Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation on the Ordination of Women (1978)

ARCCOW Catalogue

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Status of agreed statements

Agreed statements have been agreed by the dialogue members and submitted to the sponsoring churches for study.
These texts express the careful considerations of the members of the dialogue but are not official statements of either of the churches.

Copyright

Copyright in minutes, statements and other core papers is owned by the Commission and requests for extensive quotation or use should be directed to the co–Chairs. However, copyright in papers by named authors remains with the author.

In addition to the main theological dialogue, ARCIC, there were two additional special commissions established following the Malta Report of ARCJPC. The Consultation on the Ordination of Women (ARCCOW) was a small joint consultation established in November 1976 to consider “to what extent and in what ways churches with women priests and churches without women priests can be reconciled in sacramental fellowship”. The consultation held one meeting in February 1978 at Versailles, France. Records of the ARCCOW are housed in the Lambeth Palace Library in the collection of the Church of England‘s Council on Foreign Relations (LPL nos. CFR-RC–52, CFR-RC–53, CFR-RC–54, and CFR-RC–55).

In addition to the documents listed below, there are other documents relevant to ARCCOW that were not assigned a protocol number. These can be found in the complete ARCCOW fonds.

ARCCOW 1: Ordination of Women to the Priesthood: Anglican Decisions and Reports, 1968–1977

ARCCOW 2: The Origins of the Anglican_Roman Catholic Consultation on the Ordination of Women

ARCCOW 3: Ordination of Women in the Anglican Communion and the Ecumenical Debate, by Christian Howard

ARCCOW 4: The Ordination of Women and Anglican–Roman Catholic Relations, by Canon William Purdy

ARCCOW 5: Anglicans and Roman Catholics on the Ordination of Women: An American Report, by Rev John Hotchkin

  • ARCCOW 5A: Theological Reflections on the Ordination of Women, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Committee on Pastoral Research and Practices (Dec. 1972)
  • ARCCOW 5B: Will Women Be Ordained?, a study paper by Sr. Ann Gillen (Apr. 1973)
  • ARCIC–II 58–1A: Ecumenical Relations and Ordination of Women to the Priesthood in the Episcopal Church, by William A. Nordgren (Oct. 1977)
  • ARCCOW 5D: ARC–USA Consultation on Ordination of Women (22–25 June 1975)
  • ARCIC–II 58–1J: ARC–USA Statement on the Ordination of Women (21–24 Oct. 1975)
  • ARCCOW 5F: Statement by Archbishop Joseph Bernardin, President, NCCB, Concerning the Ordination of Women (7 Oct. 1975)
  • ARCCOW 5G: Press release by Archbishop Bernardin Concerning the Ordination of Women (20 Nov. 1975)
  • ARCCOW 5H: Letter to the Apostolic Delegate in the USA, Jean Jadot, by the faculty of the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California (16 Mar. 1977)
  • ARCCOW 5I: Letter to the Apostolic Delegate in the USA, Jean Jadot, from the Women‘s Ordination Conference (26 Sept. 1977)
  • ARCCOW 5J: Letter of Archbishop John M. Allin, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, to the House of Bishops regarding the unauthorized episcopal ordination performed by the retired bishop of Springfield (6 Feb. 1978)

ARCCOW 6: Minutes of the Versailles meeting, 27 February to 3 March, 1978

ARCCOW 7: Draft outline for the Versailles Statement

ARCCOW 8: Draft texts of the Versailles Statement:

  • ARCCOW 8A: First draft
  • ARCCOW 8B: Second draft
  • ARCCOW 8C: Additional paragraph
  • ARCCOW 8D: Additional paragraph
  • ARCCOW 8E: Additional paragraph
  • ARCCOW 8F: Third draft
  • ARCCOW 8G: Fourth draft

ARCCOW 9: Versailles Statement. The final report of the 27 February to 3 March meeting.

CFR-RC–52: 81 pages of supplemental documents not otherwise included in the ARCCOW collection

