What is All Saints’ Position on Women’s Ordination?
July 6, 2009
Anglican Answers
Q: It appears that All Saints in a Spirit filled church with many vibrant ministries. What is this church’s belief on women’s ordination?
A: All Saints is a deeply traditional, yet also completely Biblically-governed and powerfully Spirit-led congregation, practicing the Faith “once delivered” to the saints in the venerable Anglican way. Since we take a conservative approach to Scripture, we make it our number one priority to do exactly as it says. Our view on the ordination of our ladies is a prime example of that outlook.
Female ordination has been a divisive issue across Christianity in general, and particularly in the Anglican communion. In fact, I have even heard a number of bishops, including our present archbishop, refer to the differing opinions on that as the “two integrities,” indicating both have honorable, heartfelt differences on the issue. We share that outlook. Since everyone has to be somewhere, however, we are on the more conservative side of this issue.
Since we have always been concerned with continuing the unbroken practice of the Church since the Apostles themselves, then, we take the position that, whereas there are undeniably good, godly women called to minister in Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, the issue of Apostolic leadership for them via Holy Orders is far less clear—and, in fact, is actually not well supported in the Canon of Scripture.
This is not to say those who differ with us are in heresy—however, the more conservative viewpoint at All Saints is that these godly women are more properly called to the ancient order of deaconess, rather than the Apostolic Orders of Deacons, Priests and Bishops. As deaconesses, they serve in a number of traditionally ministerial roles, such as teaching, caring for the sick and needy, and prayer, but not as clergy in sacramental, parochial leadership or liturgical settings. The bottom line: there are no female clergy at All Saints.
Of course, there’s a huge amount of discussion on this issue, in a number of venues—ranging from pure emotional arguments, to very scholarly, exegetical Bible study, but the telling truth for us is that references requiring all three of the Biblical leadership posts—deacons, priests and bishops—to be “husband[s] of one wife.” Add the fact that none of our Lord’s apostles were female, even though there were most certainly godly, intelligent women called to His service among the disciples, and we’re convinced that All Saints is on solid and reliable ground limiting ordained ministry to men only. If we’re wrong (and I honestly don’t think we are), then we have remained on the more conservative ground and not moved into a Scripturally-questionable area. In short, it’s more solid ground for us.
This in no way implies condemnation to those Anglican congregations that employ females in clergy roles—but is our faithfulness to our heartfelt convictions—our “integrity” as our bishops like to say. We love them—they love us—and we agree to disagree and let the Lord sort it all out at His perfect time. The Word tells us that Christians are distinguished by the love they have one for another—and so we ask the Holy Spirit to always lead us by that love!
This is the overriding manner in which we do business at All Saints—remaining as close to the guidance we get from Scripture as we can, while also ensuring we are as open to a personal Pentecost as possible. Add our reformed catholic practice, and you can get a good picture of the stability these seemingly opposing influences can provide—the perfect spiritual gyroscope—a true “Three Streams” parish. We love how the Lord works among us!
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