Women priests from four dioceses traveled to the Diocese of Fort Worth to participate in consultation and discussion with the bishop and other diocesan officials Oct. 27. The Rt. Rev. Jack Iker, Bishop of Fort Worth, invited the ordained women to discuss the "Dallas Plan," an agreement between Bishop Iker and the Bishop of Dallas, the Rt. Rev. James Stanton, which allows women aspirants to the priesthood in Fort Worth to enter the discernment process and eventually be ordained in Dallas.

A second element in the non-legislative agreement, which was made in 1995, concerns a provision for alternative episcopal oversight to be provided by Bishop Stanton for any congregation in Fort Worth which engages the ministry of a woman priest in their parish. In such a situation, Bishop Iker would relinquish his episcopal oversight of that congregation to Bishop Stanton, who would then assume responsibility for all episcopal ministry both for the congregation and the woman priest.

Other topics of discussion included the concept of impaired communion, the resolutions of the Lambeth Conference related to continuing differences over women priests, and the mandatory canons adopted by the 1997 General Convention concerning the ordination and placement of women priests in every diocese.

The Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh, was facilitator for the meeting.

The ordained women who participated were the Rev. Alison Barfoot, of Overland Park, Kan., the Rev. Judith Gentle-Hardy, Haverhill, Mass., the Rev. Sara Chandler, Woodbridge, Va., and the Rev. Ruth Urban, Nashville, Tenn.

Fort Worth priests participating were the Very Rev. William Crary, president of the standing committee, the Rev. Canon Charles Hough, canon to the ordinary, and the Rev. Thomas Hightower, chairman of the commission on ministry.

In addition to affirming and supporting the provisions of the "Dallas Plan," participants said they hope they might be able to continue in conversation with one another.