Comments for Through the eyes of a Bishop...

Comment on MAKING SPACE IN 2013 by reverendally

reverendally — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 20:56:12 +0000

Exactly – it’s the ongoing practice of reflection that means quick decisions have already been prepared for… Thanks again.

Comment on MAKING SPACE IN 2013 by bishoppaulbutler

bishoppaulbutler — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 19:18:15 +0000

Indeed sometimes quick decisions are needed and right. But time for reflection etc actually helps us make these wisely when they come.

Comment on MAKING SPACE IN 2013 by reverendally

reverendally — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 16:49:45 +0000

Thank you for this – a good reminder that space can be built into the diary, rather than happening merely during the leftover bits of time. But I think there are different kinds of decisions – some decisions may need a long period of discernment and reflection because they will have permanent or long-lasting consequences, whereas other decisions can be made more quickly because they need to respond to changing circumstances – in this, many individuals and institutions walk a narrow line between stability (which can become entrenched) and dynamism (which can become flightiness). For me, this is why having space to think and reflect and discern who we are and what we’re supposed to be doing is vital as part of our daily life (as individuals and communities and institutions) if we are to keep this balance healthy, but we’re not always good at it… Thanks again for a timely post.

Comment on MAKING SPACE IN 2013 by reverendally

reverendally — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 16:08:12 +0000

Comment on Women Bishops Vote by Phil Groom

Phil Groom — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:57:00 +0000

It's not difficult to fix this; just need to revisit the GS voting system: 2/3 majority overall backed by a simple majority in all three houses. That retains the 2/3 majority protocol but ensures that a minority can't hold the whole of Synod hostage whilst still allowing a majority objection in any single house to veto a motion. Until such time as something like that is set up, Synod is broken and I for one have no confidence in it. Petition here: No Confidence in General Synod: Calling for an Urgent Review

Comment on Women Bishops Vote by Ali Griffiths

Ali Griffiths — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 21:14:36 +0000

I think you point to what is at the heart of the difficulties here. The church talks about this being an issue of equality and justice but conservative evangelicals say ‘So what? Take me back to scripture and go from that as the base.’
I am completely convinced from reading scripture that women can be appointed to lead churches. All the passages that are quoted to exclude women from such positions have nuances and depths that are not obvious on a literal reading of the English text. It was studying them in depth that I completely changed my views on this but I have rarely heard the texts carefully examined from the pulpit.
Until people are prepared to carefully teach their position using scripture as the base then conservative evangelicals will continue to ignore the justice issue and I, for one, don’t blame them. Authority for women to lead the church is there in scripture but some reason those wanting women bishops seem to have forgotten how important it is to teach their position properly and not from what may just be a secular notion of justice.
If you are seriously interested in this you need to do some study – I recommend ‘Two Views on Women in Ministry’ by Zondervan – both sides of the argument are laid out by academics on both sides of the debate. It’s a bit heavy but it’s a good starting point. An easier read is Danielle Strickland’s book ‘The Liberating Truth’ but it’s equally good. Hope that helps.

Comment on Women Bishops Vote by Michael Leuty

Michael Leuty — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 15:35:34 +0000

The Spirit may be saying that we need to improve our voting system. If Synod decisions are made by voting (rather than sending an Archbishop into his study to have a vision, or up a cloudy mountain to receive written instructions) then we must believe that the will of God can be expressed through democratic means. In a democracy you have to guard against the tyranny of the majority, in which the majority push through their will without taking steps to help the minority who disagree. The Church is quite good at this. But it seems helpless before the tyranny of the minority.

Rowan Williams is right that this decision is very difficult to explain to outsiders. Most people are not churchgoers, but have a strong sense of right and wrong. Nowadays this includes a belief that discrimination on the grounds of such things as age, sex, race and education, is wrong. It is hard to argue against this on moral grounds. If the Church says that notwithstanding such moral considerations there is a theological reason which cannot be convincingly articulated why women must not be bishops, this starts to sound like magical thinking. Sects indulge in magical thinking, not churches.

Comment on Women Bishops Vote by Opinions Online: Watching #Synod (@drbexl)

Opinions Online: Watching #Synod (@drbexl) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:44:03 +0000

[...] Women Bishops Vote (Bishop Paul Butler) [...]

Comment on Women Bishops Vote by Trevor

Trevor — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:23:42 +0000

What did Jesus have to say about bishops? Didn’t he say “Feed the hungry, help the poor, visit the prisoners”? Why not lets keep the main thing the main thing.

Trevor

Comment on Women Bishops Vote by Norman Revell

Norman Revell — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 11:45:33 +0000

To portll: it really depends how you read the Bible. I would use the same texts that eventually led the church to condemn slavery and I think you know what they are!