Episcopal Press and News

Southern Ohio Urges Examination of "Conscience Clause"

Episcopal News Service. February 24, 1993 [93038E]

Southern Ohio's diocesan council and standing committee voted unanimously at its February 13 meeting to urge Bishop Herbert Thompson to encourage the House of Bishops to reexamine the Port St. Lucie "conscience clause" on the ordination of women. "This standing committee -- and council -- feels the bishops must revisit this clause, whether they want to or not," said Rev. Nick Gill, first vice president of diocesan council. Gill reported that the standing committee is concerned with continued use of the 1977 Port St. Lucie agreement, named after the Florida city in which the House of Bishops enacted a compromise resolution in 1976 following General Convention's approval of the ordination of women. The "conscience clause" established that "no bishop, priest, or lay person should be coerced or penalized in any manner" for opposing the decision to ordain women. "Our feeling is that the Port St. Lucie agreement, now 17 years old, was in place for the bishops who were seated at that time," Gill explained.