Sir Philip Mawer, has been appointed as an independent reviewer for the Church of England over the process of parishes requesting male oversight. He states in a paper that he has released, that lobby groups or special interest organizations will not be part of the process which he oversees. The request must come from a parish, the parish’s request must be based on a genuine theological conviction and the parish must have an established history and tradition of preference for male headship to successfully petition for oversight from a male bishop.
“The grievance procedure is not an opportunity for a parish disaffected with its diocese for other reasons to seek a new means of expressing that disaffection or a different form of episcopal oversight.”
Sir Philip Mawer
Parishes are free to consult 3rd parties while considering making a request for alternative episcopal oversight, but the petition must be solely from the parochial church council expressing the concerns of the parish. The scheme for alternative oversight grows from the CoE House of Bishops promise that the CoE be “fully and unequivocally committed to all orders of ministry being open equally to all, without reference to gender.” While at the same time allowing “those within the Church of England who, on grounds of theological conviction, are unable to receive the ministry of women bishops or priests continue to be within the spectrum of teaching and tradition of the Anglican Communion, the Church of England remains committed to enabling them to flourish within its life and structures.”
This information was gathered from Christian Today here.
Church of England logo from CoE website.
Posted by David Allen