The Manchester Report
Woot! The Manchester Report (basically a ‘Should we have women bishops? If so, how does it work?’ kind of deal) has been published.
And the House of Bishops will be considering proposals to allow women into the episcopate (posh word for a group of bishops, the singular is episkopos) along with provision for those who can’t accept it, but want to stay in the CofE.
My bias: well, I’m applying for the ministry, and I’m a woman. Also, I’m convinced by the Bible that women were apostles, prophets and deacons, and by church history and archaeology that there were women episkopa and presbyters too (there aren’t any named episkopos in the New Testament, to my knowledge). For a good summary go here
I’m heartened by the news that this is being seriously discussed. It also means that if for some bizarre and known only to Himself reason, God decides “You. Bishop. Now.” that this is possible.
Yeah, because I really want to be a bishop. (rolls eyes)
Anyway, the Manchester report is out. And it’s being discussed. So I’m happy. Thought you all should know.
Oh, also, there are ducklings on campus. Near Claycroft, I believe, and also behind Rootes. They are so adorable it’s just untrue.
03 May 2008 08:52
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Tags: Women Bishops Church Of England
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Oh mighty Exegesis Fairy, tell me, as I’ve never been able to figure this out.
Why should it be a problem to have female Bishops, but not female Ministers?
Surely it’d be all or nothing? Although I was brought up in a Bishop-less environment (The Methodist Church), so I’m not very used to them as a whole…
Adam
06 May 2008, 08:44
The idea, I believe, is that bishops (Greek episokopos) are supposed to function in an apostolic role (that is, making with the church planting and the visionary leading and the…well, see Acts).
I’m not entirely sure that bishops do that. Paul was asking Timothy to appoint them as overseers (that’s how some Bibles translate it.) but anyway, there are smarter people than me looking at this.
So, the argument goes, women have done pretty much every kind of ministry under the sun, but they weren’t apostles of Jesus.
Well…they weren’t in the original twelve anyway. They were all Jewish, free men (small business owners, tax collectors, you know) and from the surrounding area.
That said, there’s a case to be made that:
1) that shouldn’t affect the argument, because it would have been highly inappropriate for a woman (who would have had to be single, which was odd enough) to be travelling with a bunch of fellas, and
2) that women did do everything else, following as they did in a still probably frowned-upon fashion, but one that didn’t impinge upon their honour, and
3) Well, there’s Junia and Andronicus, who are ‘of note among the apostles’. Make of that what you will.
Plus there are a bunch of people who didn’t want female ministers, so female bishops is like, “ARGH! RUNAWAY!”
That said, the best way for female bishops to have widespread acceptance is to ordain them if they’re:
1) called, and
2) good.
It’s amazing what people can get used to. (smiles sweetly)
06 May 2008, 08:58
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