The Anglican Church is "split". Some 1,300 practising and retired clergy of the Church of England are threatening to leave the Church if the Church appoints any woman as a bishop. The same dispute is dividing the Church worldwide.

What are the theological arguments that a) women cannot be bishops but may be lesser clergy and b) women can't be priests or clergy at all ?

And what's the answer to this letter on the subject,also appropriate to the wider question, in The Times today:

"Sir,

If women have it in them to be saints then surely they have it in them to be mere bishops

Anne Nightingale,
Berkhamsted, Herts." ?

quote:

b) women can't be priests or clergy at all ?

The rationalization I've heard most often, at least from Roman Catholics, is that Jesus did not choose any women as his original disciples. Whether this holds water or not, is dependent on each individual's point of view.

quote:

Originally posted by juanruiz: The rationalization I've heard most often, at least from Roman Catholics, is that Jesus did not choose any women as his original disciples.

That's not what Dan Brown says!!

quote:

That's not what Dan Brown says!!

And who can argue with him? He's a multi-millionaire. Actually, NT writers go out of their way to minimize any participation of women in Jesus' ministry. In fact, the NT has next to no women of importance beyond Mary and Thecla. Even the Magdalene is fairly minor. The rest named, and there aren't many, are more like chorus members in an opera.

quote:

"Sir,

If women have it in them to be saints then surely they have it in them to be mere bishops

Anne Nightingale,
Berkhamsted, Herts." ?

Perhaps that saints are elected by man, priests by Jesus. Ok, Ok, I don't buy it either but it sounds good to a believer.

I suppose that I should add to my fantasy (wish) list that if I ever get taken seriously for my prophesying, same will open the doors to women to have greater roles in all churches sooner or later.

I understand the woman bishop thing is a go. I wonder how many will leave the church over it.

quote:

Originally posted by juanruiz:
I understand the woman bishop thing is a go. I wonder how many will leave the church over it.

The Archbishop of Canterbury described Anglo-Catholics as a " necessary abrasion". He has a wonderful way with words,that Doctor Williams

Synod members "spent much of the weekend praying" about this, says The Times.Which ones got divine guidance? Did God tell them to make up their own minds?

The final vote , within two or three years, will require a majority of two thirds of bishops, clergy and laity.In the meantime there's to be a code of practice drawn up.

If any leave the Church their absence will hardly be noticed. The church in this village, which would have one vicar for what is three parishes (one of Great Village, one of Little Village and one of a nearby village), hasn't had a vicar for over a year.It has visiting, retired, vicars and approved laity to conduct services. It's a measure of the decline of the Church that a village of only about 40 homes could support one vicar but the same village of over 400 homes now shares one vicar with one of over 200 and one of about 100.