  • CFR-RC–52 1: Letter of Archbishop Donald Coggan to Pope Paul VI (9 July 1975)
  • CFR-RC–52 2: Letter of Pope Paul VI to Archbishop of Canterbury Most Reverend Dr Donald Coggan (30 Nov. 1975)
  • CFR-RC–52 4: Memorandum to Primates of the Anglican Communion from Bishop John Howe (31 Dec. 1975)
  • CFR-RC–52 5: Confidential notes on the visit of the Apostolic Delegate to Archbishop Coggan, by Michael Moore (5 Jan. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 7: Note to Archbishop of Canterbury from Rev. Christopher J. Hill (12 Jan. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 8: Note on meeting with John Arnold by Michael Moore (15 Jan. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 9: Note on meeting with Bishop Howe by Michael Moore (20 Jan. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 10: Memo on the Pope‘s letter to Archbishop Coggan by Rev. Christopher J. Hill (20 Jan. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 11: Reply to Rev. Christopher Hill from (William) Derek Pattinson (26 Jan. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 12: Confidential note on meeting with Bishop John Howe by Rev. Christopher J. Hill (29 Jan. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 13: Note on telephone call with John Arnold by Michael Moore (30 Jan. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 14: Majority of Finnish Ministry Committee for Ordination of Women (2 Feb. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 16: Letter from Bishop John Howe to Archbishop Donald Coggan regarding Pope Paul VI‘s letter (2 Feb. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 17: Draft of a letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury Donald Coggan to Cardinal Willebrands (3 Feb. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 18: Brief letter to Bishop John Howe from Donald Coggan (5 Feb. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 19: Letter to Cardinal Willebrands from Donald Coggan (9 Feb. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 21: Letter to Rev. Christopher Hill from Harry Smythe (10 Feb. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 22: Letter to Rev. Christopher Hill from Harry Smythe (15 Feb. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 23: Note on the visit of Bishop Howe to Counsellors on Foreign Relations, by Rev. Christopher J. Hill (20 Feb. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 24: Letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury from Charles Moeller (10 July 1976)
  • GS–Misc–53: Excerpt from General Synod report (26 July 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 25: Note for Rev. Christopher Hill from Bishop John Howe (28 July 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 26: Letter to Bishop John Howe from Rev. Christopher J. Hill (30 July 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 27: Letter to Rev. Christopher Hill from Bishop John Howe (3 Aug. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 28: Reply to Bishop John Howe from Rev. Christopher J. Hill (11 Aug. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 29: Reply to Rev. Christopher Hill from Bishop John Howe (24 Aug. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 31: Letter to Rev. Christopher Hill from Mgr. William A. Purdy (15 Sept. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 34: Letter to Mgr. Purdy from Bishop John Howe (30 Sept. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 32: Letter to Mgr. Moeller from Donald Coggan (5 Oct. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 35: Letter to Mgr. Purdy from Rev. Christopher J. Hill (5 Oct. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 33: Note to the Archbishop of Canterbury from Rev. Christopher J. Hill (30 Nov. 1976)
  • CFR-RC–52 37: Women‘s Ordination: The History of the Controversy Clarified, by Peter Day (1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 39: Views on the Ordination of Women, by Herve–Marie Legrand, OP (6 Jan. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 49: Note to the Archbishop of Canterbury from Rev. Christopher J. Hill (4 Feb. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 50: Notes on telephone calls with David Murphy and Bishop Howe, by Anne F. Tyler (17 Feb. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 52: Letter to Fr. Pierre Duprey from Bishop John Howe (1 Mar. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 54: Letter to Apostolic Delegation from Rev. Christopher J. Hill (9 Mar. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 55: Letter to Bishop John Howe from Mgr. William A. Purdy (28 Mar. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 56: Reply to Mgr. W.A. Purdy by Bishop John Howe (13 Apr. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 57: Letter to Fr. Pierre Duprey from Bishop John Howe (17 June 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 58: Note on meeting with John Arnold by Michael Moore (8 July 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 60: Letter to Mgr. Purdy from Bishop John Howe (29 July 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 61: Note of discussions with Bishop Howe, by Rev. Christopher J. Hill (4 Aug. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 62: Note on discussion between Fr. Duprey, Mgr. Purdy, Bishop Howe and Rev. Christopher Hill on the proposed Ordination of Women/ARC Consultation, by Rev. Christopher J. Hill (31 Aug. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 63: Note to confirm arrangements made at Chichester, by Bishop John Howe (31 Aug. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 66: Draft for Bishop Howe (Sept. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 64: Note to the Archbishop of Canterbury from Rev. Christopher J. Hill (19 Sept. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 65: Letter to Bishop John Howe from Rev. Christopher J. Hill (22 Sept. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 67: Letter to Bishop John Howe from Barry Valentine (26 Oct. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 68: Anglican decisions and reports on the ordination of women to the priesthood (24 Nov. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 75: Anglican actions about the Ordination of Women to the Priesthood (24 Nov. 1977)
  • CFR-RC–52 78: Letter to Rev. Christopher Hill by Mgr. William A. Purdy (12 Dec. 1977)

CFR-RC–53: Background for the Versailles Consultation. A collection of additional papers

