Transfiguring Episcopé:
Women, Leadership and the Anglican Communion
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori with ordinands
Worship during the Conference
Conference hosts, Christina Rees and Martyn Percy
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori and Martyn Percy
Transfiguring Episcope Conference
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Transfiguring Episcope group photograph
Transfiguring Episcope Conference
Group discussion
Hospitality Team
Women bishops from around the world with Martyn Percy
Fourteen bishops, including The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA, The Most Revd Dr Katherine Jefferts Schori, and over 90 senior lay and ordained Anglican women attended the Conference. The Ven. Sheila Watson, Archdeacon of Canterbury, gave the opening session with reflections on 30 years of ministry in the Church, the Very Revd June Osborne, Dean of Salisbury, spoke on issues of power and authority, and two lay women, Dr Esther Mombo, Dean of St Paul’s United Theological College, Kenya and Dr Jenny Plane-Te Paa, Dean of Christ Church College, New Zealand, spoke of the needs and challenges facing Anglican women in other parts of the Anglican Communion. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori gave the keynote address and spoke of qualities needed in those in positions of leadership, including creativity and playfulness, curiosity and hope, humility and compassion.
Having so many senior Anglican women gathered together in such joyful and hopeful mood made the event completely unique and attendees said they found it enabling, encouraging and empowering.
Many of the delegates expressed a desire to meet again in the future to focus on women's issues in the church and the progress of women becoming bishops, and so we are planning to convene another similar gathering in three years time in the summer of 2011. We are also looking into publishing a collection of the inputs from sessions.
The Conference was made possible by generous sponsorship from The Foundation for Church Leadership, Revd Robert Parker, The Society for the Study of Anglicanism, Virginia Theological Seminary and others.
Press Releases:
19 May 2008 - Transfiguring Episcopé
4 July 2008 - Women Bishops Meet at Cuddesdon
14 July 2008 - Primate calls for 'Soft Hearts' at Lambeth
The Telegraph