News

Recent Appointments

Future Events

Reports

• AGM 21 November 2009 (click to download Word doc)
• London WATCH (click to open new window at www.watchlondon.blogspot.com)
• London WATCH
• Chelmsford WATCH
• Hereford WATCH
• Guildford WATCH
  

Talks & Addresses

• A report by Revd Jean Mayland on the presentation given by Canon Jane Hedges at 2009 WATCH AGM (click to download Word doc)
• Hilary Cotton talk 15 June 2009 (click to open downloadable Word file)
• Canon Joy Tetley AGM 2008 Keynote Address (click to open downloadable pdf)
• Canon Lucy Winkett AGM 2007 Keynote Address (click to open downloadable pdf)
  
  
  

Update on progress of the draft legislation
Download report here.


THE REVISION COMMITTEE

Shortly after the deadline of 16 March the Revision Committee was set up and the dates of their meetings were announced. You will have read about this and seen the list of those on the committee in our April newsletter. The Revision Committee met first on May 1st and will be meeting at least once a month thereafter, hopefully finishing in December 2009 in time to submit its report to the 2010 February General Synod.

The Revision Committee consists of two bodies:

1. The original Steering Committee appointed by General Synod to see the legislation through the process:

Nigel McCullogh (Chair),
Vivienne Faull*
Paula Gooder*
Alistair Magowan
Anne Stevens*
Margaret Swinson
Geoffrey Tattersall
Trevor Willmott

2. The Revision Committee itself:
Clive Mansell (Chair)
April Alexander*
Lorna Ashworth
Jonathan Baker
Pete Broadbent
Christine Hardman*
Alan Hargrave*
Martin Jarrett
Simon Killwick
Angus MacLeay
Caroline Spencer*

[* Members of WATCH or GS WATCH Plus (the WATCH fringe group at General Synod)]

The understanding is that these two bodies will work together in looking at the submissions that have been sent in and arrive at recommendations for the Feb 2010 meeting of General Synod.


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RECENT APPOINTMENTS

New Canadian Bishop

We are delighted to hear that Revd Barbara Andrews has been appointed as the new Suffragan Bishop for the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior in Canada.

Ever since she was ordained a priest in 1998, Barbara Andrews said she had always served the Anglican Church of Canada "kind of on the fringe of the church." That all changed in June, when she became the new suffragan (assistant) bishop for the Kamloops-based Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior (APCI). Until her election as bishop, she had worked as executive director of the Sorrento Retreat and Conference Centre in British Columbia.

Prior to that she served as a director of Christian education, and had been in street ministry for four years in an inner city parish in Winnipeg. In an interview, Bishop Andrews said her experience puts her "in a unique position because I come from a totally different experience and point of view."

This brings to 25 the total number of women bishops in the Anglican Communion: 2 in New Zealand, 2 in Australia, 5 in Canada, 1 in Cuba and 15 in USA. 19 are currently serving while 6 have retired; these 6 include 2 who are still acting as Assistant Bishop in their Diocese.

Congratulations to Nikki Arthy (Nicola Arthy), Team Vicar in the Winchcombe Team Ministry, who is to be Priest in Charge of the Gloucester City Benefice and Honorary Canon of Gloucester. Nikki was on our WATCH Committee for a number of years and has written the Prayers on our Prayer cards.

We are all delighted to announce that Revd Canon Dr Judy Hunt, a member of WATCH, has been appointed as the next Archdeacon of Suffolk in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich. Judy, who is a member of General Synod, is currently Canon Residentiary of Chester Cathedral and Chester Diocesan Director of Ministry and Mission.
Many congratulations, Judy!
This brings to 13 the number of women Archdeacons in the CofE.
Also, another member of WATCH has been appointed as Archdeacon of Harlow in Chelmsford Diocese. He is Revd Canon (now Venerable) Martin Webster. Congratulations to you Martin!

An Archdeacon in the Church of Wales

Revd Canon Peggy Jackson (left) with Revd Bernice Broggio

In a packed Cathedral in Llandaff, on a wonderfully sunny Whit Sunday the Venerable Peggy Jackson was installed as Archdeacon of Landaff along with the Rt Revd David Wilbourne, new Assistant Bishop and other Canons and Honorary Canons. Peggy was the only woman amongst them but she was warmly welcomed by the Archbishop of Wales and the whole congregation. Peggy’s supporters included her old schoolmaster, friends from the time she was an accountant, people from all the parishes in which she had served, other friends and relations and fellow campaigners from MOW, WATCH, GRAS and SMWC (Ecumenical)

After the service Peggy was greeted by many friends as she stood in the sun dressed canon’s robes, complete with an almus trimmed with fur. Next we all trouped off to the Archbishop’s reception for tea and cakes and then some of us on to the Archdeacon’s reception for wine and lasagne! Laughing, happy people then went on their way.