  • CFR-RC–53 1: Pencil notes of the meeting, by Christopher J. Hill (3 Mar. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–53 43: The Anglican Experience of Authority, by James Griffiss (27 Feb. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–53 50: The Imperative of Intercommunion, by James Griffiss (1973)
  • CFR-RC–53 56: Suggested Reading List of Books, Booklets and Articles For and Against the Ordination of Women to the Priesthood (1977)
  • CFR-RC–53 64: Primate‘s Personal Reflections on the Summary Report Concerning the Ordination of Women to the Priesthood, by Edward W. Scott (30 June 1976)
  • CFR-RC–53 65: Report of Actions taken by the Anglican Church of Canada relating to the Ordination of Women to the Presbyterate, by Edward W. Scott (30 June 1976)
  • CFR-RC–53 73: Comments re Ecumenical Relationships, by Edward W. Scott (30 June 1976)
  • CFR-RC–53 74: Note for the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, by Paul Gibson (31 Jan. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–53 75: Pontifical Biblical Commission Report: Can Women be Priests? (1 July 1976)

CFR-RC–55: Papers relating to Anglican–Roman [Catholic] consultation on the ordination of women

  • CFR-RC–55 1: Letter of Christian Howard to Archbishop Edward Scott from Christian Howard (3 Jan. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 2: Letter to Rev. Christopher Hill about discussions at Limuru from David M. Paton (16 Jan. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 3: Letter to Professor James Griffiss from Christopher J. Hill (23 Jan. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 4: Letter to Rev. Christopher Hill from Christian Howard (29 Jan. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 5: Note to Rev. Christopher Hill from Christian Howard (31 Jan. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 6: Letter to Donald Arden, Archbishop of Central Africa from Christopher J. Hill (2 Feb. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 7: Letter to Bishop John Howe from Christopher J. Hill (2 Feb. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 8: Letter from Archbishop Donald Arden of Central Africa from Christopher J. Hill (10 Feb. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 10: Extracts from the Minutes of the Synod of the Province of Central Africa
  • CFR-RC–55 14: Note to Rev. Christopher Hill from Christian Howard (15 Feb. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 15: Reply to Miss Christian Howard from Christopher J. Hill (17 Feb. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 16: Letter of thanks to Rev. Christopher Hill from Edward Fasholé-Luke (6 Mar. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 17: Note to Rev. Christopher Hill from Christian Howard (7 Mar. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 18: Letter to the Archbishop of York from Christian Howard (7 Mar. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 19: Reflection on the Roman Catholic–Anglican Communion Consultation on Ordination of Women by Christian Howard (7 Mar. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 24: Confidential letter to Rev. William Norgren from Christopher J. Hill (10 Mar. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 25: Personal letter to Rev. Christopher Hill from William A. Purdy (23 Mar. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 26: Confidential note to Bishop Howe from Christopher J. Hill (29 Mar. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 27: Response to Rev. Christopher Hill by John Howe (3 Apr. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 28: Letter to Bishop John Howe by Ramon Torrella (7 Apr. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 30: Letter to Fr. Pierre Duprey by Christopher J. Hill (17 Apr. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 31: Letter to Msgr. William Purdy by Christopher J. Hill (18 Apr. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 32: Notes on a meeting with Bishop John Howe by Christopher J. Hill (24 Apr. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 33: Postscript to my letter by Christopher J. Hill (28 Apr. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 34: Letter to Bishop John Howe by Christopher J. Hill (28 Apr. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 35: Letter to Bishop Ramon Torrella by John Howe (28 Apr. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 37: Letter to Msgr. William Purdy by Christopher J. Hill (9 May 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 38: Suggested appended note by Catholic signatories to Versailles Consultation (17 May 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 39: Note on a telephone call with Rev. William Purdy by Anne F. Tyler (17 May 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 40: Telephone message given to Bishop John Howe from Christopher J. Hill (18 May 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 41: Reply to Bishop John Howe by Ramon Torrella (20 May 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 44: Message for Bishop Howe from Christopher J. Hill (24 May 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 46: Draft Reply to Bishop Torrella from John Howe (26 May 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 45: Letter to Fr. John Hotchkin by Christopher J. Hill (26 May 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 56: Note to Msgr. William Purdy from Christopher J. Hill (28 June 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 58: Letter to the Primates of the Anglican Communion from John Howe (30 June 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 66: The context of ARCCOW (July 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 69: Women ‘no block to unity‘, by Baden Hickman (27 July 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 72: Report may help women to ordination, by Clifford Longley (27 July 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 73: Inter–church talks on woman priests (27 July 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 67: Strains on Anglican ‘self–understanding‘, by Clifford Longley (31 July 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 68: The Ordination of Women (31 July 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 71: Letter to the editor: Anglicans and the ordination of women, by Peter Boulton (31 July 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 70: Anglican bishops given firm RC view on woman priests, by Robert Nowell (1 Aug. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 64: Letter to Rev. Christopher Hill by Rev. Lister Tonge (16 Oct. 1978)
  • CFR-RC–55 65: Reply to Rev. Lister Tonge by Christopher J. Hill (24 Oct. 1978)