Priest is against women being ordained....

[Woolmark]

I've just found out the new Priest at our Anglo-Catholic Church refuses to work with women priests. This has made me uncomfortable as woman and a Christian. Would it be unreasonable to move to another Church?

Anyone?

It would annoy me enough to move. There is no place for this sort of baseless sexism.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if I was overreacting. I feel it's important to respect your Priest, but I'm really struggling to even like him after finding this out.

I would really struggle to take his view on board if he felt all women were only good for secondary, minor roles.

I suppose you need to look at the person as a whole and how it affects the church and your worship there. It would affect how I viewed a person though and I say this as a Roman Catholic where it isn't even on our church's agenda!

Some are firm adherents to the apostolic tradition, and so do believe it is scriptural, and unrelated to the role pf women in wider society.

And of course the Anglo Catholic church is extremely accepting of homosexuals so cannot be written off as reactionaries on all social issues.

Are Anglo Catholics considered quite liberal in general? Is it the ones who lean more towards the Catholic side who tend to not support women in the clergy?

It wouldn't be unreasonable to move churches but give him the benefit of the doubt as he may be a good priest in all other respects.

At the high end of the C of E some object to women on what is called sacramental grounds which is different from the evangelical objections on the grounds of headship. AC churches are as has been said usually fairly liberal on everything else as this churchmanship seems to be where many of the gay priests are comfortable.

If having given the matter some time and prayerful reflection you still feel uncomfortable then find another church that is accepting of women's ministry. Tough call to leave your church though.

What did you think of him before you found out? And how does it impact on the life of the church and you in particular? Would it be unreasonable for you to move? Only you can answer that.
I have only been in the Anglican Church for 7 years. There aren't many things that would move me.
On the positive side, he has been honest. And he also must follow the convictions of his heart.
Negative side? It could be seen as discrimination.

I'm a bit confused by this, but maybe others can explain... I understood that it was up to the parish to make the decision not to accept women priests and then to take the decision to come under alternative episcopal oversight (a phrase I just learnt the other day on another thread!). Can an individual priest come into a parish that would otherwise be fine with women priests (assuming that this was the case with the OP's church) and take a unilateral decision that he won't work with them? Doesn't the PCC (or other body) have any say? Presumably they knew what the priest's stance on the ordination of women was when they appointed him...

In answer to the OP, if I were a member of a congregation which had not voted not to accept women priests and felt that my church was being shoe-horned into a position on this with which I couldn't agree, then, yes, I think I'd have to go elsewhere, and I think I'd want people to know why I was leaving too. Good luck in resolving this and I'm sorry you find yourself in this position.

Yes it is up to the parish. I would suggestion that the OP asks her church wardens if resolutions A, B and/or C are in place as these are the ones that have to be passed by the PCC before advertising a vacancy if the church does not want women to apply. It would be odd for a priest to be appointed to an AC church without this matter being discussed as some AC are very pro women in ministry and some aren't so it is a hot topic.

Quite right. Eve did tempt Adam after all so women can never achieve the godhead. Christianity is all about the elevation of men.

It's tricky. We're in an ABC, FiF parish here. Neither of us are of that persuasion (oh heck, we really really are not) but it's the place we feel called to be and the people we feel called to be with. Change is (slowly, grindingly) afoot. Give it 5, 10, 20 years, and this won't be an issue. Now, whether your place is supporting and adding balance to your parish, or moving for your personal integrity, only you can decide. Either option is perfectly valid. Pray for us, though, please.

As a Catholic it saddens me to see the RC church welcoming sexist individuals like your priest.

Refusing to work with women priests is a stance that is quite extreme imo. A little charity towards them as individuals is in order even if he can't abide the idea, and a little less putting his own opinions forth in order to keep the wheels of the church moving, get the work done. There is a lot of pride in an individual who puts his own prejudice ahead of getting his job done.

If he feels that strongly he should resign.

My Anglo - Catholic church accepts female priests as there is one within the Parish. I do not however know my Fr's personal views on this, he seems quite easy going though. You wouldn't be unreasonable to move churches but it seems an awful shame that you'd have to if you really like your church, I'm sorry I cannot be more helpful.

I would move and write to the local diocese/bishop to let them know why. He will discover that when his congregation numbers drop he will be in trouble.

I work for the church so know how these things work. I haven't met a dinosaur like this though! One of my good friemds is a (female) vicar.

There are two strands within Anglo-Catholicism. One is affirming of female clergy and LGBTQ people, the other follows the RC stance on female clergy but views on LGBTQ people differ. My own church is A-C and supports female and LGBTQ clergy, another one in my town does not. Does that help at all?

I wouldn't blame you for moving church, I would do the same. You can find accepting Anglo-Catholic churches :) Where are you based?