In the evening of Monday June 1, both bishops came  to install Peggy in Llancarfan Parish Church – a beautiful building with recently discovered frescoes, magnificently decorated with huge displays of flowers. This time the church was crowded with friends and relations and people from all three parishes. It was a relaxed and happy service with another excellent sermon by the Rt Revd Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Llandaff. During the service we all sang with gusto two hymns by June Boyce Tillman – and one by Stewart Cross – a loyal MOW supporter until his untimely death.

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FUTURE EVENTS

2009

8 February to 12 February 2010
General Synod meets in Church House
The revised legislation should be debated on one of these days.

9 – 13 July 2010
July General Synod in York

August 2010
MOWatch International Conference
Dr Paula Gooder, Revd Canon Dr Jane Shaw, The Right Revd Barbara Darling and The Right Revd Kay Goldsworthy are confirmed as keynote speakers at the MOWatch International Conference in Kincumber, New South Wales, Australia in August 2010. Abstracts for presentations are invited on 'Women of Faith...Imaging God to the World'. Further info at www.mowatch.org.au

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REPORTS

LONDON WATCH

A good number of London WATCH members attended the induction of Marjorie Brown at St Mary the Virgin Church Primrose Hill. Marjorie is the first woman incumbent in the Edmonton Area. We all wish her well.

Since the last Outlook, WATCH (London) held a Quiet Day in September conducted by Canon Lucy Winkett at St Matthews Westminster. Those who came found it a welcome time for reflection and highly supportive. Lucy provided a number of poems to help contemplation interspersed with short talks on biblical passages. If anyone would like a copy of the poems please get in touch with Sally Barnes (address and email under branch contacts). One of our members browsing in the St Matthews Library found the following quote by the present Archbishop of Canterbury in 'An Introduction to Rowan Williams' by Rupert Shortt (2003). We all thought it apt under the present circumstances.

"Theology is not a politically neutral or innocent enterprise. Like all intellectual systems, it is in fact operating in somebody's interest, and so long as it is blind to this truth it will operate in the interest of the status quo (because it is in the interest of the status quo not to be questioning or relativised)."

LONDON and SOUTHWARK WATCH

These two branches are linking closely together for joint action and events. Please would London and Southwark based members who are not on our email list and would like to be included contact either Sally Barnes (London) or Martin Carr (Southwark).

Two London newsletters have been produced and sent to members by email and post giving the latest updates and views. Members on email are kept up-to-date with requests for action, such as supporting the WATCH banner outside the February General Synod when the proposed Women Bishops legislation was being discussed and responding to the request for their 'bottom line' thoughts on women bishops legislation.

We now have our own Blog spot where you can comment on our posts and events. If you would like to add a new post – in the first instance email sarah@sarahlamming.com. The blog can be found at www.watchlondon.blogspot.com Please make good use of it.

Please note next event:

Quiet Day at Ham Convent
Saturday 3 October, 10am till 4pm
The cost is £5 and bookings are on a first come, first served basis. There are 14 places available. If you would like to attend this day please contact Martin Carr. Coffee and tea will be provided, but bring a packed lunch. In the midst of our busy lives the day will be a time of refreshment, with a balance of prayerful stillness and an opportunity to meet and talk with other WATCH members. (See Martin Carr's contact numbers under branch contacts)

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CHELMSFORD WATCH

Chelmsford WATCH began a period of consolidation following the Branch AGM 2008, revisiting projects started in 2007/2008. Members agreed to a continuation of the 'Prayer Cycle' begun in 2008 which enables each branch member to be prayed for on a specific day in a month and for women across the spectrum of ministry, world wide, whilst focusing on issues such as women and the episcopate. It was also agreed that the 'Prayer Vigils' held in 2008 would continue. These drew on the WATCH prayer cards for inspiration and the liturgy used encompasses issues relevant to current events e.g. the progress of the debate at GS about women and the episcopate. The vigils are held at a location central to the diocese Ð St John the Evangelist, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford – and members unable to attend the venue are provide with a liturgy that can be used at any time and any where during the day of the vigil.

The Branch Membership remains around 70+ and some new members have been welcomed from time to time and others wished well as they have moved on.

The Branch AGM 2008 was informed and stimulated by an address given by Anne Cross. Anne grew up as a Roman Catholic, and has been part of a group of Roman Catholic women actively and sometimes radically exploring their place in the Church. She joined the Church of England, and came to wider attention when she wrote an article for the 'Tablet', describing her journey to a place where she might be helped to discern a vocation lay or ordained. Much of her working life has been with those in need, particularly the homeless and rough sleepers, and she is currently running a community project called 'The Kitchen Table Cafe', which seeks to be a place of hospitality for all comers.

