1. Women and the episcopate
Some background notes

2. The Development of women’s ministry in the Church of England
Deaconess Community of St Andrew founded 1861
Until 1980s law allows only men to be admitted to holy orders in C of E
Church Assembly explores ordination of women in 1966
General Synod resolves: ‘there are no fundamental objections to the ordination of women to the priesthood’(1975) but does not proceed to legislation

3. Development of women’s ministry
Synod approves Measures allowing women to be ordained to the diaconate (1985) and presbyterate (1992)
First women deacons ordained 1987, first women priests March 1994
By 2009 women make up:
29% of all serving clergy
47% of those recommended for ordination training
In mid 2010, 14 female archdeacons (13%) and 4 female cathedral deans (9%).

4. Provision
Provision for those unable to accept the ordination of women to the priesthood (1992):
Resolution A
precludes women from presiding at Holy Communion and pronouncing absolution
Resolution B
precludes appointment of female incumbent, P-i-C, TV
Act of Synod (1993): parishes able to request episcopal oversight by Provincial Episcopal Visitor (‘flying bishop’)

5. Provision
House of Bishops’ paper Bonds of Peace 1993 proposing Act of Synod:
‘Those who for a variety of reasons cannot conscientiously accept that women may be ordained as priests will continue to hold a legitimate and recognised place within the Church of England’

6. Today’s Church of England
Latest available figures (2010) suggest:
802 Resolution A parishes (6.4%)
966 Resolution B parishes (7.7%)
362 petition under the Act of Synod (2.9%)

7. Anglican Communion
Admission of women to diaconate and priesthood considered by both 1968 and 1978 Lambeth Conferences
Agreed decisions were for each Province, having ‘sought and carefully considered’ advice from the instruments of Communion
Lambeth Conference 1988 extended this approach to women bishops, resolving that each Province was free to decide for itself, while ‘maintaining the highest possible degree of communion with Provinces which differ’

8. Anglican Communion
1989 Episcopal Church in the USA the first Church in Anglican Communion to admit a woman to the episcopate
Now women bishops in Australia, Canada, New Zealand (and in the extra-provincial Episcopal Church of Cuba)
In 11 other Churches (including Scotland and Ireland) no legal bar to such consecrations.
11 women bishops attended Lambeth Conference in 1998; 18 in 2008.

9. Anglican Communion
1998 Lambeth Conference passed resolution calling all Provinces to:
‘uphold the principle of ‘Open Reception’ as it relates to the ordination of women to the priesthood…’
‘affirm that those who dissent from, as well as those who assent to, the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate are both loyal Anglicans’
‘to make provision, including appropriate episcopal ministry, as will enable them to live in the highest possible degree of communion possible…’

10. Women and the Episcopate
July 2000 General Synod passed motion requesting further theological study on the issue
Working Party chaired by Michael Nazir-Ali, then Bishop of Rochester
‘Women Bishops in the Church of England?’ (The Rochester Report) published November 2004
Synod ‘took note’ of Rochester Report (Feb 2005) and (July 2005) voted to ‘set in train the process for removing the legal obstacles to the ordination of women to the episcopate’.

11. The Rochester Report The arguments for:
new ways of looking at biblical material (fresh perspectives on ‘headship’ and alternative interpretations of 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy)
the overall trajectory of scripture
the evidence for women’s ministry in the Early Church
a dynamic view of tradition
the need for both men and women to represent Christ
the Church of England’s right to develop its own orders
the significance of the 1992 decision to ordain women priests
the missiological need for women bishops.

12. The Rochester Report
The arguments against (catholic anglican perspective):
not wedding mission to the spirit of the age
it would be a move away from the historical tradition of the church
the maleness of Christ
breaking with understandings hitherto held in common with RC and Orthodox Churches
the problem of sacramental assurance
the need for bishops to be a focus of unity.

13. The Rochester Report
The arguments against (Conservative Evangelical perspective):
not all decided at the ordination of women to the priesthood
‘functional sub-ordination’ (i.e. headship)
Galatians 3.28 not being a general statement about equality
a woman could not be an icon of God the Father
the inappropriateness of a woman exercising Episcopal authority
ordaining women bishops being contrary to the principle of reception
the danger of the ‘feminisation’ of the Church.

14. The Guildford Group
After Rochester Report, House of Bishops set up new working group (‘Guildford Group’)
Guildford Group report (January 2006) considered 3 options:
a ‘single clause’ Measure (allowing women to be bishops)
a Third Province for those who were unable to accept women as bishops
‘transferred episcopal arrangements’ (TEA) where parishes who could not accept a woman bishop could opt to receive the ministry of a male Provincial Regional Bishop

15. Guildford/Gloucester Report
General Synod agreed February 2006 further exploration of Transferred Episcopal Arrangements plus associated Code of Practice
Bishops of Guildford and Gloucester asked to undertake further work
Their report (June 2006) sought to clarify TEA
A further possible model – Special Episcopal Oversight (SEO) proposed that functions be delegated, rather than transferred, to the male SEO bishop.

