Women bishops: Church of England synod to vote

BBC ^ | 20.Nov.2012 | BBC

[Cronos]

A plan paving the way for consecrations from 2014 is expected to be backed by bishops and clergy, but the vote among lay members could be much closer.

..Ahead of the vote, synod members will debate the latest compromise proposal for parishes that reject the changes.

The vote is being seen as the first major test for the next Archbishop of Canterbury, the Right Reverend Justin Welby. The current bishop of Durham is expected to speak during the debate and urge the synod to support the introduction of women bishops.

Approval is also supported by the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, who has warned of turmoil in the Church if the change is voted down.

..Approval requires two-thirds majorities in each of the synod's three houses: bishops, clergy and laity

..Women now make up about a third of all clergy in the Church of England.

..Discussions over the arrangements for when a female bishop is appointed but traditionalist parishes reject her authority have proved a stumbling block to its approval.

Under the plans, a woman bishop would delegate to a stand-in male bishop. But a vote was adjourned in July after supporters of women bishops objected to a concession they felt went too far.

[Cronos]

[Arthur McGowan]

With the approval of female priests, the Anglican Church put a definitive, final, utterly conclusive end to any claim to being a sacramental Christian body. The only sacrament a female “priest” can administer validly is Baptism.

The still-unanswered question is not “Can a woman be priest in the Anglican Church?” but “Can a non-Lesbian woman be a priest or bishop in the Anglican Church?”

[AnalogReigns]

Be careful of your terms. This is the Church of England (CofE) which is a tiny minority of THE Anglican Church world wide. Womens’ ordination nor certainly female bishops are both NOT something a majority of Anglican Provinces allow.