What changed my mind was seeing discrimination happening, and being shocked at my reaction to it. It was roughly "well, what can you expect". In later discussion and reflection I realised that my thinking came from the fact that we allow discrimination in certain circumstances, and whilst as a church we institutionalise discrimination we cannot be surprised when we discriminate outside the "allowed" circumstances. Having recognised that within myself I now see the damage that institutionalised discrimination brings about and want none of it in an organisation to which I belong.
I was intrigued by the title of this one... are women a different breed to women bishops.. are you going to tell us some deep truth about women and then talk about women bishops...
ReplyDeleteWhilst agreeing with your position and sentiments, I don't think it is a matter of discrimination. It's a matter of vocation. No-one has a greater or lesser right to be a priest (and hence a bishop) and it is not for us to discriminate or not. It is for God to choose, in his own mysterious way, who he wants to call to his priesthood.
ReplyDeleteDo not despair, change in attitudes is happening - not as fast as many of us would like but this is the CofE after all - and you are in a more enlightened patch of God's good earth than those of us stranded down here in the Diocese of Chichester. It's not twenty years yet, out of 2000+.
In that case is anything discrimination? Could we say no-one has a greater or lesser right to be an engineer, it is for God to choose in her own mysterious way?
ReplyDeleteIs the Diocese of Chichester that bad? I ask honestly, as that's where we are but our chuch is very forward thinking. I'd be interested to know about the wider area?
ReplyDeleteIn terms of women in the church, bishops or otherwise, I have to admit I still struggle with the idea. I have no idea why, as I am generally a 21st C girl with attitudes to match. Perhaps it is a case of what I am used to, what I've been brought up with? However I am with you in that if I saw discrimination at work I would instantly be on the side of the underdogs!
CHICHESTER???????????????????
ReplyDeleteAHHHHHHH
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Perhaps this Telegraph article gives a flavour of how Chichester is. It is not that all clergy are anti women, but the Bishops are.
ReplyDeleteIf you stop running I know a woman priest who came from Chichester who might be prepared to talk to you.