DEACONESSES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 1, 1 July 1938, Page 14

DEACONESSES

NO "FOURTH ORDER"

(From "Tha Post's" Representative.) LONDON, June 4.

The position of women in the Church of England came before the Lower House: of Convocation in a discussion in London on a report on the status of deaconesses which has been before both Houses of Convocation on several occasions. A proposal to ordain deaconesses on an equality. with deacons, Who constitute the present Third Order of the Ministry, was rejected by a'large majority.

The Archdeacon of Southwark said that, there was a considerable difference both on. the status and functions of deaconesses, but they all welcomed an expansion of the work of the Order.

Canon P. Williams, Christ Church,! Oxford,, a member of the Social Committee, said it appeared that the Church was.assuming-power to invent a fourth Holy Order, unknown to Christendom. If that were so, it was a very daring step to take. He was afraid it would cause a certain amount of pain and disappointment to those who had accepted the mistaken office of Deaconess under the impression that they were being admitted to the Third Order of the Ministry. - The Dean of St. Paul's, Dr. W. R. Matthews, declared that the Ministry of the Church must be adapted to the changing world. PROPOSED EXTENSION OF DUTIES. At the same time the place of women in the Church was discussed by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland at Edinburgh. It was recommended by a special committee that the order of deaconesses te given such extension of function together with appropriate training as should include the teaching and preaching of the Word, especially to women and girls. A deaconess would be ordained and set apart to her office by. a presbytery, and would be qualified to exercise such functions as are now exercised by licentiates, but would not be regarded as a probationer for Orders as a Minister of the. Church.

The Rev. Oswald Milligan (Edinburgh) thought the greatest need of the modern Church was a teaching ministry. They knew the degree in which women possessed the gift both of public speech and of clear exposition. Why should not the Church enrich its life by having women teachers?

The Rev. Dr. J. T. Cox (Aberdeen) said this was an important innovation and ought to be sent down to presbyteries for consideration and suggestion. He moved accordingly.

Dr. White, while agreeing with the scheme, supported Dr. Cox's proposal, which was carried.