WOMEN IN THE PULPIT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21982, 17 June 1933, Page 22

WOMEN IN THE PULPIT

PRESENT LOSS TO THE MINISTRY ARCHBISHOP’S ANNOUNCEMENT; (From Our Own Correspondent.) ■ LONDON, May 12. The Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr Lang) announces in the Canterbury Diocesan Gazette that he has, approved certain regulations for the special recognition and regulation of -women’s work' in, the diocese. In making known his decision he refers to the value of women’s work arid adds:

“After full consultation with the bishops and, archdeacons and the Council for Women’s Work of the Diocese, I have drawn up certain regulations. Their object is to regularise the work, to give : authority ; and recognition to; those. who are engaged in it, and to Ip *ng its methods into line with other dioceses which have been foremost in giving, it a rightful, place in church order.” i The regulations provide that no license shall be granted to a woman under 25, and that licenses shall be granted to deaconesses and lay workers, . Special commissions will be given by the archbishop to women with special qualifications to speak in churches at other than the regular services, or to conduct retreats, or to give spiritual counsel. ' Further, authorisation will be given in certain cases for women workers of ability and . experience ,on the recommendation of a parish priest or appropriate diocesan organisation. The regulations also provide that where a stipendiary worker attains the standard far license there shall be a guarantee of an adequate stipend. DUAL MINISTRY ADVOCATED. . The throwing open of the ministry to women Was strongly advocated by the Rev. R. Rowntree Clifford, president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, in : his presidential address at the annual assembly of . the union at Glasgow.' “More than half the best brains and gifts in the life of the Church have,not been able to find free scope and full expression," declared Mr . Clifford. “The loss has been incalculable, Why, in the nature of things, should it be thought incredible that God would call women to the highest and most responsible offices and work of the church? Why should gifted women be, subjected to the indignity of limitations in the ministry of the Church because of sex?

“Increasing numbers of finely-trained and educated women, conscious of their powers, are in revolt. They realise > that the Church does not want them except on a subordinate and subjective basis. In the present state of society it is increasingly difficult to persuade a woman of this type, often richly endowed, with a soul on fire,/to use her'talents in the service of the Church. What do we offer, her? What status does she have in tho way of leadership, in the thought and action of the Church? What, we plead for is that the question of sex should be put on a higher plane in the Christian Church, and yet in a certain sense forgotten. “ I believe with all my heart in the vocation of a sister, whose ministry is pre-eminently essential in every church. But I do not believe in the limited avenue of service and the limited status given to her. The need of the hour Is a dual ministry, where a woman shall take her place on an equality with a man.” DR MAUDE ROYDEN’S VIEWS. “ Ths whole point with regard to women ministers,” says Dr A. Maude Royden, in a published statement, “is whether God ever gives a vocation for the ministry to a woman. If He does, the question of marriage, discipline, or ‘no demand’ is irrelevant. If He does not, they are irrelevant also. Why do those who make these inquiries never ask whether it is or is not possible for a woman to be called by God to the ministry? Unless they are prepared to state that there is some spiritual inferior it/ in women which makes suqh a spiritual cal] impossible, it seems difficult to guess what answer they can give to this question.”

Dr J. E. Kattenburyj, a Methodist minister, writes;—“The whole question of women and the ministry is being carefully considered t by the Methodist Church. The desire to give ministerial status to women is quite strong, but the difficulty is to find the proper manner to do it.

“I can see no reason why, in a congregational Church, a woman should not be appointed to a special church, but the connectional system of the Methodist ministry raises difficulties.”