The Church of England’s general synod has voted to remove the legal obstacles that prevent women from becoming bishops.
The Archdeacon of Berkshire, the Venerable Norman Russell, said he was a supporter of the ordination of women to the episcopate, but he also wanted to make it easier for those who had found it difficult to accept women’s ordination. And John Hanks from Oxford told synod the decision would make it difficult for him and ‘thousands of others to remain loyal to the Church of our birth’. He could only remain if the decision was accompanied by appropriate safeguards, he said.
The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Richard Harries, said the church should explore every way of remaining as comprehensive as possible. He said he was a strong supporter of women priests but had been troubled about the effects the ordination of women would have on those who could not agree.
The process to allow women to become bishops is expected to take a full five years – the term of the new general synod, which will meet in November.
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