As Women Clergy Increase, MOW Considers Tough New Challenges
Episcopal News Service. July 25, 1996 [96-1532L]
(ENI) Two years after the admission of women priests into the Church of England, Britain's Movement for the Ordination of Women (MOW) is preparing to fight "next generation" battles -- such as gaining women bishops in the church and halting discrimination against female clergy. More than 60 people attended a meeting in London, but Jenny Standage, MOW membership secretary, admitted that there was no common view on pushing for women bishops in the Church of England. She said, "Some people didn't want to do that, they think it is premature --[but] some wanted to do nothing but that." MOW also faces potentially divisive approaches from campaigners for the ordination of practicing homosexuals into the Church of England. The gay campaigners want to make common cause with MOW. With its counterpart movements around the world, MOW fought for years to have women priests within the Anglican Communion, and in many Anglican provinces that goal has now been achieved. In England MOW achieved its goal on 12 March 1994, when 32 women were ordained into priesthood at Bristol Cathedral.