Debate about women bishops will dominate the General Synod agenda next month. In all, the Synod will spend about seven-and-a-half hours discussing the various ways forward.
The General Synod will meet on the York University campus from 4 p.m. on Friday 4 July until 1 p.m. on Tuesday 8 July. The chief item on the agenda is the consideration of the recent Manchester report (News, 2 May), which outlined the various options for introducing women into the episcopate in the Church of England, and accommodating those who find women bishops unacceptable.
The matter first comes up on the Friday evening, when the Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, introduces the issue and briefs the Synod on the plans for the following morning. These involve an hour-and-a-quarter in group discussions, beginning with prayer. These are followed by a two-hour “take note” debate, in which the general concerns of the different positions in Synod can be aired.
Controversial matters are customarily avoided on a Sunday during the York sessions, and the Synod returns to women bishops on Monday afternoon, spending three-and-three-quarter hours debating the motion proposed by the House of Bishops: no legislative security for traditionalists, but, instead, a code of practice. The Archbishops have said that they expect amendments to this motion in order to test the mind of the Synod. These can be submitted as late as Sunday afternoon; so it will be impossible to predict until the day what choices the Synod will be faced with.
hmmm – a code of practice. So how does that help? I have very grave doubts over the sacramental validity of women priests…that is not TOO much of a problem practically (its enormous theologically) as I can avoid their ministrations. However when a woman is consecrated- I would then doubt all those- men and women- ordained by her. How does a code of practice help me out here? Do I have to wear a yellow star to show I am ‘the naughty one’? This is no where near enough and I think they know it.
Nothing other than a structural solution can work.
And I should add…the establishment will not give us that because it requires THEM to relinquish POWER – which is what they cling to at all costs.
#1 & 2 Hear1 Hear!
Presumably they’re betting on the fact that, if they can get it through Synod, most of the Anglo Catholics will huff and puff and in the end bow their necks and accept the blow.