Church of England Rejects Women Bishops … Some Thoughts

Last updated on: November 20, 2012 at 8:24 pm by Michael F. Bird

Church of England Rejects Women Bishops … Some Thoughts 2012-11-20T20:24:21-04:00 Michael F. Bird

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The news is in that the COE Synod has rejected a vote to have women bishops.

Read articles at BBC, HuffPost, and CNN for more info.

A 2/3 majority was needed to carry the motion. It passed in the house of bishops and house of clergy, but fell short by just six votes in the house of laity. I have friends in both conservative and progressive evangelical lobby groups (i.e., Fulcrum and Reform) for whom the vote was either a marginal victory or a monumental disaster. So there is a lot of emotion going on right now among English clergy, which is all the more significant because the English are not known for their vibrant and public displays of emotion.

As I read the news reports, blogs, and social media, there’s been several stages of grief by progressive clergy: (1) Bitter disappointment; (2) Self-loathing and disillusionment with the COE, and finally (3) Anger against conservatives.

If I can try offer some words of exhortation to the haughty, the hurting (and perhaps the hysterical), let me say this:

1. Due process is due process. The debate has been had, the arguments put forward, voices were heard, and the votes counted. Many are disappointed as their hopes have been dashed. But the processes are there to make sure that all representatives in the COE get a fair say and no one gets to decide what that “says” is. This is an issue that needed a mandate and consensus. And it came up short.
2. If women bishops are put forward in the name of a diverse, inclusive, and broad church, you have to remember that diversity and breadth cuts both ways, it means including and empowering people to the left and to the right of you.
3. Women bishops are inevitable, clearly the majority wants it, but the timing will depend on constructively engaging and assuaging both the anglo-catholic and conservative evangelical wings of the church rather antagonizing them or demonizing them.
4. This is not the last word. Discussion and debate will go on. Time for a cup of tea, an iced-vovo, and then some further conversations about mission and the episcopacy.

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