The First Anglican Woman Bishop

Last February Barbara Harris, a 58-year-old native of Philadelphia, was consecrated as suffragan bishop of Massachusetts. She thus became the first woman Episcopal Bishop in the United States and also the first woman to be so recognized in the entire Anglican communion world-wide.

This appointment was made within six months of the August 1988 Lambeth Conference, when the issue of the ordination of women as Anglican priests had been the subject of heated debate. About twenty of the twenty-seven autonomous "provinces" which comprise the total Anglican Communion forbid women priests, and would consequently be opposed to women bishops. It was however agreed at the 1988 Lambeth Conference that in Provinces which accepted women priests there could be liberty also to have women bishops. Barbara Harris was the first to reach that goal.

Not that her election was unopposed. In many of the dioceses involved there were strenuous campaigns to resist her appointment. Objections were raised mostly on grounds other than whether a woman should be a bishop. The area had been conditioned to having women priests for some years, and a woman bishop came to be regarded as a logical development. More controversial in the

dioceses concerned was the fact that Barbara Harris is a divorced person, and many felt that this should have barred her from the bishopric. In most countries a divorcee would not be considered even for ordination as an Anglican priest, let alone for a bishop. Others opposed her appointment because she lacked the normal type of theological college degree, and had never been a full-time rector in her own parish.

With many there was concern about her reputation as an activist pressing for radical changes of Episcopal policy. She has described her Church as "male-dominated and racist", and called for "an increased advocacy role and some real risk-taking". Among the "risks" she wishes to see her Church taking is the acceptance of practising homosexual clergy. She is quoted as saying that anyone joining the Episcopal clergy would need "a high tolerance for indecisiveness, an inordinate amount of patience with unimaginative leadership, and an appetite for ambiguity".

Despite the opposition her supporters prevailed, and now Barbara Harris has made history by her recognition as the first Anglican woman bishop. Incidentally she is also her Church's twenty-ninth black bishop.

Reactions throughout the Anglican Communion have been predictably varied, reflecting attitudes at the 1988 Lambeth Conference. Archbishop Runcie has made clear that unless Church law changes neither he nor any other Anglican leader in England may recognize a woman bishop or the priests she ordains. Yet communion between the American and English churches remains, though restricted in some respects. Bishop Leonard of London, always foremost in his opposition to the ordination of women, has deplored "the profound and divisive effect" throughout Anglicanism which results from Barbara Harris's appointment.

In another context the apostle Paul wrote by the Spirit: "God is not a God of confusion, but of peace'; as in all the churches of the saints" (1. Cor. 14:33). To many observers it seems clear that a state of deeper confusion is developing in the religious scene of our time. "The appetite for ambiguity" seems to be sharpened. Incongruous doctrinal positions are tolerated within the same spiritual communion. Some well-intentioned believers choose to remain in such communions hoping that their influence will be a barrier to further declension. They seem to be fighting a losing battle.

Is not the scriptural directive in such circumstances to leave associations which comprise witness to His truth.

As in Is. 52:11 -

Depart ye, depart ye, go out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye Out of the midst of her; be ye clean, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord.

Or again in Rev. 18:4-

Come forth, My people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins.

As we respond to the spirit of such challenges in our time we shall find that others also have been constrained by the Holy Spirit to depart from ecclesiastical confusion of principle. Nor is this a merely negative position. For the God who leads out from confusion will also lead disciples to a scripturally ordered unity, gathering them in churches of God to give expression to His whole will.

unknown | Jun 1989
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