What complementarians believe:

Men and women are...

• equally saved
• equally gifted by the Holy Spirit
• equally important to God

but...

• have different roles within the family of God. 
• its not appropriate for women to take a position of overall leadership.
• Men and women should encourage one another in their separate roles.

Why shouldn't women be overall leaders?

• Affects ministry to men - church becomes feminised.
• Distorts created order
• Distorts the gospel- where men and women relate in a God-ordained way it is attractive, and makes the gospel attractive, but 
• Ignoring God's plan for church order often results in disorder and competitiveness.

What unique ministry can women do in the church?

• older women can teach and train younger women (Titus 2) - if neglected, the church suffers.

Why is it wrong to exclude opponents of Women Bishops from the Church of England?   An argument from Augustine of Hippo's situation...

The problem:

• Some Christians were so zealous that they set up rival bishops in some towns to maintain doctrinal purity.

Augustine's insight:

• the authority of Scripture was essential to maintain unity,
• immorality should not be ignored, BUT
• they were aiming for a perfect and pure church, which isn't possible on this earth.

His solution:

• He taught that they should be careful not to exclude anyone from the Church on any ground other than heresy or false teaching.

How does this apply today?

• If you exclude people from the Church of England on the grounds of their opposition to women bishops you are saying that these beliefs are heretical.

Our challenge:

Will you respect brothers and sisters in Christ who have come to an authentic biblical position which may be different to what you think, and will you allow us to continue to serve Jesus Christ as Anglicans?

Further information: www.reform.org.uk