Canon Elbournes words are not surprisng. He's lost in the dark ages when women were seen as chattels. Such arbitrary views periodically cause the church to paint itself into a corner. The result does not reflect reality. Women are the main support of the church. Maybe they should withhold it

Bob Gibson, New York, USA

Generally there is no question on the equality of women to me accept the first commisione members from Christ were all men. 12 to be exact. That does not mean women have not had an equal impact to the faith ;Though man has decide the direction of the church's sails women are the wind behind it

Edward Biasi, north holywood, usa

This comment applies mainly to the Church of England, we seem to forget who the actual head of the CofE is, the Queen.

Also, the first person who properly made Protestant Christianity the state religion of England was Elizabeth I.

Women have as much right as men to be in the hierarchy.

Beth, Manchester, UK

We've had women bishops in Australia for a couple of months now and the sky hasn't fallen yet. Strangely, everything seems pretty much as usual - only fairer.

Caroline Miley, Melbourne, Australia

There are two parts to this problem.1) there are only TWO lawfull orders of preisthood.Levi.That is according to the flesh.and Melchesidech(Hebrews)That is the Spiritual presthood that ministers in the temple not made with hands.
Thus the nicolaitons of this age(rev 2)are wrong on both accounts.

G Blezard, London, UK

Women should not be overly concerned. The Church, like all churches, will still take your money and that is what really counts.

Bob Gibson, New York, USA

It doesn't really matter. The CofE is dead and gone. All we hear now is its ghostly wailings as it passes from irrelevance to oblivion.

Kevin Straw, Leicester,

Jesus had no women as apostles? So women can't be priests?
Well, as far as I know, Jesus either walked about or rode on a donkey.
So, followers of Jesus, if you wish to "do the same" as he, put aside your cars, motorbikes, yes, and even your bicycles
And start breeding more donkeys.

alan, germany,

As a woman, I have no problem with an all-male clergy. There are plenty of things to be done in the Church that are open to all. I teach, am an extraordinary minister, sacristan, council member and a scheduled Perpetual Adoration adorer. Without women, nothing would get done.

Julie Ann Burnside, Rio Rancho, NM, USA

Tradition and Scripture both show that jesus appointed only MEN as his apostles..Jesus was probably one of the most politically incorrect people of all times, and if he wanted a woman as an apostles he would have...In Acts it even stated that "women where present in the room" when he choose Judases

Michael, Kentucky, USA

The tradition was discriminatory against women, so it's both. As usual, women will have to be far better than men to get consecrated as bishops. Isn't that the Church's gain?

John Orford, Balingasag, Philippines

Traditionalism OR sexism? It's sexism masquerading as traditionalism. There's no excuse and the bigotry against women is still painfully obvious. Truly disturbing in the year 2008.

Isabel, Bournemouth,

The Church is the single most hypocritical entity on Earth: it tells us to 'love our neighbor' when it itself does nothing of the sort.

Andrew, Winchester, UK

I never saw any theological sense in ordaining women as priests, but not consecrating them as bishops. Jesus only called Jewish male disciples. Should we do the same?

Weiwen Ng, Ann Arbor, US

The Bible and church tradition is very clear on the issue of woman in the church. Woman should not be ministers or bishops.

Does god change? (Malachi 3:6) No but the world changes. The church is of god not of the world. How can we allow such secular thinking to invade our church and cause us to comprise the word of god that we hold so dear.

Tom, Nottingham, England

It is as simple as this; the Anglican church is part of the wider catholic church...How does Dr.Williams bring himself to say the words " and i believe one holy catholic and apostolic church"..when it is quite clear he believes no so thing!

John Holmes, Aberystwyth,

As an Atheist ( having studied many religions) I have come into contact with many spiritual and religious people in my life.
Those I respect do not wear any mantle of office, one thing they all have in common is when they look down on a person it is to help therm up.
Religion is dead, fortunately.

Howard , Basildon, England

Trouble is that the sort of women to be consecrated is the very middle class, well off, culture relative liberal. We will not get any nuns, nor missionary women who risked life and limb to preach the gospel. More religious civil servant types.

Janice, Witney, UK

Dr Clement is correct in his theology.He is sadly lacking in the power of the mind.If you believe in plagiarisms,falsehoods,bigotry and phantoms then you will live in a sour, silent, darkness never seeing never hearing or seeing the sweetness of your fellow beings, the beauty and knowledge about you

Dr David Archibald, Cairns, Australia

Of course women should have more sense than to believe in a misogynist religion of no factual basis let alone any ethical content, as so many of your corespondents demonstrate. But the are they not of the same clay as their menfolk and just as foolish.

Dr David Archibald, Cairns, Australia

As to the consequences of disobeying that which Dr Thomas Clement highlighted is made abundantly clear in Revelation chapter 22: verses 18-19. Sadly however the churches have and will no doubt continue to water down the word of God as the expense of true Christianity

Michael Ellis, Bideford, UK

The word of God does not change to conform to how people think or act. Various societies have come and gone, none ever last. 'All things shall pass away but I shall never pass away' Christians should not seek to adapt their holy authority to apease society!

AC, Manchester, UK

1st Timothy 2:11-12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man.


Dr. Thomas Clement, Stafford, Va., USA

Which is an indication of the society that existed then, when women were considered mere chattels. Slavery also existed then as well. Should we return to that?

Gordon Burgess-Parker, Foxt, UK

"the firm ground of theology"? What a ridiculous claim!

Rosemary, Germany,

Some people have conveniently forgotten that Jesus worked within the limitations of his time and traditions. A female disciple would have been sacreligous, so using that debate of him not having female disciples is all hot air. For those who take the bible word for word, galatians 3:28 says "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus". Let me know when you understand the message in that verse.

Mich, Herts,

There are three New Testament Scriptures given which are called the "Pastoral Epistles". In them the criteria for ordination is explicitly spelled out.
1st Timothy 2:11-12 "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man.

Dr. Thomas Clement, Stafford, Va., USA