Sheffield vicar praises Bishop’s support for women’s cause

A local female priest says the Bishop of Sheffield has been a "tremendous encouragement" following recent setbacks over the ordination of women bishops.

The Right Reverend Dr Steven Croft was in favour of the motion at the Church of England’s meeting of the General Synod in November. It was only narrowly defeated by the House of Laity, which includes lay preachers.

"Led the way"

Tina Hodges, Associate Minister at the Beacon Church of St Pauls and St Leonards in the Arbourthorne area of Sheffield, told Seven Hills Online: "That Bishop Steven led the way by his response, reminded me that this is not an issue where women priests are isolated, but is a 'problem shared' at the highest level.

Did you know?

The Church of England only allowed women to become priests in 1992 with the first ordinations taking place in 1994.

"Bishop Steven has been a tremendous encouragement to this Diocese (women as well as men) in the short time he has been in office. What I admire most about our Bishop is that his head is in direct proportion to his heart and spirit".

Dr Croft released a statement in the wake of the proposal's defeat, which said he was "deeply saddened" by the decision. It continued: "I deeply value and cherish [women’s] ministries as do the parishes where they serve."

This issue took centre stage at the Diocesan Synod that followed with the Bishop "affirming [the] Christian understanding of the equality of women and men before God in society and in the life of the Church."

"Heartened response"

Reverend Hodges, a priest for more than a decade, added: "The night Synod announced that the House of Laity were not yet ready for women to be Bishops anytime soon, as I wept I was heartened to read the response from many of my male colleagues, who shared my disappointment and fully understood the grief that many women priests feel at this time.

"What we need is not a knee jerk reaction out of disappointment but a thoughtful, intentional approach to bring wisdom and revelation as we manage a complicated situation."

Her future outlook remains bright: "If we can do a consistent job of helping our congregations to develop similar 'proportions' [to the Bishop] then I believe women will take their place side by side with men in the Episcopacy soon enough."

by Jamie Clark