Conscience Clause - Statement re • Archives of the Anglican Church of Canada

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Prologue: Moved by Bishop Short; Seconded by Bishop Stiff; That Archbishops and Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada are agreed that through the General Synod of 1975 the Church has expressed its will that women should be ordained to the Priesthood.; It is also agreed that the Conscience Clause which was approved at the time of this change in policy should continue in force. The House, however, deplores the misapplication which some members of the clergy and laity have made of the Clause. The refusal to read a Si Quis, to receive Holy Communion from a woman priest who is not the Celebrant at the Eucharist, to object to a woman ordained or not, publicly reciting the Divine Office, leading in prayers, preaching, or reading lessons, simply on the grounds that she is a woman, are not supported by the Conscience Clause. No action which questions the integrity of any priest or postulant on sexist grounds can be defended by an appeal to the Clause.; The House honours women priests, upholds them in its prayers, and desires only that God's will may be done in and through all priests whether female or male.

Text: That the following words in paragraph two be omitted:; The refusal to read a Si Quis, to receive Holy Communion from a woman priest who is not the Celebrant at the Eucharist, to object to a woman ordained or not, publicly reciting the Divine Office, leading in prayers, preaching, or reading lessons, simply on the grounds that she is a woman, are not supported by the Conscience Clause. CARRIED #6-6-83

Notes: It was agreed that the Amendment to Motion #49 in the Convening Circular proposed by Archbishop Garnsworthy should be the concluding paragraph of the Motion.; Bishops Short and Stiff withdrew their original Motion and proposed the following:; "That the following statement of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada concerning the Conscience Clause June 1983, be presented to the General Synod:; `The Archbishops and Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada are agreed that through the General Synod of 1975 the Anglican Church of Canada has expressed its will that women may be ordained to the Priesthood.; It is also agreed that the Conscience Clause which was approved at the time of this change in policy should continue in force. The House, however, deplores the misapplication which some members of the Church have made of the Clause.; No action which questions the integrity of any priest or postulant on grounds of sex alone can be defended by an appeal to the Clause.; The House honours women priests, upholds them in its prayers, and desires only that God's will may be done in and through all priests whether female or male.; Christian love cannot be legislated, but needs to be practised and demonstrated more effectively in order to realize the community which belongs in the Body of Christ'." CARRIED

Subjects: Conscience clause (1975) - Anglican Church of Canada; Ordination of women - Anglican Church of Canada; Women clergy - Anglican Church of Canada; Anglican Church of Canada - Parties and movements