this vote is in favour (which it is expected to be) then the legislative process can begin. The Synodical legislative process (similar to that of Parliament) will take some years, including consultation and voting at a local level, in all 44 dioceses of the Church. At the end of this process, as with women priests, legislation from General Synod will come to Parliament for your vote to enable women to have the same equal opportunities as men within the established Church of this country.

6. What will happen to those opposed to women bishops? In the 1993 women priests’ legislation, provision was made for those who could not at that time accept women priests. Parishes could in effect ‘opt out’ of having a female priest in their church, and financial provision was made for those clergy who felt they had to leave the Church of England. This latter provision lasted for 10 years, and cost the Church £27.5m.
In the last 10 years the ministry of women priests has been widely and happily accepted across the country. However, there still are some who do not accept women as priests, and will not accept women as bishops. Because the Church aims to hold people of different views together, some provision will be made to enable those who will not accept women bishops to remain within the Church. The exact form of this provision is likely to be a key aspect in assembling the legislation. WATCH (Women and the Church) is firmly of the view that the legislation for women bishops must not discriminate against women, and that all women and men who are appointed as bishops must have the same authority and responsibilities. The provision made for those opposed must be secondary to this.

7. Andy Reed’s ten-minute bill (Bishops (Consecration of Women) Bill) introduced to the House on 21st March 2006 was well-attended and received widespread cross-party support. It is scheduled for a second reading in October.

8. WATCH (Women and the Church) is working for equality for women in the Church, including campaigning for women to be bishops. To indicate your support, and find out more about the campaign, please contact:
Rev Dr Daphne Green, Chair, WATCH Parliamentary Task Force
Email: daphne@stanningleyparish.org.uk www.watchwomen.com

News from a junior WATCH (London) member

2006-07-01T16:24:00.000+01:00

Last September I started secondary school and was fortunate to gain a place at Christ’s Hospital, a boarding school in Horsham, West Sussex. You may have seen it on the first series of Rock School on Channel 4 in the Autumn last year. It is very exciting and I am in the only girls’ refurbished house which is Leigh Hunt A. I am enjoying my school so much and have made lots of friends from all types of backgrounds. Everything last term at school seemed a big adventure. The lessons are quite challenging but I am keeping up with the work and gaining good grades. My favourite lessons are Science, maths and art. Sport is a high priority on the agenda and is great fun. All girls play hockey and netball every day apart from Sunday. I was not very athletic last year but a lot has changed since September and I really enjoy playing these games.

We have our own school chapel. It is capable of seating a whole school community of over 850 plus staff. It is compulsory to attend chapel at least for one service on a Sunday. Sometimes we have a full school chapel and often a visiting preacher is invited and we always find their sermons interesting. Recently we had a woman priest, Revd Hilary Benson, who preached for us. One of our chaplains is a woman, Revd Nicola Mitra. She participates in every service either by leading the intercessions or taking the whole service. She does take a good candle lit service on some evenings with a Taize theme.I feel privileged to be part of a school community that accepts the ministry of women as equal to that of men.

Being away at school does mean that I cannot attend the WATCH meetings. I have told my four year old brother why it is important for Christians to stay together and support one another. He is learning that he can be everybody’s friend and take an interest in them. I am proud of my little brother as at school his best friend is a little Jewish girl and he also has Muslim and Christian friends too. I think if Christian children grow up to accept all people’s to be God’s creation and valued then the adults, especially in our churches, who continue to feel superior and discriminate will one day be embarrassed to be taught life-skills from a young child.
Hannah Bailey (aged 12 years)

Hannah has written from school to her local MP in Horsham regarding women bishops and has received an encouraging response.