WOMEN PREACHERS

Evening Star, Issue 19520, 30 March 1927, Page 1

WOMEN PREACHERS

- ADVOCATED BY ANGLICAN B!?SJGP Dr Banies, the Bishop of Birmingham, has once again emphasised the importance of women preachers in tho Church of England (states the ‘ Daily Express’). He received recently a letter irom the local secretary of tho English Church Union protesting “against the invitation given to women to occupy church pulpits, as has been recently done . in the parish church, Birmingham, ns being contrary to the order _ and discipline of the church.” This letter also protests against the admission of Nonconformists and other unlicensed preachers to the pulpits of the church. Tho bishop, in Ids reply, voters to a resolution passed by tho Lambeth Conference of 1920, which states: “ In view of the prospect of reunion, a bishop is justified in occasionally authorising ministers not episcopally ordained to preach in churches within his diocese.” Dr Barnes adds those comments: — “The resolutions which were passed were (Rafted most carefully. Tho Church of England is an episcopal communion, and the fact that any body of men within it should challenge a decision of the conference and not realise that they are repudiating the principles of episcopal government will surprise many who are aware of tho facts.

“ 1 would further point out that this “esolution is not confined to ministers who are nien. Women rank equally with men in such questions of communion, such as the Salvation Army, and I cannot see how anyone could object to women representatives of the Salvation Army, such ns -Mrs Brannvell Booth—or Miss Hoyden—preachings'll Anglican churches with the permission of the bishop. “ Any invitations to women to preach in the parish church, Birmingham, have been issued with my cordial approval. They arc justified by another'resolution of the Lambeth Conference dealing purposely with women, which reads: ‘This conference agrees jfhat, although it is bound to respect The customs of the church, there is an element in them, which was bound up with the social conventions of the time at which they were made. As these differ from age to age, tho use which the church. makes of tho service of women will also differ.’

“Women who have been approved by myself have spoken-at the series of mid-week services held at the parish church, Birmin.diani. Largo congregfFtions have listened to them, and no cause of offence has ever been given by their preaching. “ I am not prepared to repudiate the Lambeth Conference in this matter, nor as regards sermons- by Free Church ministers from pulpits of our churches, and it. is for this reason that I cannot agree with tho requests contained in your letter.”