Documents illustrating responses from China to the issue of Florence Lei's ordinaton

Compiled by Michael Poon

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From Deaconess Lucy Vincent's letter from Kunming, 23 June, 1944, to the Church Missionary Society: (judged by CMS as not fit for publication at the time)

I had long been sure that the Church in South China would recognise the Christian equality of men and women in this way but had not expected it to happen so soon.  I do hope that the House of Bishops will approve. It is such a blessing that such a suitable woman was available for the pioneer. She realizes her own weakness but rests on the power of God, and her development since she began her training to me is clear evidence that she was indeed ‘called by God’ when she heard Bishop Mok’s hopes for Chinese women leaders at my ordination)。  (Church Missionary Society Archives, ASE AL Sec. 1-20。)

The avant-garde spirit of South China -- Bishop Roland Hall's Statement in the 10th General Synod of the CHSKH, August, 1947, on the Significance of the Ordination of Florence Lei:

莫会督准许李添嫒女牧施行圣餐, 是在他最后一次经澳门入自由区之时。 以后我派立她为会长乃是我证实莫公之举可信。 妇女被封为会长最早实现中国本是不足怪。尤其是一位广东会督为照顾广东同道灵性之需要而实行其第一步。 教会中从没有宣传基督到一个更古老的,且更文明的民族像中华民族。 从某方面看基督教已经随带新自由, 新机会给中国世界。 然而除基督文化外, 中国文化给妇女的地位, 无论在社会生活方面, 或在学术生活方面, 向来是很高的。 广东人在中国亦站在一个特殊地位。 他们保持中国文化的遗传, 并有超等商业力量与干力。 中国的古老文化, 与广东的前进精神, 为上帝所用以预备一位妇女受基督之召, 为伊群牧, 此不足奇也。(General Synod Report, 20-26)

The lack of moral courage -- Rev. Chung Yan-Lap's comment on the General Synod's decision to refer the matter to Lambeth

(有关)女会吏封立为会长案:此案由本教区提出。提案巳於半年前寄与教区常务委员会考虑及讨论。我代表团是次出席更预备解释本案之理由,印成单张分派与代表参看。 至大会讨论此案时我代表发言後,各代表多不欲讨论,而提议俟主教院有关於此案之咨文到时始再行讨论。代表院现在一反数日前之态度,而欲得主教院之意见为意见。各教区对於女子的地位,与守旧不肯前进之态度,於此可见。後主教院通过将此案兰柏会议讨论,代表院亦即赞同矣。惟代表中主张女会吏可封立为会长者,亦不乏人,沈祖英女士武昌圣希理达校长更力为争辩。相信此案将来必能通过实行。 因各别教会,已有买行者,所可惜者,中华圣公曾已失了一个良好之机会耳。. . . 此次总议会大致尚属成功,惟仍缺乏一点东西,那就是像上海吴国桢市长所说的: 道德的勇气,或是正义的勇气。(Kongyuet Echo, Vol. 1.11, 3-4)

Never again! Should the matter be referred to Lambeth? -- Editorial in Chinese Churchmen at the wake of the Lambeth decision

兰柏会议只是一个咨询的机关, 不是立法的机关。. . . 此次中华圣公会提出女会长的问题, 请教于兰柏大会, 我们认为此事『可一不可再』。 中华圣公会是一个自主自治的省区, 它是绝对有权来制定它自己的宪法规例的。 封立女会长之事是关系规例之事, 不是关系教道教政的根本原则。 . . . 所以总议会自己应该有一种主张, 不要去兰柏会议来越俎代谋。 并且兰柏会议十年开会一次, 恐怕我们有许多问题, 来不及等到十年以后的兰柏大会, 来代替我们决定可否是非。此次我们的总议会, 根本没有讨论这问题, 就断然决定提出于兰柏, 那未免是太阿Q了;所以我们说『可一不可再』。 (Chinese Churchmen, Vol 37, No. 8)

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