ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the Orthodox theological condonement of the ordination of women in the 1996 consultation between Orthodox and Old Catholic theologians on gender and the apostolic ministry. This formal consultation came to the conclusion that there are no theological objections to the ordination of women. The author proposes that the issue of women’s ordination touched on a fundamental theological question: the manner in which tradition, including Scripture, is to be received. This chapter sheds light on a highly interesting yet little-known episode in Orthodox ecumenical relations, showing that there are recent examples of negotiations with tradition even on issues considered “closed cases” such as women’s ordination.
