Holy Orders

Why Women’s Ordination Cannot be Tolerated

Introduction The error of women’s ordination has stalked, cursed, and haunted Anglicanism for nearly half a century and no matter where we go or what efforts we make to correct our wrongs, we cannot seem to fully rid ourselves of it. For many conservative Anglicans, women’s ordination is like the relative you cannot stand but…

Women and Men in Ministry

In 1970 the Episcopal Church USA eliminated the canon for deaconesses and included women in the canon on deacons. In 1976 its General Convention approved the ordination of women to both the diaconate and priesthood. Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Roman Catholic Church condemned both moves, protesting that these changes were made unilaterally and against…

On the Origins of the Deaconess

The ancient order of deaconesses seems to be making a comeback of sorts in the Reformed Episcopal Church. In his presiding episcopal report a few weeks ago, the Most. Rev. Ray Sutton mentioned the continued interest in this order by women of the subjurisdiction. Moreover, the Anglican Province of America and other bodies feature a…

Hail, Thou That Art Highly Favored

Unable to answer these arguments, I remained silent toward these people; but now I beg you Father, to instruct me in what I should say to defend the truth, so that (following the Apostle’s injunction) I may “be ready to give an account of the faith that is in us.” —St. Gregory Palamas I’ve been…

Review of Icons of Christ: Symbolism and Conclusions

PART 1: WHY IS WOMEN’S ORDINATION PLAUSIBLE? PART 2: WITT’S CONSTRUCTION OF HISTORY PART 3: ERRORS OF PHILOLOGY PART 4: SYMBOLISM AND CONCLUSIONS Part 4: Symbolism and Conclusions In the previous three installments, we have examined the plausibility structures of women’s ordination (WO), Witt’s view of history, and his handling of Greek philology. We now…

Review of Icons of Christ: Errors of Philology

PART 1: WHY IS WOMEN’S ORDINATION PLAUSIBLE? PART 2: WITT’S CONSTRUCTION OF HISTORY PART 3: ERRORS OF PHILOLOGY PART 4: SYMBOLISM AND CONCLUSIONS PART 3 – ERRORS OF PHILOLOGY Having discussed plausibility structures and history in the previous two parts of this review, we come now to what, for Protestants, will be the central question…

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