Anne's address expressed her thoughts that arose as she contemplated a line from a poem called, 'Song of Wisdom', which is, 'dance with delight on the holy ground of hope'. She said the 'holy ground of hope' encompassed a wide range of relationships and activities and the dance a continuous conversation with God that reveals more of God to us and enables us to understand our life in God and our ministry, such is the delight.

One such 'holy ground of hope' was a relationship with an Afghan refugee who was helped to discover the nature of her spiritual journey and faith. Another was a shift from the Roman Catholic Church to the Church of England. Anne said her life felt joyless and coincident with a time in retreat when she was challenged by her feelings, a friend referred her to 'Star Trek' and asked her to consider if she has lost sight of her 'prime directive'. Anne said she realised she had and to remain in the Roman Catholic Church would mean that the light of Christ would remain ever dim within her and there would be no dance of delight on 'holy ground of hope' in her life. She said God prompted her to leave the Roman Catholic Church and join the Church of England. She said she had been refreshed by the preaching in the Church of England and had found inspiration in Newham which she believes has been strongly influenced by 'Faith in the City'. She said she had discovered more fully on this 'holy ground of hope' that our faith is about incarnation and the wisdom of St Theresa's insight that, 'Christ has no body on earth now but ours', and we ought be aware of the 'now' and live in it and dance.

Anne said that a further ground of hope that is holy and on which we can dance is connected with sharing in meals. Since joining the Church of England, the focus of her ministry has been 'The Kitchen Table Cafe'. Anne said we grow to know each other and God better when we prepare meals together and eat together and the motivation of the ministry of the Cafe is this.

Furthermore, Anne said she meets with a group called 'The Upper Room' who eat and pray together. One of the initiatives to come out of this is a regular bread making workshop where people from all faiths and backgrounds are able to work together and share recipes as well as stories. Moslem women share their knowledge of making 'Spicy fish' which is great fun. Cooking and eating together, sharing each others story of day to day living and simply being there for each other is the dance on the holy ground of hope and it is pure delight.

Anne's address was followed by discussion, the flavour of which is as follows:

'The Kitchen Table Cafe' is a place where divisions are broken down. The kitchen table is a warm place at the heart of the home where everyone can be themselves. The kitchen is often a woman's domain. The differences between the Church of England and Roman Catholic Church's attitude to women depends upon whom you come across. In the RC church there is an acceptance that women are allowed to do things but there is a 'glass ceiling' beyond which they cannot go. There is a shortage of young women who are coming forward to be involved in the Roman Catholic Church in England although there are significantly more in the United States of America. It seems there are some women in the USA who have been ordained illegally by Roman Catholic Bishops. As a consequence they are excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church but can be the beginning of a breakaway movement.

The Branch AGM 2009
7 November at 2pm
St John the Evangelist, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford.
The Reverend Clare Herbert, Co-ordinator of Inclusive Church, will be the guest speaker.

Bradwell Pilgrimage
Saturday 4 July
WATCH Chelmsford intends to have a presence at the Bradwell Pilgrimage in 2009. This has now become an established part of the activities of the Branch each year and provides an excellent opportunity to publicise WATCH to a wide audience of people from different denominations and none.

Chelmsford WATCH BBQ
23 July at 7.00pm
Vicarage Garden of the Vicarage of St John the Evangelist, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, .
The Rt Reverend John Gladwin and Mrs Lydia Gladwin will retire from Chelmsford Diocese this year. Both John and Lydia have supported WATCH extremely well and have been a great encouragement to the Membership. John and Lydia will be guests of honour at the BBQ and the Branch will take this opportunity to express love, gratitude and good wishes to them. The Venerable Annette Cooper, Archdeacon of Colchester will be the guest speaker and share her thoughts about her recent sabbatical in America.

Bryan West, Communications Officer

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HEREFORD WATCH

A tribute to Margaret Wickstead 1923-2008

Apart from Margaret Wickstead (centre) who can recognise these other people from 1988?

Margaret Wickstead died in hospital in Hereford in December after a few weeks of illness. She had attended the Friends of Cathedrals national gathering at Lincoln only shortly before having a serious stroke in late November. Margaret was thrilled to see old friends and to visit the house and neighbours she'd had during her years living in Lincoln.

Margaret has meant much to many people. To the Hereford WATCH Committee, from which she had just stood down as Vice Chair, she was an inspiration. She had been a founding member of the Movement for the Ordination of Women and the photograph below shows her, with the Hereford MOW contingent, marching through London at the time of the 1988 Lambeth Conference. The march started at St Mary le Bow Church and ended on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral where the Bishops from Lambeth were attending a special service. There were about 1000 participants on the march.

