Tuesday, May 22, 2012

C of E House of Bishops change to women bishops draft legislation and what it could mean


I share with you - WITHOUT COMMENT at this stage, but just so that readers know exactly what is envisaged by the bishops - a summary of what the amended legislation really means. It is only hours since the bishops' meeting. So, before the secular media sensationalise the matter, it is good to have this (written by Fr Mark Gilbert 
with the help of Fr Gary Waddington) from the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda in Chichester:  

(1) Bishops ministering to petitioning parishes cannot just be male... they must be 
appointed on their theological convictions... (ie A Society Bishop) (Parishes will be able to petition subject to a Code of Practice and subject to the agreement of the Parish Priest)
 

(2) There is no provision for Parishes where the Parish Priest does not agree to a petition. There is no provision for Priests who cannot get a majority of the PCC to petition. Such Bishops act by virtue of their consecration... they may need inviting, but their acts are episcopal because they are bishops, whoever may, in law, have had to do the asking and act therefore in their own "potestas". No authority will be taken away from the 
Diocesan Bishop.

 

(3) The Bishops and Archbishops renew their commitment to the provision of such bishops, and re-assert that if the legislation were to pass, the sees of Richborough, Ebbesfleet and Beverley continue to exist in law... Equally, no person shall be discriminated against on the grounds of their views on the issue...

This will be all subject to a code of Practice which hasn't been authorised yet although several drafts have been seen. The Bishops decided not to have any arrangements by statue.


http://sswshchichester.weebly.com/news.html



http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/05/house-of-bishops-approves-women-bishops-legislation.aspx


1 comments:

Alice C. Linsley said...

This is why Anglicanism can never be fully catholic.

In the USA, the innovation of women priests has caused great confusion and division. If the priest is an icon of Jesus Christ, then otologically speaking, the priesthood is a matter of Christology. Anglicans, even Anglican bishops, have no authority to change the received tradition concerning Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Seed of the Woman (Gen. 3:15)

Women bishops would never have become an issue if Anglicans had held to the received tradition.

Further, this innovation is contrary to the binary pattern of Holy Scripture whereby the "blood work" of women and of men is distinct and never confused. Women priests represents a denial of the presence of His Blood shed as sacrifice.

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