Edition 37 Summer 2020 Women and the Church Affirming Challenging Transforming Rose Hudson-Wilkin becomes Church’s first female black bishop From the Editor Cath Williamson Welcome to this edition of Outlook, being published, as it is, in a strange and difficult time for many of us. The magazine the WATCH committee planned in January is very different to the one we have actually arrived at. Events have been cancelled and photographic opportunities disappeared. However, the work of WATCH has OUTLOOK is the annual magazine of WATCH continued, albeit over Zoom and other remote Women And The Church media. In this issue, we present an update on our strategy and discuss the on- This edition was edited by going work exploring and challenging the Five Guiding Principles. We outline Cath Williamson the work of the Transformations Group, particularly the provision – finally - of a Chair national maternity policy for clergy. We include photographs of priests who are Revd Canon Dr Emma Percy women responding to the pandemic in various, creative ways. Whatever the wider [email protected] circumstances, and who knows what the rest of the year will bring, we remain Joint Vice Chairs WATCHing to ensure that the Church of England is a fully inclusive place for women. Felicity Cooke (Ely) Esther Elliot (Edinburgh) From the Chair Emma Percy Treasurer John Briggs (Oxford) I am writing this report in the middle of lockdown [email protected] in this very strange spring of 2020. We have not Secretary been allowed in our churches and we have had Claire Creese to learn new ways of worshipping. The Church [email protected] Twittersphere has had heated debates about the The Committee place of our buildings, the sacraments and the Yvonne Clarke (Southwark) role of clergy. Some of these debates have raised Jenny Humphreys (Bath & Wells) interesting questions about gender and space. Mary Kells (Portsmouth) Personally, I have missed the buildings and the music. I have found preaching into Michèle Kitto (Bath & Wells) Rosalind Rutherford (Oxford) an iPad in my room a very different experience from engaging with real people. Michael Smith (Winchester) Bishop Rose preaches at her installation in Canterbury Cathedral I have, however, been amazed at the dedication of so many in making worship Anne Stevens (London) Photo credit: Canterbury Diocese possible. Let us hope that some of this creativity continues to shape our worship. Lizzie Taylor (Ely) Cath Williamson (Sheffield) This last year for WATCH has been one of continuing to ensure that careful research Bishop Rose responds with ‘yes’ enables us to challenge the Church on issues that particularly impact women. The Honorary Vice Presidents November Transformations Day included research conducted by WATCH into the The Rt Revd Anne Hollinghurst By Cath Williamson roles of Deans of Women’s Ministry carried out for us by Susy Brouhard. Amongst Ann Cryer JP other issues, it highlighted the area of harassment and bullying and WATCH has The Very Revd Dr Jane Hedges The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, became Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, said: “When in begun to analyse diocesan provisions. Diana Johnson MP the Church of England’s first black female bishop when October, Rose stepped down as Chaplain to the Speaker, The Revd Lucy Winkett she was consecrated in a service at St Paul’s Cathedral. the tributes from all sides showed her pastoral, prophetic The Five Guiding Principles and the legislation around them continues to be Professor Nicola Slee and faith-sharing gifts. Even in times of division, she was Sir Peter Bottomley MP Bishop Rose said: “Beginning this new ministry, there is a a cause of concern for many women in the Church. I have been sitting on the a point of unity and hope, to those of any or no faith. The Baroness Howe of Idlicote sense of awe in it all. But also something refreshing about central Implementation and Dialogue group which has just reported to the House Through much struggle and suffering in her life she has being open to the new things that God has in store, not of Bishops. I cannot comment any further at the moment except to say that the WATCH office become one of the most exceptional of Christian leaders WATCH - National, PO Box 309, just for me as a person taking on this new leadership role, experience has, at times, been surreal. Here, again, there seems to be little showing, in word and deed, confidence in Jesus Christ as CHIPPING NORTON, OX7 9FP but for our diocese as a whole. I’m excited: I’ve got lots of experience of the current equality culture in the world beyond the Church. Lizzie life, liberty