Traditionalists win Chrism Masses battle

A Church of England ombudsman has upheld the right of traditionalist bishops to hold alternative Chrism Masses for clergy who reject women’s ministry.

This year, 16 alternative Chrism Masses – presided over by a bishop who does not ordain women – were celebrated. Among the bishops who presided were those of Chichester, Ebbsfleet, Richborough and Beverley.

In his first report since being named Independent Reviewer, Sir Philip Mawer, whose role was created to resolve disputes arising from the ordination of women bishops, rejected a complaint by Women and the Church (“Watch”) that these Masses were “a powerful expression of disunity”. In a letter to Sir Philip the chairwoman of Watch, Hilary Cotton, complained that there was no sacramental need for these Masses, which she described as an “expression of division” and a source of great pain to clergywomen. She said that refusal to participate in a Chrism Mass presided over by a bishop who ordained women was “a step away from the theology of ‘taint’”.

But the Bishop of Wakefield, Tony Robinson, who is sympathetic to the traditionalist bishops, argued that clergy who did not support women’s ordination were no longer in communion with bishops who did.

In his report, Sir Philip agreed with Bishop Robinson that alternative Chrism Masses were a sacramental necessity. But he acknowledged that both sides had expressed a desire to conduct a dialogue around how best to accommodate both parties.