Anglican Mainstream

Church of England Newspaper

By Matt Cresswell

CONSERVATIVE CLERGY have called for a debate on whether divorcees should be allowed to be bishops. Their concern follows the House of Bishops’ decision to issue a statement at next month’s General Synod declaring that a divorcee (or someone married to a divorcee) will face no legal objection to becoming a bishop.

Many are alarmed that a full debate was not scheduled and it is now likely that the issue will be pursued by a Private Members’ Bill. Anglican Mainstream said it was wrong for the House of Bishops to decide such a key doctrinal matter without a proper debate at Synod. The group said: “It is clear [from Canon Law] that the House of Bishops does not have sole authority to determine doctrine and liturgy for the Church of England without full consultation with and the consent of all three Houses which comprise the General Synod.

“The only body which can leg- islate or provide for the Church of England in matters touching doctrinal formulae or the services or ceremonies of the Church of England is the General Synod itself: not any one of its Houses acting alone.”

Anglican Mainstream also quoted several New Testament texts, citing the gospel of Matthew where Jesus argues that “what God has joined together, let man not separate.” The group also quoted 1 Timothy, where an “overseer” must be “the husband of but one wife.”

Some interpret this as being against polygamy, but a spokesperson for Anglican Mainstream said: “The context indicates that anyone who wishes to serve as a bishop must be completely without reproach, so as to exclude any with a history of a previous marriage to a former spouse.”

Forward in Faith member Fr Geoffrey Kirk told this paper that this was “another nail in the coffin for biblical authenticity for the Church of England.” He added: “To me this is more serious than gay bishops. We do not have a word from Jesus about homosexuality yet we have a very clear word from Jesus about divorcees remarrying.”

Synod member Alison Ruoff believed the Church of England’s planned statement went against both the Bible and the Church’s teaching.

Meanwhile, there is speculation surrounding the vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, the Rev Nick Holtam, who is thought to be a strong candidate to be the next Bishop of Southwark. He has been commended for raising millions for his church in Trafalgar Square but conservatives have noted that his wife is a divorcee.

Addressing the row, the Church of England said: “The House of Bishops considered at its meeting in York on May 17/18 the implications of marriage after divorce for eligibility for ordained ministry in the Church of England, including the episcopate. “The House had asked previously for clarification of the relevant legal background and, in the light of that, has now agreed that a statement setting out its approach to these issues should be prepared.”

It concluded: “There is no legal obstacle to persons who have remarried after divorce (or are married to spouses remaried after divorce) becoming bishops. The agreed policy is to pursue a discretionary approach on a case-by-case basis. This is a clarification’ in an area where there has previously been some uncertainty both about the legal background and the policy.“

Synod member the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin said the Church should be more caring to divorcees and remarried partners. “Divorcees are people called by God to proclaim his good news and his laws and I think the Church has at times been extremely judgmental and
harsh.” She added: “I am glad that Synod has not planned to debate it further as there are more important things for us to be looking at, such as the planned government cuts and how the Church can help those affected.”

In recent years, two bishops in the Church of England were either divorced and remarried or married to someone who is a divorcee. The former Bishop of Birmingham, the Rt Rev Mark Santer, married a divorcee while Bishop there. Also the current Bishop of Hull, the Rt Rev Richard Frith, remarried after his wife left him.

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