Church Backs Female Bishops
July 8, 2008
Yesterday the Church of England’s Synod voted in favour of Women becoming Bishops.
Though many in the Church of England (over 1,300) signed a letter of petition to the Arch Bishop of Canterbury and York; many of these were retired rather than practicing clergy.
Any compromise of there being a two tiered bishop hierarchy, as traditionalists have asked for would have caused institutional division and made women second class clergy.
Monday saw six hours of debate by the Synod, where both the proposal of super bishops and a preferred option of new dioceses were denied.
The Fellowship of Confessions (FoCA) a new break away sector of the Church of England, for those who are against homosexuality in the church, will soon set up their own bishop council too. The conservative sector set up and officially established in Jerusalem last week has caused concern that the church may become further divided in the future.
Reverend John Broadhurst who is The Bishop of Fulham concurred with the traditionalists saying;
“I think a lot of us have made it quite clear if there isn’t proper provision for us to live in dignity, inevitably we’re driven out and it’s not a case of walking away.”
Though, there are many liberals that are happy with the reforms. Robert Key, Tory and Synod member was in favour of women Bishops and said;
“It is a good day for the Church of England, and it is a good day for the country because our national church, the church by law established, is actually now in step with most of the country and what people feel.”
The Church has moved into the same century as the rest of us and I think it is about time.
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