Church of England says okay to women bishops

Jul 14, 2010 |

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London, July 13: The Church of England faces an existential crisis over growing dissent between modernisers and traditionalists after a draft legislation paving the way for the first female bishop was approved by the general synod, the ruling body of the Church, in York. The five-day general synod ended on Tuesday.

However, the Church will not get a female bishop soon. A majority of the diocesan synods of the Church will have to clear the legislation and then it will again be placed before the general synod in 2012 for further consideration.

The three Houses of the general synod — the House of Bishops, the House of Clergy and the House of Laity — will each need to pass the legislation by a two-thirds majority. It is unlikely that women will be consecrated as bishops by the Church of England before 2014, acco-rding to Anglican experts.

The Catholic group in the Anglican Church rejected the draft legislation, saying that it “contains nothing which can satisfy the legitimate needs of members of Forward in Faith.”

However, the group said it would not take a hasty decision on the issue. “Now, though, is not the time for precipitate action,” it said.

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