The Church of England today launched a plan for a new class of ‘superbishops’ to try to keep its rebel clergy within the fold.The superbishops were the key to a rescue package to keep the CofE from breaking apart as its leaders move towards the consecration of the first women bishops.
Under the last-minute deal put forward to the Church’s parliament, the General Synod, superbishops would be given authority over traditionalist clergy and parishes which refuse to accept the leadership of a woman bishop.
They would be picked from the ranks of Anglo-Catholic traditionalists to provide alternative leadership for those who will not obey women bishops and who still do not accept the idea that women can be ordained as priests.
The superbishops plan was unveiled amid allegations that senior conservative bishops in the CofE have held a meeting at the Vatican to discuss ‘closer ties’ with the Roman Catholic Church.
News of the meeting sparked speculation in the CofE that traditionalists are considering a mass defection to Rome because of the row over women bishops and the worldwide Anglican headache over homosexuality.
One possibility is that parishes and entire dioceses might transfer their allegiance to Rome and move towards conversion to Catholicism.
Senior CofE figures indicated yesterday that a meeting at the Vatican did happen. But the importance of the talks was played down. No bishop came forward to admit being part of any talks.
Monsignor Andrew Faley, ecumenical officer for Roman Catholic bishops in England and Wales, denied any knowledge of any talks.
‘I don’t believe there is any truth in it,’ he said.
He added that talks between CofE bishops and Vatican counterparts are staged on a regular basis.
When the CofE first ordained women priests 14 years ago, around 500 Anglican clergy left the Church for Rome.
The scheme, to be discussed by Synod members meeting in York later tomorrow, aims to keep the rebels inside the CofE in a compromise deal.
The Right Reverend John Packer, Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, who has proposed the rescue package, said: ‘We are all going to have to accept some limitations over where we would like to be.
‘I don’t think compromise is a dirty word.’
The superbishops would be appointed when the Church goes ahead with picking women to be bishops, probably in 2014.
They would replace the ‘flying bishops’ who have been in place since the CofE first ordained women as priests in 1994. Flying bishops can be brought in by a diocese which has women priests to minister to parishes which do not recognise women as priests.
Superbishops - or ‘complementary bishops’ in Synod jargon - will be more senior figures and parishes will be able to ask for their leadership without any interference from local diocesan bishops.
The plan for ‘statutory transfer of specified responsibilities’ means that the superbishops would assume spiritual and disciplinary leadership of rebel parishes.
But local diocesan bishops would keep control over parish purse strings and Church schools.
Synod members will be asked to back a motion that will give them seven more months before they have to choose between two ways to head off rebellion.
One is the superbishops scheme - the other is a plan to produce a code of practice with rules to protect the traditionalists from any dealings with women bishops.
The superbishops plan is thought to have support from leading figures including Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu.
Dr Packer said: ‘I am not the only person who thinks that this could be a way through.’
However traditionalists may refuse to accept the compromise.
Hardliners are unlikely to appreciate a scheme under which the superbishops will still have to be supervised by archbishops who, in traditionalist eyes, will be tainted because they will consecrate women bishops.
The plan will also win little support from feminists who are pressing for women bishops legislation to be pushed through with no compromise or provision for traditionalists.
Last night the CofE feminist wing looked certain to reject the rescue package.
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