VOLUME • 72 NUMBER • 4 APRIL 1989 publication. and reuse for required Barbara Harris: Bishop Permission • Li Tim-Oi • J. Antonio Ramos DFMS. / • Rosemary Ruether Church • Robert L. DeWitt • Monica Furlong Episcopal the • Paul Washington of Archives 2020. Copyright Chronology of events concerning women in holy orders 1862 The Bishop of London orders a deacon- 1973 The General Convention rejects ordina- meeting censures the actions of the Philadel- ess with the laying on of hands. tion of women to the priesthood and 56 bish- phia bishops. ops issue a statement expressing distress. 188S Deaconesses are ordered in the Episco- 1976 September: General Convention ap- pal church. 1974 June: Sermons preached in Cambridge, proves the ordination of women to the priest- Philadelphia and Syracuse call for ordination hood and episcopate, and agrees that the pre- 1920 Lambeth Conference (of all Anglican of women to the priesthood. July 10: Bish- vious ordinations may be regularized, not bishops) concludes "ordination of a deacon- ops, priests, deacons and laypeople meet in repeated. November: The Church of Canada ess confers on her holy orders." Philadelphia to plan an ordination. July 29: begins to ordain women priests. Service at Philadelphia's Church of the Ad- 1930 Lambeth changes its mind, asserts dea- vocate. Two retired and one resigned bishop 1977 Jan. 1 marks the date that women may conesses are not in holy orders. ordain 11 women deacons to the priesthood. be ordained to the priesthood under Episco- A diocesan bishop is present but does not pal Church canons. October: At a House of 1935 A Church of England commission re- ordain. July 30: Some of the women priests Bishops meeting Presiding Bishop Allin an- publication. ports it finds no compelling reason for or are inhibited by their bishops from priestly nounces he "is unable to accept women in functions, some inhibited as deacons; others and against ordination of women, but affirms an the role of priest" and offers to resign. Bish- all male-priesthood. agree voluntarily to refrain from priestly ops affirm Allin's leadership and adopt a ministry. July 31: Presiding Bishop John "conscience clause" which states no bishop, reuse 1944 Bishop R. O. Hall of Hong Kong or- Allin calls a special meeting of the House of priest or layperson will be penalized for op- for dains Li Tim-Oi as priest. In the face of Bishops to deal with the questions raised by posing the ordination of women. worldwide censure, she ceases to function as the ordination. Aug. 15: The bishops meet in a priest for many years. Chicago, decry the action of the four bishops 1978 Lambeth accepts women's ordination as a "violation of collegiality" and declare required the ordinations did not fulfill the necessary in principle, but recommends that no prov- 1964 General Convention changes the can- conditions for validity. The 11 women state ince consecrate a woman bishop "without ons to read that deaconesses are "ordered" they cannot accept the bishops' actions. Dr. consultation with the Primates and over- rather than "appointed." Charles Willie resigns as vice president of whelming support in any member Church. lest the Bishop's office become a source of Permission the House of Deputies in protest. August: 1965 Bishop James Pike formally recognizes Charges are filed against the Philadelphia disunity instead of a focus of unity." Phyllis Edwards as a deacon because of her bishops. October: The House of Bishops re- ordination as a deaconess. 1988 July: General Convention passes "Epis- DFMS. affirms its 1972 endorsement of the principle / of women's ordination, but agrees almost copal Visitors" resolution, which permits — 1966 U.S. House of Bishops receives report unanimously not to act until an affirmative for a six-year period — congregations or on "The Proper Place of Women in the Min- action of the next General Convention. Oct. clergy opposed to a woman bishop to ask for Church istry of the Church" and asks the next Lam- 27: The Rev. Alison Cheek, the Rev. Carter a visiting male bishop. August: Lambeth beth to consider the ordination of women to Heyward, the Rev. Jeannette Piccard pub- states that provinces may appoint a woman the priesthood. licly celebrate an Episcopal Eucharist in bishop, but no part is obliged to and all are New York's Riverside Church. November: asked to respect each other's standpoint. Episcopal 1968 Lambeth refers the question of ordain- The Rev. Alison Cheek celebrates at St. Sept. 24: The Rev. Barbara C. Harris is ing women to the member churches of the elected Suffragan Bishop of Massachusetts the Stephen's and the Incarnation in Washing- on the eighth ballot. November: The Arch- of Anglican Communion for further study. It ton, D.C. at the invitation of the Rev. Wil- endorses the principle that deaconesses are liam Wendt who is charged and later tried bishop of Canterbury issues a statement say- within the diaconate. for violations of the canons. December: Two ing "The Church of England does not canoni- women priests celebrate at Christ Church, cally accept the ministry of women priests Archives 1970 At General Convention in the House of Oberlin, Ohio at the invitation of the Rev. and bishops." Deputies the lay order passes but the clergy Peter Beebe who is charged and later tried 2020. order rejects ordination of women as priests. for canonical violations. 