College of Bishops Statement on the Ordination of Women
September 7, 2017
PREAMBLE
In an act of mutual submission at the foundation of the Anglican Church in North America, it was agreed that each Diocese and Jurisdiction has the freedom, responsibility, and authority to study Holy Scripture and the Apostolic Tradition of the Church, and to seek the mind of Christ in determining its own convictions and practices concerning the ordination of women to the diaconate and the priesthood. It was also unanimously agreed that women will not be consecrated as bishops in the Anglican Church in North America. These positions are established within our Constitution and Canons and, because we are a conciliar Church, would require the action of both Provincial Council and Provincial Assembly to be changed.
STATEMENT
Having gratefully received and thoroughly considered the five-year study by the Theological Task Force on Holy Orders, we acknowledge that there are differing principles of ecclesiology and hermeneutics that are acceptable within Anglicanism that may lead to divergent conclusions regarding women’s ordination to the priesthood. However, we also acknowledge that this practice is a recent innovation to Apostolic Tradition and Catholic Order. We agree that there is insufficient scriptural warrant to accept women’s ordination to the priesthood as standard practice throughout the Province. However, we continue to acknowledge that individual dioceses have constitutional authority to ordain women to the priesthood.
COMMITMENTS
As a College of Bishops, we confess that our Province has failed to affirm adequately the ministry of all Christians as the basic agents of the work of the Gospel. We have not effectively discipled and equipped all Christians, male and especially female, lay and ordained, to fulfill their callings and ministries in the work of God’s kingdom. We repent of this and commit to work earnestly toward a far greater release of the whole Church to her God-given mission.
Having met in Conclave to pray, worship, study, talk, and listen well to one another, we commit to move forward in unity to carry on the good witness and work that God has given us to do in North America (Ephesians 4:1-6; John 17). We invite and urge all members of the Province to engage with us in this endeavor to grow in understanding the mission and ministry of all God’s people.
Adopted Unanimously
College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America
The Church of Our Lord, Victoria, BC, Canada
"We agree that there is insufficient scriptural warrant to accept women’s ordination to the priesthood as standard practice throughout the Province."
I am perplexed by this statement. Dale Matson+
2 comments:
It should be obvious that if W.O. is unacceptable as "standard practice" throughout ACNA then dioceses which affirm W.O. should also be unacceptable. "However, we continue to acknowledge that individual dioceses have constitutional authority to ordain women to the priesthood." says to me that there is no discipline for those who act contrary to scripture.
Satan's nose can be spotted under the tent flap.
Pewster,
Is there any doubt that W.O. will become "standard practice"? Growth in numbers is a heady wine. Like King David the ACNA is counting the troops."However, we continue to acknowledge that individual dioceses have constitutional authority to ordain women to the priesthood." What else will be 'locally adapted'? How much autonomy does a local diocese have?
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