last chronicle
Religious News Service International, June 2040
T
he publication of the Billing Report (named after Lieutenant-
General Alexander Simpson Billing, until last year
Commander-in-Chief of British forces of occupation in Iran)
has caused a major row in the Church of England. The Report
– into senior appointments in the church – has revealed serious
inequalities. Though men still make up nearly 25 per cent of all
stipendiary clergy, it would appear that they are not adequately
represented among diocesan bishops, suffragan bishops, deans of
cathedrals, archdeacons and residentiary canons. Only 3 per cent
of senior appointments go to men, says the report, pointing to an
‘old girl network’ which effectively excludes them from positions of
influence.
A spokeswoman told RNSI that appointments were made
entirely on the grounds of merit and suitability. ‘Only exceptional
men are suited to the pastoral and mediating role of the bishop,’
she said. ‘Men are more confrontational, aggressive and self-
assertive. We see that in the overwhelmingly male composition of
our prisons. Small wonder that few make their way into what is
essentially a caring profession.’
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Sharon Dixon, defended
the part played by the House of Bishops in senior appointments.
‘Ever since the Church was able to make appointments in its own
right, the House of Bishops has exercised that role with vigour. Who
could know better than the bishops, constantly in touch with the grass
roots as they are, where talent lies and what each specific job demands?
Lay people are important in deciding about doctrine, liturgy and morals. But senior appointments are an altogether more
fundamental matter. Vigilance in this area is the only way to protect the Church from those who would use their office to do it
harm. Such guardianship is the essential task of the House of Bishops.’
Fr Andrew Anderson, National Secretary of ‘Fathers in Faith’, the campaigning organization for equality for male clergy,
welcomed the Billing Report. ‘Our members are finding it increasingly difficult to find jobs, even at parish level,’ he said.
‘Despite anti-discrimination legislation passed by the Synod, most parishes are still resistant to the appointment of a male
priest. When they do duty in other parishes (for example, during a vacancy), some have been hissed and spat at as they went to
the altar. God is an equal opportunities employer; not so the Church of England.’
PEVs DIARIES
The Bishop of Beverley
August-September 2007 Richborough House, 6 Mellish Gdns,
05 1100 St Laurence, South Hinksey, Feast of Title Woodford Green, Essex IG8 0BH
The Right Revd Martyn Jarrett
06-10 Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage 020 8505
7259pev@btinternet.com
3 North Lane, Roundhay, 11 1500 Christ Church Staincliffe, Assumptiontide Festival
www.richborough.org.uk
Leeds, West Yorkshire LS8 2QJ 12 1030 SS Peter and Paul, Wantage, Baptism
August-September 2007
0113 265 4280 1800 Holy Trinity, Reading, Confirmation
06-10 Youth Pilgrimage Walsingham
www.bishopofbeverley.co.uk 19 1000 St Helen, Dry Sandford
25 1930 Patronal Festival, St Bartholomew Brighton
bishop-of-beverley@3-north-lane.fsnet.co.uk
26 1000 St John, New Hinksey, Oxford
06 1745 Mass, St Albans Abbey
August-September 2007
01 1200 St Day, Redruth, Cornish Walsingham Festival
05 1000 St Michael Coppenhall
11 1215 Forward in Faith Council meeting, London
12 1030 St Mary Magdalene, Sunderland
Bishop David Thomas
19 1030 St Wilfrid’s Harrogate The Bishop of Fulham
The Right Revd David Thomas
26 1000 St Bartholomew Armley
27-30 Retreat
The Right Revd John Broadhurst
Bodfair, 3 White’s Close
Belmont Rd, Abergavenny NP7 5HZ
02 1100 Holy Trinity Bury
26 Canonbury Park South, London N1 2NF
01873 858780
03 Sheffield Senior Staff Meeting
020 7354 2334
PAB@churchinwales.org.uk
04 Ripon & Leeds Senior Staff Meetingt
bpfulham@aol.com
04 1930 Celebration of the Translation of S Cuthbert’s Relics,
www.bishopoffulham.co.uk
August-September 2007
no diary available
Durham Cathedral August-September 2007
05 1100 Chapter of St Aidan and S Oswin, Newcastle 01-03 Norway Pilgrimage
07 Chester Senior Staff meeting 07 12.00 Interview
The Right Revd Edwin Barnes
26 11.00 Parish Mass, St Silas Pentonville
1 Queen Elizabeth Avenue,
The Bishop of Ebbsfleet
04 11.30 Standing Committee CU, Gordon Square Lymington, Hants SO41 9HN
08 1200 Patronal St Mary Swanley
The Right Revd Andrew Burnham
01590 610133 -
BishEdwin@aol.com
09 1000 Confirmation St Andrews Croydon
Bishop’s House, Dry Sandford, 11 1215 Forward in Faith Council meeting, London
Abingdon, Oxford OX13 6JP
The Right Revd John Gaisford
Tel: 01865 390746
The Bishop of Richborough
5 Trevone Close, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 9EJ
www.ebbsfleet.org.uk
01565 633531
bishop.andrew@ebbsfleet.org.uk
The Right Revd Keith Newton
August 2007
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