1989 January: A majority of diocesan Stand- The bishops do not vote on the issue. ing Committees and bishops consent to Har- ris' election. Feb. 11: Presiding Bishop Ed- 1971 The Anglican Consultative Council, an 1975 April: Board of Inquiry reviews charges mond L. Browning leads the consecration of Copyright international lay and clergy body meeting against ordaining bishops — declares the the Rt. Rev. Barbara C. Harris in Boston be- between Lambeth, declares it is acceptable matter is doctrinal and should be handled by fore a crowd of 8500 — 60 bishops partici- for a bishop to ordain a woman with consent the House of Bishops. July: The Church of pate in the laying on of hands. of his national church or province. The England's Synod approves the principle of Bishop of Hong Kong ordains two women. women's ordination. September: Bishops of Updated from a chronology compiled by Janette Episcopal women begin to be ordained as the Church of Canada endorse women's S. Pierce for Daughters of Prophecy, a special deacons. ordination. Sept. 7: Bishop George Barrett, WITNESS issue on the 10th anniversary of the resigned Bishop of Rochester, ordains four "Philadelphia 11" ordinations. Pierce, managing 1972 The House of Bishops votes 74-61 in women deacons at the Church of St. editor of The Episcopalian when she died in favor of the principle of ordaining women as Stephen's and the Incarnation in January, 1988, was a leading supporter of priests. Washington. Sept. 19: The House of Bishops women's ordination. THE WITNESS THE WITNESS Editor Mary Lou Suhor Assistant Editor Susan E. Pierce Sr. Contributing Editor Robert L DeWitt Contributing Editors Barbara C. Harris Carter Heyward James Lewis Manning Marable J. Antonio Ramos William W. Rankin Staff Ann Hunter Susan Small publication. and Publisher Episcopal Church Publishing Co. Table of Contents reuse for ECPC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Happy-go-lucky Bobby now bishop in God's church 4 Marjorie Nichols Farmer Chair J. Antonio Ramos required Li Tim-Oi on Barbara Harris Carman St. J. Hunter Vice-Chair 6 WITNESS interview with Li Tim Oi Secretary Gloria Brown Permission Treasurer Robert N. Eckersley Patriarchy strikes back John H. Burt 9 Pamela W. Darling DFMS. Alice Callaghan / Otis Charles Paul Washington makes history again Migdalia DeJesus-Torres 12 Susan E. Pierce Church William R. MacKaye Nan Arlington Peete From England, with love William W. Rankin Chester L Talton 14 Monica Furlong Episcopal Chris Weiss the Uppity women and authentic ecumenism of 16 THE WITNESSS (ISSN0197-8896) is published Rosemary Radford Ruether monthly except July/August by The Episcopal Church Publishing Company. Editorial Office: On gender, education and ideology Archives P.O. Box 359, Ambler, PA 19002. Telephone 18 J. Antonio Ramos (215) 643-7067. THE WITNESS is indexed in 2020. Religious and Theological Abstracts and the American Theological Library Association's Reli- The ECPC/WITNESS connection gion Index One Periodicals. University Microfilms 20 Robert L. DeWitt International, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Copyright Ml 48106, reproduces this publication in micro- form: microfiche and 16 mm or 35 mm film. ... and full color consecration photo on page 25 Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 1989. SUBSCRIP- TIONS: $20 per year, $2.50 per copy. Foreign subscriptions add $5 per year. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please advise of changes at least 6 weeks in advance. Include Cover photo Michael Heayn, design TSI Visuals; photo p. 4 courtesy Phila- your label from the magazine and send to: Sub- delphia High School for Girls; photos p. 5, 19, 21, Jim Solheim, The Episcopal Times; photo scription Dept., THE WITNESS, P.O. Box 359, p. 6, Mark Ellidge, The London Times; photos p. 13, 23, 27, David Zadig, The Episcopal Ambler PA 19002. Times; graphic p. 14, Margaret Longdon; photo p. 17, John Tlumacki, The Boston Globe; color photo, p. 25, Wendy Maeda, The Boston Globe. April 1989 Spirited, happy-go-lucky Bobby... scious awareness of God's presence the ways that God has spoken, moved, throughout life and beyond time. worked, and sung — in your life. As an adult, an English teacher, and a That was the particular message for lover of the great tradition of English lit- me — a sharer with Barbara of the Black erary mysticism and the history of the heritage. That is where my understand- English church, I made with my husband ing of the event began, as it must for the choice of raising our sons in the each of us, with the keen sense of whole- Episcopal Church and working actively ness and integrity of the self, and its ho- in the congregation.