[r9etb]

this is why women as priests is a mistake.

Excuse, me, but "this" problem is not limited to women priests in the ECUSA.

Ms. Ayers is making a big mistake, but it's the same problem that is present, not just with the ECUSA, but with religion in America as a whole. The trouble, of course, is that Ms. Ayers is not providing a strong Christian witness. She's basically afraid of it, I think -- and is thus guilty of the same thing your precious male priests are guilty of doing.

I know the whiff of pharisee-ism when I smell it, and I know that a lot of nice, male, orthodox priests would be tut-tutting about these prostitutes and doing little else. In that regard, Ms. Ayers has done a lot more than a lot of orthodox male priests would ever have done. And as a woman, it is quite possible that the prostitutes -- who need saving -- would trust her as they wouldn't trust a male priest.

Her problem is lack of Christian conviction, and fear of witness. She should be trying to bring these women to Christ. At the same time, she is (rightly, IMO) leery of seeming like the spittle-tossers who call themselves evangelists, because it's usually the case that those types do more harm than good. Alas, she's thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

[good_fight]

I believe r9etb has the right response -- Christ welcomed those on the margins and so should we, but He never compromised his message and neither should we.

A call to repentance can be issued in many ways and not only by thundering from a pulpit.

[HarleyD]

"Her problem is lack of Christian conviction, and fear of witness."

I think you're basically right but if she's a lesbian priest she has more problems than a lack of Christian conviction and a fear of witnessing.

[q_an_a]

the Anglican faith has a role for women called Deacon. The role fits exactly into what you espouse - but the women is not a priest, thus she is not the rector of a parish. pastoral counsel is not the same as leading the flock of wayward sheep. women are very good at reltaionships - read "You Just Don't Understand or Working 9 to 5 to see more detail; yet they are less liely to throw out a player in the game because they broke the rules.This keeps them from pushing the fallen to take action or be kicked out.

That is my take on the issue. - Because a women priest who manages a homeless shelter shared much of the same ideas with me, I know that mine are not about sexism but about SEEING historical and cultural patterns.