Saying no to theologies that diminish women is not only a matter of justice it is a safeguarding issue. There’s plenty of evidence that women are suffering abuse in the Church and it is being covered up.

One of the 1994 cohort of female priests writes of her disappointment that women are not fully accepted in the Church of England and still face discrimination.

Cultures of coercion and gaslighting also need to be addressed if the Church of England is to be a safe place.

Peggy was one of the first women to be ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1994. In this reflection, she celebrates the fact that so many women have now been ordained and serve the Church. But, at the same time, she asks why we are still waiting for equality and full acceptance?

Christine Polhill reflects on 40 years in ministry, marking 30 years as a priest in the Church of England. While the Church appears progressive, with women in senior roles, she argues that deep inequalities persist. After the 1992 vote to ordain women, opposition remained, and discriminatory practices were introduced, such as bishops being labeled "tainted" for ordaining women. Polhill is frustrated that the Church still ordains men who reject women as priests and calls for an end to this institutionalized sexism. She hopes for a future where women and men can work as equal partners in ministry.

Rosalind Rutherford reflects on the slow progress of gender equality within the Church of England, despite the 2014 decision allowing women to become bishops. While Parliament pressured the Church to ensure women bishops were represented in the House of Lords, legislation passed in 2015 has not yielded sufficient change. Currently, only seven diocesan bishops are women, prompting another legislative extension. Rutherford critiques the Church’s internal barriers, including the role of the Crown Nominations Commission and the continued influence of those opposing women’s leadership, leading to ongoing discrimination cloaked under the term "mutual flourishing."

WATCH shares its reflections on the Independent Reviewer’s report into the appointment of the Bishop of Blackburn. While the Church of England claims the process followed regulations, the report highlights key concerns around rushed consultations, conflicts of interest, and the ongoing lack of transparency regarding women’s ordination. Could this report signal the need for deeper changes in the Church's approach to gender equality? Explore the full blog to learn more about the findings and WATCH's response.

After the publication of a report into the appointment of the Bishop of Blackburn and its implications that has taken almost a year, the Church of England has issued a simultaneous press release headed ‘Independent reviewer upholds appointment process for Bishop of Blackburn.’  Or, in other words, ‘Nothing to see here.’...

As the 30th anniversary of her ordination approaches, Christine Allsop reflects on the ongoing struggle for women’s equality in the Church of England. For her, women’s ordination has always been a matter of justice, comparable to other forms of discrimination. Despite the progress since the 1992 vote to ordain women, significant inequalities remain, with women underrepresented in senior leadership roles and still barred from certain positions. The introduction of the Five Guiding Principles has often silenced women, leaving many, including Allsop, frustrated by the church’s slow progress. However, she believes that this frustration can drive meaningful change, much like Jesus’ challenges to injustice in his time. Allsop looks forward to the upcoming Not Equal Yet conference as an important opportunity to continue advocating for equality.

In the Church of England, naming the persistent inequality faced by women remains a challenge, even 30 years after the first women were ordained as priests. Drawing on Sara Ahmed’s insight—“when you expose a problem, you pose a problem”—this blog highlights the ongoing disparity women experience in ministry roles, despite their equal image in God. The resistance to acknowledging this issue reflects deeper institutional biases, and addressing it is necessary for the church to reflect true equality and justice. The post calls for open dialogue and action to bring these hidden inequalities into the light.

A prayer marking the 80th anniversary of Florence Li Tim-Oi's priesting, highlights the ongoing discrimination women face in the Church and globally. We encourage you to join in this prayer as a call for equality and justice.

Dr Alex Fry explores the connection between Christian theology, social science, and clergy attitudes towards the ordination of women in the Church of England. Drawing from research with theologically conservative male clergy, the author examines how social, psychological, and theological factors shape their resistance to women’s leadership in the church. The post highlights the role of group identity, limited exposure to female clergy, and selective interpretation of scripture in maintaining these views, while offering insights for future theological reflection and potential change.

WATCH has raised concerns about the ongoing discrimination and sexism women face in the Church of England, citing failures in transparency and compliance with the 2014 House of Bishops' Declaration. Issues include parishes limiting women’s ministry without proper consultation, skewed clergy appointments favoring men, and the silencing of women through fear and Non-Disclosure Agreements. WATCH calls for an end to the Declaration, advocating for equality and unity within the Church, a stance supported by the majority of clergy.