Episcopal Women's Caucus Action at Lambeth
Episcopal News Service. May 5, 1988 [88090]
NEW YORK, (DPS, May 5) -- Members of the Episcopal Women's Caucus Lambeth Committee who are planning to attend the Lambeth Conference this summer have decided not to celebrate the Holy Eucharist at the Caucus's Center near Canterbury.
The celebrations were to have taken place during the course of the Lambeth Conference, the decennial convocation of Anglican bishops from all parts of the world, at a location set aside for the EWC observation team.
The Church of England does not admit women to the priesthood, and it does not recognize the status of women priests from other countries. Non-English women priests are barred from performing priestly functions while in England.
In a statement released at the end of April, the Caucus says that the purpose of this action is to "bring a message of hope and reconciliation to the meeting of Anglican bishops" and to state the Caucus's support for actions taken by many members of the American and Canadian houses of bishops. Over one hundred bishops from the two countries have signed a statement saying that they will not celebrate the Eucharist while they are in England as a declaration of their concern.
"This is a sacrifice we are prepared to make," the EWC Lambeth Committee co-chairs stated, "as we painfully lay aside the goodness and joy of public eucharistic worship with women as celebrants. Thus we can stand in strength and solidarity with our sisters in the Anglican Communion who are not yet permitted to exercise their priestly gifts."
Co-chairs of the Committee are Sally Bucklee (Diocese of Washington) and the Rev. Fran Toy (Diocese of California).
Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning has stated his support of the Episcopal Women's Caucus and its presence at Lambeth, and he has lent his support to a statement drawn up by the EWC Lambeth Committee to clarify and amplify its decision to refrain from celebrating the Eucharist.
To honor the life of Jesus of Nazareth, who accepted and encouraged the ministries of women, and
In the name of the living Christ,
The EWC Lambeth Committee
Acknowledges and applauds those bishops, in the Anglican Church of Canada and The Episcopal Church in the United States, who have pledged "to refrain from exercising presiding functions during their sojourn in England," as a sign of their "solidarity with and support for ordained women in the Communion," who are not permitted to exercise their full eucharistic ministry in that country;
Painfully lays aside the goodness and joy of public eucharistic worship with women as celebrants, to stand in strength and solidarity with our sisters in the Communion who are not yet permitted to exercise their priestly gifts;
Invites the laity, deacons, priests, bishops and primates of the Anglican Communion to join us during the Lambeth Conference in worship forms that intentionally omit the consecration of bread and wine, in witness to our commitment to the full acceptance and participation of women in the total ministry and worship of the Body of Christ.
Easter Week 1988, New York City