Over 300 parishes have already passed a resolution under the House of Bishops' Declaration which results in them receiving episcopal oversight from a member of the Council of Bishops of The Society. The majority had been petitioning parishes under the former Act of Synod, but a significant number previously had only Resolutions A and B or had no resolution at all.

Parishes that have not yet passed the new resolution have just over eight months to do so before the existing resolutions and petitions lapse. (Resolutions can of course be passed later, but, where resolutions are already in place, the new resolution should be passed before 17 November 2016 to avoid a hiatus.)

In January 2015 Forward in Faith published a booklet containing advice to parish priests and PCCs on passing resolutions under the Declaration. A second edition has now been published and is available on the Advice page of the Forward in Faith website or in print from the office. In addition to some minor adjustments, the second edition includes a new section setting out the steps that need to be taken after a resolution has been passed. This has been drafted in the light of parishes' experience of communication with dioceses about resolutions.

The Advice page also includes

• a draft Resolution and Statement as a Word file,
• a checklist for chairmen and secretaries of PCCs,
• a sheet for calculating dates by which notice must be given before the PCC meeting,
• a table for calculating the majority required to pass a resolution, and
• a leaflet for PCC members.

Forward in Faith welcomes the publication of Without Precedent by our former National Secretary Geoffrey Kirk.

The book examines arguments that have sought to justify the ordination of women to the priesthood from Scripture and claims of ancient precedent for the practice. The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Williams, has commented, 'I read it with appreciation for its clarity and comprehensiveness. It is undoubtedly a lucid and helpful survey, which quite rightly punctures some awful historical nonsense.'

Professor Ephraim Radner adds, 'Disagree though I may with Geoffrey Kirk's final position, I must strongly recommend this sparkling volume... Dr Kirk... witheringly exposes the largely flabby arguments still making the rounds in church debate.'

Without Precedent is available to members of Forward in Faith at the reduced price of £12 (inc. p&p). Please send a cheque, payable to Forward in Faith, to the office.