Episcopal Press and News

Executive Council Task Force Visits Three Dioceses that Do Not Ordain Women Priests

Episcopal News Service. February 25, 2002 [2002-046]

(ENS) At its February 22-25 meeting in San Antonio, the Episcopal Church's 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 council's 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 "couldn't 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 bishop's 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 Christ -- but 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 women's 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 family -- supportive 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."