Why are we still waiting?

A reflection by Revd Peggy Jackson, one of the ‘1994 Cohort’ of women first ordained in the Church of England, given at St Paul’s Cathedral on 11 October, 2024.

How odd it seems, and yet how delightful, to find ourselves, for ever named, as ‘the Cohort of 1994’! – the name arising solely from the fact that we were those, who by law had to wait – before we could be ordained as priests. But what a privilege to return today to the steps of this cathedral, ten years on from our last outing to celebrate, as a group. 

Can it be that the Church of England is really glad that we are here?  We believe it!  And we are grateful.

For 30 years, the church has welcomed us, and thousands more of our sisters. As priests, we have moved into every diocese, and every part of church life and the national institutions – and most joyfully in the last 10 years into the ministry of Bishops.  We have embodied the good news of God’s love for humanity, flourishing as women alongside men.

We have contributed to changes for all women in our society – as we have seen them grow towards their God-given potential, and emerge from the shame of abuses too long tolerated. 

These were the hopes which first inspired us to respond to the call to ordination.

This was the Lord’s work – and surely, it was good.

Yet, we do have to ask, after 30 years, why then does it seem that we are still waiting? - for the church we love and serve really to be glad that we are here?  Have we indeed even seen it retreat, over the years, into a cave of greater uncertainty - allowing doubts once expressed in the old 1993  Act of Synod to become hardened into Principles in 2014?  Is our church really still committed to upholding theologies, that deny both its capacity to ordain us, and our capacity to become priests or church leaders, simply because we are women?  Has the grace of ordination, God’s generous calling to those who are baptised, been institutionally restricted  in this way ? 

And if so, surely, on this anniversary, it is time to call for an end to the waiting?   Time for the church to hear the still small voice, which calls us out of the darkness of doubt, and back to unity, to confidence, into the light - out into a world which longs to hear a church which is confident in the good news it proclaims, and able to rejoice unconditionally in the ministers whom it ordains?

After thirty years of joyful witness, surely this is not too much to ask, or to long for?  And to trust that, in the asking, God’s will may be done …?