The Rev. Ephraim Radner, professor of historical theology at Wycliffe College in Toronto, says the July 14 decision in the Church of England permitting women to be consecrated bishops, while following a hard and responsible debate, will bring “a good bit of angst” on the ecumenical front.
Writing for First Things, he explains: “Without question, the Church of England has furnished the core of theological and ecclesial leadership in international dialogues, with North Americans having slowly disappeared from such gatherings. What now? I would guess the challenges will be greater with respect to the Orthodox. The Roman Catholic Church has long, formally, and repeatedly insisted that Anglican orders are ‘null and void’ in any case. That being the case, it is hard to see how a new insuperable bar has been imposed on ecclesial recognition, let alone discussion.”
Read the full article, What Women Bishops Mean for Christian Unity.
