THE SUPPLY OF ORDINANDS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—May it not be that the present shortage of ordinands is intended to serve as a call to the Church to utilize the large amount of new material that lies ready to her hand, namely, in part-time clergy and in women ? Who can doubt that the addition of numbers of part-time clergy, engaged in all kinds of other occupations, but endowed with full priestly functions, would exercise a wonderfully renewing influence in the Church, and introduce a breath of the outside air, now so sadly lacking ? Moreover, such men would also bring back the Christian atmosphere into their places of business, and would do much to break down the unnatural barriers that separate clergy and laity.
Equally beneficial would be the admission of women to the ministry, not merely as " deaconesses," but as fully ordained priests. Without the co-operation of woman, man's work will always fall short of perfection ; and women are specially fitted for the priestly office by reason of their powers of intuition and spiritual insight. Yet, though in other walks of life the old tradition of women's inferiority or unsuitability has been discarded as obsolete and injurious, it still holds sway, alas ! in the highest walk of all.
When Christ had to feed the hungry multitude, He took the seemingly inadequate food that was at hand, and with it supplied all needs. May I. suggest that in this matter the Church should follow His example, and, setting aside her traditions, make use with faith and courage of the ample stores within her reach P—I am, Sir, &c., G. R. DENNIS.
Thistlebarrow Road, Bournemouth.
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