In the past several decades, the issues of women’s ordination and of homosexuality have unleashed intense debates on the nature and mission of the Church, authority and the future of the Anglican Communion. Amid such momentous debates, theological voices of women in the Anglican Communion have not been clearly heard, until now. This book invites the reader to reconsider the theological basis of the Church and its call to mission in the 21st century, paying special attention to the colonial legacy of the Anglican Church and the shift of Christian demographics to the Global South. In addition to essays by the volume editors, this 12-essay collection includes contributions by Jane Shaw, Ellen Wondra and Beverley Haddad, among others.

A critical look at the ways in which religion has both empowered and hindered women in their attempts to serve God in the Church since 1700. The author examines the significant, but hitherto neglected, contributions women have made to the history of Anglicanism.

Contending that the current controversy over the role and status of women in the Church of England has its origins in the 19th century, Heeney here explores the early forms of female subordination and the limited roles women were allowed to play in Church activities and describes the gradual movement toward equality through 1930, as Church feminism increased and women won the right to participate in Church elections and act as preachers, pastors, and governors.

In July 2000, the General Synod of the Church of England passed a motion asking the House of Bishops to initiate further theological study on the episcopate, focusing on the issues that need to be addressed in preparation for the debate on women in the episcopate in the Church of England. This report is the result of that reflection. The report sets out as clearly and objectively as possible the options open to the Church of England in this matter and outlines the surrounding theological and practical issues. The report discusses: the background to the debate; the historical development of episcopacy; the parameters for a theologically responsible debate on women and the episcopate; the development of women's ministry; the timing - whether now is the right time to ordain women bishops; the theological and practical consequences of possible future options.

Patricia Crawford explores how the study of gender can enhance our understanding of religious history, in this study of women and their apprehensions of God in early modern England. The book has three broad themes: the role of women in the religious upheaval in the period from the Reformation to the Restoration; the significance of religion to contemporary women, focusing on the range of practices and beliefs; and the role of gender in the period. The author argues that religion in the early modern period cannot be understood without a perception of the gendered nature of its beliefs, institutions and language. Contemporary religious ideology reinforced women's inferior position, but, as the author shows, it was possible for some women to transcend these beliefs and profoundly influence history.

This book is a fascinating exploration of the history of women in the Church of England. Through a combination of personal stories, historical research, and theological reflection, Richardson provides a deep and insightful look at the role of women in one of the world's oldest and most influential religious institutions. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.