I have been uncommonly quiet, as the observant amongst you may have noticed. This is because, mindful of Clement Attlee’s rebuke to Harold Laski, ‘A period of silence on your part would be welcome‘, I have been holding my breath.
The Measure on women bishops, which I (with the vast majority of the Church of England) hope against hope might be passed in the form agreed at the last meeting of General Synod, i.e. before the two unhelpful amendments, is due to come before General Synod in York from 6-10 July. The concerns expressed by Women And The Church are set out here. Today’s edition of the Church Times, has the following comment:
THE General Synod is in trouble. In ten days’ time, it is to consider giving final approval to the consecration of women bishops. In the normal run of things, this would be the stage for a general debate in which the participants return to first principles, examine whether the legislation does or does not fulfil their wishes, and vote accordingly. This debate looks increasingly unlikely to happen.
Women And The Church is now petitioning the House of Bishops through Change.org as follows:
The House of Bishops [of the Church of England]: Withdraw Clause 5(1)c
Please, if you agree that the amendment which formalises the establishment of two classes of bishop in the Church of England should be withdrawn, Sign the petition.
To paraphrase the poet Drayton:
Now at the last gasp of women bishops‘ latest breath,
When, its pulse failing, the Measure speechless lies,
When Faith is kneeling by its bed of death,
And Principle is closing up his eyes,
Now, if thou wouldst, when all have given it over,
From death to life thou might’st it yet recover.
As I write, the petition has reached 109 signatures. Will you please be the 110th signatory?
gave a signature from across the pond. Best wishes to you, Laura
Thank-you very much, indeed Alan – good of you to show cross-pond solidarity here and the signature will also come in handy!
There#s a poem by MS Lowndes called “Arise Women of God”.
The final verse runs:
!For you shall surely be transformed
As, in you, God increases more
And become a woman of true excellence
Bringing honour to her Lord”
http://www.heavensinspirations.com/arise-woman-of-god.html
This is the Women we need in leadership in our Church, one’s of True Excellence, able to bring the Grace and Goodness of God into the HoB and to allow the Holy Spirit to flow and to inspire.
Only than, will the HoB be truly representative of the whole people of the church.
I’ve signed the petition by the way.
To reply to you back to front, first of all it is great that you signed the petition. It simply will not wash if it is only women that want this to happen.
I sincerely think and hope that there are women in the Church with the qualities that you describe. I pray that an arrangement may be reached whereby they are allowed to minister to the extent of their abilities. We need them!