Name of Diocese Changed
Diocesan Press Service. May 10, 1973 [73130]
ALBUQUERQUE, N.Mex. -- In one of the most productive sessions in recent years, Episcopal delegates of the Diocese of New Mexico and Southwest Texas, meeting in Albuquerque (April 28-29), voted to change the name of the diocese, to admit women to the priesthood if Anglicans through the world concur and to admit women to the Standing Committee.
The name change from the Diocese of New Mexico and Southwest Texas to the Diocese of the Rio Grande will become effective immediately. Women to the priesthood and their consecration to the Episcopate may take a number of years. The delegates specified that all autonomous churches of the Anglican Communion should be asked to approve or disapprove the principle before their memorial be submitted to general convention.
Women can now be elected to the Standing Committee of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, since the issue was read at convention last year and the reading here in late April effected the change.
Two women were nominated for lay positions on the Standing Committee, immediately following delegate approval of the constitutional change. Both were defeated.
In other action, the 21st Convention of 200 delegates, representing 54 parishes and missions and two Canterbury Chapels decided that a new system for quotas and assessments would be instituted, that deacons and perpetual deacons would be given voice and vote at convention and that postulates and candidates for the ministry would be eligible for election as lay delegates to convention.
Many of the sweeping changes were supported by The Rt. Rev. Richard M. Trelease, Bishop of the Diocese, presiding at his second convention since consecration here in 1971.
For the first time in convention history, candidates for a position on the Standing Committee were asked by delegates to state their positions on abortion, women in the priesthood, budgeting and fiscal priorities.
The system emerged when grass roots delegates asked that they be given an opportunity to know the candidates better. More than an hour of valuable convention time was absorbed in the question and answer session.
Debate over women in the priesthood centered around biblical precedents. Scripture revealed to those opposed that Christ did not choose women; therefore, the choice now is inappropriate. To those in favor of the issue, scripture revealed that there is no such segregation amongst Christians in the pews, therefore, why should there be segregation in the pulpit.
Clergymen voted 2 to 1 in favor of women to priesthood. Lay delegates also voted in favor by a slight margin. The amendment to poll the Anglican Communion was inserted to acquaint the world church with the intentions of the Diocese of the Rio Grande. If Anglican opinion throughout the world opposes the issue, presumably it will not be submitted as a memorial to convention by the Rio Grande Diocesan delegates.