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Bishop Creighton Refuses Ordinations Until 1976

Diocesan Press Service. April 11, 1975 [75130]

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Rt. Rev. William F. Creighton, Bishop of Washington, has announced his decision, with concurrence of the Standing Committee, not to ordain any persons to the priesthood until the 1976 General Convention acts with regard to the ordination of women.

In a letter to all other bishops in the American church, he said that "to continue to ordain men who are deacons while being compelled to refuse ordination to women who are deacons has become conscientiously impossible and a form of injustice of which I can no longer be a part." He added that he hopes other bishops, many of whom he acknowledged are as disturbed as he, will reach a like decision.

At a press conference held April 1, Bishop Creighton said the three seminarians expected to be ordained to the diaconate in June 1975 had expressed approval for his decision and sympathy for the women deacons' dilemma even though it means that the men will not be ordained to the priesthood in this diocese within the usual period.

Although he has long been a strong advocate for opening the ordained ministry to all qualified people, he is reluctant to unilaterally ordain women to "a very limited ministry." He is inclined to believe that the 1976 General Convention will take affirmative action on this issue. He also said that the Convention, without making canonical amendments, or the House of Bishops could elect to consent to ordinations on the parts of those bishops who feel strongly. Asked for his opinion about following the constitutional route, Bishop Creighton said he would view such a course by the 1976 convention as a negative decision.

In the remote event that no positive action is taken in 1976, Bishop Creighton said he would seek the consent of other Province III Bishops. That failing, Bishop Creighton told the press, "I'm sure that not only I but a substantial number of other bishops would go ahead" with the ordination of women.

The Rt. Rev. John Walker, Suffragan Bishop of Washington who was also at the press conference, expressed his agreement with Bishop Creighton's decision as a means of eliminating the agony which he has shared with Bishop Creighton and the women deacons. In response to a question about the legality of some of the actions taking place in the church, Bishop Walker said that "the question of law and the questions of grace are very difficult to keep in balance.

"It seems to me," he said, "that when the Holy Spirit speaks to us in a particular way, we move, and maybe the whole Church will never be able to move as a concerted body. But we move and try to witness as we can to the power of that Spirit as we see it functioning in our time."

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Washington has also taken several steps affirming women in the priesthood. In January, they certified two women deacons, approved by their parish vestries, for ordination to the priesthood.

At the annual Diocesan Convention in early February, the members of convention affirmed their support of the bishop's leadership and resolved that the diocese will support him "should he at any time decide to proceed with the ordination of any women deacons recommended by the Standing Committee."