16. Guildford/Gloucester Report
Report considered by College of Bishops (June 2006)
College also heard from Cardinal Walter Kasper who set out opposition of the RC Church and implications for Anglican-RC relations
College also heard from senior female clergy and laity who supported proceeding with consecration of women but expressed reservations about TEA.

17. Guildford/Gloucester Report
House of Bishops unable to endorse any particular option
But majority affirmed support for the principle of women bishops
July 2006 Synod resolved:
‘That this Synod welcome and affirm the view of the majority of the House of Bishops that admitting women to the episcopate in the Church of England is consonant with the faith of the Church as the Church of England has received it and would be a proper development in proclaiming afresh in this generation the grace and truth of Christ.’

18. Guildford/Gloucester Report
Synod voted to set up Legislative Drafting Group:
to prepare draft Measure and amending Canon necessary to remove the legal obstacles to the consecration of women to the office of bishop
To prepare ‘a draft of possible additional legal provision consistent with Canon A417 to establish arrangements that would seek to maintain the highest possible degree of communion with those conscientiously unable to receive the ministry of women bishops’.

19. The Manchester Group
Group started work (Jan 2007) under Bishop of Manchester
Report (April 2008) set out the challenge to find a way forward that:
(a) had ecclesiological integrity
(b) left space within the CofE for those who in conscience could not accept the priestly or Episcopal ministry of women
(c) avoided any flavour of discrimination or half-heartedness on the part of the Church of England towards women priests and bishops.

20. The Manchester Group Report offered the following options:
the simplest possible statutory approach with no binding national arrangements
legislation providing the basis for special arrangements for those unable to receive the ministry of women bishops (within the structure of the existing C of E)
legislation creating new structures within C of E

21. The Manchester Group
Majority of the House of Bishops (May 2008) supported second option and recommended to General Synod a national Code of Practice to serve those who were unable to accept women bishops - entailing delegation (not transfer) of functions from the diocesan to ‘complementary’ male bishop.

22. The Manchester Group
In response, July 2008 General Synod passed motion to:
(a) affirm that the wish of its majority is for women to be admitted to the episcopate
(b) affirm its view that special arrangements be available, within the existing structures of the C of E, for those who as a matter of theological conviction will not be able to receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests
(c) affirm that these should be contained in a statutory national code of practice to which all concerned would be required to have regard
(d) instruct the legislative drafting group, in consultation with the House of Bishops, to complete its work accordingly, including preparing the first draft of a code of practice, so that the Business Committee can include first consideration of the draft legislation in the agenda for the February 2009 group of sessions.’

23. The draft legislation
February 2009 Synod gave First Consideration to the draft Measure and Amending Canon
Agreed that they should be committed to the Revision Committee
The Synod also had before it an illustrative draft Code of Practice prepared by the drafting group.

24. The draft legislation
Revision Committee met May 2009; reported May 2010
Received 297 submissions (114 from Synod members)
Arguments for alternative approach to the legislation:
a ‘single clause’ Measure
‘statutory transfer’
‘society solution’
additional dioceses.
Committee rejected alternatives but made other changes.

25. The draft legislation
Clause 1 of the Measure (unchanged by Revision Committee):
Permits the consecration of women as bishops and the continued ordination of women to the priesthood
Repeals the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993
Makes transitional provisions regarding Resolutions A and B under the 1993 Measure.

26. The draft legislation The Measure (as revised):
Obliges diocesan bishops to have a scheme for delegating episcopal ministry to a male bishop
Entitles a parish to issue a ‘Letter of Request’ to the diocesan bishop seeking the ministry of a male bishop
Entitles a parish to issue a ‘Letter of Request during a Vacancy’ to the diocesan bishop requesting a male priest be appointed
Requires the House of Bishops to draw up a Code of Practice, approved by General Synod.

27. The draft legislation
At General Synod July 2010 the Archbishops propose amendments:
that male bishops ministering to parishes that had issued a Letter of Request would exercise ‘co-ordinate jurisdiction’ with diocesan bishop (i.e. jurisdiction conferred by Measure, not delegation)
But Synod rejects this, as it may undermine the authority of any female bishop, and also rejected amendments to create additional dioceses.

28. The draft legislation
Legislation went on to complete Revision Stage with only minor amendments
Most significant: a requirement that any repeal of the Measure or Canon would require a two-thirds majority in each House, as opposed to simple majorities)
Draft Measure and Amending Canon now referred to dioceses as agreed by General Synod.