Clause 2 of the Bill is totally unsatisfactory. There is no description of what this provision is going to be so it is difficult to see how anyone can be asked to vote for it. Presumably it means some sort of code of practice. Sadly, experience of the last ten years does not induce any confidence in such a vague clause. Also, there is always the possibility that a Bishop may not regard himself as bound by decisions and agreements in this matter which were made before his own election and consecration. This is a real danger.
We don't 'object' to the ordination of women of bishops; it is more accurate to say that we cannot accept it. It is not simply a question of not liking something but of finding it so out of step with the received tradition of the Church that it is impossible to live with it.
Clause 3 creates problems, for while it frees Bishops from what might be seen as a duty to discipline those who dissent from women bishops it still leaves open the possibility of such action being brought.
Along with the Bill was sent a note by the Archbishop on behalf of the Bench. This goes into some detail as to why any possibility of a Bishop with jurisdiction has been ruled out. The rest of the points relate to that document. The suggestions put forward by Credo Cymru are described as 'totally different from the kind of office exercised by the provincial assistant bishop (PAB) at the present time'. Well, yes; that's the point. If the Bill is passed there will be a new situation and that will require new solutions.
The job of the PAB is said to be 'an assistant to each diocesan who retains jurisdiction and asks the PAB in each particular instance to carry out episcopal acts such as confirmations and ordinations'. The provision of 'episcopal acts' is not what would be needed in the future but the provision of a Bishop whom priests and people can relate to in sacramental unity.
It is stated that we might not recognize the orders of someone who ordained a woman bishop. This is not true. We might want to say that what they did was wrong, contrary to church order; but it could not lead us to say that their orders had become invalid as a result to their actions. We seem to be going back to the nonsense about 'tainted hands' that has floated about for decades with the parallel that all we need is a pair of 'clean hands' to carry out 'episcopal acts'. We wouldn't need 'clean hands', we need a Bishop!
The statement that the two jurisdictions would not be in communion is also inaccurate. There would still be an impaired communion - more impaired than at present, of course - and clearly the impairment would grow. We would need to learn to live in love and true ecumenism through this period of reception for however long it takes. We should allow the Lord to decide in His own good time which expression of the Church should grow and which should wither.
Much is made of practical difficulties. Clearly there would be many of them but patience and charity should make it possible to overcome them.
There is confusion about matters to do with law and administration and matters of jurisdiction. For example, there is much about the action of archdeacons in parishes of the new jurisdiction, about giving access to churches and churchyards. Jurisdiction, as outlined in our submission to the Bench was about such matters as selection, training and ordination, the issuing of licenses and such like. You can transfer jurisdiction in such matters without altering the legal processes of inspections.
The statement says that a Bishop with jurisdiction would mean that 'the unity of the Church in Wales would be threatened' and would 'sanction schism'. That unity is threatened by the Bill; our proposals were intended to minimize and manage the threat. Schism is not our intention. Schism in one definition, 'a division into opposing groups', is already with us and will be made more obvious by this Bill. The task of the Governing Body as it looks at the Bill and how it might be amended is to try to prevent that schism, that division, becoming something that further damages the unity that Christ wills for His Church by looking to the Holy Spirit to lead us into new ways of being Church, fresh expressions, that make it possible for all to remain in the Church of their baptism.
There is indeed much to pray about and I hope especially that you will join us at our Festival of Faith in Brecon Cathedral on Saturday 15 September at 12 noon when the preacher will be The Revd Robin Ward, Principal of St Stephen's House. After the Eucharist and a break for lunch there will be an opportunity to meet to take counsel together before we end the day with Evensong. Do try to come and bring others with you. United we can do much; united in prayer we can do great things; united at the altar with the Lord of the Church we can do all things!
