Persons who do not accept the ordination of women as priests and bishops on theological grounds reacted predictably to the news that the committee on Canon III.8.1 had proposed a canon which would require that women be ordained in every diocese of the Episcopal Church [TLC, July 30].

The Episcopal Synod of America (ESA), a six-year-old organization for traditionalists that is based in Fort Worth, issued a strong statement through its synodical council. ESA criticized the nine-member committee for failing to engage in serious dialogue.

"In a manifest failure of its mission and purpose, the committee has chosen to adopt the bludgeon, rather than reason, as its method," the statement said. "Dialogue, by definition, involves an open discussion of factual material."

The Rt. Rev. William Wantland, Bishop of Eau Claire, is a member of the committee, which met in Virginia last month, and is one of four diocesan bishops who will not ordain women.

"The majority of the committee seems to be moving toward the position that there is only one recognized theological position," Bishop Wantland said. "At the very least the proposals under consideration are aimed at extinguishing one of the two recognized theological positions in this church."

The Rt. Rev. Jack Iker, Bishop of Fort Worth, who also does not ordain women, attended the committee meeting and was discouraged by the results.

"I went to the meeting with the clear expectation, based on the written letter of invitation I had received, that also present and participating would be all three of the women bishops and the diocesan bishops where there are women suffragans," he said. "It was extremely disappointing to find that not one of them was in attendance. You cannot have a dialogue when only one side is represented.

"I am left with the impression that the idea that we can expect any dialogue on this issue on the national level is a sham and a farce."

The proposed canon will be discussed by the House of Bishops at its meeting in September, and by Executive Council, when it meets in November.