Bishops

Church of England backs female bishops

The Church of England has moved a step closer to ordaining women as bishops.

Its governing body, the General Synod, passed a resolution Monday night allowing women bishops, acting over the objections of traditionalists who argued that Jesus only wanted men in leadership positions.

The synod narrowly rejected a proposal for "super bishops," which would have allowed parishes opposed to women bishops to opt out. Opponents argued the plan would be insulting to women bishops.

The Church of England has about 114 bishops. They supervise parishes in Britain.

The final hurdle for the consecration of women bishop is expected next February with a vote on a "code of practice" intended to protect people who as a matter of theological conviction will not be able to receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests."

Some traditionalists have threatened to leave the Anglican Church for the Roman Catholic Church if women become bishops. Several hundred priests did that when women ministers were first ordained 16 years ago.

The first consecration of a woman bishop could potentially happen in 2015.

The theological debate over women bishops has centered over the question "What would Jesus do?"

The traditionalists argued that bishops must be men, as were Jesus and his apostles.

Retired Canon Alan Duke, a longtime supporter of women in church leadership posts, said those arguments "simply do not stack up."

Duke said that while Jesus named no female disciples, he used and valued woman in radical and different ways for his time.

"He was hardly going to choose women and send them into a situation where they might have been in grave risk," Duke said.

Christina Rees, with the pro-women lobby Women and the Church, described what was at stake as "an acceptance by the Church of England of women on equal terms as men in the ordained ministries."

David Holding, a traditionalist church member, said he does not object to women bishops, but "there must be a proper provision made for those who can't go along with it."

The lack of a provision to allow traditionalist choose to be under a "super bishop" instead of a woman raises concern that a schism could develop in the Church of England.

Duke described "an awful lot of bluster" but doubted there "will be a mass exodus."

(Published by CNN News - july 8, 2008)