ENGLAND: Women bishops draft legislation

ENGLAND: Women bishops draft legislation published; measure to be debated at February synod.

[Church of England] The General Synod will have its first opportunity to consider draft legislation enabling women to become bishops in the Church of England in February, having given an in-principle agreement to the shape of the legislative package last July. The Legislative Drafting Group on Women in the Episcopate, chaired by Bishop Nigel McCulloch of the Diocese of Manchester, on December 29 published its further report and drafts of a measure and associated amending canon.

Full story here.

Here is the briefing that occurred in July of 2008 after the Synod's vote:

Q&A: Vote over women bishops

The divisive issue of the conditions under which women should be consecrated as bishops has been voted on by the Church of England's ruling body, the General Synod.

The Synod backed a motion calling for a national code of practice to accommodate parishes that cannot accept women bishops, but rejected safeguards demanded by traditionalists.

What was the vote on women bishops by the Synod in York about?

The Church's ruling body, the Synod, had already agreed in principle to ordain women as bishops, but the vote confirmed that and was also about the conditions under which they could be consecrated.

Opinion remains divided on the merits of women bishops

Synod members considered what concessions should be made to opponents of women bishops and if, for example, opponents should be allowed to opt to remain under the ministry of male bishops.

Those against concessions say this would have made women who were ordained "second-rate bishops".

They argue that since any decision would have to be ratified by Parliament, such concessions would be rejected as discriminatory.

Traditionalists, who say their religious consciences will not allow them to serve under women bishops, fear a man ordained by a woman may not be properly ordained.

You can read the rest of the Q & A here.