Summary of Conclusions

Women in Ministry:
A Study

Published by Church Information Office
Church House, Westminster, SW1. 1968, pp. 59-60

Basic to Real Decisions

The Church of England must determine its policy about:

(1) The ordination of women to the priesthood. (Chapter VIII, page 39)

(2) The nature and use of the diaconate. (Chapter VIII, pages 39-41)

(3) The status and work of the deaconess. (Chapters VIII and IX, pages 41, 52, 53)

Immediate Reforms

(1) Deaconesses should be permitted to fulfil all the functions now open to deacons (with the possible exception, because of legal complications, of solemnising marriages). (Chapter IX, pages 52, 53)

(2) All accredited lay workers, both men and women, should be given the same status with functions stated in the licence. Those to whom it is appropriate to entrust liturgical functions should be permitted to do all that is done under the proposed Canons and Regulations by Readers. (Chapter IX, pages 53-56)

(3) Provision should be made for deaconesses and licensed lay workers to share in the consultative and decision making processes of the Church at appropriate levels. This will be especially important when proposals for Synodical Government and Group Ministries are implemented. (Chapters VII, VIII and IX, pages 35-58)

(4) Arrangements for the accrediting of lay workers, both men and women, should be reviewed by ACCM and CWMC. (Chapter IX, page 54)

In particular:

(a) CWMC might discuss with the Conference of Mothers Superior the question whether some individual sisters should hold the bishop’s licence. (Chapter IV, page 21)

(b) Church social workers employed by the Church should continue to be accredited by the Church. (Chapter IV, page 21)

(c) It should be considered whether every Church Army officer should be admitted to the one office of Evangelist. (Chapter IX, pages 54, 55)

(5) Conditions of appointment, tenure, pay and pensions should be reviewed.(Chapters VI and IX, pages 31-34, 56)

In particular:

(a) Grants for salaries should be realistic. (Chapter VI, page 33)

(b) A non-contributory pension scheme should be considered. (Chapter VI, page 33)

(6) Provision should be made for the training and employment of married women. (Chapter IX, pages 56-58)

Matters Needing Further Consideration

(1) When ACCM looks at extra-parochial ministries, the lay as well as ordained ministries should be considered. (Chapter IV, page 24)

(2) The training and accrediting of Readers and other voluntary workers should be considered. (Chapter IX, page 56)

(3) Joint training of men and women should be evaluated. (Chapter VII, page 38)

(4) The church should make provision, at local level, for fellowship among Christian social workers not in the employment of the Church. (Chapter IV, pages 21, 22)

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