The two most senior clerics in the Church have stated that they do not want would-be priests to be discriminated against if they oppose the ordination of women.
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York also said they would try to ensure there is a continuing supply of traditionalist bishops to cater for parishes who do not want to be looked after by a female bishop.
Their comments come in a new report to the Church’s governing body, the General Synod, which gives more detail of how the historic development will work in practice.
It comes at the start of a critical phase for the legislation that will lead to the first women bishops in the Church of England, described by the archbishops as “probably the most significant set of legislative decisions [Synod] has had to deal with for some 20 years”.
Next month the Synod could call on bishops to make substantial changes to the plans, which if agreed would then have to be sent back to dioceses for another year of consideration.
If the draft rules proceed to the July meeting, they will have to be passed by a two-thirds majority by the Synod’s houses of lay members, clergy and bishops.
It is unclear which way any of the votes will go as a new Synod has been elected since the last time the contentious topic was debated. Many traditionalists have also crossed over to the Roman Catholic Church over the past year, following the Pope’s establishment of a new organisation for them called the Ordinariate.
If the law is passed, women bishops could be ordained by 2014 at the earliest and each of the Church’s 44 dioceses would have to develop schemes for how to deal with the conservative evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics who believe scripture and tradition teaches that church leaders must be men.
In their foreword, the Archbishops say the “majority” of bishops are “strongly and positively committed” to the introduction of women bishops, but they are also keen to ensure the Church of England remains a broad church “in which conscientious difference of theological judgement is fully respected”.
Drs Rowan Williams and John Sentamu say they do not want a “two-tier episcopate” – with women bishops given less power than their male counterparts – and admit there are “very
difficult decisions ahead” as some have “deep concerns” about the future.
They write: “Bishops will continue not to discriminate in selecting candidates for ordination on the grounds of their theological convictions regarding the admission of women to Holy Orders.”
The archbishops also “commit themselves to seeking to maintain a supply of bishops” who will be acceptable to parishes that submit a Letter of Request stating that they do not want a woman leader.
Next month's Synod gathering in London will also hear debates on the future of the NHS, assisted suicide, House of Lords reform and new prayers to be said by children.
It is unclear which way any of the votes will go as a new Synod has been elected since the last time the contentious topic was debated. Many traditionalists have also crossed over to the Roman Catholic Church over the past year, following the Pope’s establishment of a new organisation for them called the Ordinariate.
If the law is passed, women bishops could be ordained by 2014 at the earliest and each of the Church’s 44 dioceses would have to develop schemes for how to deal with the conservative evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics who believe scripture and tradition teaches that church leaders must be men.
In their foreword, the Archbishops say the “majority” of bishops are “strongly and positively committed” to the introduction of women bishops, but they are also keen to ensure the Church of England remains a broad church “in which conscientious difference of theological judgement is fully respected”.
Drs Rowan Williams and John Sentamu say they do not want a “two-tier episcopate” – with women bishops given less power than their male counterparts – and admit there are “very
difficult decisions ahead” as some have “deep concerns” about the future.
They write: “Bishops will continue not to discriminate in selecting candidates for ordination on the grounds of their theological convictions regarding the admission of women to Holy Orders.”
The archbishops also “commit themselves to seeking to maintain a supply of bishops” who will be acceptable to parishes that submit a Letter of Request stating that they do not want a woman leader.
Next month's Synod gathering in London will also hear debates on the future of the NHS, assisted suicide, House of Lords reform and new prayers to be said by children.