and love.” Taylor, a member of the WATCH committee, has been working tirelessly for us in Charity Number: 1171267 new people to meet, to get to know, and that fills me with asking for Transparency. We accept that churches can discriminate against women Registered Address: joy.” At her installation sermon in Canterbury Cathedral, Bishop Rose said: “At the age of fourteen years, I felt God’s call on for ‘theological’ reasons, but we do not understand why they are not upfront about Verger’s Cottage, 1 Gog Magog Way, Bishop Rose was born and raised in Jamaica. She studied Stapleford, Cambridge, CB22 5BQ my life. At that time, there were no women in leadership the fact that they do. at Birmingham University and was commissioned as a roles behind the altar. We were there, though, as cleaners www.womenandthechurch.org Church Army evangelist in 1982. She was priested in 1994 On practical issues, we are still making changes to reflect that WATCH is a charity. and tea makers and flower arrangers. But I knew I was and, after serving her title in Lichfield Diocese, worked as We need to ensure that all our work connects to our objectives and that we make being called and naturally responded with the kind of ‘yes’ a priest in Hackney for sixteen years. In 2007, she was also the best use of the income we have. We thank Mark Bennet for his work as treasurer Design and Production that said: ‘I will be faithful to your call but will leave you Orange and Blue: appointed as a Chaplain to the Queen and from 2010 to over many years. At last, we have a new treasurer in John Briggs. Part of the change to work out how it is going to happen. Four years later, I orangeandblue.agency / 2019 she served as Chaplain to the Speaker of the House for WATCH has been moving our banking to CAF bank and we do need to move all joined the Church Army (they had women) and sixteen 01865 590515 of Commons, the first woman appointed to the position. our members over to this system. Many of you have made the change and we thank years after that I was ordained as a deacon. I waited She was awarded an MBE in 2020 for ‘services to young you for this. Others still need to make the move. The information you need is set out another three years for when women were first allowed to in this issue of Outlook and on the website. people and to the Church’. Front Cover: Front cover: The Rt Revd Rose be priests. During that time there was always that hunger Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, at her Welcoming Bishop Rose’s appointment, the Most Revd to share Christ with others.” WATCH is still needed as we work to challenge the Church to be a place where consecration at St Paul’s Cathedral, London women flourish. Thank you for being part of that. (Photo credit: Graham Lacdao / St Paul’s Cathedral). Other images used with permission An update on the strategy for WATCH VALUES STATEMENT WATCH CODE OF BEHAVIOUR WATCH will: The WATCH strategic plan has been in place for nearly two • Affirms the right of women to be treated years and the various aims identified under the five over- equitably in the Church; • Act with compassion, even when angry; arching goals have moved forward at different paces. Some • Challenges the Church to develop a culture and • Act collaboratively, even when excluded; practice in which women are treated equitably; • Use an evidence-based approach to pursue our are marching on rapidly; others are following a slower and • Seeks to transform the understanding of goals. more tentative path. women’s place in the Church. By Felicity Cooke are right or justified in any way. The exemptions from the and for as long as this is the case WATCH will pursue its 2010 Equality Act allowed by the Church are seemingly strategic aims with energy, determination and faith. The work on a handbook to the Five Guiding Principles stretched almost to breaking point, in a number of areas, (see article in this edition of Outlook) is throwing up Building upon these foundations there are five strategies not least that of sex equality. This ought to be a matter of some concerning issues, ranging from the way in which for WATCH. The short-terms goals for each strategy are real concern to the Church. It certainly is to WATCH. the principles themselves are interpreted by different VISION STATEMENT included below: groups within the Church to the behaviour meted out to WATCH has a vision of the Church of England as a The ultimate success of an organisation like WATCH is ordained women by some of those who do not accept community of God’s people where, regardless of that it no longer needs to exist. Sadly, that is not yet true, their ordination.