Breaking Up the Men's Club

By Richard N. Ostling

The Church of England moves toward obtaining women priests

It has only been for the past four decades that women were permitted to sing in parish choirs. So when the General Synod of the Church of England convened a historic session last week in Church House at Westminster Abbey, supporters of a motion to allow women priests had reason to worry. After all, a similar proposal had failed in 1978. Archbishop of York John Habgood, who favored the change, was calling it "deeply divisive." Another liberal, Bishop Hugh Montefiore, had prepared a half-a-loaf amendment to authorize a 20-year "experiment" with women priests that could thereafter be halted. Then, during the mannerly, 4 1/2 hours of speeches, opposition was announced by the church's primate and leader of the world's 64 million Anglicans, Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie.

Runcie sympathized with those who felt "moral scandal" over the exclusion of women. He admired those of the 619 current female priests he had met in the Anglican branches that have ordained them. (The U.S. has 474; Canada, 97; New Zealand, 40; Hong Kong, 4; Uganda, 3; and Kenya, 1.) But, Runcie continued, Scripture and church tradition are "highly dis couraging to the idea." Saying that he has "consistently driven down the middle of the road," he soothingly advocated "gradualism," with more experience of women as ordained deacons or lay ministers before any change is made.

None of that swayed Deaconess Diana McClatchey. "I wonder if you are really aware," said she, "that there is a struggle afoot to make it possible for a generation of young women to find a place for themselves in the Christian tradition." These women would be driven into under ground churches meeting in homes or completely out of the faith, she argued, if the church "retains the atmosphere of an exclusive men's club on ladies' night."

Her supplication was heard. When the roll call finally came, the proposal passed with surprising ease in the required separate votes by the three houses of bishops, priests and laity. There was stillness, then a burst of loud applause from the floor, which was taken up by visitors in the gallery despite a rule requiring them to maintain strict silence. The celebration notwithstanding, it will be 1990 or _ later before the first women -- priests can be ordained, and while that step is now likely, it is not a sure thing. Legislation to implement last week's decision must pass a majority of local dioceses and then survive the crucial test: win a second approval again by all three houses of the synod, this time by two-thirds majorities. Last week only 57% of the synod priests voted yes. The change in the state-established church must also pass both houses of Parliament, which "always take a very reactionary line on ecclesiastical things because they don't really understand them," says Monica Furlong of the Movement for the Ordination of Women. On the other hand, the politicians will surely note that the National Opinion Poll shows 66% of weekly churchgoers in favor of the change, with higher approval among less active Anglicans.

Many Protestant denominations now admit women to the ministry. But the English decision to move in the same direction will have broad influence within the Anglican Communion, which has something of a patchwork priesthood. Some bishops refuse to recognize women ordained by others, and some branches, including England for the moment, do not allow the women to perform priestly duties when they enter as visitors.

Ecumenical complications also loom large, a fact that worries Archbishop Runcie. Since 1970, Anglicans and Roman Catholics have been discussing reunification, while for decades Anglicans and Orthodox churches have also discussed closer ties. But in 1975, the Vatican, forewarning the Anglicans in effect, declared that the all-male priesthood was "an unbroken tradition" that is "based on Christ's example" and "considered to conform to God's plan for his church." If those words allow any leeway, the Eastern Orthodox Church allows none, holding that priesthood for women is impossible. The result: while one long-sought liberal reform has moved forward, another liberal dream has almost certainly been set back. --By Richard N. Ostling. Reported by James Shepherd/London

With reporting by James Shepherd