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ACNA Holy Orders Task Force Report says Dioceses Remain Free to make their own decision on Women's Ordination
Individual dioceses may ordain women as Deacons or Priests but not women Bishops
By David W. Virtue, DD
www.virtueonline.org
May 15, 2017
A five-year long, 318-page report, titled Task Force on Holy Orders commissioned by the Anglican Church in North America has concluded that its current practice regarding women's orders as stated in its Constitution will allow each diocese to determine whether it will ordain women as deacons or priests.
It's position on the ordination of women bishops also remains unchanged.
The report will now be sent to the GAFCON Primates for their input and guidance.
In 2012, the College of Bishops appointed a Task Force on Holy Orders to provide the College with a scholarly and informed study on Holy Orders and, specifically, women in Holy Orders. The Task Force, led by Bishop David Hicks, consisted of people representing differing perspectives and practices. They met for the past 5 years and during that time have periodically released progress reports. In January Bishop Hicks presented a report on the last phase of the process to the College.
The Task Force was not commissioned to resolve the issue, but was asked to develop resources to help the bishops in future conversation on this topic, concluded ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach.
"Therefore, the report does not answer the questions of what the College is to do, but it is a study presented to the College to help the College in our discussions. The report does not change our current practice regarding women's orders as stated in our Constitution. Our current practice allows each diocese to determine whether it will ordain women as deacons or priests."
He said the report would be forwarded to the GAFCON Primates for their input and guidance and discussion.
"The College of Bishops will now study the whole report, and will meet in special session later in the year to discuss how we move forward together. No decisions have been made at this time to pursue changing our Constitution," said Archbishop Beach.
Beach urged Christian love and charity with those holding opposite points of view, "Remembering that we are all followers of Jesus Christ on mission together."
The following is a list of the Task Force:
The Rt. Rev. David Hicks, Chair the REC Diocese of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
The Rt. Rev. Kevin Allen, The Diocese of Cascadia
Mrs. Katherine Atwood, The Diocese of Ft. Worth
The Rev. Dr. Leslie Fairfield, The Diocese in New England & Trinity School for Ministry (Ret.)
The Rev. Canon Mary Hays, The Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Rev. Tobias Karlowicz, The Diocese of Quincy
The Rt. Rev. Eric Menees, The Diocese of San Joaquin
The full report can be accessed here:
http://virtueonline.org/dropbox/images/2017/05-May/HolyOrdersTaskForce-printable.pdf
