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| “It was as if we had women priests in the diocese already,” said Bishop Gandiya/Zimbabwe. |
Bishop of Harare Chad Gandiya has expressed his gratitude for a recent visit to his dioceseby three women priests from the Church of England.
Canon Liz Walker, the Revd Judy Henning and the Revd Anne Jablonski, all from the Diocese of Rochester, travelled to the African nation with their bishop the Rt Revd Brian Castle.
The trip was, however, more than just a friendly visit, and the three women were deployed to various parishes with the Diocese of Harare. They spent two weekends in parishes and were in Zimbabwe from January 4 to January 13.
In an interview with ACNS yesterday Bishop Gandiya said, “This was the first in the diocese! The [Church of England] priests were surprised by the reception they received in those parishes and they were able to carry out their work joyfully.”
The priests also joined fellow clergy from Zimbabwe for a week-long annual clergy retreat at Peterhouse, in the town of Marondera. “It was as if we had women priests in the diocese already,” said Bp Gandiya.
At its Provincial Synod held in November last year, the Church of the Province of Central Africa, of which Zimbabwe is a part, voted against a motion to allow individual dioceses who want to ordain women to go ahead.
“Obviously many women are asking why our Province turned down our request and what we are going to do about it,” said Bishop Gandiya. “The first thing we are going to do is report back to Diocesan Synod that had sent us with request in the first place. Secondly, we are continuing with the training we are giving to the laity - in particular women - in theology...” There is more:
http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2014/01/zimbabwe-anglicans-prepare-for-womens-ordination-with-cofe-visit.aspx
Thanks to the Anglican News Service, sidebar
Thanks to the diocese of Zimbabwe
Thanks to the diocese of Rochester, photo credit
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