Episcopal Press and News
Conference on Women in the Episcopate Announced
Episcopal News Service. September 15, 1988 [88186]
NEW YORK (DPS, Sep. 15) -- A Conference on Women in the Episcopate will be held on October 27 at St. Margaret's Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC.
The Conference, sponsored by the Episcopal Women's Caucus, will provide an opportunity for participants to meet with Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning and other leaders involved in the General Convention of the Episcopal Church held in Detroit, Mich., in July. Deputies and bishops approved a resolution providing for a process of dialogue between bishops and congregations that disagree on the matter of ordaining women.
Women in the Episcopal Church have been ordained since 1974, but a woman has not yet been elected bishop. In recent months, six women have been official candidates, and numerous women have been nominated from the floor, indicating that the election of a woman in the near future is likely. Anticipation of this action, and opposition to it by some members of the Church led to the controversial "Episcopal Visitors" resolution at General Convention. The resolution makes provisions for both supporters and opponents of the ordination of women who differ with their diocesan bishop to ask their bishop to request the appointment of a visiting bishop to perform episcopal acts in their congregation.
A series of panels and open discussion will enable Conference participants to explore the General Convention resolution, examine other actions of the Church related to the ordination of women, and reflect on the processes which produced these actions. They will also discuss an "Episcopal Visitors" implementation plan and the future direction they feel needs to be taken by the Church in order to fully incorporate women.
The Conference will be set in the context of the annual meeting of the Episcopal Women's Caucus, which will begin on October 26 at 6:00 pm and conclude the morning of October 27.
Friday morning's agenda will include reports from the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops and the election of new Board members.
Registration for the Conference is $75 ($50 for Episcopal Women's Caucus members). For further information or to register contact: Ms Kathie Ragsdale, 5564 North Morgan St., #301, Alexandria, VA. 22312; (202) 544-8636 or (703) 256-3402.