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Women Bishops
Jul. 8th, 2008 10:17 amWell, I have to say, I didn't expect that - I was guessing that either the whole thing would fall through or that they'd go for the super-bishops position.
Am I pleased? Well, yes. I've said on several occasions that I think that the previous position was ridiculous, and that it couldn't go on indefinitely. And I know I would have felt frustrated and hurt if they had voted against the possibility.
And no. It's got a bitter taste, because it's going to be divisive, and - in some ways more to the point - both sides have in some cases behaved very badly. I know I have sometimes been very uncharitable, without even noticing, about 'the other side'. That's the trouble, of course - once it becomes about 'us' and 'them', it's far too easy to attribute disgraceful motives to 'them', whether it be knee-jerk reaction/ misogyny or putting the zeitgeist above God's will and the needs of the church/ ambition.
Umph. I suppose the tone of theological debate was no better in the early church. Does that make it better or worse? It's not exactly the City of God, anyway.
ETA: link to the Ekklesia press release on the subject, with the motion in full and the voting, which was surprisingly clear-cut. I had forgotten that this will have to be ratified by parliament (the joys of establishment), but I doubt in the circumstances that this will lead to a repeat of the 1924 prayer book debacle. I suppose the big question is what exactly is going to be in the mysterious code of conduct....
Am I pleased? Well, yes. I've said on several occasions that I think that the previous position was ridiculous, and that it couldn't go on indefinitely. And I know I would have felt frustrated and hurt if they had voted against the possibility.
And no. It's got a bitter taste, because it's going to be divisive, and - in some ways more to the point - both sides have in some cases behaved very badly. I know I have sometimes been very uncharitable, without even noticing, about 'the other side'. That's the trouble, of course - once it becomes about 'us' and 'them', it's far too easy to attribute disgraceful motives to 'them', whether it be knee-jerk reaction/ misogyny or putting the zeitgeist above God's will and the needs of the church/ ambition.
Umph. I suppose the tone of theological debate was no better in the early church. Does that make it better or worse? It's not exactly the City of God, anyway.
ETA: link to the Ekklesia press release on the subject, with the motion in full and the voting, which was surprisingly clear-cut. I had forgotten that this will have to be ratified by parliament (the joys of establishment), but I doubt in the circumstances that this will lead to a repeat of the 1924 prayer book debacle. I suppose the big question is what exactly is going to be in the mysterious code of conduct....
