Introduction

Introduction By The Chairman

Welcome to our meeting here this evening. It is very good to see a good number of people that have come along to listen to this interesting topic being discussed. So I extend to you on behalf of the organisers of this meeting a very warm welcome to be with us here.

Now I am sure that we are all aware of the conflict in the Christian world over the role of women in the church. It is a sensitive issue. Now tonight, God willing, we are to listen to a public dialogue in which we will hear two sincere perspectives on this subject; I am sure you will have read the introductory leaflet. Please note the use of the word ‘dialogue’. This is not a debate as such. I will not, therefore, be calling for comment from the floor, for example to have a vote to decide which has carried the day. That is not the purpose. As two Christians, both of our speakers have great respect for the Word of God.

May I now introduce the platform to you.

My name is David Evans and I come from Sidcup in the County of Kent. Both Jacqueline Henry and Duncan Heaster have agreed that I should act as the Chairman this evening. I have only met Jacqueline half an hour or so ago but I have known Duncan for a good number of years now.

Well, as you will have seen from the Invitation to be here, Jacqueline is an ordained Deacon in the Church of England and now lives in the West Midlands; in fact she is Schools Chaplain in this particular area.

Mr Duncan Heaster, on my right, who is a schoolteacher from South London, travels widely throughout the world taking the gospel message to all nations and he has recently returned from the Baltic States.

I would like to just explain to you the dialogue arrangements for the evening — the order for the dialogue. There are going to be two twenty five minute opening speeches. Duncan by agreement is going to go first and Jacquie, as she prefers me to refer to her, is going to go afterwards. We are then going to have a ten minute break so that you can stretch your legs and visit the comfort station. When we reconvene there will be two ten minute responses in the same order. Duncan going first and then Jacquie will follow. This will be followed by a further two tenminute opportunities for questions to Duncan and Jacquie.

Both will have a final five minute opportunity to sum up their respective and sincere views on this topic. We hope to conclude the meeting by about 9:45 or perhaps 10:00 p.m.

Just one or two points of order; I will not accept any interruption from the floor of the house while Duncan and Jacquie are speaking. I wish you to please respect what they are doing for us this evening and not to interfere. Now if you have any questions to ask of either party, question boxes for both speakers are available. They are in fact on the table on my right here; one box is marked for Duncan the other for Jacquie. Both will answer your questions in the question period just prior to the final summing up. I hope you will understand that if there are many questions put in there we shall clearly, in the time available, not be able to deal with all of them, but if there are questions outstanding that you would dearly like a response from either of our speakers this evening, I am sure in due time they will be prepared to answer your questions. And so as it is impractical to take questions from the floor, do please use the written method. The opportunity to put your questions will be during the ten minute break after the first two addresses. If you put your questions in the boxes then I will sort them out for the question session.

Well I think I have said sufficient to introduce myself and our two speakers this evening, and so without any more ado, I am going to begin the dialogue and I am going to ask Duncan to speak to us for the first 25 minutes. And what I am going to do is to start my timer and give each speaker the same amount of time, and when they hear that ring they will know that it is time for them to sit down and let the other have a word. So, Duncan.