Madam Bishop...?

Well, yes, I'm sorry that I haven't posted for months. Part of the reason is that I have been seduced by Facebook, like many others. And the rest is that lots of what I would like to air is subject to confidentiality, or at least sensitivity. One of my first posts was about women bishops. So it is a pleasure to me (if no one else) that the General Synod tackled the issue as head on as it ever will do. But throughout all the various quotes and pronouncings from CofE pro-women bishops people that I have read or heard there has been little in the way of triumph and much in the way of concern and almost sorrow for those who find themselves wondering if they have a place in their church.

Personally, I think that the statutory guidelines can provide good provision for those who in conscience cannot accept the ministry of women. It will be up to the drafting group and the Manchester committee to find that way forward. But my patience and tolerance has been reduced somewhat recently by experiencing (from the pew) an ordination by a flying bishop. I came out almost spitting blood, as my mother would said when severely provoked. 'A curse on all their house - let such dinosaurs leave and let's stop pussy footing around their sensitivities', I was thinking as I walked away from the church. I have calmed down some since then but I think that my anger was the result of feeling at the receiving end of what at best was rudeness and at worse was superiority of those who, of course, know best.

I am not intending to be even-handed in this post - I understand the arguments on both sides of the debate. But the experience was an insight for me into how reasonable, tolerant people (just like me) can lose those qualities and end up in the Us and Them situation. That is what I fear might happen when the women bishops measure draft makes it back onto the agenda of a future synod.

And just to cheer us all up again here is an appropriate image (or perhaps not) from the ever expanding collection chez moi...