This morning began very early for me at 5.30am. I was due on BBC Breakfast to talk about Women Bishops. The lay woman speaking for a vaguely Reform position said that men and women were equal without doubt, but that women should defer to a man’s final decision and that a man should have final responsibility for everything. It sounded like double-speak to me.
In spite of my Dad having left this world for better things when I was but a mere stripling, I very much recall him asking for my opinion, working things through with me, questioning my judgment, basically teaching me to think, act, decide for myself, not to be pushed around or swept along by whatever/whoever was providing the pressure of the moment. It has stood me in good stead with this apparently minority faith of mine.
And then, three hours or so later, the news that a young man has lost his life. I have spent much of today listening to the stories of brothers picking up siblings, literally blind drunk; bearing the silence of parents identifying and empathising with the loss of a son, while young people try to make sense out of a culture where even fun seems to be out of control and potentially lethal, even on your own doorstep in a neighbourhood park, surrounded by police.
I’ve also wondered whether any single person, during those conversations thought, ‘I wish she was a man,’ or, ‘I don’t know why I’m even talking to her, she’s not even a real priest,’ or, ‘should we just check with somebody (male) that it’s OK for her to be doing this?’
I think, perhaps, all we have thought, is that it is tragic to lose or deny the life of another, and of how wasteful that is, to spill out and destroy something so precious and irreplaceable. For me that lament resonates from the tragedy on our doorstep to the adjournment of Synod, and the chord in my heart. Please God that we learn to treasure the abundance of life, as a free gift to all, and by whatever means, stop denying it others.
chaplainmediacityuk
I saw you on BBC Breakfast this morning. I thought that you made good points. The other lady was saying things that I absolutely didn’t agree with. I also followed the twitter stream today, and it seems that some women are content with a subordinate role, which should not mean that all women are the same. I’m glad that the measure has been returned to the HoB and if they actually listen and talk to some of those who made excellent speeches in favour of adjournment, including +Trevor, my Bishop, we might actually get a measure that allows the church to move forward.
Thanks. Good reading. After I retired from my duties as rector of a small parish, my replacement is a woman of whom I have high regard. She is having a difficult time in a small Missouri town where most people still want to keep woman out of pastoral and sacramental ministries. I am proud of her and pleased the parish had the courage to call a woman priest. She is demonstrating that women clergy are not only capable but also bring a new vibrancy to a small Episcopal parish in a small Missouri town. Best ishes for your continuing ministry and work toward full inclusion in the Holy Orders of the Cof E.
Thank you
Hayley I wish I had seen you speaking, and I admire all women priests for following their vocation. I have not followed the women bishop arguments very much because it perplexes me that some people don’t think other people have access to God. I cheer you thoroughly for hands on dealing with the death of the young man, and if you want to be a Bishop, I am your campaign manager.