Two interesting changes have come out of the recent General Synod for the Church of England. The first is the consecration of women as bishops, and the second is the omission of the devil in a new simplified baptismal service.
The consecration of women to the episcopate has been on the horizon for quite some time in the Church of England. In 2012, legislation that would have allowed women to become bishops was narrowly defeated in the House of Laity. (The General Synod is composed of three legislative bodies: the House of Laity, the House of Bishops, and House of Clergy. Approval from all three houses is required before a piece of legislation comes into force.) According to CNN, Archbishop Welby expressed his “delight” that the General Synod had passed the measure this year:
Today marks the start of a great adventure of seeking mutual flourishing while still, in some cases disagreeing…The challenge for us will be for the church to model good disagreement and to continue to demonstrate love for those who disagree on theological grounds.
There appears to be a provision in place for traditionalists who cannot or will not accept women bishops. According to Newsweek:
The measure that passed on Monday contained concessions for traditionalists unwilling to serve under a woman bishop, giving them the right to ask for a male alternative and to take disputes to an independent arbitrator. Though some in favor of the change worry that this may undermine female bishops’ authority, most were willing to take that risk in order to see the legislation pass.
It has also now surfaced that positive discrimination will be used to appoint women bishops to vacant dioceses. The Telegraph reports:
The Church’s most senior official told a parliamentary committee that in vacant sees where a male and female cleric considered equally well qualified are going head to head for the same post, those making appointments will be advised to choose the female candidate.
It will be interesting to see who is appointed and where.
Another change in practice comes with the introduction of a new alternative baptismal service. John Bingham at The Telegraph reported last month on the changes that were to be proposed at the General Synod.
According to legislation introduced and passed at the General Synod, “sin” will be reinstated but the “devil” will be omitted in the new alternative baptismal service. As Bingham notes, the current baptismal service in Common Worship is as follows:
The Priest asks the parents and godparents: “Do you reject the Devil and all rebellion against God?
Parents and godparents: “I reject them.”
Priest: “Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?”
Parents and godparents: “I renounce them.”
Priest: “Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?”
Parents and godparents: “I repent of them.”
According to Bingham,
under an alternative version trialled in more than 500 parishes earlier this year, the three questions were replaced by a pledge to reject ‘evil’ and its ‘empty promises’ But, following feedback from parishes, the wording has again been changed to two questions in which parents and godparents vow to ‘turn away from sin’ and ‘reject evil.’
The two question format was passed at the General Synod this month.
Many changes are afoot in the Church of England. It will be fascinating to see how it all unfolds.
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