After the Vote in Synod on Women Bishops

Process

I found listening to the synodical process of 'for' and 'against' speakers, via the audio live stream, fairly unbearable. The emotive speech used by a majority of speakers was too adversarial for my liking. Yes, it's an emotive topic and expressing longing and desire is appropriate, but when, by inference, the metaphors and analogies deployed become an opportunity to put down an opposite view, then we move out of dialogue and into a fight.

Houses and Majorities

It's not unusual to require a two-thirds majority on voting in all sorts of environments. It is unusual to give equal weighting to laity, clergy and bishops and that's a very intriguing way in which there is a taste of equality in the church, ironically.

Disappointment

This goes without saying for those of us whose sense of impatience and despair at the slowness on this topic is difficult to express. Simply sorrowing and mourning are better than any words for me.

Inequalities and the Church

1. As discussed in my last post, there are many inequalities in the CofE and in the wider church. In terms of CofE deacons, priests and bishops these inequalities relate to disability, gender, race, nationality and ethnicity, sexuality (and although less obvious to age, class, wealth, education and intellect). That's for the ordained.
2. I am also exercised by how the church treats and has treated many marginal groups; the largest issue for me personally (and perhaps the largest marginalized group numerically) is children.
3. Then as an eco-liberationist I have a very very very long list of concerns about all that the Church has not come up to the mark on about environmental degradation and the tipping points we face in relation to global warming.
4. Then there's the too-loud-a-silence on the consequences of war and support for the instruments of war that lead to shockingly long term inequalities.
5. Finally there's the legacy of Church within Commonwealth in terms of the part the CofE has played in the permanent destruction of indigenous identities and even peoples too, which need not just apology and the seeking of forgiveness but a long-term approach to reparation for damage done.

Provocation into Action

Too many of those of us who campaign on a variety of issues quickly get burned out by the pain of circumstances beyond our control. Widening our circle of influence (see Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) and using Non-Violent Communication (see Marshall Rosenberg) are the principles I'm seeking to deploy in relation to the many topics that trouble me about the Church, today's included. I pray for empowerment for all those who seek to address the inequalities perpetuated, condoned or ignored by the Church.

As for Tomorrow

The bishops of the CofE have an emergency meeting at 0830h on Wednesday 21st November 2012. I'm praying for some immediate progress amongst that gathering.

Comment on the vote at General Synod about Women Bishops

The issue in front of the Church of England's General Synod today is not simply about whether we have bishops who are female. It would be simpler if we existed in a manner where we could deal with each single issue in separation from all other issues, but it would be an automated kind of existence that would come well short of being human in society.

What is being voted on, as well as women becoming bishops, is whether those who will be marginalized by holding to a deeply held belief (against having women as bishops) will have enough support and provision from the Church of England, which prides itself on attempting to accommodate for a breadth of views.

As people, casting votes, in one of the three houses (laity, clergy and bishops) of the Synod think about fairness to all and a concern for those different to themselves, I hope that some of the further ironies of the situation do not get lost.

Irony 1: the high level of reporting on this vote will suggest to many that the Church, by its struggle to handle what may appear to be a very simple topic, is consequently marginalizing and excluding of ordinary people who cannot understand the problem;

Irony 2: although there is no legislation required for people from black and minority ethnic groups, who are male, to be made bishop, there's very low representation from these groups as deacons and priests and even more so at the level of bishop;

Irony 3: although there is legislation to stop people being priests, deacons or bishops who are in lesbian or gay relationships (to be precise, where sexual activity takes place), there are many talented people serving the church who are priests and deacons (and perhaps at times there have been bishops too) who have had to keep at least some truth about their loving relationship an entire secret;

Irony 4: there are several, well known trans-gendered priests serving in the Church of England, no legislation was needed for that, so I guess no legislation would be needed for a bishop who was on a trans-gender journey.

Being aware of these ironies hopefully keeps us aware that there is both irony and permanent reality for the Church of England in all its attempts to be a genuine, distinctive and confused sub-section of the Anglican Communion within the world church. All of this irony began with Jesus finding that although all sorts of women and men had a longing to follow him, this did not lead to an immediate resolution of everyone's differences as a consequence. That's what's animating and irritating about the messiness of our humanity, our society, our churches and the Christian faith.