WOMEN IN THE CHURCH

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 48, 25 August 1922, Page 2

WOMEN IN THE CHURCH

VALUE OF DEACONESSES

_ Whether women should be allowed ,to minister in Anglican Churches has been the subject of much controversy in England. In the Lower House of the Con-1 >vocation of Canterbury s" report on the subject of dMconeues in the Church was presented' by the Doan of Salisbury recently. A committee, having considered certain proposals of the Lambeth Conference of 1920, said the Dean, had come to the coneluiioh that deaconesses were essential to Church life. It. was fof women the one and only order . of the ministry which had the stamp of Apostolic approval and the only order of ministry which their branch of the Church could recognise and use. The proposals of the com- \ mittee were that a deaconess should be dedicated to a lifelong service of the . Church.-^ ■••■••.,■..■- : - ■>■■.■■.;■■" '. - YSh« would give instructions m the Christian faith, prepare candidates for baptism and confirmation, .assist at baptism, and be the administrant at a private baptism in the absence of the minister. . With the approval .of the i bishop , and incumbent she would read Morning and Evening Prayer and the Litany,' ex- \ ©Spt' such portions as were assigned ito the priest only, and would lead in Church prayer and ','instruct and exhort the con-" gregation"; would organise aiid "carry = out Social work; would nave a responsible part in education •.:of women and '. children; and would promote the welfare of;.-. women students at the universities .and elsewhere {No woman could be ordained \urider. the age:; of 25, and in many cases under, the age of 30, and an^advieory council would be set up.in each'diocese, under the chairmanship of the bishop, to superintend their work. L ' Dr» B. J.. Kidd said ;thtt they must recognise the i spiritual equality j.of. women with' men, amd women/ must recognise ■ that! subordination of function vwas > opmpatible witn it. „,..*,-. Two amendments prohibiting deacon-1 esses from reading Morning'and Evening Prayer.and the Litany, and from leading in prayer and preaching at church vices," were each carried by large,, majorities, and the report was, accepted, i.. :.