Pressure Grows for Church of England to Allow Women Bishops
Episcopal News Service. March 25, 2003 [2003-066-6]
Divisions between traditionalists and supporters of women bishops could be widened by a vote scheduled for the weekend of March 29, which calls on the Church of England's General Synod to end the bar to women in the episcopate.
An overwhelming majority backed a motion at the Ripon and Leeds diocesan synod which asks General Synod 'to bring forward legislation to permit the consecration of women to the episcopate in the provinces of Canterbury and York without further delay.'
The successful motion was tabled by Canon Penny Driver, the diocesan director of ordinands and a member of General Synod, who told delegates that it no longer made sense to decide who could be ordained as bishops along gender lines. 'Many of us believe that an all-male episcopate can no longer properly fulfil the role of Christian leadership--we need both male and female bishops just as we have male and female priests, deacons and laity.' Others speaking for the motion said that the church could not delay on an issue which was one of equality and 'basic human rights.'
Among those backing the motion was the Bishop John Packer of Ripon and Leeds. While he said that he was keen to see legislation brought forward, he stressed that it was important that provision was made for those who are opposed to such a move. 'I'm very optimistic that we shall find ways, as we did over the ordination of women to the priesthood, in which we can live together within a single church respecting each other's conscientious provisions,' he said.
At present, a General Synod Working Party, chaired by the bishop of Rochester, is due to report back in July 2004, and it seemed unlikely that the church would include women in the episcopate until the end of the decade. Opponents of women bishops had hoped that moves would not be fast-tracked so that breathing space would be given to find a compromise, but the vote could bring the issue back on to the agenda sooner than expected.
The Rev. Timothy Lipscomb, area dean of Armley, was one of a number of speakers who opposed the motion on the grounds that it would cause further division and hurt, demoralizing further an already 'demoralized church.' Many traditionalists, opposed to the move would, he said, 'either resign, become Roman Catholics or disappear into obscurity, disillusioned and broken.'
Driver said that the vote would allow the General Synod to hear the overwhelming support of the Church of England for women in the episcopate.