Post date: Nov 19, 2012 7:14:23 PM
The Church of England is debating ahead of a vote on Tuesday on whether to allow the ordination of women bishops, the culmination of more than 10 years of debate on one of the most divisive issues within the Anglican community
LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 19, 2012) (UK) - The Church of England has begun it's General Synod meeting in London where on Tuesday (November 20) it will vote on whether to allow the ordination of women bishops, the culmination of more than 10 years of debate on one of the most divisive issues within the Anglican community.
Women already serve as bishops in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States, but the Church of England, the mother church for the world's 80 million Anglicans, has struggled to reconcile the dispute between reformers and traditionalists on whether to allow them in England.In order to try and get the vote finally passed a measure has been introduced making provision for those who object to women bishops.
It would allow for a male bishop to act alongside a female one in diocese where there are objections.
It's a compromise neither side is that happy with.
Reverend Jane Morris, from St Gabriel's Church in London was one of the first women to become a priest in the early 1990's. She will be voting in favour of the measure, but with a slightly heavy heart as she believes the compromise discriminates against women.
"I think it is a painful compromise for everybody involved. Everybody is making compromises to get the measure we have before us this week and whether it will go through or not I think it is on a knife-edge, nobody really knows that. I do know that by this time next week somebody will be in pain and somebody will be in joy and it is my prayer we will be able to go forward together after this whatever happens," she said.
Her parishioners do not understand why some clergy can not support women bishops. Winsome Spence said it is a natural progression from allowing women to become priests.
"If they can progress up to priest, why can't they go further one step and be a bishop? What's wrong in women being bishops?" she said.
"I think it's a bunch of people who don't like change. People are afraid of change, we've accepted that. I think at some point in time we just have to accept that this is the way it is going," said another parishioner Mina Atimah.
The vote in the Church's General Synod is expected to be on a knife-edge. To pass it needs a two-thirds majority in each of the three Houses which make up the Synod. Currently it's too close to call which way the House of Laity will vote.
The outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has expressed his strong backing for allowing female bishops, but has underlined the need to respect more traditional views also. The incoming Archbishop, Justin Welby, also supports women bishops and has said he will vote in favour.
About 50 traditionalist priests have left the Church of England, taking up an offer from Pope Benedict to switch to Rome after they became alienated by the prospect of the changes.
Each of the 44 member churches in the Anglican Communion can decide for itself whether to allow women bishops. Many Anglicans in developing countries are strongly opposed to women clergy.
Reverend Morris said the issue has caused a lot of strife within the Church.
"It is already at a tension, we are all spread out. I am not sure it will result in a division over this issue in the longer term, although some may feel there isn't a place for them and sadly leave. We are trying to find a place for them and a painful compromise," she said.
Across London, at All Hallows Church, Canon David Houlding has very different views.
He said he is opposed to women bishops for theological reasons but does recognise it is the natural progression from having women priests.
He will vote against the measure, because he says it does not provide enough shelter within the Church for those can't in conscience agree with female bishops.
"I have fundamental reservations about going ahead, but I have particular reservations about the nature of the legislation we are being asked to vote for next week, because I think it doesn't provide adequately for those in conscience will not be able to accept women as bishops," he said.
The problems are centred around theological issues rather than sexism, said CanonHoulding.
"It's not a sexist issue and I am very aware that it can look like that which is why I always emphasise when I am talking about these things that men and women are equal in the sight of God. And that everyone has their part to play but that doesn't mean that men and women are the same, each of us has a distinctive role to play and it is when we come together that we form the whole, so this is a pattern for the life of the Church as a family. And when the Church holds together as a family then we are very effective," he said.
The vote comes at a time when the Anglican Church is facing division over the ordination of gay bishops which has pitted liberal church leaders in the United States and Britain against more conservative figures in places such as Africa.
If the law on women bishops is passed it will be a triumph for supporters who have battled to see women don the mitre, the bishop's hat that signifies the authority to ordain priests, head dioceses and claim a link back to the original Twelve Apostles.
But if a two-thirds majority of the assembly does not approve the draft legislation, it will take at least another five years for a new motion on women bishops to come about.
Whether the vote passes or fails, those on all sides of the argument agree that the wrangling over the issue is far from over.