Apostolic succession, Anglicanism and the issue of women priests

Abstract

The Christian traditions of Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Anglicanism have based their legitimacy on strict adherence to primary precepts of Christ's message and subsequent doctrine, one of them being the right of male exclusivity for apostolic succession. Consequently, a challenge to the ethos of such fundamental tenets would cause reaction and response. There are several questions to address. Was the concept of apostolic succession meant to be a complete paradigm and "first" formula to accommodate the linear succession of saints? Is it a theological truth (in fact is the idea even theologically oriented)? Did the developing Church use apostolic succession as a blueprint for burgeoning episcopacy? And, how did the Anglican Fathers adapt primary Anglican belief to accept Roman apostolic tenets? I address the gender issue of apostolic succession within Anglicanism as it relates to the modern phenomenon of ordaining women to the priesthood and subsequently to the episcopacy. A multi-disciplinary methodology is employed to show the far-reaching influences and consequences of such action within the Anglican structural system. Historically, I centre on the specific linear progression of Anglican tradition and legislation as it applies to the ordination of women issue. Legitimacy (by law) is established. Human subjective and judgemental experiential decrees are then addressed as they correlate to time and space, necessitating historical interpretation. Anglicanism is shown to contain unique elements that allow for flexibility and the possibility of new theological constructs. The existential factor of women in Anglican orders also has had an effect on other members of the traditional Christian Triad. I discuss reactions from Orthodox and Catholic representatives. Research on gender issues and patterns of behaviour extends, in this study, beyond the scope of biblical hermeneutics and exegesis as reliability of literary testimony is only provisional. The problem of sourcing feminist historiography is then addressed and sociological and anthropological citations used to show increased awareness of religious systems (rituals and beliefs) as being reinforced and replicated by social experience. Philosophical and theological post-modern thought is applied to the restructuring of tradition and the nature of priesthood is challenged. Core issues addressed the importance of justifying women's rights to apostleship in Anglicanism, and whether justification is needed for women's future reference within this tradition. Conclusions are reached that women need to respect the Scriptures and tradition (their formulation and continuation) but that Anglican's flexible doctrine allows women who desire ordination to validate themselves legally. Theologically, they can also find 'truth' through post-modern speculative reason.