Church of England Revises Policy on Marrying Divorced Members
Episcopal News Service. July 17, 2002 [2002-179]
James Solheim
(ENS) The Church of England's General Synod, at its mid-July meeting in York, clarified church policy on allowing clergy to marry divorced people, and addressed other issues in the life of the church.
The synod voted in 1981 that "there are circumstances in which a divorced person may be married in church during the lifetime of a former partner," but over the years it has not defined those circumstances. The vote rescinds resolutions from 1938 and 1957 that affirmed the indissolubility of marriage. The resolution now goes to the House of Bishops.
During the debate some argued that "clergy should not be put in front-line trenches" by making decisions whether to conduct the wedding services while others said that people should not be "denied the pastoral and evangelistic service of the Church of England at a liminal moment in their lives."
Women bishops
A progress report on the issue of women in the episcopate stirred passionate debate. Those who support the effort warned against "insulting" conscience clauses in future legislation. "There must be no conscience provision," said the Rev. Patience Purchas. "My generation led the way" in the fight for women in the priesthood. "Please do not insult the next generation who will become bishops."
Bishop for Europe Geoffrey Rowell warned that it was a church-splitting issue and that any proposed change must be rooted in scripture. As a member of the working group looking at the theological issues raised by the issue, he said that the guiding principles must be theological, not sociological.
"Our views are likely to be rooted in whether we see the common mission of men and women as more fundamental or the distinction in role which comes from difference in gender," said Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, who chairs the working group. He said that new research has shown that some leaders of house churches in the New Testament were women and some theologians argue that Junia, the woman mentioned in Romans, could be regarded as an apostle.
While debate revealed some continuing discomfort over involvement of the Prime Minister in the selection of bishops, synod decided not to change the system, largely out of fear that it would be the first step toward disestablishing the church. "We are in danger of pulling a strand that could unravel the whole thing," warned Bishop Michael Trumball. "Establishment gives us a right of entry into critical forums. The alternative is increasing marginalization, the shrinking of faith communities into religious ghettoes, and it means colluding with the secularization of society."
Middle East violence
Archbishop of Canterbury George L. Carey led a discussion on violence in the Middle East. "Suicide bombings are wrong. It is always wrong to destroy ourselves and inflict violence; however terrible the conditions, nothing justifies the killing of innocent women and children," he said.
Yet Carey also condemned heavy-handed Israeli tactics and human rights abuses. He called on church members to support Christians in the Holy Land as well as Jewish friends, support the fundraising initiative Jerusalem 2000, keep pressure on political leaders and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
While agreeing with the synod decision to deplore violence on both sides of the conflict, Bishop John Gladwin pointed out that one of the root causes was Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and the building of settlements. There would be no peace until Palestinians had a viable state of their own and Israel had secure borders and both sides agreed on the status of Jerusalem, he said.
Synod overwhelmingly agreed to a motion calling on Israel to withdraw from territories it occupied in 1967, in compliance with United Nations resolutions, and also called on the Palestinian Authority to condemn suicide bombings.
Farewell to Carey
While Anglicans wait to see who will be appointed his successor, the synod bade farewell to Carey, the 103rd archbishop of Canterbury. Archbishop of York David Hope praised Carey's "immense integrity" and "clear thinking" during "some of the most challenging and difficult years for the Church of England."
Hope added that "the press seem finally awakened to that which we have known all along, namely that we have in George Carey an archbishop who is passionate for the Gospel." He noted the "enormous transformation" that had taken place in Carey's 11 years in office, "not only in the nature and pattern but in the actual conduct, tone and atmosphere of the meetings, both of the House of Bishops and of the bishops as a whole," Hope said.
In his own comments, Carey encouraged synod "to be outward-looking in mission; to be confident in the good news that changes lives; to be united in faith and service," and to "think internationally."
Carey said that he had returned from his visits to over 85 countries around the world "more encouraged in our faith." Underscoring the demands Carey faced as leader of the Anglican Communion, Hope said that he had "strengthened the bonds of communion by your pastoral visits."