The Five Guiding Principles of the House of Bishops
The House of Bishops of the Church of England formulated the Five Guiding Principles about the ministry of Bishops and Priests before women bishops were authorised by the General Synod of the Church of England and in their Declaration made provisions for those who are unable, for theological reasons, to receive the ministry of women as bishops and priests. All these Principles apply to all in the C of E, whether in favour or opposed to the new changes and since January 2015, all candidates coming to a Bishops' Advisory Panel (which recommends training for Ordination) have been required to give their assent to them. They are paraphrased below:
1. Respect for lawful office-holders.
Women as well as men can be bishops in the Church of England and are to be respected.
2. A clear decision
Everyone needs to acknowledge that this is the decision which has been made by the Church of England, but
3. A process of discernment within the universal church
This is a decision without the agreement of the church worldwide, so it is part of a wider process of discernment throughout the whole church.
4. Those unable to receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests are within the spectrum of Anglican teaching and tradition and will be enabled to flourish
Disagreeing with the decision remains a legitimate Anglican position and the Church of England is committed to allowing those who disagree to flourish within its life and structures and
5. Pastoral and sacramental provision without limit of time; mutual flourishing
Pastoral and sacramental provision will be made for them, without a time limit, in a way that maintains as much communion as is possible and contributes to mutual flourishing.
The full text can be found by clicking here
Where a PCC of a parish decides that, for theological reasons, they wish to have male priests and bishops, this will be granted if they pass a resolution under the Declaration.
The PCC of Mendlesham voted unanimously for such a resolution in July 2015. However, at the same time we are pledged to maintain the highest possible degree of communion with the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich and the other bishops of this Diocese and we reject any suggestion that ordaining women to the episcopate and priesthood renders a bishop’s episcopal ministry invalid.
However, we can only flourish if we are in full communion with a bishop and with all those whom that bishop ordains to the priesthood – a full communion made visible when he stands together with them at the altar. For that reason we requested that episcopal sacramental and pastoral ministry in this parish be entrusted to a bishop who ordains only men to the priesthood.
The House of Bishops of the Church of England formulated the Five Guiding Principles about the ministry of Bishops and Priests before women bishops were authorised by the General Synod of the Church of England and in their Declaration made provisions for those who are unable, for theological reasons, to receive the ministry of women as bishops and priests. All these Principles apply to all in the C of E, whether in favour or opposed to the new changes and since January 2015, all candidates coming to a Bishops' Advisory Panel (which recommends training for Ordination) have been required to give their assent to them. They are paraphrased below:
1. Respect for lawful office-holders.
Women as well as men can be bishops in the Church of England and are to be respected.
2. A clear decision
Everyone needs to acknowledge that this is the decision which has been made by the Church of England, but
3. A process of discernment within the universal church
This is a decision without the agreement of the church worldwide, so it is part of a wider process of discernment throughout the whole church.
4. Those unable to receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests are within the spectrum of Anglican teaching and tradition and will be enabled to flourish
Disagreeing with the decision remains a legitimate Anglican position and the Church of England is committed to allowing those who disagree to flourish within its life and structures and
5. Pastoral and sacramental provision without limit of time; mutual flourishing
Pastoral and sacramental provision will be made for them, without a time limit, in a way that maintains as much communion as is possible and contributes to mutual flourishing.
The full text can be found by clicking here
Where a PCC of a parish decides that, for theological reasons, they wish to have male priests and bishops, this will be granted if they pass a resolution under the Declaration.
The PCC of Mendlesham voted unanimously for such a resolution in July 2015. However, at the same time we are pledged to maintain the highest possible degree of communion with the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich and the other bishops of this Diocese and we reject any suggestion that ordaining women to the episcopate and priesthood renders a bishop’s episcopal ministry invalid.
However, we can only flourish if we are in full communion with a bishop and with all those whom that bishop ordains to the priesthood – a full communion made visible when he stands together with them at the altar. For that reason we requested that episcopal sacramental and pastoral ministry in this parish be entrusted to a bishop who ordains only men to the priesthood.
