The Archbishop of Canterbury
has announced the appointment of two flying bishops to provide pastoral
care and sacramental ministry to Anglicans unable to accept female
clergy.
The Rev Jonathan Baker and the Rev Norman Banks will be consecrated
as Bishop of Ebbsfleet and Bishop of Richborough respectively at a
service at Southwark Cathedral on June 16.
Part of their responsibility as episcopal visitors will be to ensure
that “the integrity of differing beliefs and positions concerning the
ordination of women to the priesthood should be mutually recognised and
respected".
Their appointment follows the departure of the previous flying
bishops, Keith Newton and Andrew Burnham, who joined the ordinariate in
the Catholic Church in January along with 900 other Anglicans
disillusioned with the Church of England over its commitment to women
bishops.
Announcing the appointment of Baker and Banks today, Dr Williams
said: “They are taking up a very demanding pastoral ministry at a time
of much upheaval and uncertainty, and will need our prayers and
friendship as we work in the Church of England for a future in which
there is full mutual respect and constructive work in mission to be
undertaken together.”
Forward in Faith welcomed the appointments in a statement, saying
they would lay the foundations of a “permanent and equitable provision”
for traditionalists in the Church of England.
“Forward in Faith is particularly grateful that the Archbishop of
Canterbury has, by these appointments, demonstrated his confidence in a
real future in the Church of England for traditionalists who are unable
in conscience to receive the ordination of women as priests or bishops,”
it said.
Anglo-Catholic group the Society of the Holy Cross said the
appointments of Baker and Banks would bring “joy and a renewed sense of
confidence to many, who will look to them to give to the whole of the
Church of England an understanding and recognition of its Catholic
identity”.
“We are grateful to the Archbishop of Canterbury for all the trouble
and care he has taken over recent months to secure this happening. The
Church of England will indeed be fortunate to have two such good pastors
in its episcopate,” it said.
Women and the Church (WATCH) said, however, that it was “deeply disappointed” by the appointment of Baker and Banks.
“They will be bishops who do not recognise women as priests, and
oppose the appointment of women as bishops,” the group said in a
statement.
“The vast majority of people inside and outside the Church of England want to see the Church led by women as well as men.