My New Year reflection is about how quickly the church scene in England is changing. As a theological educator I find myself being asked to train ordinands in a shorter time without losing the academic edge or cutting down on the formational aspects. I am watching the trend to ordain almost anyone who has any committed and active leadership role in their local churches, but a strong and thinking laity is needed to keep the parish priests alive and alert and avoid clericalism. Certainly in my diocese and living in a rural market town, I notice how few stipendiary clergy there are within a 5 mile radius; I see how many retired clergy have actually retired at least twice from regular worship leading and preaching, and I am aware that if I feel this draught as an Anglican my Free Church sisters must be feeling it tenfold.

So I come to the ecumenical scene and note that here it has always been a problem that the C of E is of such a size that it does not have a Woman’s Division the Mothers’ Union, WATCH or the GFS are groups of or for women within the church but there is no one person whose job is speak on behalf of C of E women. The free churches tend to have national desk for their women’s work or a person round whom to rally and the CTE Women’s Group draws all those women together. If you follow the link on the CTE website to the C of E women, the link takes you to the complete C of E website, which is largely illustrated by photographs of men at the moment though Mary Tanner gets a mention!

Because of financial and time constraints I have not been able to attend many of the Women’s Co-ordinating Group gatherings recently, but there is plenty going on. The best way to find out about it is to go to the Churches Together website then to ‘networking’ then ‘co-ordination groups’ and finally to ‘women’. CTE started in 1987 and the week of prayer for Christian Unity started 100 years ago. The Co-ordinating Women’s group supports these activities and has particular interests of its own as well such as the work against Human Trafficking. Gillian Crow a Russian Orthodox Christian has written a new book about the Orthodox church and a group in Manchester wrote material for a Lent group in 2004.. The CTE women went to Greenbelt, they had an experiential residential last spring at Hothorpe Hall and there is a media literacy group producing material. A news letter is available for anyone interested in working locally and in knowing what is happening nationally.

Shirley-Ann and I do represent the Church of England at the Co-ordinating group from time to time, but it would be a lot easier if we had a budget or could be sure that our fares would be paid when we do go to a gathering.

Christine McMullen

The Church of England is the only Anglican Province not represented on the International Anglican Women's Network. Another case of NOMBE - Not On My Budget Ever? Christopher Hall