May 14, 2008
Women priests write protest letter to Anglican bishops
Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent
Times Online
Women priests in the Church of England say they would rather never be
bishops at all than have to accept special arrangements for opponents of
womenıs ordination.
Nearly half of all the serving women priests in the Church of England
have signed an open letter to the Churchıs bishops warning that the
entire integrity and mission of the Church is at stake.
The women say they sup****t those in the Church in Wales who a few weeks
ago defeated a proposal to ordain women bishops because it included
protections to safeguard opponents.
A recent re****t by a group chaired by the Bishop of Manchester, the
Right Rev Nigel McCulloch, outlined a number of options for the General
Synod to consider at its meeting in York this July, including the
creation of separate dioceses for traditionalists which would transcend
historic geographical boundaries.
Instead of legislation that would provide safe havens for
traditionalists, the women say they want the Church to proceed straight
away with a simple measure to consecrate women to the episcopate.
Senior clergy who have signed the letter include Canon Lucy Winkett,
precentor at St Paulıs and Canon Jane Hedges, steward at Westminster
Abbey. Both are women likely to be considered for the episcopate once it
becomes possible to consecrate them.
More than 700 women priests have signed it, indicating they are backing
the stance.
For the rest, go to:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3933913.ece
--
Charles Hohenstein (to reply, remove Gene Robinson)
"The sad huddle of affluent bedwetters, thumbsuckers,
treehuggers, social climbers, homophiles, quavery ladies,
and chronic petition signers that makes up the current
Episcopal Church . . ." -Thomas Lipscomb
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