Margaret's indefatigable spirit and optimism was a great source of encouragement to those of us newly ordained deacon. No one can have been more delighted than she was at our ordination as priests. She will be with us in spirit when the first women bishops are ordained. Thank you Margaret for your warm hospitality to the WATCH Committee when we held our meetings at your home. And thank you Margaret, most of all, for the confidence you showed in us as women and as priests.

Frances Hancock

Jean Mayland was at Lady Margaret Hall with Margaret and adds: "It is interesting that two founder members of MOW (Margaret and I) and one Moderator of MOW (Diana McClatchy) all graduated from LMH – but then so also did Anne Widdecombe so she probably cancels out the three of us!

It is said that Margaret's brother Philip as he faced retirement as Bishop of Worcester said "Alleluia, on we go". This was the keynote of Margaret's life too and is I think, a good watchword for us in WATCH today.

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GUILDFORD WATCH

The priest, the body, the bride and the whore

The speaker at the WATCH annual lecture this year was Ali Green. Ali is a non-stipendiary minister in Monmouth and was a doctoral research student of Tina Beattie, Reader in Theology at Roehampton University. Ali received her doctorate at the end of the summer. The aim of her lecture to Guildford WATCH was to suggest ways in which women could inhabit the symbolic role of celebrant of the Eucharist in a culture which has, for most of the Church’s life, seen this as a male preserve.

Tina began with an outline of the ways in which women have been excluded from participation in the Eucharist over the centuries and quotations from theologians and others who have rationalised this: women are “unclean”, “unable to think logically” etc. The following is a comment to the Archbishop’s Commission in 1936, on the issue of women in the priesthood.

“The ministration of women will tend to produce a lowering of the spiritual tone of Christian worship...it would be impossible for the male members to be present at a service at which a woman ministered without becoming unduly conscious of her sex.”

With regard to Scripture, our relationship with the divine has over the ages, Ali suggested, been a male relationship, extending over biblical hermeneutics, genealogies, language and symbolism. Sometimes, too, the Bible uses male/female relationships to delineate for example, in the relationship between Christ and his bride, the Church, which mirrors God’s relationship with Israel in the prophesies of Hosea.
When it comes to the Eucharist, male/female issues extend beyond the obvious argument that Christ was a man and must therefore be represented by a man. Sacrifice has, suggested Ali, been a male preserve, in most faiths and cultures. Priests officiating at a sacrament whose central theme is sacrifice always were, and, it would be argued, always must be male.

So what can women do? Ali put forward important ways in which women can transform the role of celebrant at the Eucharist. By witnessing to a history of exclusion and prejudice they can, she suggested, play a key role in challenging any and all ideas of domination. Second, while stereotypes for either gender are often misleading, women’s traditional role means that the stereotype of care and nurture, can be taken into the Eucharist and uncover a range of symbolic new meanings.

Women are made in the image of God and as priests must mediate this image, just as men have done hitherto. Ali was anxious not to be seen as diminishing the role of male priests, stressing instead that the roles of male and female priests complemented each other. Together, male and female priests can minister to the whole body of the Church in ways not possible up to now. Her lecture ended thus:
“Women and men serving together as priests witness to the God-intended relationship between the sexes of mutuality and reciprocity. Neither is dominant or subordinate, neither more or less in Imago Dei; both play an equal and vital role in being part of the Body of Christ. The Eucharist can now fulfil its destiny as an eschatological celebration that allows all believers to affirm their own identity and hope in God as bodily, sexed beings with a shared spiritual ethos expressed in diverse ways according to individuals’ ways of being in the world...All worshippers flourish at the wedding banquet in the presence of God beyond language, embodiment and gender. In communion with God through the symbolic use of the body, they experience most intimately the aspiration to become divine in a bodily participation with God. The true and full significance of the wedding feast can unfold as the female body fully participates in the narrative of faith.”

Bishop’s new Advisory Group in Guildford Diocese

Hilary Cotton reports: In a new venture, the Bishop of Guildford has appointed a group of women (4 clergy, one lay) whose concern is the ministry of ordained women.
This group:
• Succeeds the role of Diocesan Advisor in Women’s Ministry
• Aims to ensure that clergy appointments comply with the spirit of Equal Opportunities legislation
• Monitors statistics on the numbers and roles of clergywomen
• Assesses the adequacy of pastoral care for clergywomen
• With Diocesan senior staff, provides support and representation for clergywomen in situations of conflict or confrontation.
• Liaises with the national network for Diocesan Advisors on Women’s Ministry on current issues
• Reports regularly to the Bishop and senior staff
As the lay member of this Group, I am delighted that it is taking on a number of tasks that WATCH has been doing in Guildford, and which I have often advocated as more properly the responsibility of the Diocese. This frees WATCH Guildford to do other things...we have yet to get together and discuss what!

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