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October 13th, 2009
REFORM WELCOMES PROPOSED PROVISION FOR OBJECTORS TO WOMEN BISHOPS
Reform chairman Rod Thomas today welcomed the ‘change of heart’ the Church of England General Synod Revision Committee has shown in its work on women in the episcopate.
The committee has proposed that certain functions would be transferred by statute from a female bishop to a male bishop who would minister to those who have theological objections to receiving episcopal ministry from a woman.
Rod Thomas said: “This could be what is needed to avert a split and preserve unity among people who differ on this issue. This proposal is much more robust than the previous suggestion that left the decision about such a transfer to a code of practice, and so we welcome this move.
“We believe that the introduction of women bishops is not supported by the Bible’s teaching and we will continue to try to persuade the wider church of this. However we are grateful to the committee for its willingness to appreciate our concerns. While we will need to examine the details as they emerge, we are clear that statutory safeguards are needed in areas such as appointments and selection for ordination. This is the bare minimum for us to be assured that our ministry will be allowed to prosper in the Church of England in the future.”
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Reform was established in 1993 and is a network of churches and individuals within the Church of England. Current individual membership is around 1,700, in addition to 35 member churches. More than 350 ordained clergy are Reform members
For further information contact:
Revd Paul Dawson
T: 07791 495824
E: media@reform.org.uk
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