wfn.org | ACNS3496 Archbishop of Canterbury affirms support for Anglican

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3496     |     ENGLAND	|     5 JULY 2003

Archbishop of Canterbury affirms support for Anglican women bishops

by Stephen Brown

[ACNS source: Ecumenical News International] The Archbishop of Canterbury,
Rowan Williams, has reaffirmed his personal support for the consecration of
women as bishops in the Church of England, but said the final decision
rested with the church as a whole.

"I cannot find any theological objection myself to women becoming bishops if
we accept women becoming priests, said Dr Williams, the leader of the
Anglican Communion, on Tuesday at a European church gathering in Trondheim,
Norway.

"The question is in what way and at what pace is that appropriate," he said.
"Theologically, yes; but in practical terms I wait to see what is possible
and listen to those on all sides."

The Church of England started ordaining women as priests in 1994 but does
not accept women as bishops.

Anglican churches in the United States, Canada and New Zealand already have
women bishops. The Scottish Episcopal Church voted in June to accept women
as bishops.

The issue is being considered in the Church of England by an investigating
body known as the Rochester Commission, which is due to report in 2004 or
2005.

Dr Williams, enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury in February, was speaking
at an informal gathering during the12th assembly of the Conference of
European Churches in Trondheim where he preached at the meeting's closing
worship service on Wednesday.

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