The Synod vote had been due to take place in July, but was postponed after a last-minute row over wording.
A compromise was later agreed, granting traditionalists ”” who believe that female leadership in the Church goes against the Bible’s teaching ”” the right to have an alternative male bishop chosen “in a manner which respects” their theological convictions.
However, a small but well-organised coalition of traditionalist Anglo-Catholics and evangelicals has joined forces, claiming that the compromise is “not fit for purpose” because it still does not provide enough assurances for them. They believe they could have secured enough votes in at least one part of the Synod to deny the measure the full two thirds approval it requires to be passed.
If this group influence more than one third of the delegates to the house of laity voting No, then how can they be described as “small”?
[blockquote] “But traditionalists have stepped up their own charm offensive, calculating that they only need to deny the bill a two thirds majority in one of the three houses of Synod — Bishops, Clergy or Laity — to halt its progress. In theory that could require the votes of little more than one in 10 of the Synod’s members.” [/blockquote]
Rubbish. If this measure is defeated it will almost certainly occur in the House of Laity, and there is no way that can happen with only 10% of Synod members.
[blockquote] “One veteran campaigner for women bishops warned that defeat by a small minority unhappy with concessions would spark “huge anger†among the rank and file.” [/blockquote]
Get real. Such an outcome would only “spark huge anger” among a small number of liberal activists, and a few very liberal politicians who share their extremist views.
Most members of Church of England are uncomfortably aware that this whole exercise is a study in optimism – they HOPE that having women bishops will lead to the rejuvenation of the Church of England, but they SUSPECT that it will have the opposite effect, because the people who are most effective at growing the church (orthodox evangelicals and anglo-catholics) are likely to leave or divert their efforts elsewhere as a result.