And this is the report from Christian Today:
Fissure over women bishops deepens in Church of England
"The faultline running through the Church of England over women bishops has widened after the Bishop of Fulham’s departure to Rome and the outcome of elections to the Church of England General Synod.Read it all here
Opponents of women bishops say they have gained ground in the General Synod and estimate that 66 clergy (32.10%) and 77 laity (35.46%) will vote down draft legislation on women bishops unless it is amended to include more provisions for those who in conscience cannot accept women in the episcopate.
Rod Thomas, of orthodox Anglican group Reform said: “Only 34% is needed to block this when it returns from the dioceses. For the first time, it can and will be blocked by both fully elected houses.
“In the clergy only a further 1.81% is needed, and that’s just one person. There are 21 new evangelicals on this new synod, and one out of a possible 58 undecided is a given!”
He said the outcome of the elections suggested that the Bishop of Fulham, John Broadhurst, had been “too early” in making his decision to join an ordinariate in the Roman Catholic Church.
His view is shared by the Catholic Group in the Church of England, which said it deeply regretted Bishop Broadhurst’s decision to leave the Anglican fold.
Reform’s interpretation of the Synod results has been refuted by Women And The Church, a group that supports the consecration of women.
It said Reform’s claims were “premature”, as many candidates had not declared their views on the draft legislation for women bishops prior to the elections."
I would be most disappointed if every opportunity were not taken to defeat what traditionalists regard as error in the Church of England.
ReplyDeleteSimply using extra votes to go cap in hand to bargain for a legal structure within an organisation ACs believe to be at fault makes them complicit.
After all, as WATCH has it, a majority is the work of the Holy Spirit - when it goes their way. Should it be any less so when it goes ours? If we believe something to be wrong we should fight to the last breath, not sigh in resignation.
As for people leaving prematurely, someone has to start the ball rolling for unity. We must stop fighting each other and concentrate on the job in hand, not by showing weakness but harrying at every opportunity demonstrating that we believe our cause is just, based on faith, not politics.