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FORT WORTH: Bishop Rejoices in Decision by Panel of Reference over Women's Ordination
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
1/9/2007
The Panel of Reference appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury in May of last year has concluded that the Diocese of Ft. Worth's claim that they should not be forced to ordain women is valid.
The problem flows from the canons, passed in 1974, permitting the ordination of women to the priesthood and to the episcopate. They were originally permissive, that is, no bishop was obliged to ordain a woman. The canons were later amended in 1997 by adding the words, "No-one shall be denied access to the ordination process nor postulancy, candidacy or ordination in any parish or diocese of this church on account of his or her sex." This additional wording made the canon mandatory.
The Diocese of Ft. Worth objected and appealed to the Archbishop's Panel of Reference.
This week the Panel responded favorably to the appeal by the diocese and recommended that the ABC should discuss with the Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop the possibility of the clarification of the ambiguous wording of the 1997 amendment to the relevant canon so as to ensure that the permissive nature of the ordination of women is maintained in any diocese.
In response to the release of the report, Presiding Bishop Schori issued the following statement: "We recognize that women do have access to ordination under the 'Dallas Plan' at present, which seems to address the intent of the canon." In 1996 Bishop Iker instituted a Plan (known as the Dallas Plan) under which he reminded clergy and laity of the Diocese that Canon Law already permitted a deacon or priest to function in a diocese for up to two months without a licence from the diocesan which enabled a woman priest to function in Fort Worth Diocese. Secondly, if a parish wished to engage the services of a woman priest as their parish priest he had designated the Bishop of Dallas as the alternative ecclesiastical authority for that parish and would entrust to him all episcopal oversight of the congregation as well as such episcopal ministry as they may require. For all other purposes the Parish would remain as part of the Diocese of Fort Worth. In addition, any woman within the Diocese who wished her vocation to the priesthood to be tested would be referred to the Bishop of Dallas.
In an interview with The Living Church, Bishop Iker said the ruling gives traditionalists the 'moral high ground' by opposing a 1997 amendment to the Canons and Constitution of the General Convention making access to ordination mandatory for women in all dioceses.
Iker told TLC, "This is the first specifically positive development in a long time for those who hold traditional views. People who want to act in a militant and mandatory way will not be dissuaded. The great value is the moral force of an international forum saying our position is recognized and our provisions adequate. It gives us the moral high ground in all this. It's a vindication of the position we have maintained for over 30 years. It's good to know we continue to have a valid and recognized place within the Anglican Communion."
Referencing the response by Mrs. Schori, Bishop Iker said her statement strikes me as something carefully crafted to continue to deny the respect that should be afforded to persons who hold to our position. It is a long way from being commending. I see nothing positive in it at all. The really disturbing thing for her to read in the report must have been the recommendation that "no diocese or parish should be compelled to accept the ministry of word or sacrament from an ordained woman." That would include her.
http://www.fwepiscopal.org/news/panelreport.html
http://www.fwepiscopal.org/news/response010807.html
http://www.aco.org/commission/reference/docs/Fort_Worth_final.pdf
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