Angus Macleay’s summing up speech in the women bishop's debate

As I seek to sum up this important debate concerning the Women Bishops Measure from a conservative evangelical perspective I wish to look in a number of different directions.

1)  Looking at the revised Measure
The key issue relates to the use of the phrase “in a manner that respects.”  We cannot interpret it without understanding the broader context.  It is hard to hear an institution such as the Synod offer “respect” at the same time as it is preparing to renege on promises made to us 20 years ago supposedly “in perpetuity”.  How can trust flourish when what you currently have is being removed and the proposal that it is to be replaced with is something much weaker?  Further how do we understand the word “respect” in the context where female members of Reform are being publicly belittled and insulted in the media by people wishing to support this Measure?  “Respect” is an honourable word but within a specifically legal context it is a word which is being asked to bear too great a weight.  In legal documents trust is built though the use of clarity in language rather than vague imprecise generalities.  “Respect” is a fine word but in this context and with this background it feels slightly hollow.

2)  Looking at the future if the Measure were to be passed
There are a number of concerns if the Measure passes.  We are told that our solution lies in the Code of Practice.  However my previous experience in sitting on the Code of Practice drafting group is not encouraging.  Unless there is to be a significant increase in representation of conservative evangelicals and traditional Catholics on the new Code of Practice group it is likely to come to conclusions very similar to the draft illustrative Code that we have already seen and which does not provide us with sufficient provision.

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