I am sharing a letter I wrote to the Trinity College Faculty, staff & students as the Principal when in 2012 The Church of England’s general synod narrowly failed to pass the proposal that women priests be allowed to become Bishops in the Church of England. It was defeated because several who voted against the measure felt that adequate provisions were not made to protect the minority who in good conscience could not accept the episcopal over sight of women bishops. I felt it was important for me to pin my colours and that of the college in affirming women in their God ordained calling to engage in the full range of opportunities in the ministries of the Church. I hope you will find my letter thoughtful and helpful.

,My dear brothers and sisters in Christ

I know that many of us will have been upset by the rejection by General Synod of the Church of England’s measure to permit the ordination of women to the episcopate. Some of you were in Chapel on Wednesday morning where I made a brief comment about my personal commitment and that of the college to support and equip women in their calling and vocation to all forms of leadership within the life of the Church.

I have been involved in the arena of world mission for more than thirty years and know of the remarkable contribution of women as pioneers and leaders for hundreds of years. As a presbyter of the Church of North India I have experience of other Christian traditions where women have participated in the full range of ministries within the life and mission of the Church which includes the apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, teaching, healing, diaconal, priestly and episcopal roles with its responsibilities and privileges. It therefore seems appropriate for me to send you a written comment about Trinity’s ongoing affirmation and support of women in their calling to diverse forms of ministry and their training for the ordained ministry within the Church of England and beyond.

Trinity has always affirmed the apostolic nature of women’s calling to spread the gospel and to plant and lead churches. We were formed in 1971 from the amalgamation of three colleges, one of which – Dalton House – was founded as a training college for women serving in mission overseas. A few years earlier, Dalton House itself had been joined by another women’s college, St Michael’s House, which had been founded to train women for pastoral ministry in the Church of England. So Trinity’s call to affirm and train women for front-line ministry in the Church is deeply embedded in our history. Since 1971, this has been expressed through the college’s support for women to be ordained as priests in the Church, and now in our support of women’s ordination to the episcopate.

We therefore share in the pain many women and men – lay, ordained or in training for ordination – now feel at the recent decision by the Synod not to pass the proposed enabling legislation. As Principal, I want to set on record my continuing support for all women Trinity ordinands – past and present – in their present ministry and my affirmation of their future aspiration for full recognition of their gifts and calling in all orders of the Church’s ordained ministry. This includes their calling to be bishops in the Church.

At Trinity, we also recognise that there are many who disagree with this position, including many Catholics and Evangelicals within the Church of England. Whilst sharing a commitment to biblical faithfulness, we recognise that there are differing perspectives on how the scriptures’ teaching needs to be worked out in the Church’s ministry today. Whilst acknowledging the college’s historic affirmation of women’s ministry, we also affirm the place of those within the college community who, in conscience and for various reasons, cannot agree with the admission of women into the episcopate. We continue to commit ourselves to this fellowship and to ongoing respect in our dialogue over the scriptures’ application in this matter. We rejoice that among our community are students and staff who belong to other churches who have already fully accepted the ministry of women in all areas of Christian leadership.

Whilst we may feel anger, pain, frustration and even shame at the Synod’s vote, we also have to recognise that within in the Church of England, the General Synod does have the authority to make such decisions and that, to be faithful members of this Church, we are constrained by it until such a time as other legislation is passed. This does not imply that we believe that the Synod is ‘infallible’ however. Even in the case of General Councils, the 39 Articles state that they, ‘may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God’ (Article 21). This is all the more so in the case of a Synod. Although the legislation was not passed, we should remember that a overwhelming majority in the House of Bishops and the House of Clergy in the Synod did vote in favour of the legislation. Even the majority of the house of laity voted in favour but not the two thirds majority required. They were short by six votes. We are in the hands of a human, and therefore fallible, institution. This calls us, again, to resilience, patience and prayer – committing the future of our Church into the hands of our faithful God.

So in the meantime, let us all pray for grace, peace, unity and healing in our beloved Church. I want to exhort and encourage you as your principal to be sensitive to one another, show utmost courtesy and respect to those who differ from us. Let us also rejoice in the wonderful ministry of the women whom God has called and placed among us for the cause of Christ and the extension of his Kingdom. Now join me in praying continually and learning to give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. May God have mercy upon us and forgive us our sins as we learn to forgive each other their sins against us.

Now to the only wise God be glory, honour and praise for ever more. Amen!

Your brother in Christ Jesus

Rev. Canon George Iype Kovoor
Principal
Trinity College, Bristol, United Kingdom