I have spent much of my career working within industry consortia that are voluntary associations of different enterprises.  You cannot demand that other people do things your way.  You have to depend upon the powers of persuasion to get things done.

To the extent that the leaders of the Mother Ship fail to persuade the 40% of their various constituencies who voted to permit Divisions to decide for themselves whom to ordain, their efforts however mighty and sustained, will be wasted.

So why do the current generation of leaders persist in this Quixotic crusade?

Let me offer two speculative answers.  First, some of them sense that time is not in their favor.  When and if this proposal comes back again, it may very well pass.  So Those who think it anathema, must stomp-out this flame all the way back to its source while they still have time.  In other words, eliminate all vestiges of women in ministerial leadership roles.

(continued)