wfn.org | Episcopalians: Task force reports on dioceses that don't ordain women

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February 25, 2002

2002-046

Episcopalians: Task force reports on dioceses that don't 
ordain women 

by James Solheim

(ENS) At its February 22-25 meeting in San Antonio, the 
Episcopal Churchs Executive Council heard a mid-process 
report on visits by a task force to the three dioceses that do 
not ordain women to the priesthood.

The nine-member task force was authorized under resolution 
A045, passed by the Denver General Convention in 2000, and 
appointed by the council. In its charge, the council urged task 
force members to use sensitivity and flexibility as it monitors 
progress toward full access of women to the ordination process, 
as required by the canons.

At its February 2001 meeting in New Jersey, the council 
discussed the issue extensively and passed a resolution in which 
it acknowledged the complexity of the issue throughout the 
church and the diversity of the dioceses involved and the need 
for the councils response to respect the integrity of the life 
in each diocese. The council encouraged task force members to 
begin with extensive listening and fact-finding and to be 
flexible in their approach to each situation.

Reporting to the San Antonio meeting for the task force, 
co-chair Sarah Harte of  New York said that teams visiting the 
dioceses of San Joaquin, Ft. Worth and Quincy (Illinois) found 
that the response in each was very different, in language and 
tone.

Cool reception in San Joaquin

Task force members Pauline Getz  (San Diego), the Rev. Scott 
Kirby (Eau Claire) and Bishop Catherine Roskam (New York) said 
they were greeted with suspicion in San Joaquin by Bishop John 
David Schofield and a dozen representatives of the diocese. Some 
were worried that the task force had come to dig up information 
to be used to bring charges against the bishop, Harte said. 

The task force members said, however, that they  couldnt begin 
to fulfill the charge given to us by the General Convention 
until we know what is going on in their diocese. It was clear 
that many of the clergy do not share the bishops position 
regarding the ordination of women, although it is equally clear 
that they support the bishop.

Harte said that the task force learned that the bishop has 
been supportive of women in the process of pursuing ordination 
and that there are several women currently in the process. When 
asked what would happen when they are ready for ordination the 
bishop responded, They will be ordained. Schofield  added that 
if it were today, it is not likely that he would ordain them. In 
the past he has arranged for a woman who became a deacon in his 
diocese to be ordained in the Diocese of California.

Schofield was blunt with task force members by indicating 
that, while he is open to the movement of the Holy Spirit over 
the ordination issue, he is not currently convinced that the 
work of the General Convention in revising the canons was, in 
fact, reflective of the will of the Holy Spirit. Therefore he is 
not convinced that women who go through ordination are truly 
ordained. Harte reported that, despite the initial reception, 
task force members engaged in a warm and friendly dialogue at 
the end of the meeting. 

Ft. Worth feels isolated

Task force members Bishop Peter James Lee of Virginia, the 
Rev. David Chee of Los Angeles and Harte met with Bishop Jack 
Iker of the Diocese of Ft. Worth and members of the diocesan 
leadership. 

We were received by the bishop and graciously welcomed as 
brothers and sisters in Christbut not as members of the A045 
Task Force, Harte told council members. Bishop Iker sees our 
work as intrusive and negatively reflecting on the life of the 
diocese. However, the bishop agreed to have a conversation with 
us in which the primary focus was for us to learn about the 
ministry of the diocese, she added in her comments to council.

The bishop and other leadership described with passion some 
of the ministries in the diocese, including womens ministries, 
which are regarded as a supportive and essential role,  Harte 
said. The role of women in the church was described to us as 
analogous to the role of a woman in the familysupportive and 
nurturing.

Diocesan leaders described the so-called Dallas-Ft. Worth 
plan that transfers women who are testing their vocations in Ft. 
Worth to the Diocese of Dallas. Three women have successfully 
navigated this process and are now serving in Dallas.  If a 
parish in Ft. Worth wants to call a woman, a second part of the 
plan establishes a process in which pastoral oversight for that 
parish is transferred to the Diocese of Dallas. The woman 
priest would then have seat, voice and vote in the Diocese of 
Dallas as well as possibly seat and voice in the Diocese of 
Ft. Worth, Harte reported. This process has not been tested 
because a parish has not called a woman.

The tone of the meeting was somewhat strained, Harte said, as 
diocesan leaders shared stories of their isolation and what they 
perceive as persecution from the national church. They feel the 
work of the task force is damaging the health of the diocese and 
causes a further disconnect between the members of the Diocese 
of Ft. Worth and members of other dioceses. They request the 
national church to give them space, freedom and respect. Task 
force members will return to the diocese to listen to the 
stories of church members, randomly selected priests and laity, 
as well as the women who have taken advantage of the Dallas-Ft. 
Worth plan.

Good and positive steps

Task force members Bishop John Lipscomb (Southwest Florida), 
the Rev. Ann Coburn (Rhode Island) and Diane Pollard (New York) 
met with Bishop Keith Ackerman and a group from Quincy at the 
diocesan offices in the Diocese of Springfield, beginning with 
what Harte reported as Eucharist and a warm welcome from the 
bishop of Springfield.

The meeting was a time of hearing about the various 
ministries of the diocese and its seven parishes and 17 
missions. There is a family-style feel about the diocese.

Harte reported that Ackerman said that he has allowed three 
women priests to come into the diocese on three different 
occasions to officiate at a wedding, baptism and funeral. At the 
present time there are two women serving as deacons but no woman 
has presented herself for ordination since he has been bishop.

We feel it was a good and positive first step in the 
process, task force members said. We are now looking forward, 
after an invitation from Bishop Ackerman, to visiting again, 
this time in the Diocese of Quincy. We deeply appreciate the 
openness and hospitality that the bishop and his diocese have 
extended us.

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--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.