Anglicans in Cape Town Vote to Support the Ordination of Women to the Priesthood
Episcopal News Service. October 31, 1990 [90282]
At its October 22 diocesan synod, the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town, South Africa, voted overwhelmingly in favor of the ordination of women to the priesthood, setting the stage for another vote on the matter at the Provincial Synod of the Church in the Province of Southern Africa in 1992.
A proposal allowing the ordination of women to the priesthood narrowly failed to achieve a two-thirds majority at the last provincial synod. At present women can be ordained only as deacons in the province.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu of Cape Town said there was "growing impatience" on the issue. "I hope the province will grow in a consensus for the ordination of women."
The diocesan synod asked the bishops to prepare the way for ordaining women by inviting women priests from other countries, especially in Africa, to visit and celebrate the Eucharist. A priest from Hong Kong, the Rev. Mary Au, was the first woman known to celebrate the Eucharist in the province while she attended a recent meeting of the Anglican Women's Fellowship. She celebrated with the permission of Bishop Michael Nuttall of Natal.
In other action the diocesan synod called for the demilitarization of a democratic South Africa and phased disbanding of all military units. The synod also expressed support for the right of Palestinians to resist Israeli aggression and organize themselves politically, calling on Anglicans to seek guidance from the Middle East Council of Churches before organizing tours to the area.