This article was originally published in 'Women’s World Day of Prayer’ on 04/03/2005 and is republished here with the author's permission.

The TIME Magazine carried an interesting leading article the other week concerning the new place of women in science. This well illustrates that the long slow process of reinstating women once again in their rightful place in society initiated by Mary Pankhurst - and do not forget Annie Besant in her early days - is at last bearing fruit. As we are only too well aware, this situation is reflected in that most hidebound of institutions, the Church. Women in the Sanctuary! Women Priests!! Women Bishops!!! Of course, we all realise that it had to happen and that it could easily split, or maybe, already has split, the churches into fundamentals and liberals. The Tsunami subterranean ground swell is still gathering momentum. Look at the many Internet Web Sites. I suppose one of the best is that put out by Roman Catholics! Notice that there is now even a Site catering exclusively for Women Priests vestments and garments. Times are changing, but this in not the main point.

Like so much that is going on in the world today it is surely but one of the many parts of the preparations for the future that God has planned for his world. A world where all are recognised equally as God’s children; complementary sides of his nature male/female, united in love. This is the secret esoteric teaching that was given to the pure in heart from the beginning. Now that the waters of the Spirit of God are being slowly poured out, as we can comprehend it, in the coming Aquarian Age humanity is ready for that which was secret, the esoteric, to become the exoteric. We may wonder sometimes just what is happening, but humanity has advanced sufficiently to begin to grasp the outline of God’s Plan and the reason for the terrific ‘clearing of the foundations’ that is currently taking place. The reason for the current battle of the old against the new.

The inner esoteric core and teaching of Christ’s Church is world shattering and unchanging but, and this is important, the Churches presentation of his promise for humanities advancement must again be brought to the fore, not to help us older folk, but those who are now coming into incarnation. That is the duty Christ has placed upon us. If we sit complacently on past endeavours, the Christian Church will die and the powers above will bring forward a more fitting vehicle for the work of our Master.

If it can grasp the opportunity put before it, our Church is in a position to once again tune in to the needs of the time. Bishops Wedgwood and Leadbeater did not turn away from the imperative of reviewing the historic shape of the Liturgy and we are still justifiably proud of our heritage.

However, remember that Bishop Wedgwood also produced other Liturgies. His Eastern Rite for example and there have been a number of other ‘efforts’ since, American, and Australian, an Affirmation Mass and even an ‘Orthodox’ Version, but maybe that was rather long winded! The point is that we are in the unique position of being able to bring out into the open the Aquarian Mass based on the ideas of our past, our unique Eucharist, but carefully reset to tone down the Jewish and archaic wording so out of touch with the youth of today. It would need to be an interim Eucharist, for our knowledge and inspiration is still limited. It should most certainly bring in a Aquarian esoteric flavour of Group Work, of Team Work doing away with the old division of Priest one end and congregation the other side of the dividing gates. The days when Dr. Besant had to preach her sermon outside the Sanctuary gates at St.Mary’s London are over. Men and Women, Male and Female, Yin And Yang, should all be functioning together as one complementary team to build an edifice suitable for the work of our Master.

What an opportunity is presented to us. If we do not take it up we will not be fulfilling the wishes of our forward-looking founders. Yes, such action needs tolerance, tact, understanding of others points of view. It needs us to carry out in heart and mind and action the opening sentences of our Statement of Principles. It needs us to work for our Master Christ, not our own limited perceptions. Surely this is worth serious thought. Our esoteric past is showing us the way to the Light of an exoteric future. The changing climate of world attitudes shown by the TIME article is just a small pointer. Other churches are feeling their way ahead, often blindly. We have the unique heritage of being a forward looking Church.

We have only to think of that marvellous Chapter 21 in the Book of Revelations. Behind all the disasters and upheavals of today’s world we should never forget that the Tabernacle of God is with men. Christ has never left us, and his message of love is always the same: ‘Behold, I make all things new.’