Church of England bishops overseeing parishes opposed to ordained women need extra help
[Church of England] Independent Reviewer Canon Maggie Swinson is recommending extra support for two bishops who provide extended episcopal oversight to parishes with a conservative stance on the ordination of women.
The role of the Independent Reviewer was established under the House of Bishops’ Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests, drawn up in 2014 ahead of legislation paving the way for the consecration of women as bishops.
The declaration, and the accompanying Five Guiding Principles, set out the arrangements for parishes that seek the priestly or episcopal ministry of men on grounds of theological conviction.
The Independent Reviewer operates as ombudsman-style role, ruling on concerns and disputes over the operation of the declaration.
In her Sept. 23 report, Swinson explores the workload and geographical spread of the ministries of Beverley Bishop Stephen Race and Ebbsfleet Bishop Rob Munro.
Race one of the Church of England’s Provincial Episcopal Visitors, who is responsible for providing extended episcopal oversight to traditional catholic parishes across the north of England. The report notes that the number of parishes under his authority increased following the retirement of the former bishop of Wakefield, who had previously provided oversight to a number of traditional catholic churches in Yorkshire.
Munro serves complementarian evangelical congregations across the whole of England singlehandedly. The report notes that he has not only seen an increase over time in the number of parishes formally under his care, he also provides informal support to some others.
Swinson notes that, as well as having more parishes under their care than many other bishops, the two bishops also travel much greater distances. The report also explores the particular pastoral challenges of such a dispersed ministry.
She also notes that, unlike the Provincial Episcopal Visitors who provide cover for each other in some cases, Munro currently has no one who can deputize for him.
Swinson concludes that both bishops need extra support. She recommends that, as an interim measure, they could receive support with work that does not need to be carried out by a bishop, while longer term solutions are found.
