The Committee for Dialogue on Canon III.8,1 has a difficult assignment. The committee, formed by a resolution adopted during the closing minutes of the 1994 General Convention, is charged "to promote dialogue and understanding and to discuss how the canon (III.8,1, which guarantees both men and women access to the ordination process in this church) can be implemented in every diocese..."

The committee was appointed by the Presiding Bishop and the president of the House of Deputies in consultation with bishops from dioceses where ordinations of women do not occur.

At its recent meeting, the committee put together four recommendations [TLC, May 14] in response to four resolves in the General Convention resolution. While the committee addressed the matters called for in the resolution, its recommendations probably will not be well received by persons at both ends of the theological spectrum. Those who oppose the ordination of women may be unhappy that the authority of the diocesan bishop might be perceived as weakened. Those trying to promote the ordination of women in the four remaining dioceses in which it is not approved may be unhappy over the amount of time it would take to implement the canonical changes called for in the recommendations. In short, the recommendations may not be very helpful.