Two women bishops from the United States will take part in a conference in Cardiff next month as legislation allowing women to be ordained as bishops in Wales comes into effect.
The Rt Revd Geralyn Wolf, former Bishop of Rhode Island, will be the keynote speaker at the Crossing The Threshold conference on September 4. She will also become the first women Anglican bishop to preside at Llandaff Cathedral when she takes part in the conference service. The Rt Revd Gayle Harris, the Suffragen Bishop of Massachusetts, will also attend.
The conference marks the opening of the rank of bishops to women following legislation passed by the Church in Wales which comes into effect on September 12 – exactly one year after the historic vote. The delay was built in to allow the Welsh bishops time to prepare a Code of Practice to accompany the new law.
In addition to the US bishops, speakers include other senior theologians, including Rev’d Dr Jenny Hurd, chair of the Wales’ Synod Methodist and Canon Joanna Penberthy.
Crossing The Threshold will be held at St Michael’s College, Cardiff. One of the organisers is the Revd Jan Gould, priest-in-charge of Glan Ely benefice in Cardiff. She says, “This conference is about how we ‘cross the threshold’ to a transformed leadership with the Church in Wales.
“Anglican women bishops in the USA have a huge amount to share and this is a unique opportunity to engage with their experience and to see together what that might mean for the future of the Church in Wales. People will have the chance to share their hopes, fears and expectations in small groups as the Church in Wales responds to this great change.”
The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, will also attend the conference. He says, “At this momentous time – when the Church in Wales is just weeks away from legislation coming into effect to allow women to be ordained as bishops – I am delighted to support this conference and to welcome in particular Bishop Geralyn Wolf to share her experience and ministry with us.”
Crossing The Threshold conference takes place at St Michael’s College, Cardiff, on September 4. The day will close with a service at Llandaff Cathedral at 7.45pm, at which Bishop Geralyn will preside and Canon Mary Stallard, chaplain of St Joseph’s Anglican and Catholic School, will preach. All are welcome.
