By: MARGARET BROWN
Margaret Brown is one of The Resident’s longest standing contributors and has lived in the Algarve for more than 20 years. As well as Point of View, she also writes Country Matters twice a month.
IT IS said that history repeats itself and although it has been disproved that ‘Nero fiddled while Rome burned’ there was a degree of déjà vu as Synod met last week – perhaps recalling Neville Chamberlain’s return from the Munich Conference of 1938 claiming to have achieved ‘Peace in our time’. By appeasement, the Prime Minister had achieved no peace and a bitter and bloody war followed in short order.
It seems that while a vote on the consecration of women Bishops was won by a narrow majority at Synod, the implementation is some way ahead. No compromise was allowed such as separate Episcopates to appease parishes opposed to the measure, and the Anglican Communion goes into The Lambeth Conference in a state of turmoil.
Tears were shed among those attending, while The Archbishops of Canterbury and York buried heads in hands in their obvious despair.
Although in Old Testament times women were expected to be submissive, there were many who not only led (Deborah) but also prophesied. In the New Testament Paul followed a similar agenda while allowing women to help him in his ministry, declaring in Galatians 3:28 “There is neither male…… nor female, for you are all one in Christ”. Above all, Christ honoured, taught and gave women his full support. So it seems that tradition and a degree of chauvinism is coming between conservatives and liberals of the Anglican Communion.
With regard to homosexuality, the Word of God is quite clear. The question arises whether adjustments should be made to ‘move with the times’? Let us pray for The Archbishops of Canterbury and York: may they be endowed with the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon and above all, the grace of God.
