The Theology of Taint and other misogyny in the Church of England

As I was writing this post at end of February, I found myself distracted by a BBC article telling me that the Tate brothers (Andrew and Tristan) were heading to America. In case you don’t know they are, these are two men who have made their fortune through the online radicalisation of boys and young men into acts of violence against women. They were arrested on charges of rape and human trafficking and their charges have not been dropped, yet they flew to America on their private jet.

How is it possible that two men have made their fortune through the promotion of the oppression of women? Why are they free to fly when charges of rape and trafficking haven’t been dropped? I can tell you the answer, because it is ‘Not equal yet.’

It is still a man’s world.

It is still a man’s Church.

In this article, I want to focus on the issues of gender equality in the Church of England, but the Tate brothers are relevant because there is not a great divide between Church and society when it comes to oppression. Any institution that supports the oppression of women (or anyone else) will be automatically supporting the ongoing oppression of women (or anyone else) in the world.

I’m a trustee of the charity WATCH – Women and the Church – who are campaigning for equality for women in the Church of England and I would love to invite you our conference – Not Equal Yet, on Saturday 29th March, 9.30am – 4pm, at St John’s Waterloo.

Let me tell you why it’s needed.

A brief history

In 1975 the Church of England Synod voted that ‘there is no fundamental objection to the ordination of women to the priesthood’

In 1985 the General Synod voted to allow women to become deacons (but not priests or bishops)

In 1992, after much campaigning and debate, General Synod voted that women could be ordained priests.

However, this was somehow NOT the end of the conversation.

You would think it would be. In Synod there are three houses – house of bishops, house of clergy and house of laity. The vote was passed by a two thirds majority in each house – yet the issue – the fight – was not over.  

Those who were against the ordination of women immediately started lobbying for restrictions on women’s ministries.

In 1993, the UK Parliament was lobbied and put pressure on Church of England bishops to allow churches to limit women’s ministries and so The Act of Synod was introduced (in very quick time for the Church of England.)

What was the Act of Synod?

·       This Act did allow women to be ordained priest. They didn’t go back on that.

·       It did not allow them to be ordained bishop (we know this comes over 20 years later.)

·       The Act of Synod allowed for bishops to declare that women could not be ordained as priests within their diocese.

·       And it did allow for special bishops to oversee those who did not accept women priests.

It’s worth nothing here that this is while there are still only male bishops, so allowing special bishops oversight is not instead of a female bishop, it is so you can guarantee that your bishop agrees with you on the subject of the ordination of women.  

It is also worth noting that the Act of Synod was not the same as canon law: it is not equivalent to the legislation passed to open the priesthood to women. It was not debated and voted on in deanery or diocesan synods, and it did not need to be passed by the Houses of Parliament to come into effect.

When the Church of England usually takes an age to decide anything, it was ensured that this Act of Synod would come about very quickly - in time before the first woman was ordained.

Spectrum of theology

We know that there is a spectrum of theology. There will be a spectrum of theology from those reading this. There will be different ideas on - the afterlife, on prayer, on Jesus, the Holy Spirit, other faiths and many more issues.

Within the episcopate (within the office of bishops) there is a spectrum of theology. On all those areas I’ve just mentioned and many more.

You cannot guarantee agreeing with your bishop on any given theological issue.

Yet, you could not ask for a different bishop to oversee you - one who lined up with your theology - on any issue, until 1993 with the introduction of this Act of Synod, where you could ask for a bishop to oversee you who agreed that women should not be ordained.

This remains the same today.

In 2014 when it was voted that women could be bishops as well as priests, the Act of Synod was rescinded, but the Declaration and Five Guiding Principles were put in place instead, and their meaning is the same.

The Church of England remains committed to ensuring that those who cannot receive the ministry of women priests or bishops are able to flourish. But what about the women, are we able to flourish?

Since 1993, and still ongoing today, there are churches throughout the country who have episcopal oversight from “flying bishops” – bishops who will never ordain a woman.

So why is it on this theological issue alone that such arrangements were put in place? 

I don’t think it has anything to do with theology. I think it is steeped in deeply misogynistic thinking.

The Theology of Taint

Jumping back to 1993 and The Act of Synod – this Act soon became known as the Theology of Taint.

And this theology of taint is one of the most disturbing parts of this whole issue. 

Let me explain.

Before 1994 no bishops had ever ordained a woman.

But from 1994 onwards, if your bishop supported the ordination of women, then your bishop might indeed (God forbid!) ordain a woman.

The Act of Synod was described in Judith Maltby’s book – Act of Synod, Act of Folly? In this way…. “The Act of Synod says that if a bishop lays hands on a woman in ordination, others have the right to seek the ministry of a different bishop whose hands have not been so exposed… Your bishops can deny the resurrection, the Trinity, and the incarnation; he may be a racist, liar or thief – yet no one will offer you an alternative. BUT if he ordains women to the priesthood, you can call in a ‘safe pair of hands’.“

The Church of England has separate ordination services for anyone who does not want to be ordained by a bishop who has ordained a woman. Because any bishop who has ordained a woman is tainted by the woman through this act.

I just want to make sure that’s super duper clear…

If you are to be ordained, and you don’t accept the ordination of women, then you can ask for an alternative bishop. Not just a male bishop – it needs to be a male bishop who has never ordained a woman, who has never been tainted.

This institutional acceptance is one that supports the thinking that women’s bodies pollute and defile sacred spaces. It is suggestive that the woman is other – lesser human. It reminds me of how those who contracted leprosy were treated – dirty, defiled, infected, sub-human.

This thinking is real thinking.

This is not theology.

This is deep misogyny.

What other reason would there be for alternative episcopal oversight on this area alone?

What now?

The Act was rescinded on 2014, but only to be replaced by the Declaration and 5 Guiding Principles, which allow for this alternative provision to continue.

And therefore, there are still men being ordained priests and bishops today, who do not agree in the ordination of women, and hold to a theology of taint.

It is not equal yet, and it is time this ends.

What can we do?

Fortunately, there are many men, women, non-binary people who do not agree with this and want to see equality for all genders in the Church of England. WATCH – Women and the Church – are a charity that continues to campaign for equality for women in the Church of England. Last year I become a trustee of WATCH.

I would love you to stand with us to help make a change.

WATCH are looking to get a motion to General Synod to ask for an end date to the Declaration and 5 Guiding Principles. We want to work with dioceses throughout the country to get the motion to Diocesan Synods and into General Synod.

We are hosting our Not Equal Yet conference and Southwark Roadshow on Saturday 29th March, 9.30am – 4pm, at St John’s Waterloo, where we will address the urgent need to end discrimination against women in our national church. You can expect thought-provoking discussions and practical strategies, exploring ways to create a more loving community of belonging for all, regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation.

Please pray for strength, pray for change, and pray for equality for all genders in the Church of England.