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Let Women Be Women:

Equality, Ministry & Ordination

by Peter Toon

Gracewing.  Fowler Wright Books, 1990 

Contents

 Preface

1.         Ordain women now!

2.         The full programme

3.         An inescapable question

4.         Ministry and Priesthood

5.         By whose authority?

6.         Affirming the masculine

7.         Celebrating the feminine

8.         Conclusion

Appendix: The proposed legislation for the C. of E. 

Preface

      This is a book which I felt I ought to write but which I did not want to write, because it means I am involved in a controversy about the rights of women and run the risk of being misunderstood and called a male chauvinist!  My purpose in writing may be expressed quite simply.  It is to invite my reader to consider that the subject of the ordination of women to the presbyterate (= priesthood) cannot stand alone as an isolated topic.  We may wish that it could be looked at by itself alone as a subject in its own right but this is not possible.  In fact my purpose in writing the book was to reflect theologically, on the relationship (established by God in his self-revelation to us) between, on the one hand, the presbyter (= priest) or bishop, and, on the other, three themes – the male identity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the names (e.g. “Father”) by which we address the Godhead in our worship, and the equality, dignity and vocation of male and female as creatures made in God’s image.

      I have tried to produce a non-technical book on a subject keenly debated not only in the Church of England (and Anglicanism generally) but also in the Roman Catholic Church.  I have written not for theologians but for those who are discussing this matter at the various levels of decision-making in the Anglican Communion (the local parish and the diocesan and national synods).  However, it is my sincere hope that Roman Catholics will also find what I say useful and helpful, for as far as I can judge from my reading of their magazines and newspapers, virtually all I have to say applies very much to their own situation too.

      My method is simple.  First, I set out as fairly as possible the case for ordaining women as priests/bishops.  Secondly, I seek to show the real aims of some of those who are pressing for the ordination of women; and I indicate that their total agenda follows from their arguments for the ordaining of women as priests (not deacons).  Thirdly, I reflect on the meaning given to ministry and priesthood in the New Testament.  I do this in order to set the topic of ordained ministry in its rich biblical context.  Fourthly, I present the case for restricting the orders of priest and bishop to men who are called thereunto by Christ; and I set this case in its own agenda with reflections on patriarchy, the maleness of Jesus, the language we use to address God in worship, and the dignity and ministry of women.

      For those who wish to go deeper into the case I have presented I commend Man, Woman & Priesthood (ed. James Tolhurst, 1990) which is from the same British publisher as this book.  I refer to it several times as M.W.P.  An even more substantial book worthy of careful study is Manfred Hauke, Women in the Priesthood? (Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 1988).

      I would also commend Man and Woman in Christian Perspective by Werner Never (Hodder & Stoughton, 1990).

      The title of this book relates it to another book of which I am a co-author: it is Let God be God (Darton, Longman & Todd in the UK and Morehouse Publications in the U.S.A., 1989) and it invites readers to let God provide for us the names we use to address him in worship.

      I have used the new Revised English Bible in the text.  My reason for this is that I believe it represents a sensible attempt to use inclusive language for humanity.

      Finally I wish to thank Sheridan Swinson, my editor, for entrusting me with this assignment as well as John Saward, Fred Cape and Vita, my wife, for their help in clarifying my ideas.

Peter Toon

Staindrop Vicarage.

Feast of St Peter, Apostle:

29 June 1990.