Anne Williams chairs women bishops debate at Synod
17 February 2005
Church Army’s Anne Williams chaired one of the most significant debates at General Synod in recent years yesterday, after only seven months ago becoming the first female evangelist in the 122 year history of Church Army to chair any session of Synod.
Anne was selected to guide the debate of the “ Rochester report - women bishops in the Church of England” which outlined the theological issues the Church of England should consider prior to deciding whether or not to ordain women bishops. Commended by the Bishop of Rochester for the spirit and skills she showed in ensuring over 34 speakers contributed to a debate that demonstrated Synod at its best in listening respectfully to a wide range of views on all sides of the debate. In the end the expected division was not apparent as Synod agreed to take note of the report and move to a process for further detailed discussion and a timetable for implementation of proposals which could mean the consecration of women bishops by 2010.
Anne’s day to day work is as a Community Missioner at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Ford Estate, Sunderland which has been featured in a profile by the Northern Echo and her experience as Vice-Chairman of Forward in Faith and as a District Councillor in Easington has been excellent preparation for chairing Synod. “I have been a representative of Durham Diocese on General Synod since 1990 and feel very honoured to have been invited to serve in this way,” Anne comments. “I can’t believe this is now the fourth Synod debate I have chaired in only seven months. Although I love the cut and thrust of the debates, I ensure we kept to the timetable and called as many speakers with different views and positions as possible…it was a good, measured, balanced, respectful and thought provoking debate.”
As an opponent of the ordination of women, the irony of being asked to chair the debate on women in the Episcopate is not lost on Anne. She explains, “Some folk have very strange ideas about what I stand for. I believe passionately in the ministry of women within the church, we have a tremendous role to play across the church in mission and evangelism. However so often we do not recognise the gifts God has given us or if we do recognise them we are not encouraged to use them to their fullest potential.”
“During my college training I have been sustained and encouraged by the mutual respect shown by fellow Christians of differing views. Women’s ordination has just celebrated its 10th anniversary and I hope that whilst respecting each other's views we can now get on with doing those things we can do together and put all our focus and efforts on God's mission of love for His church.”
Commenting on her appointment to chair General Synod the Bishop of Jarrow said; “I am delighted that Anne has been afforded this honour . She has served the diocese and the national Church well for a number of years. “
Stephen Parkinson, Director of Forward in Faith added; “Over the past few years as Vice-Chairman of Forward in Faith, Anne has demonstrated an admirable ability at chairing sessions of our annual conference and I am only surprised it has taken General Synod this long to discover her talent!.”
Philip Johanson OBE, Church Army’s Chief Secretary comments; “This is a deserved honour for Anne and I am delighted that the work of our evangelists is recognised in this way. Anne cares passionately about mission and evangelism and this provides a great encouragement to our evangelists who are working so hard to make a difference at the cutting edge.”
To read more about the Synod debate check out: BBC News , Reuters , The Independent , The Telegraph , The Guardian , The Times and Christian Today
