Hereford 'could be first' to appoint woman bishop (From Hereford Times)

Hereford 'could be first' to appoint woman bishop

9:00am Tuesday 27th July 2010 in

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Hereford Diocese could be one of the first to appoint a woman bishop according to Prebendary Kay Garlick.

But despite being one of the most senior women in the Church of England, she is quick to rule herself out of making history, instead, counting herself among the female clergy paving the way for a new generation of “brilliant women”

rising through the Anglican ranks.

The succession of that generation depends on a vote by the General Synod - the ruling body of the Church of England - due in 2012.

As business manager to the Synod, Kay played a leading part in organising its debate in York last week over ordaining women as bishops.

The meeting saw a majority of the Synod’s 480-strong membership back diocesan bishops being able to decide what local provision can be made for Anglicans wanting to exempt themselves from female leadership.

A draft legislation effectively allowing women bishops will be sent to each diocesan Synod in the next few months.

The Synods can suggest changes to the draft for debate by the General Synod in 2012 - where it will go only if backed by majority approval in a majority of Synods.

If the draft succeeds there, it goes to parliament for final approval, making 2014 the earliest date a womanbishop can be appointed.

Appointment, said Kay, would come through a gradual process as likely candidates were identified.

Hereford Diocese, with its progressive reputation despite being one of the smallest in terms of population, would be ideal for one of these pioneers, said Kay.

“I won’t be one, I’m too old, but there are some brilliant women in the pipeline, ” she said.

While the Diocese has met with little formal opposition to women’s ministry, Kay accepts there are, and will be, individuals in its parishes struggling with the concept, 16 years after women were first ordained as priests.

The Diocese recognises just one church - St Peter’s in Lyde - as effectively not allowing women priests to take services.

There, the Parochial Church Council voted for a ban, by the slimmest of margins, back in 1994 and it’s stayed in place since.