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edited by HUGH MONTEFIORE
Published 1978 by Mayhew-McCrimmon Ltd
in
Association with A. R. Mowbray & Co. Ltd
Republished on our website with
the necessary permissions
Foreword
1. THE THEOLOGY OF PRIESTHOOD
Right Rev. Hugh Montefiore, BD, Hon.DD Bishop of
Birmingham
WOMEN AND “THE ORDAINED
MINISTRY”
Profesor Donald MacKinnon MA, Hon.DD
Norris-Hulse
Professor of Divinity, Cambridge University
2. THE BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
Rev. Christopher Evans, MA
Professor Emeritus of New
Testament Studies at King’s College, London
3. MALE-FEMALE SYMBOLISM
Rev. Canon F. W. Dillistone DD
Fellow Emeritus of
Oriel college, Oxford
4. VOCATIONAL AND PASTORAL
ASPECTS
Rev. Canon Mary Michael Simpson, OSH
Canon
Residentiary, Cathedral Church of St John Divine, New York
5. AN EPISCOPAL ACCOUNT OF WOMEN
The Right Rev Gilbert Baker MA
Bishop of Hong Kong and
Macao
6. WHY NOT NOW?
The Venerable Michael Perry, MA
Archdeacon of
Durham
FOREWORD
The
Anglican Communion as a whole, and the church of England in particular, must
make up its mind about the recognition of women priests from churches in full
communion with the See of Canterbury; and, more importantly, the autonomous
churches of the communion, must make up their own minds whither or not to
ordain women to the priesthood.
This
book is offered as a contribution towards this question. All, its contributors,
men and women of standing in their own churches, believe that the time has come
to ordain women, and to recognize them as priests.
The
argument must begin with an examination of the meaning, role and function of
priesthood. For this reason first contribution is on the theology of
priesthood, together with an appended, note by Professor Mackinnon on one
particular aspect. Particular points of conflict centre on the interpretation
of biblical evidence and the symbolic function of priesthood. Accordingly’
there follows an illuminating discussion of the biblical evidence’ by
Professor Evans and a penetrating analysis of the representation of God by Dr
Dillistone. The argument here concentrates on an historical approach, to
symbolism, rather than on psychological analysis, because the subjective
nature, of the latter inevitably leads to many diverse and conflicting
interpretations.
The
presence of authentic vocations to priesthood by women is vital if their
ordination is to be seriously considered, and there follows an account by Canon
Mary Michael Simpson, OSH of her vacation and her priestly life. important as
is the interior call, its recognition by the Church is equally important, and
there follows an episcopal assessment of women priests in the diocese of Hong
Kong by its Bishop.
Finally, the question of expediency must be faced. Even granted that women may
be ordained and that this is consonant with the theology of priesthood, what
would be the effect of such a move on the other churches of Christendom? The
Archdeacon of Durham meets possible objections in a final chapter entitled:
‘Why Not Now?’
No
doubt, if we had had more time, we could have co-ordinated our contributions
more closely and produced a more considered volume. We judge however that the
propinquity of the Lambeth Conference and the increasing urgency of
decision-making requires from us a quick response, and we believe that in this
volume we have set before our readers the heart of the matter which we hope
will help them in clearing their own minds on this pressing question.
I
would like to express my gratitude to Mowbrays and Mayhew-McCrimmon for
accepting this manuscript at very short notice, and for all their co-operation
in producing and publishing it for us.
St
Anthony’s Day 1978
HUGH MONTEFIORE
Contents Page of Yes To Women
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