Forward in Faith UK has issued the following
statement in response to the House of Bishops amendments to draft legislation
on women bishops:
Forward
in Faith welcomes the amendments to the draft legislation on women bishops
passed by the House of Bishops on Monday.
The
first amendment secures the provision of bishops for traditional catholics and
conservative evangelicals who are not simply male, but who share the
theological convictions of those to whom they will minister. For traditional
catholics, that means bishops ordained into the historic episcopate as we
understand it. The draft Measure now recognises that our position is one of
legitimate theological conviction for which the Church of England must provide.
This principle will be enshrined in law.
The
second amendment helpfully clarifies that the charism of episcopal ministry
derives from the fact of a bishop’s ordination, and is not by delegation from
another bishop.
It was disappointing that the amendment which would have implemented
co-ordinate jurisdiction was not passed. The draft Measure stills fails,
therefore, to address questions of jurisdiction and authority in the way we
need.
On a lighter note is
Ruth Gledhill’s succinct headline summation of the press release announcing the
HofB amendments:
Church of England Issues Worst-Written Press Release Since the
Reformation.
And that is certainly
one of the best-written headlines I’ve come across.
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