Episcopal Press and News

Scottish Bishop Resigns Over Women's Ordination Issue

Episcopal News Service. September 17, 1993 [93161D]

Bishop George Sessford of the Scottish Episcopal Church recently announced that he will resign his position saying that "since the issue of the ordination of women priests demands my active continuing opposition, I feel I am no longer able to lead as I should." Sessford was the only one of Scotland's seven Episcopal bishops to vote against the ordination of women in a recent meeting of the General Synod. "This has been an extremely painful decision but my chief concern is that this diocese which I so dearly love should not be diminished because of its bishop's principles," he said. The first women priests in the Scottish Episcopal Church could be ordained within the next 18 months.